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 toy bunny

State compiles first comprehensive account of Alaska children’s stress and trauma

A new bulletin presents baseline information about adverse childhood experiences in Alaska that are known to lead to poor health outcomes.
the Willow project

State labor department forecasts modest job growth in 2024 fueled by infrastructure and energy spending

A new report predicts the state will add 5,400 jobs in 2024, a 1.7% increase, with bright spots in construction, mining and oil and gas.
A police car marked as Anchorage Police.

Anchorage woman wounded in domestic violence shooting, vehicle chase

Police say Isaiah N. Savok, 27, fired point-blank at an SUV near Point Woronzof early Sunday, then rammed it off a nearby road.
Museum-goers and listen to audio and look at a collection of photos on a red wall.

Anchorage Museum exhibit explores climate change through resilience and care

“How to Survive” uses works from Alaska and beyond to highlight how investing in community and caring can be forms of climate mitigation.
a dock

Unauthorized $10M steel purchase for Haines dock provokes borough political crisis

Borough officials were surprised and angered by the purchase, which comes as newly elected leaders had expressed interest in changing the dock's design.
The glass door to the entrance of the PFD office. In black lettering is "PFD State of Alaska, Lobby hours Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m."

Alaskans begin filing for 2024 Permanent Fund Dividends

Eligible Alaska residents have until March 31 to file PFD applications with the state Department of Revenue.

After Wrangell’s deadly landslide, dogs helped the search and rescue team

After Wrangell’s deadly landslide last month, search and rescue teams worked around the clock for days looking through debris for six missing people. Teams of dogs assisted.
photo: news conference

A suit over federal emissions rules caps an active year for Alaska in federal court

Attorney General Treg Taylor has cast the growing volume of litigation as a response to threats from the federal government and outside groups.

Tribes organize ‘First Indigenous Sovereign Habitat Tribal Conservation District’ from Bering Sea to Interior Alaska

38 tribes would like to co-manage land near their villages, to have their say over federal acreage that's been in land-use limbo since 1971.
a trooper car

Man charged with manslaughter, DUI in woman’s death near Big Lake

Billy Sheldon, 33, was over twice the legal limit when he fatally struck Kotzebue resident Athena Chambers early Thursday, troopers said.

Ex-Alaska trooper gets 4 years for planned sexual abuse of teen he pulled over

Vance Peronto, 63, was sentenced on one count of attempted child sexual abuse in the 2018 case stemming from a Soldotna-area traffic stop.
a search

Troopers suspend search for woman missing under Eagle River ice

Active efforts to find 45-year-old Amanda Richmond have been called off, after extensive air and water searches with drones and sonar.
a plane crash

Passenger in Anchor Point plane crash dies as NTSB report shows buckled wing during descent

Alaska State Troopers say Kristen Fenske died Wednesday morning, after the Dec. 8 crash that killed pilot Kurt Stjean.
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.