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 McDonald Fire

More than 100 wildfires are burning in Alaska, many of them in the Interior

Smokejumpers are responding to some of the fires, which are largely burning in remote areas of the state.
A white man in a police uniform at a wooden desk

Anchorage’s incoming mayor has named a new police chief

Deputy Chief Sean Case will lead APD beginning July 1. He says he brings a different policing style, and wants to shift the culture.
a Chilkat robe

A mystery Chilkat robe returns to Southeast Alaska

The robe was on display during Celebration in hopes that people might see it and know something about its origins.
a search

Body of missing Ketchikan woman found

Troopers say a walker spotted Christiana Watt's body at Ward Lake Monday morning. No foul play is initially suspected in her death.
a sign says "Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation"

Why Permanent Fund managers are again sounding the alarm about a key account running low

The Alaska Permanent Fund’s two-account structure means there’s a significant risk that it runs out of spendable cash in the coming years.
a truck says "keep st paul rat free!"

Possible rat sighting on remote St. Paul Island raises alarm

It may sound silly to outsiders, but for the remote Pribilof Island, a possible rat sighting could be a big deal.
Vivek Murthy

The surgeon general declared gun violence a public health crisis. What does that do?

The nation's top doctor has issued an advisory declaring gun violence a public health crisis and prescribing policy changes to treat it as such.
an office

After email leak, some Alaska legislators say they’re skeptical of Permanent Fund’s direction

The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee has oversight authority over the Permanent Fund. A performance audit could be in the offing.
sign posted on green grass says "sign here" and says ranked choice voting "get rid of it"

Witnesses say petitions to repeal Alaska’s election system were mishandled

The trial opened Monday in a lawsuit seeking to block a ballot measure that would repeal ranked choice voting and restore partisan primaries.
jackets hung up

Alaska foster families get another year of fully funded child care 

With the clock ticking on pandemic-era grants, state officials decided to foot the bill.

Anchorage woman who died during SWAT team standoff had pointed a rifle at her neighbor, police say

The police chief says it’s still unclear how 58-year-old Lisa Fordyce-Blair died. SWAT team members were not wearing body cameras.
a home

As millions struggle with home prices, housing becomes a top issue for voters

Across the country, including in swing states, people have been priced out of buying homes. Record numbers are finding rent unaffordable.
salmon

Much of Juneau’s king salmon fishery will close this summer, because of a 2020 landslide

Most of the chinook that were supposed to come back this year were killed after the landslide severed a hatchery's freshwater supply.
a proposed mine site

Federal case challenging Donlin mine’s environmental impact statement heads to court

Six Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta tribes continue to fight against federal permitting for the proposed Donlin Gold mine project.
an anchorage police car is parked in a parking lot

2 accused of murdering man in shooting near Anchorage homeless camp

Dominick L. Santana, 21, and Keilen J. Reynolds, 20, were held in Farrel Siulua's death after an alleged robbery escalated to gunfire.
a map

Hot, dry weather generates lightning-sparked wildfires across Interior Alaska

There are over 100 active wildfires burning in the state, with several hotshot crews en route from the Lower 48 to help Alaska firefighters.
pins

State judge upholds most fines against group seeking repeal of Alaska ranked choice voting

A measure seeking to eliminate ranked choice voting and the state’s open primary is on the November ballot.
the outside of a prison

Alaska serial killer Joshua Wade dies in Indiana prison

The cause of death for Wade, 44, who claimed responsibility for the deaths of five people in Alaska, is unknown.

In his final days as Anchorage mayor, Bronson says he’s focused on a smooth transition

Dave Bronson says he has a number of accomplishments he's proud of as well as a few regrets.
a woman

Climate change is muddying the future of trail maintenance in Southeast Alaska

Crews face more intense mud, erosion and wash-outs wreaking havoc on trails as human-caused climate change makes rainstorms more extreme.