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.”

Fate of competing plans to close state budget is uncertain

To some House members, reintroducing an income tax in Alaska is the best way to close a long-term gap between how much the state government spends and what it raises in revenue. Listen now

Narcan saves lives in opioid epidemic but is only first step

The state’s Department of Health and Social Services is starting to distribute Narcan kits around Alaska. The nasal spray stops opioid overdoses. For one woman at the Covenant House, helping build the kits is personal. The drug has saved her life. Listen now

Scientists agree starvation killed hundreds of puffins, but did PSP play a role?

What caused more than 300 puffins to wash up dead in the Pribilof Islands last fall? Starvation. At least, that’s the consensus among most scientists. Listen now

Climate change hits Alaska’s rural water and sewer systems

For decades, Alaska has struggled to get running water and sewer systems to its rural communities. An estimated 3,000 households — or about 10,000 people — still lack both. Now, that job may be getting harder, as climate change exacerbates old problems and creates new ones. Listen now

Young pulls punches for this road foe

Rep. Don Young is known to berate Democrats and environmentalists who oppose his efforts to get a road for King Cove. Young accuses them of being indifferent to the lives of his constituents, the Alaska Natives who reside in a remote, isolated community. But at a hearing Wednesday, the witness who spoke against the road was also an Alaska Native from a remote, isolated community. And this wasn’t just about the road. Listen now

Senate Finance budget cut falls short of $300 million goal

The Senate will debate a state government budget for the coming year that is $262 million less than the current budget. Listen now

In Tyonek, celebration as a coal mining company backs down

Residents of the tiny Cook Inlet village of Tyonek are celebrating after news that a company attempting to develop a massive coal mine near their village has shelved the project. Listen now

Anchorage voters opt for bonds, more liberal Assembly

Progressive candidates and incumbents win, along with former law-maker in Eagle River and an upset in south Anchorage. Taxi proposition and ambulance bond measure fail. Listen now

Predator hunting limits repealed for refuges

President Donald Trump on Monday signed a measure repealing federal limits on predator hunting on Alaska’s national wildlife refuges. Listen now

Forest Service mishandled timber sales, environmental group says

A Washington D.C., environmental group is accusing the Tongass National Forest of breaking its own timber-sale rules. Listen now

Schlepping bronze, a Ketchikan artist retraces Seward’s route

A Ketchikan artist went on a mission in Washington, D.C.: to find the spot where William Seward signed the treaty to buy Alaska from Russia. He was searching for a thread of history and he didn't come empty-handed. Listen now

State confident less than 10 gallons of crude leaked into Cook Inlet, continues investigation

Ten gallons or less: that’s how much crude oil state regulators think leaked from a pipeline in Cook Inlet last weekend. Listen now

Colorado-based conglomerate buys GCI

Alaska’s largest telecommunications company, GCI, has been acquired by a larger conglomerate. Listen now

Cook Inlet leaks draw more scrutiny for Hilcorp and its aging infrastructure

State regulators on Monday announced an oil leak from an underwater pipeline owned by Hilcorp in Cook Inlet was halted successfully. Listen now

Senate committee seeks to cut per-student school funding

Alaska schools would see a $69 million cut in the amount of money the state provides based on the number of students each school district serves, called the base student allocation, under the budget proposed by the Senate Finance Committee on Monday. Listen now

What are the 8 ballot measures in Anchorage’s Tuesday election?

When Anchorage voters head to the polls for municipal elections on Tuesday, residents in every corner of town will be choosing representatives for the Assembly. More than half of the 11 seats are up for election, which could tip the body's balance of power. There are also two school board races.
An oil platform in ocean

Crude oil leak in Cook Inlet halted successfully; spill volume still unknown

State regulators on Monday said a leak from a crude oil pipeline in Cook Inlet was halted successfully.

Police say doctor’s death ‘suspicious,’ theft charges filed against friend

The death of Ketchikan doctor Eric Garcia earlier this week is now considered suspicious after police learned the friend who reported Garcia missing on March 27 had allegedly stolen money and valuable items from Garcia’s home. Listen now

Hilcorp reports another leak in Cook Inlet; this time it’s oil

The dominant oil and gas producer in Cook Inlet has shut down production at two of its platforms after discovering an oil spill.

Southeast tribal court builds on its experience

Southeast Alaska’s largest tribal court operation just celebrated its 10th anniversary. Listen now