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 woman in a white sweater

Another campaign complaint filed against opponents of Alaska ranked choice voting

The complaint alleges that Kelly Tshibaka and her nonprofit have been lobbying and campaigning without following the law.
a map of part of alaska shows the Alaska Peninsula and part of the Aleutian Chain in red

Alaska emergency officials investigate why Saturday’s tsunami phone alerts went beyond targeted areas

Earthquakes in 2018 and 2020 also led to urgent tsunami phone alerts well beyond the intended audience.
The inside of a bus. One passenger stands in the middle, walking to the front door. People sit on either side.

Anchorage bus system apologizes to riders for canceled trips amid driver shortage 

Lots of employers in Alaska and nationally are hurting for workers with commercial driver’s licenses.
a volcano

Alaska volcano’s week-long eruption eases after spewing another massive ash cloud

The Shishaldin Volcano is one of the most active in the Aleutian arc.
a woman in a maroon hooded jacket and sunglasses makes double peace signs on a mountain trail.

As record heat bakes the Lower 48, Anchorage contends with its coolest summer in years

“I think the fun thing is whenever there is a sunny day in Anchorage, you see absolutely everyone outside," said Anchorage resident Natalie Fraser.
a traveler

Facial recognition remains unregulated in Alaska, even as it grows in use

Alaska Airlines has announced plans to use the technology at Anchorage and in other hub cities as soon as summer 2024.
a wolf in the snow

Alaska predator control doesn’t result in more moose harvests, according to a study of one game unit

The state disputes that, saying not enough time had passed between the predator control work and the analysis of moose harvests.

Judge tosses Alaska suit against feds over contaminated ANCSA lands

The federal court decision blocks a possible avenue for forcing a solution to a decades-long problem.
whales breach near a boat

Sitka-based tour company is asking visitors to consider the cost of their emissions

Allen Marine Tours is one of the first tour companies in the region to adopt a carbon offset program.
Treg Taylor

Alaska attorney general wants access to medical information about out-of-state-abortions and gender-affirming care

The letter is a response to the Biden administration’s proposed protections of patient privacy when crossing state lines for medical care.
a truck with a giant potato on it

Skagway’s music festival has a special guest this year: a giant fiberglass potato.

The Southeast town is embracing the weirdness. The mayor has declared Saturday "Idaho Potato Day." And two locals will be crowned Queen and King of Potatoes for the day.

Almost half of Alaska’s Head Start programs could lose millions in federal funding due to underenrollment

Eight Head Start programs could potentially lose as much as $12.5 million in funding because they have not filled all of their spaces for kids.
a sheep on a steep rock face with a boom arm

Roadside assistance? This sheep got stuck along the Seward Highway. Alaska DOT helped her out.

“This is a new one on me,” said an area biologist who helped with the rescue.
an Alaska State Trooper

Alaska trooper says man convicted of shooting him was going to ‘finish the job’ when backup arrived

Bruce Brueggeman says doctors initially planned to amputate his left arm, after Bret Herrick shot him five times outside an Anchor Point grocery store.
two people on a narrow bridge above a mountainside

Don’t look down: Alyeska Resort opens new dizzying attraction

People can pay to walk 600 feet across two narrow bridges suspended 2,500 feet above the valley floor.

Murkowski says she’d choose Manchin over Biden, and says Trump ‘should be done’

Sens. Joe Manchin and Lisa Murkowski are centrists and allies, particularly on energy issues.
a person paddle boards in the water, near a whale

Humpback whale nearly knocks paddler off board near Whittier

“I dream about seeing whales up close. But not this close,” said Kevin Williams of Anchorage.
a helicopter crash site

Bodies of 4 killed in Alaska helicopter crash are recovered from lake

Volunteers from the Alaska Dive Search, Rescue, and Recovery team recovered the bodies from the crashed Bell 206 at about 6 a.m. Sunday.
a video screenshot

Brown bear and dogs tangle in Cooper Landing video

An Instagram video of four dogs sparring with a brown bear on a Cooper Landing property has more than 30,000 likes.
fishing boats in the water

Alaska salmon fishers fume over low prices, but processors say they’re hurting too

Bristol Bay fishers are calling for strikes, lawsuits and “picket signs and pitchforks” in response to low salmon prices. But an industry expert says processors have been hurt too.