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.”

Senators stick by Trump, but how close?

WASHINGTON - Alaska’s U.S. senators helped President Trump fill out his cabinet this week, but in different degrees. With a new, colorful president in the White House, each of them has to decide how close to stand to the standard-bearer of their party. Listen now

Jury Finalized for Waterman Trial

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage Jury selection was finalized this morning in case of the state of Alaska versus Rachelle Waterman. The young...

Minecraft In The Classroom: When Learning Looks Like Gaming

The popular video game Minecraft has made its way into Juneau high school classrooms. A graduate education course at the University of Alaska Southeast showed teachers how to implement the game in their classes. KTOO’s Lisa Phu went to a high school algebra class to hear what students have to say about Minecraft – not as a game but – as a learning tool. Download Audio

Time pressure makes special session likely

The Alaska Legislature is scheduled to end its session Wednesday, under a deadline set by the Alaska Constitution. But that doesn’t mean its work is over. Listen now

Murkowski votes to proceed with 2nd impeachment; Sullivan votes to stop

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski was one of six Republicans who voted to proceed with ex-President Trump’s impeachment trial.
the Alaska State Capitol

Division of Elections clears Southwest Alaska legislative candidate after complaint

Darren Deacon, the subject of the complaint, supplied housing, travel and employment records showing his residency in Kalskag.
a child gets a shot

CDC clears the way for vaccinations for children 6 months to 5 years old

CDC advisers are recommending the use of two separate COVID-19 vaccines for the youngest children made by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, paving the way for vaccine rollout as early as next week.
a ballot drop box sits on a table next to a podium. two people are in voting booths. two people are standing in the background

APOC denies expedited hearing after allegations of Bronson campaign finance violation

The runoff election for Anchorage mayor began to heat up this week, after Forrest Dunbar’s campaign accused Dave Bronson’s campaign of more than $170,000 in finance violations. On Wednesday, the Alaska Public Offices Commission denied the Dunbar campaign’s request for an expedited hearing.
a person speaks into a microphone

400 military officers were just promoted. Sen. Sullivan says the confirmation blockade shouldn’t have lasted so long.

Sen. Tuberville has blocked every military confirmation vote since February to protest an abortion policy. He finally relented.
America's Best Value Inn and Suites

Anchorage retracts plan to buy hotel for homeless shelter

The city announced the change on Wednesday involving its plan to purchase the Americas Best Value Inn & Suites property because of the “costly repairs and mandatory upgrades” the refurbishment would entail.

Climate task force begins work — and push-back begins, too

Gov. Bill Walker's climate change task force met for the first time Monday. But the team is facing questions before it even begins work. Listen now
a deckhand

As climate change and high costs plague Alaska’s fisheries, fewer young people take up the trade

Alaska's aging fishing industry has high barriers to entry and increasing unpredictability as human-caused climate change alters marine habitats.
The community of Ambler along the Kobuk river as seen from the air

Environmental groups sue Trump administration over approval of Ambler Road

Nine environmental groups are suing the Trump administration for approving the 211-mile Ambler Road project.

Flood warning issued for Seward area

National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Seward until 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Sullivan discusses broad spectrum of topics with statewide listeners on Talk of Alaska

Republican Senator Dan Sullivan spoke on Talk of Alaska Tuesday morning about a broad range of topics, from national news stories in the headlines to regional issues facing the state. Listen now
Large white boxes that read "Vote by Mail Ballot Drop Box" sit in a warehouse.

Anchorage voters to decide on using marijuana taxes to fund early education, child care programs

Proposition 14 would specifically allocate Anchorage marijuana tax revenue to child care and early education initiatives.

Murkowski says she’ll vote against impeachment witnesses Tuesday. That’s not her final answer.

Sen. Murkowski says senators should decide later in the trial whether to call witnesses, so she'll vote against Democratic amendments Tuesday.

Sinopec pitches legislature on gasline

The legislature yesterday heard the Chinese interest in a gas pipeline to Valdez. Sinopec was rejected by the governor’s gas team after submitting an...
sand fills a home

In Golovin, Alaskans shovel sand out of their homes after historic storm

Golovin residents are in clean-up mode as their community works to restore power, phone service and clear debris. As the floodwaters recede from the...
A black Tlingit designed eagle

Tlingit artist from Juneau designs stamp for US Postal Service

The artwork of a Tlingit artist from Juneau will be featured on a new postage stamp set for distribution next year.