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.”

Alaska Native leader and former Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott dies at 77

Byron Mallott, the Alaska Native leader who served as lieutenant governor under former Gov. Bill Walker, died unexpectedly at age 77.
Alaska House Finance Committee members review documents during public testimony on the committee's draft budget on March 4, 2022, in the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau, Alaska. Pictured are Reps. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer; Adam Wool, D-Fairbanks; Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage; Kelly Merrick, R-Eagle River; Neal Foster, D-Nome; Dan Ortiz, I-Ketchikan; and Bart LeBon, R-Fairbanks.

Alaska House committee drafts budget with $2,500 total for PFD and energy relief check

The budget proposal unveiled on Friday by the House Finance Committee would spend over $4 billion in state funding to run state government. That’s $148 million more than Dunleavy proposed. 

Can courts force action on climate change? Sixteen young Alaskans hope so.

An Anchorage judge heard arguments today in a lawsuit brought by 16 young Alaskans who are suing the state over climate change. Listen now
A snowy mountain peak

2 missing Denali National Park climbers are presumed dead, officials say

Eli Michel, 34, and Nafiun Awal, 32, were last heard from on May 5, when they checked in with a friend.
a covid test in a us postal service envelope

Free COVID tests by mail are back, starting Monday

The Biden administration says it is trying to prepare for the fall and winter COVID season.

Judicial ruling on "Troopergate" investigation imminent

A judge is expected to rule soon on holding up the release of the Troopergate investigation results until after the November election.  A group...

Unregulated international fishing activity frustrating Stevens

During a Commerce Department oversight hearing today, Senator Ted Stevens asked Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez about combating International Unregulated, Unreported (IUU) fisheries. Stevens says...
Sen. Maria Cantwel

Washington senator says Congress should block Pebble’s permit

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell says she’ll support a bill to block a permit for the Pebble Mine. She also wants an investigation into whether Pebble’s CEO lied to Congress.
sign on a door says 'please wear a face mask'

Who needs to wear a mask in Anchorage and where? Here’s a breakdown of the new ordinance.

The Anchorage Assembly on Thursday overturned Mayor Dave Bronson’s veto of an emergency mask ordinance. That means the masking rules for the city are back in place.
The floats of a plane jut out from the water surrounded by large rocks with green spruce covered mountains in theh background.

Documents: pilots had just seconds to see each other before fatal George Inlet crash

The crash in May of 2019 killed six people and injured ten more.
People hold signs next to a busy street

Biden vaccine rule for health workers blocked in Alaska and 9 other states

A federal judge on Monday blocked President Joe Biden’s administration from enforcing a coronavirus vaccine mandate on thousands of health care workers in 10 states, including Alaska, that had brought the first legal challenge against the requirement.
an oil facility in a remote, snowy area

ConocoPhillips faces potential fine of $914,000 for Arctic gas leak

State regulators propose a civil punishment for last year's gas blowout at Alpine
A man with a bullhorn speaking to a crowd

Northeast Anchorage residents air frustrations over Bronson plan for Centennial homeless camp

Northeast Anchorage residents are angry at the lack of notice from Bronson over opening Centennial Campground to homeless campers.

Savoonga man marooned in Russia, hoping for a charter home

A man from the Bering Sea island community of Savoonga is stuck in Russia after traveling there through a unique visa-free travel program for Alaska Natives. Despite not needing a visa for the trip, Sivoy Miklahook now finds himself on the wrong side of the Strait as his Russian papers inch closer to expiration. Download Audio

Legislators Take off for DC

More than a third of the state legislature is heading to Washington this week to meet with federal officials and to attend sessions...
Interior: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Tribal IDs should work at airports, but travelers say TSA often rejects them

Scanning machines at security checkpoints reject the cards even though they're on TSA’s list of accepted IDs.

Anchorage Assembly ends its indoor mask mandate

The ordinance mandated that people wear masks in indoor public and communal spaces. 
Governor Dunleavy, wearing a greenish zip up jacket, gestures as he talks

On masks, Alaska Gov. Dunleavy tells local leaders to use power they say they don’t have

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has resisted imposing a mask mandate and maintains that such decisions are best made by local governments. But municipal officials in pockets of the state where COVID-19 is spreading fastest say they lack the legal power to require mask-wearing.

Next election may delay plan to fund state government

Candidates have been announcing plans for governor, lieutenant governor and the Legislature since July. And they’re taking positions that could make a budget deal more difficult. Listen now