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.”

Peltola leads in Alaska’s U.S. House race, while U.S. Senate race tightens

The Division of Elections is only counting first-place votes this week. It’s likely that the congressional races won’t be decided until second rankings are tallied on Nov. 23.
Mike Dunleavy and Nancy Dahlstrom

Dunleavy poised to win Alaska governor’s race

If Dunleavy’s share of the vote remains over 50% as more ballots are counted, he will win a second term as governor outright.
the Alaska Legislature

Republicans lead in majority of Alaska House seats, with potential for more

Ranked choice voting results may add to the Republican lead, with implications for House leadership.
a voting sign

In preliminary results, Democrats appear likely to flip two Alaska Senate seats

If the gains hold, they increase the chances of a coalition majority in the Senate.

4 takeaways from Alaska’s election night results

Election Day is over in Alaska, and enough dust has settled to call some high-interest contests, and to know what to watch for in unresolved races as more ballots are counted.
woman in front of microphones

Why Peltola and Murkowski are well situated to win reelection

In Alaska’s congressional races, incumbents are in a good position to win, but will have to wait until Nov. 23's ranked-choice tabulation to be sure.
A man with a green T shirt faces the camera for a mugshot in front of lines showing his height.

Alaska ski legend Dean Cummings acquitted in New Mexico murder trial

Cummings, the former World Extreme Skiing Champion behind the now-defunct Valdez-based H2O Guides, walked out of jail a short time after the verdict Tuesday, a free man for the first time in more than two years.

Most Alaska students are not proficient in reading and math, state test scores show

Seventy percent of third through ninth graders were not proficient in English, while 77% were not proficient in math.
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Alaska lawmakers look at election results and ponder policies, politics and personalities in coalition discussions

Alaska Beacon reporter James Brooks says some state senators have been talking about the very real possibility of forming a coalition. But the future of a coalition-controlled House is much murkier.
(Creative Commons photo by Matt’ Johnson)

Pilot dead after plane hits cable, crashes into river near Chickaloon

A Palmer man died Thursday after Alaska State Troopers say his small plane struck a cable and crashed into the Matanuska River near Chickaloon.
Kipnuk

Banishment of Kipnuk principal followed allegations of disrespect, poor communication and COVID safety fears

Leaders in Kipnuk say the principal there bullied Native school staff members, ignored COVID-19 restrictions and oversaw a decline in education quality.
people walk by a COVID testing sign

New omicron subvariants now dominant in the U.S., raising fears of a winter surge

The subvariants — called BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 — appear to be among the most adept yet at evading immunity from vaccination and previous infection.

How can the Anchorage School District close its budget gap? | Alaska Insight

Lori Townsend talks with School Board Member Dave Donley, and Alyse Galvin of Great Alaska Schools, to understand the scope of the Anchorage School District's $68 million budget gap, and what can be done to address it.
a woman in a white sweater

Palin and Tshibaka are on track to lose but hint at election battles ahead

Both Trump-endorsed candidates are making vague accusations of malfeasance, despite no evidence of election fraud.
A teacher in a gray sweater leans over to assist a student wearing a black shirt in an elementary school classroom.

Anchorage school communities grapple with potential closures

Birchwood ABC is one of Anchorage School District's top performing schools, but it's also one of six schools the district may close due to a budget deficit.
salmon

Alaska’s salmon worth $720.4 million this year

Alaska's 2022 harvests for all five salmon species in all fisheries equaled $720.4 million – $76.5 million more than 2021 and $425.2 million more than 2020.
a moose

Predator reduction efforts have not increased moose harvests, study says

A new scientific paper on predator reduction efforts in much of Interior and Southcentral Alaska has found they have not increased hunter moose harvest over several decades.
a former principal

The culture wars are pushing some teachers to leave the classroom

Some teachers and administrators — already facing long hours and low pay — now find themselves under pressure from politicians, parents and even their own school districts.
seabirds

Last year’s seabird bycatch toll was lower than average, but so was fishing effort, report says

Bycatch, the incidental catch of untargeted species in commercial fisheries, is not just about salmon or crab. Seabirds are also caught and killed unintentionally in fishing gear.