Top Stories

News stories, radio and TV episodes that warrant one of six spots on our homepage. The homepage is in chronological order of publication date, so stories are moved off the homepage as more are categorized “top stories.”

a debate

The debate between Harris and Trump wasn’t close — and 4 other takeaways

Tuesday’s debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump was a contrast from the debate that forced President Biden from the race.
two men in jackets and ties

Troopers plead not guilty in bloody Kenai arrest

It was the first time Jason Woodruff and Joseph Miller Jr. appeared in court since they were each charged with one count of misdemeanor assault.
A photo of the front page of the Anchorage Daily News for Monday, July 8, 2024.

Anchorage Daily News newsroom planning to form union

The would-be union’s list of goals includes better pay for eligible employees at Alaska’s most widely read newspaper and news website.
a woman standing behind a lectern

Most University of Alaska faculty paid on time after paperwork mishap

UA President Pat Pitney apologized for the problem, and said the university will pull resources from other areas to help HR work more quickly.
Students walk through the halls at Wendler Middle School.

Disconnected: Student cellphone bans take hold in Anchorage

Schools with new cellphone policies report decreases in fights, vaping in the bathrooms and cyber-bullying, along with academic gains.
a home

Flooded Juneau residents face choice: Protect homes or prepare them for more?

Staying completely dry might be difficult, if not impossible, but it’s also hard to make peace with letting the water in again and again.
an inauguration

Trump and Harris will meet face-to-face for the first time on Tuesday’s debate stage

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris didn't directly interact during his term. She debated Trump's running mate, Mike Pence, in 2020.
two men with dogs

‘A light in a pretty dark moment’: Ketchikan couple reflects on dog rescue a week after landslide

The dogs were trapped in a collapsed home for nearly a week after the Aug. 25 landslide, until they were found and saved unharmed.
Fairbanks

In Fairbanks, Dibert and LeBon are rematched for state House election

A race in the Golden Heart City may have big consequences and decide who controls the Alaska House of Representatives.
a river

Man dies in helicopter crash near King Salmon

The helicopter crashed into the Naknek River. One passenger died, and three others plus the pilot were rescued.
seals

Alaska SeaLife Center releases 4 seals into Cook Inlet

Staff say the seals, released Thursday near Kenai, are in good health. Scientists hope to continue monitoring their lives in the wild.
a hat

Akiak man charged with beating 7 sled dogs to death

Troopers say Charles Ivan, 23, chained up and beat nine dogs after a Sept. 1 family dispute, but a witness saved two of them.
Skyview Middle School

Former Soldotna school custodian accused of sexually abusing student

Alexander Coxwell, 52, was arrested Thursday. He worked for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District until November 2016.
two women stand on the edge of a river bank. the woman in front is holding a very tall green pole with a grey box on top of it

Thawing permafrost is an existential threat for Alaska communities. This nonprofit is trying to help monitor it.

The goal of the project is to put data in the hands of community members, so that they can make crucial decisions about their future.
a food truck

In internet-less Sitka, it’s both ‘mayhem’ and a ‘golden moment’

Starlink units are a precious commodity. But people are talking, sharing stories and “doing what they used to do without the internet.”
Blue and red police lights.

3 pedestrians struck and killed in Anchorage in just over 24 hours

Four people were hit by vehicles in the Anchorage area in two days. Three of the crashes were fatal.
a gravel beach by a lake among mountains

An Anchorage engineer thinks there’s a way to satisfy all parties competing for water in Eklutna Lake

The pitch comes as the governor weighs how to balance demands for hydroelectric power, drinking water and restoration of fish habitat.
two cars crash into each other, both are very beaten up. a cloud of smoke engulfs both of them and spectators watch from behind a fence

From family bonding to a message on sobriety, here’s why this year’s Alaska State Fair demolition derby drivers compete

Choosing to deliberately get in a car crash repeatedly might sound extreme, but each competitor has their own motivations for participating.
vehicles

Ketchikan colleagues mourn landslide victim Sean Griffin

The longtime city worker died helping clear storm drains on his day off. Friends say his commitment was central to his character.
a library

Alaska’s public libraries sound alarm over abrupt loss of state grant funds

It's not clear why the state slashed funds for operating grants to libraries across Alaska by nearly 75%.