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.”

Thomas Bay and Frederick Sound

‘Landless’ legislation clears U.S. Senate committee for the first time

The bill would return land to the original occupants of five Southeast Alaska communities left out of 1971's Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
a sled dog team on a snowy road

Polaris and snowmachine rider who hit sled dog team charged with reckless driving

Three dogs were killed in the crash on the Denali Highway east of Cantwell.
an anchorage police car is parked in a parking lot

Anchorage police arrest man who they say shot at cars on the Glenn Highway

A passenger in one car had injuries that were not life-threatening. A police car was also hit.
A view of the tipping floor from the observation deck of waste services dumping waste onto the floor.

With new Anchorage waste center, city hopes to help residents minimize trash

The transfer station is a central point for the city’s garbage trucks and residents to dump trash, but also offers opportunities to divert landfill waste.
A police car marked as Anchorage Police.

Anchorage man accused of attempted murder in domestic violence strangling

Police say dispatchers heard Derek Schraffenberger, 45, threaten to kill the female victim in a 911 call made during the Jan. 14 assault.
students sit in a gym

Federal dollars could be ‘game changer’ for Alaska families

Child welfare advocates are hopeful an expanded child tax credit and other components of the bill could directly improve Alaska children's well-being.
a group of people smiling and laughing in a meeting room

Alaska House approves major update to alcohol laws, including changes for breweries

Brewery and distillery taprooms will be able to stay open until 9 p.m.

Religion and climate change – can you talk about both?

Is climate change a religious issue? A group of Alaskans says yes, and a national survey supports them, for some groups. Alaskans joined together this weekend in Anchorage for an interfaith Earth Care Jamboree. Download Audio
The side of a big cruise ship as it sits docked in Juneau.

Utah man sentenced to 30 years in prison for Alaska cruise ship homicide

Kenneth Manzanares, 43, on Thursday was also sentenced to five years of supervised release if he finishes serving out his 30 year federal prison term.

Following majority departure, Dunleavy to lose committee seats

When Senator Mike Dunleavy left the Senate majority last week, he knew it meant he would lose some of his official positions of power. Listen now

Legislature sprints to meet session deadline

The legislature is pulling the final strings for issues that have been left hanging until the end of the session. With the adjournment only...

Dems Kawasaki and Dodge take leads from questioned ballots, absentees still to be counted

If Kathryn Dodge wins her race, the Alaska House could be split 20-20 with members of a mostly Democratic caucus and a Republican caucus.
A line of cars snaking through a parking lot with some mountains in the background

Anchorage Assembly members concerned over city’s communication, readiness for omicron

Assembly members have been increasingly vocal about concerns the city isn’t doing an adequate job communicating about how to get tested as cases rise quickly. The lack of attendance at the meeting added to a wider concern that the city’s health department isn’t prepared for the anticipated omicron surge that has already caused significant problems for schools and businesses in other cities. 

40,000 ballots set for counting tomorrow, next week

The Division of Elections will begin counting more than 40,000 remaining absentee, early and questioned ballots tomorrow, working through next Tuesday to clear up...
A river and mountains.

Trump administration takes next step towards oil lease sales in ANWR

One year after Congress voted to allow oil development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Trump administration has taken another step towards making it happen.

New Norwegian champ, Joar Ulsom wins 2018 Iditarod

The 31-year-old Norwegian is the first musher to disrupt the Seavey dynasty, in a grueling race that has dragged on longer than recent years. Listen now

New record high oil price based on shortage speculation

Crude oil closed above $80/barrel for the first time today – with West Texas Crude ending up at $80.09 on New York markets. Oil...

Anchorage parents, students ask school board to keep funding for language immersion programs

The Anchorage School District may close schools, cut immersion programs or restructure some middle-school programs to close a $68 million budget deficit.

Skiff capsizes from ferry Columbia’s wake in Wrangell Narrows

A wake from the Alaska state ferry Columbia caused a small skiff to capsize in the Wrangell Narrows near Petersburg.