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.”

President Biden

5 takeaways from President Biden’s State of the Union address

President Biden used the high-profile speech to draw a contrast with his likely 2024 opponent, former President Donald Trump.
a musher eats a meal inside

Iditarod musher Petit and his dogs chow down in Ruby after arriving first to the Yukon River town

Both the Big Lake musher and his voracious huskies were eager to eat, having made it to the Yukon River first Thursday night.
a musher talks to another man outside

Iditarod ‘made the right call,’ Seavey says of penalty for insufficient moose-gutting

Musher Dallas Seavey was assessed a two-hour penalty for failing to properly gut a moose he shot earlier in the race after it attacked his team.
A white truck cab without any cargo on a snowy road with cargo containers stacked behind it

Federal appeals court hears Anchorage port case with up to $367M on the line

The appeals court judges seemed more skeptical of the federal Maritime Administration's case than Anchorage's.
A moose eating branches in a snowbank

Man injured in Houston moose trampling

Troopers say the man was treated and released at a hospital, after he stepped outside his home to investigate dogs barking late Wednesday night.
dogs under blankets

Iditarod mushers care for dogs, sleep, eat and repeat during their 24-hour breaks

The 24’s, as they’re called, are mandatory and a welcome reset for the weary teams.
a brewery

Alaska brewers sue state alcohol board on entertainment rules

Three Alaska breweries are challenging a recently weakened state ban on live entertainment at breweries and wineries, calling it unconstitutional.
students

Bungled FAFSA rollout delays college decisions for Alaska’s high school seniors

Alaska has the nation’s lowest percentage of high school seniors who’ve submitted the FAFSA so far.
a parking lot

Woman lying in Anchorage Walmart parking lot run over and killed

Police say the woman, who was run over by a minivan, died outside the South Anchorage Walmart Wednesday afternoon. No charges have been filed.

Alaska Republicans help fuel Trump’s juggernaut. This GOP consultant thinks they’ve lost their minds.

Alaska GOP voters chose Trump by a huge margin. Art Hackney, a stalwart in Republican circles, has theory to explain it.
A man looks upset

Iditarod penalizes Dallas Seavey for ‘not sufficiently’ gutting moose he shot in defense of team

A panel of race officials handed down a two-hour penalty for the infraction, which will be added to Seavey’s mandatory 24-hour rest.
A house that's under construction.

Alaska House passes bill aimed at reducing down payment requirements for state-backed home mortgages

The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation said the change would allow it to reduce the required down payment from 5% to 3%.
a woman gazes at her sled dog

Iditarod back-of-the-pack mushers and their dogs are learning on the fly

Sean Williams is a second-time rookie and says he’s doing less screaming this year, while Deke Naaktgeboren is enjoying watching his dogs start to gel.
an airliner

NTSB says Boeing is withholding key details about door plug on Alaska 737 Max 9 jet

NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy told senators that Boeing has not revealed who was responsible for failing to reattach the door plug properly.
a building

Former employee of Dillingham’s Curyung Tribe accused of embezzlement

William Corbett, the Curyung Tribe's former financial manager, allegedly stole nearly $80,000 in tribal funds since late October.
a musher applies foot ointment to a dog

Iditarod dream rekindled: Wally Robinson returns to the race after nearly a quarter-century

Robinson was a rookie in 2001, finishing 40th. It was his one and only attempt, until now.
Alaska State Troopers

Troopers investigating North Pole ‘swatting’ incident

Nobody was hurt in the Feb. 22 incident, but Alaska State Troopers say fake reports of violence pose a threat to victims, their neighbors and responders.
the Alaska State Capitol

Legislative budgeters say Dunleavy’s proposed 2024 Permanent Fund dividend is a no-go

Gov. Mike Dunleavy included a $3,500 payout in his initial budget proposal, but paying it would require spending from savings.
Nikki Haley

Nikki Haley suspends her presidential campaign, but doesn’t endorse Trump

Haley made her announcement after winning only Vermont on Super Tuesday, making Donald Trump the presumptive GOP nominee.
a woman in a red plaid shirt helps out another woman in a blue coat with voting.

Alaska Republicans choose Trump over Haley by huge margins

Donald Trump won about 88% of the vote. All of Alaska's 29 delegates to the national GOP convention will be his, If preliminary result hold.