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.”

Will Murkowski block Kavanaugh nomination? Here’s how she says she’ll decide

Sen. Murkowski isn't saying whether she'll vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Here's how she says she'll decide. Listen now

All 11 passengers survive Tuesday morning floatplane crash on Prince of Wales Island

Eleven people have survived an airplane crash Tuesday morning on Prince of Wales Island, and were back in Ketchikan early Tuesday afternoon. Listen now

Denali climbing season ends, with zero fatalities

According to the National Park Service, there are no more mountaineering or ranger teams on North America’s tallest peak. Listen now

GCI customers lose service statewide

A power source failure in Anchorage this morning caused service issues for GCI customers across the state. Listen now

Fresh doubt for Alaska tribes seeking land-in-trust

A new solicitor's opinion throws doubt on whether Alaska tribes can gain "Indian Country"-type jurisdiction by putting land in trust with the feds. Listen now
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Top four gubernatorial candidates voice support for Donlin mine

Walker, who is running for re-election as an independent, and three other top gubernatorial candidates have pledged support for the Donlin mine, which would be the one of the biggest gold mines in the world. Listen now
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Chignik fishermen stuck ashore as sockeye run fails

There is really only one thing to talk about in Chignik Bay these days: Where are the sockeye? Listen now

Stand for Salmon ballot initiative has big implications for Donlin mine

In the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, the stakes are especially high for the controversial Stand for Salmon ballot initiative because it could kill one of the biggest proposed gold mines in the world — the Donlin Mine.

Three dead gray whales wash up on Kodiak Island beaches in one week

Three dead gray whales washed up on two different Kodiak Island beaches recently. The strandings happened within the span of a week. Listen now

Junior runners battle heat at Seward’s 91st Mount Marathon Race on Wednesday

David Norris and Jessica Yeaton won the men’s and the women’s races today at Seward’s 91st Mt. Marathon Race. The course has been touted as one of the most difficult races in the world. Runners brave heat, slippery slopes, falling rocks and a 3,022-foot elevation gain. And it’s not just adults in their prime.

New law gives judges more discretion when setting bail

For the second time in six months, there’s a change coming in how defendants awaiting trial must post bail. As of January, most Alaskans charged with misdemeanor offenses didn’t have to post cash bail in order to be released from jail. But due to a new change in state law, this measure is being reversed.

Study examines risk to marine mammals from increased Arctic traffic

A study released this week sheds new light how vulnerable marine mammals are to increased traffic in the Arctic.

Alaska CDQ group wants Congress to count heads

The largest of the Community Development Quota groups says it's getting a raw deal. Coastal Villages Region Fund says it has the largest population and deserves a larger share of the fish.

Conoco buys BP’s stake in Alaska’s No. 2 oil field

Conoco is already the biggest oil producer in Alaska, but buying BP’s interest in Kuparuk adds to its growing presence west of Prudhoe Bay.

Yakutat sockeye fishery blindsided by historic low return

Commercial sockeye fishing in Yakutat has been closed due to historic low returns, leaving set-netters in a bind until coho and chum season later in the summer. Unlike other salmon fisheries around the Southeast, biologists never saw this coming.

On immigration, Sen. Sullivan calls for more facilities, better processing

Sen. Dan Sullivan addressed the Trump Administration’s immigration policies in Fairbanks on Sunday, emphasizing that the federal government is not currently set up to properly manage a flood of immigrants seeking asylum.

Gov. Walker asks to suspend Pebble environmental impact statement process

Gov. Bill Walker has asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to suspend the Environmental Impact Statement process for the proposed Pebble Mine. Listen now

Corrections seeks alternatives to halfway houses

One approach could be based on Haven House, which serves women in Juneau, and My House, which serves homeless teens in Wasilla. Listen now

Why all eyes are on Murkowski in Supreme Court confirmation battle

This week, Justice Anthony Kennedy announced he's retiring. Now, the future direction of the U.S. Supreme Court could rest on the shoulders of Sen. Lisa Murkowski and her colleague from Maine, Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Listen now