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.”

the Alaska State Capitol

With Dunleavy veto threat looming, lawmakers work toward common ground on education

Dunleavy has to sign or veto the bill by March 14, or it becomes law without his signature.
a vet looks over a dog team

An angry moose and bare ground mark a brutal first quarter for Iditarod teams

Dallas Seavey recounts his moose encounter as his team rested at the checkpoint in Nikolai, about 250 miles into the 1,000-mile race.
a sermon

Unalaska’s Muslim prayer group welcomes members from all over the world

Group prayer is integral to Muslim worship. Mostafa Hassan, originally from Cairo, restarted Unalaska's prayer group after moving to town.
a parking lot

Drones assist in Alaska’s conservation efforts

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation flies many drones, some with thermal cameras and water sampling capabilities.
Massive industrial conveyor belt and loading equipment on a dock in a cloudy harbor.

Coal loading equipment in Seward is set to be demolished, likely a permanent end to Alaska coal exports

The Seward coal loading dock has sat idle since 2016 after demand for Alaska coal exports collapsed, one sign of the global energy transition. 
a factory

FAA audit faults Boeing for ‘multiple instances’ of quality control shortcomings

The findings singled out both Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems in the wake of an in-flight door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jet.
a woman

2 years after Russia invaded Ukraine, Alaska’s refugee picture looks wildly different

Alaska has welcomed more than 1,000 refugees from Ukraine since the war began.
A man runs with a dog that has three legs down the street as his team prepares to run the Iditarod.

Iditarod musher Dallas Seavey shoots moose to protect his dogs, officials say

Seavey says he stopped to gut the moose, a requirement under race rules.
dancers

National experts to discuss Indigenous tourism in Sitka this spring

The annual conference started about 20 years ago, paused briefly, and then resumed as demand grew for authentic and meaningful cultural experiences.
man and woman in business attire walk down a hallway

Trump or Haley? Alaska Republicans vote Tuesday

The GOP Presidential Preference Poll will determine how Alaska's 29 delegates to the national convention are awarded.
A dog team runs through the snow

The race is on: What to know about the 2024 Iditarod

What’s the route this year? How are trail conditions? We answer those questions and more.
the Alaska State Capitol

Alaska Legislature plans March 12 vote on Gov. Dunleavy’s executive orders

According to a draft plan shared with reporters Friday, the votes will take place March 12, during a joint session of the House and Senate.
A man in an orange puffy jacket pushes a dog sled through the downtown streets of Anchorage.

From wilderness guide to dairy farmer, meet 4 of the Iditarod rookies headed to Nome

There are 16 rookies competing in this year's Iditarod, about 40% of the entire race field.
a dog

Dog shot in Soldotna animal-cruelty case is in recovery with rescuers

Members of Kenai Peninsula Animal Lovers Rescue have been working with the dog, dubbed Ace, after troopers seized him from his owner Tuesday.
the Alaska Supreme Court

Alaska Supreme Court decides key question: Who is an Alaskan?

Justices were asked to consider the question as part of a 2022 lawsuit challenging the eligibility of a legislative candidate in Anchorage.
the Supreme Court

Unanimous Supreme Court restores Trump to Colorado ballot

The decision came only weeks after the justices heard oral arguments in the politically sensitive case.

Alaska House resolution calls on feds to scrap rule limiting NPR-A development

The Bureau of Land Management rule would apply “maximum protection” to more than half of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
Two dogs jump in the snow.

Our favorite 30 photos from the 2024 Iditarod ceremonial start

Dozens of mushers and hundreds of sled dogs dashed down city streets and trails Saturday for the 11-mile event.
A man in a green jacket waves to fans on a street in downtown Anchorage Alaska.

Three Iditarod champions vie for another victory

Dallas Seavey is gunning for a record-breaking sixth victory, while Pete Kaiser and Ryan Redington are both hoping to notch a second win.
a man looks out a window at an airplane on a runway

Ravn Alaska slashes workforce, raising questions about regional airline’s future

At this point, a Ravn Alaska spokesperson says none of its nine Alaska destinations will be eliminated, but they can expect fewer flights.