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 smiling woman holding a small package

A tough choice for Heather’s Choice: Anchorage company considers relocating to grow business

Heather’s Choice makes premium dehydrated meals for hikers or anyone on the go, and is continuing to grow its presence in the Lower 48.
chum salmon

Trooper citations for salmon discards add grist to regional Alaska fishery dispute

Accusations of "chum chucking" could affect debate over Alaska Peninsula commercial harvests’ impact on Yukon and Kuskowkim salmon runs.
A wooden outdoor sign says "Denali National Park and Preserve"

No survivors found in small plane’s Denali National Park crash

Rescuers found the crashed plane, believed to be a Piper PA-18 Super Cub, in the park's southwest corner Thursday.
a wildfire

At least 53 people have died in hurricane-fueled wildfires in Maui

Biden's declaration will provide federal funding for recovery. Hawaii's lieutenant governor says it could take years to rebuild the damaged infrastructure.
the outside of a car dealership

Alaska’s Swickard car dealerships tricked buyers in ‘bait-and-switch’ scheme, state lawsuit says

The car dealerships advertised vehicles for sale that they did not actually have and, in some cases, did not honor the advertised price, says the lawsuit.
burning fire

Are you an Alaskan impacted by the Maui wildfires? We want to hear from you.

Alaska Public Media is looking to speak with Alaskans with ties to Hawaii for our coverage on the widespread impacts of the devastating fires.
two people in uniforms and yellow hard hats cut down trees

Cooler, rainy weather slows growth of Interior Alaska wildfires

But firefighters are keeping a close eye on the long-term forecast that calls for warmer-than-usual weather to return.
the construction of a new home in a neighborhood

Alaska construction employment statistics show uneven post-pandemic recovery, wage deflation

Construction employment in Anchorage, Mat-Su and Southeast Alaska is back up to or even exceeding pre-pandemic levels, but Fairbanks and the Interior lag.
two people on a beach

Scientists find a ‘dinosaur bonanza’ during Yukon River trip

In a single week, the researchers found at least two dozen footprints left by at least five different ancient species.
a dock

Trident Seafoods drops salmon prices due to flooding global markets

Trident Seafoods dropped the price for Alaska chum salmon this weekend, from 60 cents to 20 cents per pound for all fisheries.
the Willow project

U.N. rapporteurs and Patagonia take Willow opposition to new level

U.N. Human Rights Commission appointees want to file a brief in lawsuit over Arctic drilling project.
Exterior: salmon hanging up to dry

On the Yukon, Alaska and Canada are bound together by salmon – and their collapse

A 20-year-old treaty keeps Alaska and Canada working together, even through the devastating king and chum salmon collapse.
A crowd of people on bikes waiting in the road.

Anchorage Assembly passes code changes aimed at making city more bike-friendly

The ordinance gets rid of fines for jaywalking, and it allows cyclists to treat stop signs more like yield signs and red lights like stop signs.
a shirt

Alaska tribes, university to receive federal grants for repatriation of remains and cultural items

Alaska tribes and UAF will receive more than $350,000 in grants as part of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
a helicopter crash site

NTSB report sheds new light on North Slope helicopter crash that killed 4

Tuesday's preliminary report contained no indication of what caused the helicopter to crash into a lake in clear conditions on July 20.
A car parked near trees.

Kitchen employee killed colleague in Trapper Creek lodge restaurant, charges say

The stabbing happened in the restaurant at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, troopers said.
Aniak

State regulators help alleviate Aniak residents’ extremely high power bills

Residents' electricity bills suddenly quadrupled this summer. The changes from state regulators should ease, but won't remove, the financial burden.
a fish crew

Bristol Bay fleets call for greater price transparency

Some Bristol Bay fishing captains are seeking more open negotiations with processors, after Trident Seafood's 50-cent-per-pound offer this year.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to visit Alaska next week

The secretary of Transportation will visit Kotzebue, Anchorage and Juneau next week, his office announced.
a Navy warship

Sighting of Chinese and Russian warships near Aleutians prompts Navy response

A U.S. Northern Command spokesperson said the foreign patrol ships remained in international waters and were not considered a threat.