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 man hugs a person in a smiling crowd

Race for Alaska’s congressional seat tilts Begich with almost all precincts counted

Republican challenger Nick Begich III has a solid lead in the race for Alaska’s U.S. House seat.
A woman in a dark blue coat waves a sign.

Effort to repeal Alaska’s ranked choice voting still holds narrow lead

Ballot Measure 2 is ahead by 4,289 votes. That's a margin of less than 2 percentage points.

How Alaska legislative races are shaping up

So far, many coalition-minded Senate candidates are leading, and control of the state House is up in the air.
a woman at a podium

Harris concedes the election but vows to not stop fighting for a better future

In a speech at Howard University, Harris urged people to join her in mobilizing and organizing for a better future. She also said she called Trump to offer help with the peaceful transition of power.
Alaska Supreme Court justices

Alaska Supreme Court makes its first school visit to Nome

During Monday's Supreme Court LIVE event at Nome-Beltz High School, justices heard a case before a student audience.
Blue police lights.

2 charged with attempting to murder trooper during high-speed Parks Highway chase

Troopers say two people fired at a pursuing officer Tuesday during a 100-mph chase on the Parks Highway, narrowly missing his head.
Donald Trump

How Trump won a second term as president in 2024

In his return to power, Trump defied many expectations. He is the first convicted felon to win the White House.
a ballot

Bethel’s absentee in-person polling location ran out of official ballots hours before closing

The recording of votes on sample ballots prompted concern on a community Facebook page. But the state said it was perfectly legal.
a rally

Trump closes in on Alaska win, aiming for 15th consecutive Republican victory in the state

If Trump wins, Alaska will have voted for the Republican in every election since it became a state, except for Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
A sign reads "Nesbett Courthouse," behind the sign, pedestrians walk on the sidewalk.

Alaska voters retain all 19 state judges on the ballot

The vote was closest for Superior Court Judge Adolf Zeman who faced an effort to oust him after a controversial homeschool decision.

Election Day live updates: Trump wins 2024 election after taking Wisconsin

NPR updates from across the U.S. as Americans head to the polls for the last day to cast their vote in the 2024 election.
a trooper car

Parks Highway reopens at Houston after troopers detain 2 people in search

Daniel Buckwalter Jr., 24 of Wasilla, and Autumn Duczek, 41 of Houston, were arrested on multiple charges.

Alaska elections officials hope to avoid problems with rural voting, as seen in primary

Kaktovik, on an island in the Arctic Ocean, was one of two Alaska communities whose polling places didn't open for the primary.
an elector

How has the Electoral College survived, despite being perennially unpopular?

Despite its name, the Electoral College isn’t so much a body as a process. For decades, a majority of Americans have wanted it changed.
a voter

Feds to monitor compliance with voting rights laws in rural Alaska

Monitoring will focus on the Bethel, Dillingham and Kusilvak Census Areas, as well as the North Slope and Northwest Arctic Boroughs.
An at home drug test.

Alaskans are increasingly abusing multiple drugs, complicating treatment

Combining drugs increases risk of overdose and makes withdrawal and getting medication assisted therapy more complex.
Parents pack the Anchorage School Board meeting.

Bear Valley parents pack school board meeting to protest Anchorage school closure proposal

The school board heard over three hours of testimony about the proposed school closure list.
a line of people stand outside

Alaskans line up like never before to vote early in the November election

More than 100,000 Alaskans had already voted by early Monday. That includes early in-person voters, who have exceeded the record the state set four years ago.
A person's leg sticking out of a voting booth.

In close races this Election Day, it will likely be weeks before Alaska knows the results

Though officials will begin releasing first-round results starting shortly after the polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday, in close races, there’s only so much Alaskans will know on election night.
a river

New road for Canadian mine worries Wrangell residents downstream

The site of the Galore Creek Mine, northeast of Wrangell, is very close to headwaters of the Stikine River.