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.”

Southern California commuter service, Float Shuttle, will buy core Ravn assets for $8 million

Float Shuttle is buying nine of the Dash-8 planes and two of the federal operating certificates that Ravn's airlines, Corvus and PenAir, once used to fly passengers from Anchorage to the Aleutian Islands, the Kenai Peninsula and an array of other rural Alaska destinations.
a woman stands at a podium

Fewer classroom days, shorter hours and face masks: Anchorage School District announces plan for next month

The state’s largest school district says students will go into classrooms just two days a week when the school year begins next month. It hopes to later have students in the classroom five days.
An empty chamber as seen from a lectern

Kenai Assembly passes Second Amendment ‘sanctuary’ ordinance

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved an ordinance Tuesday night that reaffirms its support for Americans’ right to bear arms.
A sign on a beige wall that says "Anchorage Health Department"

City gives new warnings about bars and explains why it’s naming them

Patrons of the Blue Fox Cocktail Lounge and Eddie's Sports Bar who visited on July 2 may have been exposed to COVID-19, the Anchorage Office of Emergency Management said late Thursday in a release.

California entrepreneurs launched a business to fly over L.A. traffic. Now, they will operate Ravn’s routes.

Float Shuttle was the brainchild of a pair of California entrepreneurs, Tom Hsieh and Arnel Guiang, and it is a wholly different enterprise than the Alaska airlines that face rugged terrain and foul-weather flying. It outbid a team of Alaskans that included Lynden chairman Jim Jansen.

Bill to hobble development of ANWR and Tongass advances in US House

A House committee approved a bill that would erect barriers to oil development in the Arctic Refuge and logging in the Tongass National Forest.

With pushback from both sides, Wasilla High looks to re-work Native American warrior logo

The logo was redesigned just a few years ago, but the issue has now taken on a political tone.
A mine shaft in a granite mountain

Feds announce $7 million plan to seal Prince of Wales Island uranium mine

The state's only producing uranium mine was developed in the 1950s to fuel the nation's atomic reactors and to build nuclear weapons, but has been defunct since 1971.

Alaska’s daily COVID-19 count surpassed 100 for the first time on Sunday

The state reported 116 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday. It’s the largest single-day increase and the first time the state has seen over 100 cases in one day.

As Alaskans are staycationing on public lands, the waste is getting out of hand

Lots of people generate a lot of waste, and in some areas, that trash is being left behind.
A nurse in a white suit, mask and clothes holds a vial

Number of active COVID-19 infections among Alaskans now tops 900

State health officials on Monday reported 71 new coronavirus infections: 60 Alaskans and 11 non-residents.

Seward’s SeaLife Center warns it may have to close and send its animals away

The survival of the SeaLife Center is in jeopardy. It has a $2 million hole in its budget.
Workers sort crates of food at large tables inside a large room with skylights.

Assembly to vote on city purchase of 4 properties to provide homelessness resources

The Anchorage Assembly is expected to decide Tuesday whether to move forward with a plan to purchase four properties to turn into homelessness resource facilities. The properties, located in Downtown, Midtown and Spenard will help to distribute homeless care to more parts of the city.

Caribou heart was ‘a gift,’ says activist after disruption at Sullivan event

An activist brought a caribou heart to protest Sen. Sullivan's support of drilling in the Arctic Refuge.
A white man gestures at a podium

No new mandates: Gov. Dunleavy will continue to rely on voluntary measures in response to COVID-19

More than 20% of the 1,539 Alaskan cases have been announced in the last five days.

COVID-19 infections in Alaska are on the rise among younger adults

The trend is apparent in other states too where cases are rapidly rising, and public health officials are pleading with younger people to wear masks and social distance.
A courthouse sign

International ‘skimmer’ schemer caught in Alaska with illegal card-reading device, charges say

The charges say Marcus Catalin Rosu’s criminal activity spans the globe. In Alaska, Rosu faces one criminal count of “possession of counterfeit access device-making equipment,” which investigators allegedly found hidden in the ceiling tiles of his Anchorage hotel room.

Legislative finance director named University of Alaska interim president

Pat Pitney is the director of the Legislative Finance Division and a former vice chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She has also worked as the state budget director under former Gov. Bill Walker.