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.”

Juneau Assembly members

Juneau School District faces $9.5M deficit

District leaders will have to address the deficit by the end of June, according to City Manager Katie Koester.
a classroom

Anchorage’s top education official sought a per-student funding increase. Then she became a commissioner.

Deena Bishop has defended the governor's latest budget proposal, which does not include an increase to the Base Student Allocation.
Large cranes and stacks of shipping containers

Anchorage Assembly renames port after Don Young

Assembly members voted 10-2 to designate Anchorage's port the Don Young Port of Alaska, after the state's late congressman.
organizers

Alaska advocates submit petition signatures to put minimum wage increase on ballot

The initiative campaign would also mandate paid sick leave and protect workers from having to hear employers’ political or religious messages.
a grocery bag

Will the feds block a grocery megamerger? Kroger and Albertsons will soon find out

U.S. regulators are deciding whether to block Fred Meyer owner Kroger's $24.6 billion purchase of Carrs owner Albertsons.
Crime scene tape.

Palmer police make arrests in 2 early-year homicides

Palmer police say the town typically sees one domestic violence homicide per year — but officers have responded to two in the first week of 2024.

Alaska Airlines jet that had a cabin wall blowout made 3 recent Alaska-Hawaii flights

The blowout resonates among Alaskans, who fly more than average Americans and rely heavily on Alaska Airlines.
the Alaska State Capitol

From natural gas to psychedelic medicine, a look at some of the bills filed ahead of Alaska’s legislative session

Ahead of their return to the Capitol, lawmakers are using pre-session bill filings to lay out priorities for the months to come.
a plane

New Alaska alcohol laws leave some rural customers temporarily high and dry

Alaska's new alcohol laws require cargo carriers to be registered to transport alcohol. Only a few have completed the process as the new year begins.
a hole in an airliner

Before a door plug flew off an Alaska Airlines plane, an advisory light came on 3 times

Flight crew said Friday's Boeing 737 Max 9 flight was chaotic, "loud" and "very violent" after a paneled-over door flew off during a Portland departure.
Snow, ice and icicles overflow the roof and gutters of a house.

With Anchorage’s record-setting snow, officials say it’s not a bad idea to shovel roofs

There are several winter months still to come and the potential for more snow, as ice-damming on roofs is already a concern.
Solar panels stretching off into the distance connected by electrical wire.

Alaska lawmakers eye bills on neighborhood solar, green bank and renewable energy benchmarks

There are at least three bills to watch this coming legislative session that are aimed at growing Alaska’s renewable energy production.
the Supreme Court

Supreme Court denies Alaska’s bid to revive proposed Pebble Mine

The justices turned away the state’s attempt to sue the Biden administration directly over its desire to revive the mine, blocked last year by the EPA.
glass building with letters

Anchorage Museum makes admission free for Indigenous Alaskans

“I think it's really a celebration of our place, of who we are," says director Julie Decker. No proof of identity is required.
Alaska Airlines jets

Alaska Airlines 737 lands safely after a window blows out 3 miles over Oregon

The flight returned safely to Portland about 20 minutes after it took off. The airline has grounded all 65 of its Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft for inspections.
the Supreme Court

Supreme Court takes up Colorado’s decision to kick Trump off its primary ballot

Arguments on whether a constitutional ban on insurrectionists holding federal office bars Donald Trump from running for president will be heard Feb. 8.
a proposed mine site

Feds seek public input on potentially opening millions of acres of Alaska wilderness lands

The protected “D-1 lands” were set aside after the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. They have been off-limits to development ever since.
a bartender

It’s 8 o’clock somewhere: Alaska breweries get an extra hour to pour beer

Until this week, brewery and distillery taprooms weren’t allowed to serve alcohol after 8 p.m. according to state law.
People sit at tables during a meeting.

Mat-Su parents, students move to return books removed from school library shelves as lawsuit continues

The lawsuit stems from the school district’s removal of 56 books last spring, at the School Board’s direction, without any public review.
A man with glasses speaks behind a podium while standing in front of an American flag.

Alaska campaign finance watchdog hits ranked choice voting foes with nearly $95K in fines

Art Mathias and affiliated groups violated campaign laws, regulators say. But they dismissed similar complaints in a separate case.