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.”

2 men tried to illegally smuggle snowmachines from U.S. to Russia, feds say

Prosecutors say Sergey Nefedov and Mark Shumovich tried to evade U.S. export controls on snowmachines during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
a man

A petition to put king salmon on the endangered species list is raising alarm across Alaska

People across Alaska are reacting to a petition that would grant Gulf of Alaska king salmon Endangered Species Act protections.
a person prepares a mixed drink at a restaurant bar

Anchorage restaurants can now start serving alcohol 2 hours earlier

Under the new rules approved by the Assembly, restaurants can serve alcohol starting at 8 a.m.
a man

Former Homeland Security officer in Anchorage sentenced to 7 years for sexual assault

A Superior Court judge called Bert Christopher Heitstuman a “serial predator” who abused his authority to attack women he worked with.
Peter Maassen

Dunleavy will be asked to pick fourth Alaska Supreme Court justice

By February, Gov. Mike Dunleavy will have appointed four of the five Supreme Court justices, and the next opening isn't for years.
a young woman poses for a photo in a building

How a 12-year-old got an Anchorage street named after a Harry Potter location

In the Harry Potter universe, Grimmauld Place is where Potter’s godfather Sirius Black lives. Now it's a West Anchorage street.
ballot document

Sponsors of petition to repeal Alaska’s ranked choice voting score a partial win in court

A lawsuit claims repeal petition sponsors made serious mistakes when they gathered signatures. Part of the case is still pending.
A woman speaking at a podium.

Anchorage Economic Development Corp. is asking residents what projects they want to fund from a proposed sales tax

Two-thirds of the tax would be dedicated to property tax relief and the other third would fund public projects.
Children throw gravel with shovels.

The replacement of one of Anchorage’s oldest schools is underway

Inlet View Elementary School was built in 1957. Supporters of the rebuild say the school is too old and too crowded.
lightning

In Juneau, years can pass without a thunderstorm. Why are they so rare?

The National Weather Service has only issued one severe thunderstorm warning in Southeast Alaska since the 1890s.
an Eielson Air Force Base F-16

Eielson looking into cause of F-16’s in-flight emergency

The May 28 incident led an Eielson Air Force Base F-16 pilot to jettison the plane's two fuel tanks, which struck uninhabited land near the Tanana River.
a toddler

Toddlers strut their Southeast Alaska regalia at Celebration

This year, nearly 30 toddlers participated, all between the ages of around 2 and 5.
a fish

Climate change disruptions to Alaska marine fisheries scrutinized at Kodiak workshop

It is hard to address sudden shocks like marine heatwaves that are expected to be more frequent, participants said.
Hunter Biden

Hunter Biden found guilty of felony gun charges

The president's son also faces tax charges in a separate prosecution scheduled to go to trial in September.
skiffs

Yukon River communities balance conservation, survival amid near-total salmon fishing closures

The recently signed seven-year agreement to close chinook fishing was “the bold step that needed to be taken,” a federal manager says.
a police vehicle

Former Skagway resident charged with manslaughter in 2 overdose deaths

Jacob Cotton, 33, is also charged with misconduct involving controlled substances in the 2023 fentanyl deaths of Anthony Bowers and James Cook.

Anchorage Mayor-elect LaFrance announces chief of staff and municipal manager

Suzanne LaFrance has hired Becky Windt Pearson as her municipal manager and Katie Scovic as her chief of staff.
a library

Drag story hour carries on in Seward despite a bomb threat and evacuation

Families evacuated from Seward's library and Museum moments before Saturday's story hour began. It continued at the Alaska SeaLife Center.
A man in a black t-shirt and down vest.

18-year-old Mat-Su grad seeks seat on school board that silenced him

“I thought that sitting on the board as student representative would be enough to make a positive change within our district, but I realized it wasn’t,” Ben Kolendo said.

Assembly leaders aim to postpone police chief confirmation until LaFrance takes office

Assembly chair Chris Constant said the decision to name the next chief should come from the next administration.