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.”

a person shows their ballot before placing it in a secure ballot drop box

Dunbar and Bronson still lead Anchorage mayor’s race as more ballots are counted

Assembly member Forrest Dunbar and former Air Force pilot Dave Bronson are still leading the race for mayor after the Anchorage municipal clerk added a second batch of votes to the results of the April 6 election Wednesday afternoon.

Alaska legislators apologize after breaking COVID rules by bringing friends for ping-pong, basketball at Capitol gym

Members of the public who are barred from the state Capitol complex due to pandemic safety rules attended a social gathering with legislators in a complex building last week.

Alaska Supreme Court restores access to public employee and teacher retirement benefits

Now, as many as 78,000 Alaskans could buy their way back into the state’s more generous retirement benefit programs.

Alaska sues PFAS makers as lawmakers seek broader action from regulators

Alaska is suing chemical manufacturers over PFAS, toxic compounds that have contaminated water in more than a dozen communities across the state.
Fresh snow April 8, 2021 on a pair of pickups in East Anchorage

Arctic air hitting Anchorage ‘like a freight train,’ with -25 F wind chill

Unseasonably cold air swept into Alaska’s largest city Thursday, and forecasters expect it to stay through the weekend.
aerial photo of buildings and trees

Dunleavy’s $70m cut to UA could cost the state $130m in federal pandemic funds

The American Rescue Plan has a lot of money for schools. But Alaska may not be able to collect its full share, due to pre-pandemic cuts to the university.
a nurse administers a vaccine to a patient

Cases are rising again, but Alaska’s rate of vaccination is slowing

Anchorage COVID-19 vaccinations are starting to plateau, while case numbers are rising. And that has the city’s epidemiologist worried.
The University of Alaska Anchorage sign photographed outside.

ASD superintendent and former governor among 8 finalists to lead University of Alaska Anchorage

The three Alaskans in the running to serve as leader of the state’s largest university are Anchorage School District Superintendent Deena Bishop, former Gov. Sean Parnell and Pearl Brower, former president of Iḷisaġvik College in Utqiaġvik.
a person drops a ballot into a secure ballot box.

Extra marks on ballots held up tabulating on Anchorage’s Election Night

Results in the Anchorage election came in slowly this year. Last year the elections center got through more than half the ballots the first night, but by Tuesday night, less than a fifth of the total ballots that had been received were tabulated. On Wednesday evening, the clerk’s office explained the early reports were held up by some unusually marked ballots.
An oil platform at dusk

Hilcorp ordered to replace gas pipeline with history of leaks

The last time the pipe leaked, in 2017, Hilcorp didn’t complete repairs for three months, citing danger from ice in the inlet. Sea ice is again a problem.
Show host talks to guest over Zoom.

How the pandemic has further strained recovery resources | Alaska Insight

has consumed the attention of many of us over the past year, but another killer has continued to claim lives. Overdose deaths are on the rise, and the need for substance abuse resources in Alaska is pressing. How have recovery programs around the state adjusted their services to meet the demand?

‘Green bank’ for sustainable energy projects finds favor with Dunleavy and Young

Gov. Mike Dunleavy recently introduced a bill to create a state "green bank," which would give finance renewable energy projects in Alaska.
A man in a zip up windbreaker speaks at a podium in front of a float plane

Gov. Dunleavy announces national Alaska tourism ad campaign to counter ‘death grapple’ with CDC

The CDC’s position is just one federal issue that could prevent cruise ships from coming to Alaska. Another is a federal law that requires cruise ships headed to Alaska to stop in Canada, which won’t allow stops until next year.
glaciere in a snow-covered mountainn valley

Denali Park glacier surging 65 feet a day, threatening summit route

The Muldrow Glacier on the north side of Denali National Park is advancing at 100 times its normal rate.
A hand-drawn sign at a downtown that says 'masks required'

Anchorage acting mayor seeks emergency order extension

Currently, the emergency proclamation includes gathering-size restrictions, social distancing requirements in restaurants, bars and other businesses, health restrictions for some sports teams and a citywide mask mandate and would expire at the end of this week.
portrait of woman with traditional Alaska Native chin tattooing

For newly minted Iñupiaq doctoral graduate, opening doors for more Native scholars remains vital

The process of earning a doctorate takes a lot of time and work. And for one Iñupiaq woman, hearing the words doctor next to her name was emotional: Her response to passing her dissertation defense went viral this month after hundreds of thousands of people watched her reaction.
signs on a door

Anchorage mayor loosens pandemic restrictions, plus adds incentive to get vaccinated

Embedded in the new emergency order is an incentive to get a COVID-19 vaccine: once 70% of eligible Anchorage residents are vaccinated, the restrictions become merely an “advisory” instead of law.
A redish wooden uilding with a sign that says "norwegian rat" in a foggy location

Bering Sea fishermen likely had COVID-19 and still went to Unalaska bar. Now, locals have to quarantine.

The fishermen came from a vessel where COVID-19 cases were suspected, but still visited Unalaska's popular Norwegian Rat Saloon during Saturday's margarita and taco night.
A man with tatooed arms gets a vaccine while giving a shaka symbol

You’re vaccinated for COVID-19. Now what can you do?

Alaska doctors share tips for navigating indoor gatherings, going out to dinner, traveling and more.
Woman in hallway

Interior Department chooses Native woman for top Alaska advisor

Interior today named Raina Thiele, a veteran of the Obama White House, to be top advisor on Alaska issues