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.”

Legislature considers task force to handle stimulus funding

A bill read into the state Senate today would set up a special task force to deal with the state’s needs and response to...

Fallen dishes, water leaks and borrowed shoes: Scenes after the earthquake in downtown Anchorage

“It was one of the most significant shakers I’ve seen in 40 years.” The earthquake hit just as Anchorage was beginning its day, causing widespread damage, derailing plans and snarling traffic.
woman at helm of boat

Mary Peltola and the art of Yuuyaraq’ing

Yup'ik Alaskans say Rep. Mary Peltola has embraced a handed-down code of conduct which encourages interconnectedness, balance and respect for others.
a woman on an airstrip

Murkowski insists ‘I’m in the right place,’ despite rift with Trump

"I know what I am," Sen. Lisa Murkowski said, referencing her GOP roots. "And I know where I fit within my conference."

Murkowski’s latest Pebble action disappoints mine opponents

Opponents of the Pebble Mine are underwhelmed by Sen. Murkowski's latest bill to fund federal resource agencies.

Anchorage wildfire forces rapid response to contain

Updated: 4:30 p.m. Wednesday July 3 A fast-moving wildland fire erupted in east Anchorage Tuesday afternoon. What officials are now calling the MLK Fire --...
sign in front of building that says: anchorage police department

Years after Anchorage police fatally shoot Black man, dashcam video prompts new questions

The fatal Anchorage police shooting of 31-year-old Somali American Bishar Hassan in 2019 is under renewed scrutiny after the public release of police dashcam footage by a lawyer representing the man’s family in a wrongful death lawsuit.
A person at a window counter

Alaska courts disconnect online services after cyberattack

Court filings, court record searches, and payments of fines aren’t currently accessible online, and online court hearings scheduled over the next few days will take place over the phone.
Exterior: a herd of wood bison.

Young wood bison released to the wild in the western Interior

The 28 yearlings increase the Western Alaska Wood Bison herd to about 160 animals.
two children with a fishing net in the water

Interior Department puts $40M toward community relocation efforts for Newtok and Napakiak

“We’ve never really done anything like this before in this country, particularly for tribes,” said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland.

Biologists Concluding Field Research on Polar Bears, Global Warming

Photo by Fish and Wildlife Service Biologists just wrapped up more than a month of field work on polar bears in the Chukchi Sea. The...
a man poses for a portrait in a city area

Former Anchorage chief equity officer is suing the Bronson administration for wrongful termination

In a legal complaint filed Tuesday, Clifford Armstrong alleges that Mayor Bronson fired him in a manner that went against municipal code.

Alaska’s largest ski resort has a plan to operate during the pandemic. What will the slopes be like this year?

With a new operations plan in place, Alyeska Resort in Girdwood is set to get the lifts running again this winter.
A white man spekas into a microphone at a table while another man speaks via a zoom call

Dunleavy backs off plan to split Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services

Members of the Alaska House of Representatives had prepared a resolution that would have blocked the order, which would have led to two departments: a Department of Health and a Department of Family Services.

Olympic Aspirations: Training At The Alaska Boxing Academy

Alaska isn't exactly known as a hotspot for boxing talent, but an Olympic caliber coach is hoping to change that. He started the Alaska Boxing Academy two years ago and already has a few athletes who are dreaming big about competing nationally and internationally. Download Audio

Bethel Senior Center Slashes Services

The Eddie Hoffman Senior Center in Bethel means a lot of things to a lot of elders: It’s food, it’s transportation, its friendship. But...

New satellite-based technology aims to crack down on illegal fishing

Commercial fishing in Alaska is a multi-billion dollar industry. But every year, billions of dollars are lost to illegal fishing around the world. A new satellite-based surveillance system makes it easier to track illegal fishing. But some fishermen aren’t ready for Big Brother watching their every move. Listen Now

Senate votes to take up tax bill, bringing rigs closer to ANWR

Both Alaska senators voted to officially begin debate on a tax-cut bill that would also open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. Sen. Murkowski says the tax changes will help many Alaska families. Listen now
A small furry creature, a North American opossum, perches on a branch.

Homer’s opossum visitor, Grubby, still on the lam as town remains divided

Many, including the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, want it dead, because the opossum is an invasive species. On the other hand, it's just weird enough for some Homerites to rally around.