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 mall

The U.S. economy is growing solidly. Here’s what’s working — and what’s not.

The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 2.8% in the third quarter, led by strong consumer spending.
Goose Creek Prison. Photo by Ellen Lockyer, KSKA - Anchorage.

ACLU raises concerns as Alaska department of corrections works to keep fentanyl out of jails and prisons

Fentanyl is so concentrated that it poses new trafficking challenges. But new screening tactics raise red flags with the ACLU of Alaska.
souvenir road sings say Oliver St and Nora Ave

Alaska births and deaths both declined in 2023, and population total held steady, state says

Alaska’s population total remained almost unchanged in 2023 at 736,812, an increase of 304 from 2022.

2 who set Anchorage’s deadly Royal Suite Lodge fire sentenced to 24 years

Andrew Eknaty, 36, and Carleigh West, 35, were sentenced Monday for starting the 2017 fire that killed three people.
Mary Peltola

During Bethel visit, Peltola discusses how to keep Alaskans in Alaska

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola is focusing the final days of her reelection campaign on how to slow outmigration from Alaska.
a woman

First all-female crew operates Skagway’s White Pass train

The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway has operated out of Skagway for over 124 years. But it's still making history.
a state ferry

6 new hybrid ferries are part of the Alaska ferry system’s 20-year plan

The plan stems from over a year of data crunching and gathering information from regional ferry groups and the public.
candidates

In Alaska’s U.S. House election, the leading campaigns are thinking about third options

John Wayne Howe and Eric Hafner are receiving attention as third options to leading candidates Mary Peltola and Nick Begich.
the Supreme Court

Supreme Court allows Virginia to purge individuals from voter rolls

The 6-3 vote put on hold a lower court order that stopped Virginia from purging its voter rolls, less than a week before Election Day.
a sign outside a building says Nesbett Courthouse

Anchorage judge faces possible ouster in Nov. 5 election after contentious homeschool decision

A growing number of residents in Southcentral Alaska have voted against retaining judges, which has caused concerns for some in Alaska’s legal profession.
sign posted on green grass says "sign here" and says ranked choice voting "get rid of it"

Ballot Measure 2: Alaskans decide whether to become the first state to ditch ranked choice voting

Voters adopted the new way to elect candidates in 2020. Supporters say it discourages hyperpolarized politics. Critics say it’s confusing.
A big truck filled with snow on the street.

Anchorage city officials launch a new website for all things snowplow-related

Officials say they hope the new website helps boost transparency around how — and when — the city is clearing snow.
A man snow blowing his driveway.

Southcentral Alaska’s first snowstorm of the season closes schools and tangles traffic

Anchorage and some Matanuska-Susitna Borough schools were closed, after nearly a foot of snowfall since Monday.
The Providence Imaging Center's Mammography Mobile Unit

Chronic disease report reflects some unhealthy habits among Alaskans

Most Alaska adults are overweight or obese, and many are missing recommended screenings for cancer and other diseases, says the state’s annual report.
a patch

Intercepted emails led to Palmer police chief’s leave, body camera transcripts show

Palmer Police Chief Dwayne Shelton was placed on administrative leave for allegedly "conspiring" with junior officers.
an apology

Alaska Native advocates call Biden apology for boarding schools ‘just the beginning’

Native leaders say it's a good first step, but want the apology to be followed by more meaningful action.
an apology

U.S. Navy apologizes for 1882 destruction of Angoon

The Southeast Alaska community has long sought an apology for the bombardment, which killed six children and destroyed homes.
election materials

Act quickly on absentee ballots, U.S. Postal Service warns voters

In Alaska, most mail is automatically postmarked in Anchorage or Juneau, so a ballot mailed elsewhere in the state may not be postmarked for several days.
a pile of candy

Why you’re seeing scary-high chocolate candy prices this Halloween

Customers are souring on costly chocolate, resulting from a few disappointing cocoa crop years.
A person placing their ballot inside a scanner.

46,000 Alaskans have already cast their ballots as officials hail ‘historic’ early voting turnout

In-person voting was up more than 30% compared to 2020 during the first two days of early voting, officials said.