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.”

Hanging Up on Land Lines on Hold

Alaska Communications Systems wants to hang up on clunky pay phone service in the wireless age. The telecommunications company wants to end public...

Top ten mushers finish in Nome

The top ten teams have arrived in Nome, filling out the upper ranks of the 2017 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Listen now

State puts out list of companies that got $75 million in cashable tax credits last year

These cash-for-credits recipients used to be kept confidential, but a law passed in 2016 now requires that the state report them. Listen now
A sign says University of Alaska Anchorage in the snow

UAA enrollment drops 10% this fall after summer of tense budget battles

It follows tense state budget battles and accreditation issues for the Anchorage university, and adds additional financial loss to a system that’s already cash-strapped and stressed.

Alaska campaign regulators hear complaint against multimillion-dollar pro-Dunleavy group

A Friday hearing revealed no new evidence of illegal coordination between a group backing Gov. Mike Dunleavy's reelection and the Dunleavy campaign.

Dunleavy calls for action on constitutional amendments, crime bills

Gov. Mike Dunleavy said state lawmakers aren’t moving fast enough to pass his big priorities this session. That’s not just an idle threat — Dunleavy has constitutional powers he can use to force lawmakers into action.

Era Helicopters identifies pilot injured in Norris Glacier crash

Era Helicopters has identified its pilot who was critically injured in Thursday’s crash at Norris Glacier near Juneau as Jiri Hanis.
U.S. Capitol dome

Peltola, following in Don Young’s footsteps again, wins seat on House Transportation committee

The panel has jurisdiction over the Coast Guard, air travel and other areas of importance to Alaska.
a plane crash

Passenger in Anchor Point plane crash dies as NTSB report shows buckled wing during descent

Alaska State Troopers say Kristen Fenske died Wednesday morning, after the Dec. 8 crash that killed pilot Kurt Stjean.

Alaska schools have long struggled to hire and keep teachers. The pandemic is making it worse.

The pandemic is making it even more difficult to hire and retain educators in Alaska. Strains from burnout and absenteeism are piling on the stress for a system that’s already buckling under the pressure.

Washington politicos watching, talking about Stevens/Begich race

The Stevens / Begich race is being watched closely in Washington, where Republicans and Democrats are eager to see the seat fall into their...
a church

Kenai Peninsula board narrowly rejects Nikolaevsk’s proposal for a charter school

The Russian Old Believer village wanted the school to focus on Russian language immersion and to follow a subsistence calendar.

Sitka landslides: Part of a larger landscape change?

The landslides that struck Sitka early Tuesday morning are the latest in a series of similar events that started in 2011. Although these slides are triggered by a combination of wind and rainfall, forecasters believe it’s too early to correlate these incidents with changing weather patterns -- but that may change.

12 seafood workers in Dillingham are diagnosed with COVID-19 as number of cases in Alaska continues to rise

The 12 infections in the nonresident workers are among 35 new cases included in the state health department’s data update Tuesday. The number of Alaskans with active COVID-19 infections has also reached a new high : 264.

Low teenage turnout for vaccine increases COVID case rate in Alaska

We’re a month into the school year and Alaska is experiencing peak Covid-19 cases and a hospital system at max capacity. Alaska Public Media’s Jeff Chen looks at how low teenage turnout for the Covid vaccine increases case rates in Alaska.

Murkowski, Sullivan resign GOP posts after denouncing Trump

Alaska's two U.S. senators resigned leadership posts in the state Republican party in denouncing GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. Listen Now

Restaurant closures create uncertainty in the market for premium Copper River salmon

Restaurants may not be reliable buyers this year, as owners grapple with reduced business amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Murkowski sells back Kenai River land to short circuit ethics concerns

Over the past week, Senator Lisa Murkowski's Kenai River land deal with long-time friend and political supporter Bob Penney has brought her a firestorm...
lawmakers

A look at some of the bills that failed to pass the Alaska Legislature this year

Parts of a long-term plan to bring state revenue and expenses into line again failed to advance through the Capitol.
dogs run on a trail

The race is on: What to know about the 2023 Iditarod

How are Iditarod trail conditions? Why so few mushers this year? We answer those questions and more.