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.”

A musher waives to the crowd.

Musher Aliy Zirkle is injured on Iditarod trail, flown to Anchorage for care

Aliy Zirkle's race ended Monday night after she crashed on her way into the remote Rohn checkpoint. Race officials say she suffered a concussion and other injuries.
Sled dogs eat from small, black bowls in the snow.

Four-time Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey first to McGrath

For Dallas Seavey’s first-place arrival, he won mittens made of beaver fur and moose hide, plus a beaver-fur hat. McGrath is roughly a third of the way into the race.
a person receives a vaccination

With many Alaska vaccine appointments unfilled, officials want you to know: You could be ‘essential’

After months of tight vaccine supply, the state of Alaska last week made a massive expansion of the groups eligible for shots. But it’s not clear that the expanded criteria are fully registering with Alaskans yet, public health officials said at a briefing for reporters Monday.
Two men face the camera, one with his arm on the other's shoulder, in front of a background that says "Hulu"

LISTEN: From Anchorage to LA, this screenwriting duo just won an award at Sundance

Ari Katcher and Ryan Welch received Sundance's Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for "On the Count of Three," a dark comedy directed by and starring Jerrod Carmichael.
A white man with a suit and red tie

Alaska Gov. Dunleavy’s administration says it’s ensuring “ethical transition” of chief of staff to ConocoPhillips job

Ben Stevens’ last day in the governor’s office was Friday, Feb. 26, and he started work as vice president of external affairs and transportation at ConocoPhillips the following Monday.
Barren shelves in a grocery store.

A year of pandemic: What was the moment when you realized everything had changed ?

The coronavirus has turned so much that we took for granted upside down. Tell us about the moment you first realized just how much life would change.
An old white man sits at the tabel with some cards laid out

‘Mail For Morale’: Letter-writing project commemorates WWII Aleutian Campaign veterans

The veterans all served in the Aleutian Campaign, which is often referred to as the "Forgotten War," and began in 1942 when the Japanese bombed Dutch Harbor and occupied the western Aleutian Islands of Attu and Kiska.
A statelite with two panels orbiting over the earth

Satellite internet promises fast, cheap service in rural Alaska, but remains out of reach so far

Questions remain about technologies made by Elon Musk's company about whether the satellite internet service will work in inclement weather that is common in some parts of Alaska.
A giant snowy mountain

After COVID-19 hiatus, Denali climbing season returns in 2021

In high-elevation environments, a respiratory disease has the potential to be particularly dangerous, raising the stakes for guides on Denali trips.
A snowy street with cars parked around and a Fur Rondy banner hung above

Anchorage lifts capacity restrictions for all businesses, still requires masks and social distancing

Emergency Order 19 also lifts restrictions on organized sports and group gatherings,
Grey and white sled dogs howl in nblack harnesses

The Iditarod starts Sunday and it will look a lot different this year. Here’s what to know.

It’s set to be an Iditarod like no other. There’s required testing and face masks, plus a shorter trail and a smaller group of mushers signed up to compete.
Man and woman in front of snowy trees

Injectable medication shows promise for Anchorage’s homeless alcoholics

Though Vivitrol has shown to be an effective way to help people with serious addictions gain enough stability to transition into permanent housing and stay there, it isn’t widely used yet.
A metal tower with some satelite dishes on the side

With $350 monthly internet bills, Y-K Delta residents face high hurdle for connectivity

The pandemic has exacerbated the problem of limited and expensive connectivity in Western Alaska, and residents are hoping that infrastructure investments can bridge the digital divide.

Former Alaska tribal executive still missing after his helicopter disappeared near windswept islands

The U.S. Coast Guard called off its search Wednesday for Alaska’s former top tribal health executive, Andy Teuber, a day after the helicopter he was piloting went missing near a windswept archipelago that pilots say is a notoriously tricky area to fly.
A girl in an orange sweatshirt sits next to a girl in a pink shirt at a desk in their home facing the window while the both do school work on laptop computers

Percent of Anchorage students on track for graduation drops 10%

Low-income, Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander students are struggling the most with the virtual environment according to the Anchorage School District.
a nurse administers a vaccine to a patient

Alaska expands vaccine eligibility to age 55 plus, ‘essential workers’ and others

Phase 1c eligibility opens vaccine to those who live in multigenerational homes or in communities with limited running water or sewage system. It also opens vaccines to those deemed “essential workers."
A orange and white helicopter flies in front of a mountain

Coast Guard ends search for missing former Alaska health executive’s helicopter

In a prepared statement, the Coast Guard said the debris it spotted Tuesday were "consistent with" debris from Teuber's helicopter, though it did not confirm that that was the case.
A black woman stands in front of a lectern and american flag

State safety inspectors tried to fine Copper River Seafoods $450,000. Their commissioner blocked it.

Department of Labor commissioner Tamika Ledbetter blocked nearly $450,000 in fines against a seafood plant her own inspectors said willfully violated COVID-19 workplace safety standards, according to internal documents.
July 24, 2018 in Washington, DC

Murkowski says she didn’t sink Tanden nomination

Sen. Murkowski told reporters she didn't ask the White House for a deal and was still considering a vote to confirm the OMB director.

Cordova gets a tough lesson in COVID-19 transmission — from its police chief

The story starts with the police chief returning from an out-of-state trip and, instead of quarantining, coaching a wrestling practice. It ends with roughly 10% of Cordova residents in quarantine, school closures and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter aborting a supply mission because some of its crew members were exposed.