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.”

the Alaska State Capitol

From natural gas to psychedelic medicine, a look at some of the bills filed ahead of Alaska’s legislative session

Ahead of their return to the Capitol, lawmakers are using pre-session bill filings to lay out priorities for the months to come.
A balding white man in a suit speaks into a mcrophone at a wooden table

Widow of Gary Knopp files cross complaint against charter company

Rep. Gary Knopp’s widow, Helen Knopp, has filed a counter-complaint against High Adventure Air Charters, the Soldotna company whose plane collided with Knopp’s last summer in a crash that killed seven people.

Chena Hot Springs generating its own hydrogen supply — an Alaskan first

Chena Hot Springs, the resort northeast of Fairbanks, has achieved another energy breakthrough. A year after opening the planet's first low-temperature geothermal power plant,...

Prosecution winds up its case against Kohring

We should know soon whether former state legislator Vic Kohring will testify in his own defense. Federal prosecutors were wrapping up their corruption case...

AK: Fishing, Cooking And A Yup’ik Upbringing Made Alaska’s Health Commissioner

When Valerie Davidson agreed to accept the job of Alaska's health commissioner, it was with one important condition. She made sure Gov. Walker was okay with her working out of Bethel each summer. Davidson was born in Bethel and owns a house in the community, right on the Kuskokwim River. Download Audio:
A woman in a grey sweater and short reddish hair gestures in front of a white man at a desk

Former Permanent Fund CEO files to run for Juneau mayor

Angela Rodell is facing current Mayor Beth Weldon in the Oct. 1 election. At least 13 other candidates filed to run for assembly and school board.
Melissa Hutchinson is a waitress and the dayshift supervisor at Gwennie's Old Alaska Restaurant. She's standing behind the bar at the Anchorage restaurant.

Anchorage Assembly passes $15.4 million relief package

The last of the city's CARES Act funding will go toward rental and mortgage relief, small business grants, and food and voucher programs helping Anchorage families cover the essentials.
Am aerial view of snowy mountains

‘Send rescue now’: National Guard helicopter hoists two plane crash victims off frigid Alaska peak

"Send rescue now. We will not make it through the night," read a text message one of the pilots sent to his wife after his plane crashed on a peak in Wrangell -St. Elias National Park.
Empty swings in front of a school on a winter day

A rural school district said it was blindsided by a Bethel principal’s arrest. Except he’d been investigated twice before.

The principal for one of Alaska’s largest rural elementary schools, in a region with some of the highest sex crime rates in the country and a state with a history of failing to protect students, was allowed to remain on the job until the FBI got involved.
Emergency first responders stand in a snowy pullout next to emergency vehicles at dusk. Snow covered mountains in the background.

Avalanche near Cooper Landing kills 28-year-old skier

Recent high winds and rapidly changing weather in Southcentral increase the potential for avalanches in the backcountry.
gray whales, seen from above

Groups prod feds to act on plan to save Cook Inlet beluga whales

As Cook Inlet belugas slide closer to extinction, advocates are petitioning the federal government to do more.
A police car marked as Anchorage Police.

Anchorage police seek suspect who struck cyclist in hit-and-run

Police say the suspect's vehicle struck a cyclist heading north on Arctic Boulevard from behind Monday night, severely injuring him.

Escaped Prisoner Recaptured in Wasilla

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage School children in the Matanuska Susitna Borough were kept indoors Wednesday after a prisoner escaped from the Mat-Su...
the Alaska State Capitol

Alaska Senate passes bill that ties hunting and fishing residency requirements to PFD eligibility

Wildlife troopers say the loose definition of residency under the current rules make it difficult to prosecute people who take advantage.

Controversial Parnell APOC Appointee Withdraws Name

Governor Sean Parnell’s pick for the Alaska Public Offices Commission pulled his name from consideration yesterday because of disparaging remarks he had previously made about Alaska Natives. Read More

Alaska National Guard members helping with Harvey rescues

13 members of Alaska's Air National Guard left on Monday to help with air and water rescues amid historic Texas flooding. Listen now
two buildings

Judicial Council recommends Alaskans keep all judges, including jurist behind correspondence ruling

Adolf Zeman is only one of 19 judges that will be on the November general election ballot, but he’s received the lion’s share of attention.
damaged boats in chevak

Chevak subsistence gear ‘strewn all over the place’ by storm

Reporter Emily Schwing discusses Chevak's response to damaged boats and water contamination from last weekend's storm.

Senator Cowdery indicted on Federal corruption charges

State Senator John Cowdery has been indicted for bribery and conspiracy.  The federal charges were made public today.  The Senator is in Juneau for...
Samantha Wells, owner of Little Dipper Diner, talks with assistant manager Frankie Henley at the restaurant on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020.

Anchorage takes second diner to court over emergency order violation

The city is asking a judge to order Little Dipper Diner to shut down dine-in service immediately. It filed the paperwork, seeking a temporary injunction, in state court in Anchorage on Thursday.