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.”

AK: Everyone is family at Gerry’s Barbershop

Gerry’s Barbershop has been around for nearly three decades in Juneau. Listen Now

Strong turnout in early voting across Alaska

With days left, 46,000 Alaskans have already voted early, about half the number as last year. Listen Now

Lake Clark plane crash victim found

After six days, the body of missing pilot David McRae and his plane have finally been found in Lake Clark National Park. Lieutenant Colonel Candis Olsmstead directs public affairs for the Alaska National Guard said weather cleared enough today to get close to the area. The Civil Air Patrol helped with the search and ultimately found the site. Listen Now

Man convicted in Tanana trooper killings sentenced to 203 years in prison

The man convicted of killing two Alaska State Troopers,in the Interior village of Tanana in 2014 was sentenced Wednesday to 203 years in jail. Twenty-two-year-old Nathanial Kangas was convicted for the murders of Sgt. Scott Johnson and trooper Gabe Rich. Listen Now

Alaskan Cub superfans react to their team’s historic victory

Last night, an estimated 40 million people tuned in to game seven of the World Series. What they saw was history in the making: the Chicago Cubs beat Cleveland, 8-7 in 10 innings to win their first title since before World War I. Listen Now

Abortion ruling at center of justices’ retention battle

Voters will decide whether to keep two Alaska Supreme Court justices on Election Day. Alaska Family Action, which described itself as focused on advancing biblical principles, opposes retaining the judges. But advocates for keeping the judges said the group’s opposition to the judges could harm the state’s tradition of choosing and keeping judges based on merit. Listen Now

Alaska’s top oil companies adjusting to low prices

The big three oil majors that operate in Alaska — BP, ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil Corp. — all released third quarter earnings results in the past week. Listen Now

Search continues for downed pilot in Lake Clark National Park

It’s been five days since Anchorage pilot David McRae’s plane went down in Lake Clark National Park last Friday. With a window of slightly better weather this morning, the Alaska Air National Guard continued search efforts by helicopter and C-130. Listen Now

Ask a Climatologist: Arctic sea ice at record low for the season

This late in the fall, Arctic sea ice should be forming near the community of Barrow. Instead, the ocean is open for hundreds of miles. Barrow also shattered its record for the highest average temperature for October. Listen Now

Unlawful ‘free samples’ postpone Anchorage’s first pot shop

In an unexpected move, the Anchorage Assembly has put a stop on what would have been the first retail marijuana business in Alaska’s largest city. At least for now. Listen Now

Mental Health advocates asking Governor to look into actions of Mental Health Trust

Mental health advocates are expressing concern that the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority is straying from its mission after the sudden resignation of its CEO, and several groups are calling for special audits of the trust. Listen Now

Alaska Air flight grounded after e-cig batteries ingnite

Passengers on an Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Anchorage on Sunday were delayed over 5 hours after a passenger’s backpack started burning. Batteries for an e-cigarette are the likely culprit. Listen Now

Miller irks GOP by sending old flyers bashing Murkowski

In another sign that this is a strange election year, the U.S. Senate campaign of Libertarian Joe Miller is mailing leftover flyers the Alaska Republican Party printed in 2010, but didn’t send. The flyers are critical of the incumbent, Sen. Lisa Murkowski. In 2010, she was the candidate the party was trying to defeat in the General Election. Now, though, Murkowski is the Republican nominee, so the Republicans are crying foul on Miller. Listen Now

With money from Murkowski, GOP assails Miller

The Alaska Republican Party is attacking U.S. Senate candidate Joe Miller in a series of hard-hitting mailers. This is the same Joe Miller who was the Republican Party’s own nominee six years ago, when he beat the incumbent, Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Now the party is accepting money from Murkowski’s campaign and using it against Miller, which he calls "money laundering." The party says it’s perfectly legal. Listen Now

Mushers frustrated over cell phones on Iditarod trail

Mushers are expressing frustration over two controversial rule changes to the Iditarod made during a board meeting today.

AK: Protecting the environment and preserving the heritage of Denali’s dogs

There's only one national park in America where some of the Rangers are canines: Denali National Park. In the summers, the dogs serve as ambassadors, but during the winter months, they ferry researchers and park employees through areas closed to motorized vehicles. Listen Now

Dutch Harbor remains nation’s top fishing port

On dinner tables across the country, Americans are eating more fish. The United States is responsible for more fish consumption than all other countries, except for China. Listen Now

Alaskan says Justice Thomas groped her in 1999

Moira Smith says U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas groped her 17 years ago. Thomas calls the accusation "preposterous." Listen Now

University of Alaska seeks cuts to skiing and indoor track programs

The University of Alaska is recommending elimination of 6 sports teams. Under the cost saving proposal rolled out at an Anchorage press conference by UA President Jim Johnsen Thursday, the University of Alaska Fairbanks would lose its cross-country ski teams, and the University of Alaska Anchorage would drop its ski and indoor track squads. Listen Now

Amid audit and a case backlog, state Human Rights Commission tries to move forward

ASCHR is the state’s anti-discrimination agency. In 2011, a legislative audit found that the agency wasn’t doing its job. But amid complaints to the governor’s office and a new director with no legal experience, the commission is trying to move forward. Listen Now