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.”

NOAA law enforcement researches sexual harassment, assault among fisheries observers

NOAA’s office of law enforcement officials presented a report about sexual harassment of observers to a meeting of the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council in Kodiak. Listen now

Ask a Climatologist: August is Alaska’s rainiest month

August is the rainiest month in Alaska. But how rainy? That depends on where you live. Listen now

Anchorage seeks proposals for Transit Center overhaul

Officials are reaching out to developers and the business community for ideas on how to re-invent the troubled property. Listen now

What the healthcare overhaul at VA means for Alaska vets

The MISSION Act goes into effect on June 6th, and is intended to modernize veteran healthcare as a wave of younger vets are beginning to access services.

Kott defense wraps case, closing statements next

The defense rested its case this morning in the federal corruption trial of former legislator Pete Kott. David Shurtleff and Steve Heimel, APRN - Anchorage
A musher goes into a village.

Iditarod 2020 roster stocked with past champions, but Dallas Seavey is absent

Fifty-eight mushers are signed up for the upcoming Iditarod race, including six previous champions and many more top teams.

The mysterious case of Alaska’s strange sockeye salmon returns this year

From exceptionally strong to exceptionally weak runs, sockeye salmon leave scientists scratching their heads this year in Alaska. Listen now

Alaska's Orthodox Bishop Soraich steps aside

Leaders of the Orthodox Church of America say Bishop Nikolai Soraich, head of the Alaska diocese, is taking a voluntary leave of absence, effective...

Why Anchorage COVID-19 infections prompted military leaders to enact stronger measures than the city

Military commanders at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage are asking airmen and soldiers to mask up and avoid off-base establishments that don't require masking, in response to increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in the community.

Elim residents considering risks of uranium mining project

Residents of Elim on the southern Seward Peninsula last week heard from a Native American activist about the legacy of uranium mining in the...

Murkowski praises DACA decision and revisits her controversial vote on impeachment witnesses

Sen. Murkowski cheered the continued protection for undocumented people brought to the U.S. as children.
Young students sit behind desks in an elementary school classroom.

Alaska lawmakers look to increase school funding in upcoming legislative session

State funding to school districts has, essentially, not changed since 2017. At the same time, the cost of pretty much everything has gone up.

Iditapod: Iditarod Mushers Reach Huslia

In Episode 10, we talk about: Mitch Seavey the first into Huslia, 24-hour rests and how mushers determine when to take them, and the Iditarod's educational aspects.

Borough Assembly approves funding for Port Mac repairs

On Tuesday, the Mat-Su Borough Assembly approved the transfer of over half-a-million dollars from existing funds to pay for repairs to the Port Mackenzie barge dock, although some expressed reservations about the port’s continuing costs. Listen now

Violations of Open Burning Suspensions Continuing

Despite fire officials' best efforts and the biggest wildfire on the Kenai Peninsula in two years, people continue to violate the open burning suspension...

Rep. Young votes for health care bill, says he won pledges for more

A bill to replace the Affordable Care Act squeaked through the U.S. House today, with help from Alaska Rep. Don Young. He denounced a prior version as bad for Alaska. Now he says he's won assurances there'll be more for the state. Listen now
A blue bow with a yellow stripe at a dock

Feds award $285M for Alaska ferries. But to get it, the state needs to put up money, too.

Gov. Dunleavy has cut state funding for ferries and reduced the fleet. Sen. Murkowski says, "Let's not mess this up."

Unemployed Must Wait for January for Additional Benefits

Alaskans who have exhausted their unemployment benefits are eligible for 14 additional weeks thanks to legislation signed by President Obama on Friday...
woman in striped jacket

Peltola reverts to pro-fish stance with a new anti-Pebble Mine bill and a surprise vote on Alaska drilling 

She voted “present” on a bill she co-sponsored, illustrating the difficult line she walks as a pro-subsistence, pro-energy Democrat.

Federal government may review Alaska Native tribal status

A letter sent to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne in May sought to prompt a review of the legal status of tribes in Alaska. The...