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.”

Murkowski talks climate change, health care during Juneau visit

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she’s skeptical President Donald Trump will be able to negotiate a better deal after pulling the U.S. out of the 195-nation Paris climate agreement. Listen now

Putin calls the recent U.S. anti-ballistic missile exercises a threat to Russia

Following a successful test of the United States' anti-ballistic missile capabilities this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the missile defense system's components in South Korea and Alaska a threat to Russia. Listen now

As lawmakers mull budget, unprecedented state shutdown looms

It’s the third straight year that state employees have been faced with the prospect of temporarily losing their jobs. Listen now

Senate passes opioid addiction prevention bill by wide margin

On Thursday, the state Senate overwhelmingly voted to pass a bill which would limit opioid prescriptions from health providers in the state as well as require training on opioid abuse for medical practitioners. HB 159 passed by a margin of 17 to one. Listen now

Brown bear shot on Douglas Island — the first documented kill in decades

A homeowner shot and killed a brown bear on Douglas Island last week. It’s the first brown bear documented on the island in more than 40 years. Listen now

Interior Secretary signs order aiming to open more of the North Slope to oil leasing

On Wednesday, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke ordered new studies on the oil and gas potential of federal land on the North Slope, including in the coastal plain of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Listen now

Ask a Climatologist: Will May gloom bring summer doom?

May weather can't tell us much about what the rest of the summer will hold in Southcentral Alaska. Listen now

U.S. Missile Defense conducts successful anti-ICBM test

On Tuesday, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency announced it conducted a successful test of a system designed to shoot down intercontinental ballistic missiles. It's the first test of the system by the U.S. in almost three years. Listen now

One victim in Portland hate speech stabbing has Juneau ties

Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche, 23, has a sister who lives in Juneau and works for AWARE as a violence prevention and outreach director. Listen now

Is Anchorage America’s most diverse city? Depends on who you ask

Anchorage boasts some of the most diverse neighborhoods in the country. But, is it the most diverse city in America? Listen now

Alaska reflects on Memorial Day

U.S. and Alaska flags were flying at half-staff today until noon in recognition of Memorial Day. Listen now

Teacher turnover costs state’s school districts around $20M per year

Alaska schools hire about 1,000 new teachers each year to offset the annual turnover of staff. And it's a process that doesn't come cheap. Listen now
(Creative Commons photo by Matt’ Johnson)

Troopers identify 2 Juneau men in plane crash near Haines

Two plane crashes took the lives of four people in Alaska on Saturday. Listen now

This weekend, Ryan Zinke makes inaugural Alaska visit as Interior Secretary

Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke is visiting Alaska this weekend. Listen now

AK: Fire investigators train to determine how blazes begin

When a fire breaks out, it’s not always obvious how it started. Not only could the entire structure be wiped out, but items that started the fire could be partially destroyed or altered beyond recognition. That’s the job of the fire investigator: interview witnesses and find clues at the scene that would help them determine how the fire started. Listen now

Per diems driving special session costs

The cost to taxpayers of going past the 90-day legislative session set by state law is roughly $1 million – and rising. Listen now

House and Senate disagree on much, but agree on using computer model

Many things divide the Alaska Senate and the House about the future of the state’s budget. One thing that can unite them is the numbers they use to determine how big of a hole in the budget they have to fill. Listen now

Young joins Afghanistan war skeptics in Congress

Rep. Don Young wants to know why Americans are still fighting in Afghanistan. He has co-sponsored a bill that would end funding for the war in a year, unless the president and Congress affirm the need for it. Listen now

Many GCI customers will see internet bills go up

Many customers of Alaska telecommunications company GCI will see the cost of their internet service increase next month. Listen now

220 Anchorage teachers receive layoff notices

Two-hundred-twenty teachers in the Anchorage School District on Wednesday received layoff notices. The pink slips were issued as legislators contend with a $2.5 billion budget deficit, leaving education funding levels for the coming year uncertain. Listen now