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.”

Two peopl on a small skiff help untangle a whale

Residents rally to free entangled humpback near Tenakee Springs

Residents of Tenakee Springs were awoken in the middle of the night to a plaintive whale cry and quickly mobilized to save the trapped cetacean.
man standing at a microphone

Sullivan: ‘Several other unidentified objects’ also traveled over Alaska

After a U.S. Air Force fighter jet shot down an unidentified object over Alaska’s North Slope on Friday, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said several other similar objects have traveled over the state in recent weeks.

The Anchorage Bag Ban is coming: here’s what you need to know

In advance of the Sept. 15 policy change in Anchorage, we assembled answers to some common questions about what the plastic bag ban will mean for residents.

Aleutian volcano erupts

A volcano in the eastern Aleutians erupted suddenly Tuesday afternoon. The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) said several pilots reported seeing an ash cloud about 34,000 feet above Bogoslof volcano. Listen Now

‘I thought he was safe,’ brother says of man found dead in wetlands

John Knudson, 56, is one of at least eight people who have died outside in Juneau over the past three years. His body was found in the Mendenhall Wetlands in mid-September. Download Audio

Proper packing becomes more important as mushers kick off from Fairbanks

Mushers are on the rivers heading out of Fairbanks right now, as the 45th Iditarod starts in earnest. This is the second time in three races that the restart has been in Fairbanks. And a lot of the mushers have vivid memories of the 2015 race, so this year, they’re trying to pack accordingly. Listen now

Ask a Climatologist: Summer solstice

Alaskans will celebrate the summer solstice at 8:24 tonight. The solstice is the point when the sun’s rays reach their highest latitude of the year. And also the moment when the days start getting shorter. Listen now
photos of three men

Black boxes recovered from site of fatal U.S. Army helicopter crash near Healy

An investigative team from Alabama went to the crash site Monday and recovered the flight data recorders, sometimes referred to as black boxes.

LISTEN: Anchorage union president says teachers are concerned about returning to classrooms

With Covid-19 cases on the rise in Anchorage and elsewhere in Alaska, and the first day of school, Aug. 20, a little more than a month out, some parents and teachers think the district's plan is not cautious enough.

EPA Releases Plans for Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The Environmental Protection Agency has laid out its timeline for regulating greenhouse gas emissions. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson shared her plans on Monday...

AK: Everyone is family at Gerry’s Barbershop

Gerry’s Barbershop has been around for nearly three decades in Juneau. Listen Now

Biden to sign order promoting tribal self-determination

The White House is hosting the 11th tribal summit this week. Interior Secretary Haaland says the administration has focused on co-management.

Tammie Wilson abruptly announces she’s leaving legislature for state job

Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, surprised fellow lawmakers Friday when she announced she’s quitting the Legislature to take a job with a state agency that she’s often fought against during her 10 years in the state House.

Nikiski Top Pick For Gasline Terminal

Since natural gas was discovered on the North Slope, there's been talk of building a pipeline to get it to market. But where should that pipeline end? Exxon, BP, ConocoPhillips, and TransCanada announced on Monday that Nikiski is their top choice for a stopping point. Download Audio
A man stands in the snow with ski poles, his dog nearby.

How a man survived a bear attack during a morning walk in Seward

Almost five years ago, Ronn  Hemstock went for his regular 6 a.m. walk around the airport runway in Seward with his dog, Dax. It wasn't long until his morning stroll turned terrifying.

South Anchorage standoff over, suspect dead (Updated)

A standoff in Anchorage lasting more than 36 hours came to an end Friday morning. The Anchorage Police Department says 69-year-old Robert Musser, who was barricaded in his home, is confirmed to be deceased.
Seats in front of a dais

Anchorage Assembly rejects motion to end emergency proclamation

The Anchorage Assembly rejected another motion to throw out the city’s emergency proclamation at a meeting on Tuesday evening. The city has been under an emergency proclamation since the pandemic began last March. It is currently set to expire next month unless the Assembly votes to extend it for the eighth time.
A beige building with long windows and three front doors

Should Alaska Native Corps get COVID-19 funds intended for tribes? Answer hinges on comma, lawyers say

Hundreds of millions of dollars may be at stake, but at times the arguments turned on an age-old grammatical puzzle.

House members talk about sharing power as speaker nomination fails

While no action occurred in the House, the Senate Finance subcommittees began meeting in preparation for the budget.
A man in a suit. Behind him, out of focus, is a large ship.

On Alaska visit, Buttigieg touts funding boost to help salmon cross the road

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is surprised to find fish transit is part of his portfolio but says it's beneficial for fishing communities.