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.”

pillars and dome of u.s. capitol

Alaska’s congresswoman says she’s reserving judgment on the new House speaker. But she liked his first address.

There's plenty for a Democrat to dislike about Speaker Mike Johnson. Rep. Mary Peltola likes his message on unity.
a sign at a rally that reads "APD body cameras now"

Anchorage Assembly nudges police department to be more forthcoming on body cam rollout

The most controversial piece of the Assembly's request: a policy to automatically release recordings from police shootings.
two men

Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson elected speaker of the House

Johnson, R-La., was the first of four GOP nominees who could secure enough support from within his party to win a majority of votes on the House floor.
the Karluk school

Karluk school to close again after families drawn by free housing leave

As of Monday both of the new families, chosen from more than 5,000 respondents to bring enough children to reopen the school, had left Karluk.
pilots

How safe are cockpits? Aviation experts weigh in after Horizon Air flight scare

Insider threats, like the one Sunday on a Horizon Air jetliner involving an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot, are very rare but potentially devastating.
Nome

Proposed class-action lawsuit claims Alaska prisons are holding people without criminal charges

Barbara Pete, represented by the Northern Justice Project, filed suit Oct. 6 in Nome. The suit was first reported by the Nome Nugget.
A RIVER CUTS THROUGH TUNDRA

Doyon Ltd. drops support for Ambler Road, at least temporarily

Doyon, the regional Native corporation for Interior Alaska, owns 10-12 miles of the two primary planned routes of the 211-mile Ambler Road.
Deb Haaland

Haaland leads historic day of healing at totem raising for Alaska boarding school survivors

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland helped to raise a healing totem pole in Anchorage, the nation's first dedicated to boarding school survivors.
A man in a black suit with a red tie stands in front of a banner and shelf of CD's.

Anchorage superintendent discusses changes for next school year, including new start times and career academies

Students finished their first quarter on Friday, but many eyes are already on next school year, when the district will roll out three major changes.
an airplane

FBI: ‘I am not okay,’ off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot said before trying to turn off jet engines

The Horizon Air flight's crew said Joseph Emerson gave "zero indication of anything wrong" before reaching for the controls Sunday.
an officer

Latest Alaska crime report shows a 67% increase in murders and a slight overall decrease in crime

The overall violent crime rate in the state is up slightly, with the murder rate rising 67% and the arson rate up more than 40% from 2021 to 2022.
an anchorage police car is parked in a parking lot

Man dead, suspect sought in Midtown apartment shooting

Anchorage police have identified the suspect in Monday's fatal shooting as 27-year-old Jesse Lee Jones. They say his whereabouts are unknown.
a man in a black hat

Vic Fischer, the last surviving signer of Alaska’s constitution, dies at 99

Fischer came to Alaska after serving in World War II. He served two terms in the state Senate and remained active in politics until his final months.
a woman talks into a microphone at a podium on stage

Peltola says she’ll dig in on salmon crisis during report to the Alaska Federation of Natives convention

The congresswoman tried to deliver a "business as usual" report but the crowd of hundreds delivered their own message of comfort and support.
an airliner

Off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot accused of trying to shut down jet’s engines in-flight

The suspect faces attempted-murder charges in the incident, which occurred on a Sunday Horizon Air flight from Everett, Wash. to Portland, Ore.
an older golden retriever rests on a dog bed

Sitka dog comes home after 65 days lost in the woods

Stella previously survived getting trapped in a truck that was crushed during Sitka’s deadly 2015 landslides.

Alaska foster kids were great source of profit for psychiatric facility’s owners, reporter finds

Former North Star patient Trina Edwards is a central figure in Julia Lurie's story on Universal Health Services.
a child dances with feather fans on stage

Alaska Native dance groups perform for packed crowd at Quyana Night

“We’re always happy to share the songs of our ancestors,” said Jolene John, who performed Thursday night with her dance group from Toksook Bay.
a man poses for a photo with three bentwood cedar boxes

Bigger than ever, AFN arts market showcases ‘microcosm of Alaska’

Each year, Indigenous artisans converge for three days during the convention to sell carvings, kuspuks, fur-lined hats and all manner of jewelry.
a person holds their arms out as a man runs a security wand

Hundreds of people are moving from Anchorage homeless camps into hotel rooms

City officials say demand is much higher than expected, and the new numbers mean there could be 400 people or more left out in the cold.