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.”

Senators stick by Trump, but how close?

WASHINGTON - Alaska’s U.S. senators helped President Trump fill out his cabinet this week, but in different degrees. With a new, colorful president in the White House, each of them has to decide how close to stand to the standard-bearer of their party. Listen now

Alaska Marijuana Control Board nixes on-site consumption

The state’s Marijuana Control Board was set to regulate the consumption of marijuana at licensed retailers. If it had been approved, Alaska would have been the first state in the nation to allow on-site consumption. But that’s now moot. Listen now

ConocoPhillips still struggling globally, but profitable in Alaska

ConocoPhillips on Thursday announced it netted $115 million in Alaska last quarter — almost double what it earned in the third quarter. But the Houston-based company is still grappling with a multi-billion dollar global loss. Listen now

Sweeping criminal justice overhaul under fire — and revision

Legislators are considering changes to a seven-month-old law that overhauled the criminal justice system. The commission that helped shape the law has recommended 14 changes to it. Listen now

Alaska congressional delegation avoids criticizing refugee ban

Sen. Lisa Murkowski issued a statement on President Trump’s controversial refugee ban that avoids both endorsement and criticism. Meanwhile, Sen. Dan Sullivan supports the president's order, and Rep. Don Young's office put out a supportive statement. Listen now

Living in a dreamscape: How one couple forged a future on the Yukon River

When writer John McPhee arrived on the Yukon River in the mid-1970s, he encountered men and women living as far from civilization as they could manage. He profiled many of these people in the third section of his book, “Coming into the Country.” One of the people McPhee met during this time was Steve Ulvi. For a decade beginning in 1974, Ulvi and his soon-to-be wife Lynette Roberts lived hundreds of miles from the nearest city in a cabin they built near the Yukon River. Listen now

Alaskans show the flag at Washington March for Life

It was another day of massive demonstration in Washington, D.C. today, this time for the annual March for Life. We caught up with a contingent from Eagle River, and a Catholic chaplain from Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. Listen now

AK: At the planetarium, auroras shown in a new light

Through a mix of science, art, and traditional knowledge, a new film is casting the northern lights as something more than a mere novelty, as researchers try to tell a more comprehensive story about the phenomenon. Listen now

State leaders seek business input on effort to develop economy

Business and community leaders have told state officials they’d like to see new sources of money to finance economic development. Listen now

An Alaskan couple looks back at romance and upheaval in the wilderness

During the 1970s, a small number of tough-minded young people moved into what is now the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. They built cabins, trapped, fished, hunted and raised sled-dogs — living a version of the Alaskan dream that would soon become a thing of the past. The third section of John McPhee’s book, “Coming into the Country,” profiles many of these people, living a life only the Alaskan frontier could offer. Listen now

State agency could offer public comment period on fracking projects

The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) is proposing a ten-day comment period for applications to use hydraulic fracturing on an oil or gas well. The proposal falls in between what environmental groups and the industry say is sufficient opportunity for public input before a well can be fracked in Alaska. Listen now

Bill would have gun owners forfeit weapons if found to be threat by judge

Alaskans can have firearms even when family or law enforcement officers believe they are a threat to themselves or others. But a new bill would allow judges to issue protective orders making them temporarily surrender their guns. Listen now

Murkowski praises Trump pipeline initiatives

On Jan. 24, President Donald Trump signed memos aimed at advancing two controversial pipelines and speeding environmental reviews of other energy projects. Listen now

Pete Kaiser wins third consecutive Kuskokwim 300

His was the team to beat and no-one could. Sunday morning for the third year in a row, Pete Kaiser won the 2017 Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race, crossing the finish line in Bethel at 10:37 a.m. to loud cheers from his hometown crowd. His leader Palmer brought home the nine-dog team, 28 minutes faster than last year. Listen now

Could ticketing the homeless help downtown Juneau?

Local policymakers are considering giving police the power to ticket homeless people that sleep outside in downtown Juneau. A statewide count conducted a year ago found 50 people living without shelter in the community, and another 160 in shelters and transitional housing. Listen now

Kuskokwim and bogus mushers get welcome break from past years with snowy trail

Friday, on the Kuskokwim River outside Bethel, nine mushers and their teams will dash under the start banner for the Bogus Creek 150. An hour and a half later, 20 more will follow over a trail twice as long in the 38th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race. Listen now

AK: Wintertime basketball in Kake

Wintertime means a few things in rural Alaska. Dog mushing. Sub-zero temperatures. And basketball. Basketball is a cornerstone this time of the year in many villages, a gathering point for family members and fans to cheer on young players. Listen now

For US senators, it’s all in the question

U.S. senators take a variety of postures as they question cabinet nominees at confirmation hearings. Some interrogate. Some toss softballs. Many grandstand. Alaska’s two senators stuck to a few time-honored tactics as the engaged with nominees. Listen now

Young to have front-row seat as Trump takes oath

If you plan to watch Donald Trump get sworn in, look for Alaska Congressman Don Young on your screen. The Congressman said he’ll likely have a high-profile seat. Listen now

Obama denies Newtok’s request for disaster declaration

President Barack Obama has turned down a request from the western Alaska village of Newtok for a disaster declaration. Listen now