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.”

Cans on shelves in a grocery store

USDA fines Alaska $11.9M for failing to ensure SNAP recipients are eligible

For the second year in a row, Alaska’s so-called “payment error rate” for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program topped 50%.
A man in a blue suit stands outside a forest area.

Anchorage’s next police chief wants timelines for the release of body camera footage

Incoming Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance announced the appointment of Sean Case to be the next chief of police for Alaska's largest city.
A portait of a woman

Anchorage Mayor Bronson’s final resignee warns about ‘time bombs’ in city’s bookkeeping

The outgoing budget director says significant accounting failures could hurt the city’s credit and saddle taxpayers with extra expenses.
a wildfire

Elliott Highway closed as the number of wildfires burning in Alaska grows

The Globe Fire jumped the highway near a campground, threatening cabins and Native allotments.
A man in a reflective vest picks uses a trash picker around tarps, tents and needles.

The Supreme Court says cities can punish people for sleeping in public places

The decision is a win for Western cities that wanted more powers to manage record homelessness. But advocates say it won't solve the larger problem.
a debate

4 takeaways from the first presidential debate

President Biden's early stumbles played into his biggest vulnerability, but how much will the first 2024 general election debate make an impact?
a man talks at a microphone

Anchorage cemetery tour celebrates the contributions of past Black leaders

Cal Williams led a group from gravestone to gravestone in the Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery, sharing stories about the leaders buried there.
yellow trees along a country road

This recently-launched news outlet aims to expand coverage of the Mat-Su Borough

The Mat-Su Sentinel is a new online news platform aimed at providing local news to an area the size of West Virginia, with a population of roughly 110,000 people.
Empty court chamber

Justices grill attorneys as correspondence school case reaches Alaska Supreme Court

The justices are considering an appeal of a decision that ruled two 2014 laws key to the correspondence school system unconstitutional.
Two boats in Cordova

Copper River fishing kicks off salmon season marked by fewer buyers and more uncertainty

Every year, more than 2 million fish return to the Copper River delta, and crews benefit from strong marketing, as well as being the first on the water.
Celebration

Federal judge says Alaska tribes may put land into trust, a step toward ‘Indian country’ here

The decision could change the system created by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act more than 50 years ago.
a building

Hilcorp announces plan to buy Eni’s oil fields on Alaska’s North Slope

The deal, which must be cleared by state regulators, would expand Hilcorp’s Alaska operations to the offshore Oooguruk and Nikaitchuq oil fields.
a fire

Residents along the Elliott Highway are told to evacuate as a fast-moving wildfire grows

Residents along Mile 39 to Mile 48 of the highway have been ordered to evacuate, due to a fire that has grown from 1 acre to 1,000 since Tuesday.
a fire

Fire destroys Stebbins school and surrounding buildings

Nome firefighters have flown to Stebbins to help fight the blaze, which reportedly started in a shop next to the local school Wednesday night.
a woman smiles outside in a swim cap and bathing suit

This Anchorage nurse just became the first Alaska woman to complete the grueling ‘Triple Crown’ of swimming

Jordan Iverson swam from England to France last week, completing the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming. She hopes to inspire more Alaskans.

Man dies while being booked at Anchorage jail

Police say a vandalism suspect arrested early Wednesday "went into medical distress" at the Anchorage Correctional Complex.
a meeting room

Anchorage Assembly narrowly passes zoning change to allow for more duplexes

On a 7-5 vote, the Assembly effectively ended single-family zoning in the Anchorage Bowl in hopes of boosting housing.
a santa statute

After concussions and candy-cane streetlight costs, North Pole City Council removes mayor

Mayor Michael Welch, a Republican, is the lone challenger to incumbent Rep. Mike Prax, R-North Pole, in this year's state House elections.
a polling place

Ahead of withdrawal deadline, some Alaska legislative candidates call it quits

Ahead of the withdrawal deadline, an Anchorage House race is down to two Republicans, and the race to replace Click Bishop lost a candidate.
workers toss toss fish unloaded from a boat

As salmon season kicks off, some Alaska fishermen fear for their futures

“We’re trying to do multi-generation fishing,” Buck Laukitis said. “But believe me: It keeps me up at night, wondering about the future.”