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 woman smiles at the camera next to stained glass artwork.

Making Technicolor Glass Art From Upcycled Junk | INDIE ALASKA

Amy Vail grew up in a family of stained glass artists and continues that legacy with her Alaskan creations.
an app

Want to learn endangered Alaska Indigenous languages? There’s an app for that.

The new Sealaska Heritage Institute language apps, available on Apple and Google phones, are called SHI: Learning Haida and SHI: Learning Shm’algyack.
a warehouse

Roof of vacant, condemned Anchorage warehouse partially collapses under snow load

The owner of the warehouse on Gambell Street said the building had been condemned and was slated for demolition.
salmon

Southeast Alaska chinook stocks expected to be low again in 2024

Of the 11 chinook salmon stocks in the region, only the Chilkat River is expected to have an adequate number of chinook returning to spawn.

Anchorage therapist suggests how to survive the holidays when feeling sad

For Alaskans who have recently experienced tragedy or loss, the holidays can be especially hard. An Anchorage therapist has advice about how to make them manageable.
the Pacific Spaceport Complex

Alaska Aerospace could get a new CEO soon

Earlier this month, Gov. Mike Dunleavy rejected CEO candidate Sean Thomas and later ousted the board’s chair, Robert McCoy.
soldier boots

Cold-weather pay exists for some Alaska-based military members, but most Air Force personnel aren’t eligible

The Army pays soldiers extra for Alaska duty. Only a few far-flung airmen get hardship pay for their service in the 49th state.
Gregory Golodoff

Attu’s last survivor remembered for his leadership and forgiveness

Gregory Golodoff, the last surviving resident of Attu taken prisoner by the Japanese in 1942, had empathy for his captors before his death last month.
Blue police lights.

Southcentral Alaska vehicle collisions leave 3 dead

Two Anchorage residents died Saturday in a head-on crash near Glennallen, hours before a passenger struck by an Anchorage red-light runner died.
a drilling rig

ConocoPhillips announces official go-ahead for huge Willow oil project in Alaska

Construction is already underway on the North Slope drilling project, which the company expects to create about 300 long-term jobs.

Seward Highway reopens after avalanche closure

Crews cleared about 3 feet of snow from an area of highway roughly 400 feet long.
fishing vessels

Alaska lawmakers herald Biden administration closing of loophole on Russian seafood

Russia will no longer be able to sell seafood to U.S. markets after processing products through other countries.
A picture of a downtown skyline while it's snowing.

Anchorage used to have an active climate action plan. What happened to it? 

Under Mayor Dave Bronson, the city missed its 2023 annual report, and a link to the plan has been removed from the city website.
A ferry pulling away from shore

Ferry officials ‘hopeful’ – but not certain – they’ll have enough crew for seven-ship summer schedule

There’s enough money in the state ferry system’s budget to run seven ships this summer, but it’s unclear whether they’ll have enough crew.
soldiers in white uniforms hold a tow rope. They are in bunny boots strapped to skis

Whatever happened to ‘Arctic pay’ for the military?

In 2022, Congress authorized cold weather incentive pay for the military. A year later, no one has received the Arctic pay bonus.
a square building with a large black chimney with a sign that reads "Trident Seafoods"

Fishermen and community leaders react to Trident announcement to sell a third of its Alaska plants

Trident Seafoods shocked fleets when it announced last week it would sell plants in Kodiak, Petersburg, Ketchikan, and False Pass.
a business

Washington man pleads guilty to selling fake Alaska Native art in Ketchikan

Jessie Halili Reginio admitted to passing off Filipino-made stone carvings and wood totem poles as traditional art made by local Lingít and Haida artisans.
police

Juneau police detain man after 3-hour downtown standoff linked to drug investigation

Police said that two people exited the home early on in the search, but one refused to leave the building.

Anchorage’s homegrown Howard Weaver remembered as a ‘national-caliber newsman’

Tom Kizzia, who worked with the editor for more than a decade, says he urged Anchorage Daily News reporters to find stories on-the-fly in rural Alaska.
a sign

Alaska’s Division of Public Assistance makes progress on food stamp backlog

Earlier this month, food aid was delayed by more than a month for more than 12,000 Alaskans. That number is down to 10,074.