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.”

Sweeping government climate report warns of rapid warming in Alaska, Arctic

A new government report warns that regions across the U.S. are feeling the effects of rapid climate change, with some of the greatest impacts in Alaska and the Arctic. And it states the evidence that human activity is driving climate change is stronger than ever. Listen now

Walker receives national attention as example for political independents

Walker said on Politico’s Off Message podcast that Trump’s stated wish to achieve energy dominance is good for Alaska. Listen now

US Senate passes marine debris bill

A bill targeting plastic waste in the ocean and other marine debris cleared the U.S. Senate last week. Sen. Dan Sullivan sponsored it, with support from right and left. Listen now

Fish and Game to shut down Southeast commercial and sport king fishing

The Alaska Department of Fish & Game is shutting down all commercial and sport fishing for king salmon in Southeast Alaska. Listen now

Drue Pearce appointed to US pipeline safety agency

A former Alaska Senate president has a new job in the Trump administration. Drue Pearce is now the deputy administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Listen now

Trump administration signals it could open more of the Arctic to drilling

The Bureau of Land Management announced Monday that it will consider allowing oil development in parts of the National Petroleum Reserve on Alaska's North Slope that are currently protected. Listen now

Witness hearings start Monday in F/V Destination investigation

Starting Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard is holding two weeks of public hearings as part of its investigation into the sinking of the F/V Destination. Listen now

State budget cuts hitting Interior’s main public media company

KUAC, which brings public radio and television programming to Fairbanks, the Interior, and communities across rural Alaska, is scaling back its operations. Listen now

State lets Conoco expand North Slope unit, but with conditions

The state is trying to speed up development of oil fields on the North Slope by putting pressure on ConocoPhillips to explore a new area. Listen now

U.S. senators: Same state, same party, not same page

While Sen. Murkowski was in the national spotlight for defying her party on health care, Sen. Sullivan, stuck to the party line and attracted little attention. The two senators vote opposite each other more than most Republican pairs from the same state. Listen now

AK: Southeast researchers are keeping up with the humpbacks

When animals are removed from the Endangered Species List, who keeps tabs on them? Often, the work of monitoring populations falls on volunteers. Listen now

Lt. Gov. Mallott says he and Gov. Walker will run for re-election

Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott said Wednesday that he and Gov. Bill Walker will run for re-election next year. He also said they’ll run together. Even for incumbents, that may be an uphill fight. Listen now

Climate change may have driven gray whale up Kuskowkim

Climate change may be responsible for pushing Alaska’s Gray Whales up into estuaries and rivers like the Kuskokwim. Listen now
Interior Secretary Zinke posted this photo of Sen. Murkowski and him drinking two Alaska Brewing Company pale ales on Thursday. (Twitter photo from Ryan Zinke)

Zinke tweets beer pic showing he’s A-OK with Murkowski

If harsh words were spoken, Sen. Lisa Murkowski appears to have patched things up with Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke. Zinke tweeted a picture of himself and Murkowski having beers together, two Alaskan Brewing Company pale ales. Listen now

Closed process on capital budget draws criticism

In five and a half hours on July 27, the two chambers met, formed a conference committee and passed the $1.4 billion capital budget. Listen now

Ask a Climatologist: August is Alaska’s rainiest month

August is the rainiest month in Alaska. But how rainy? That depends on where you live. Listen now

Premera says ACA premiums to drop 22%

Finally, a bit of good news about Alaska's health care marketplace: Premera says premiums on the government-run exchange will decrease in 2018 by 22 percent. This is despite uncertainty about what the Trump administration might do as it administers Barack Obama's signature health care law. The rate could drop further still. Listen now

With cut after cut, state food safety inspections stretch years apart

Outside of Anchorage, the state's Food Safety and Sanitation Program is responsible for inspecting restaurants, pools, spas, tattoo parlors, food processors and other facilities. But after several years of state budget cuts, fewer inspectors are paying fewer visits -- especially to rural Alaska. Listen now

State Sen. Gary Stevens files to run for lieutenant governor

Longtime Kodiak resident Republican state Sen. Gary Stevens will run for lieutenant governor in 2018. Listen now