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 sits in a hospital room wearing a face mask, face shield and gown.

Anchorage doctors sound alarm about ‘imminent’ hospital system collapse

At a last-minute Assembly health update, doctors who work at Anchorage’s main hospitals described heart-wrenching scenes from the last week of last goodbyes to unvaccinated loved ones, nurses quitting their jobs due to burnout, and infants hospitalized for severe cases of COVID-19.
a blonde woman and younger man listen at a meeting

Bronson’s winter sheltering plan now includes using 2 Anchorage rec centers previously described as emergency options

Bronson's administration first outlined the plan last week. What's different now: using the Spenard and Fairview rec centers as emergency shelters is no longer a last resort.

Homeland Defense Secretary Chertoff plans trip to Alaska's arctic

With climate change opening access to the Arctic Ocean, the Coast Guard is gearing up to increase its presence there. So Homeland Defense Secretary...
three women speaking into microphones

Peltola, Murkowski, FEMA administrator tour Nome storm damage

They also spoke with KNOM in Nome about their reactions to the storm damage, their priorities for recovery and resources available to Alaskans.
A white man and woman on a boat wearing waders. The woman is holding up a rope laden with strings of kelp.

Cordova kelp farmers need to process their harvest. A scientist is piloting a solution.

Alysha Cypher with the Prince William Sound Science Center has a $400,000 EPA grant to use waste heat from the local electric co-op to dry Cordova seaweed. 

Federal Judge Halts Offshore Gas and Oil Activity in Chukchi

Lori Townsend and Annie Feidt, APRN – Anchorage Federal district judge Beistline today halted activity on offshore oil and gas leases in the Chukchi...
A white five story building

Anchorage’s deputy health director is resigning, the latest in a string of departures

DeeAnn Fetko announced her resignation in an email to staff on Monday after 25 years working for the city.
damaged boats in chevak

Chevak subsistence gear ‘strewn all over the place’ by storm

Reporter Emily Schwing discusses Chevak's response to damaged boats and water contamination from last weekend's storm.

Democratic presidential candidates spent seven hours talking climate change. Alaska wasn’t discussed.

In the first-ever prime-time presidential climate change forum, Democratics spent seven hours on the issue. But there was no substantive discussion of Alaska, even though the state is one of the most affected by global warming.
Dozens of cots in three rows span from the foreground into the distance.

LISTEN: Anchorage mayor points to Outside homeless shelters as a model. This reporter went to see for herself.

The Bronson administration points to examples of shelters in cities like Reno, Nevada, so the Anchorage Daily News sent reporter Michelle Theriault Boots and photographer Marc Lester to see for themselves.
A young man dances seated while several dancers stand behind him on a stage.

Chefornak dancers honor loved ones at this year’s Cama-i Dance Festival

The Cama-i Dance Festival returned to Bethel last weekend after two years on hiatus due to the pandemic. For dancers from the village of Chefornak, it was a chance to finally honor loved ones lost over the last few years with neighbors from around the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

With knowledge of his ancestors, young leader looks to ANCSA’s future

Aaron Tolen has tribal and ANCSA regional corporation affiliations across the state. He aims to balance a modern education with the values and traditions of his people, so he can continue to feel grounded in his culture and also experience success in a contemporary way.
a person in a suit in a meeting room

Alaska state budget runs risk of a deficit this spring as oil prices stay below forecasts

A leading senator says there’s no cause for worry right now, and the problem could resolve itself.
(Creative Commons photo by Matt’ Johnson)

Troopers identify 2 Juneau men in plane crash near Haines

Two plane crashes took the lives of four people in Alaska on Saturday. Listen now
The Bartlett High School class of 2022 commencement.

Alaska lawmakers work to lower barriers to eligibility for in-state scholarships

The Alaska Performance Scholarship reported its lowest eligibility rate ever last year.
a cartoon image of a hand holding an iphone with a timer on it

How do you use Buy Now, Pay Later? It likely depends on your credit score

New research finds that people who use it the most tend to use it like a credit card, instead of a credit card. And that's regardless of income.
A white woman with a striped tank top gets a bandaid put on her should

Hope, hesitancy as first vaccine shipments grow near for Alaska

Providers charged with giving the vaccine say they’re eager to use the first doses to protect their front-line workers. But they also say workers are hesitant about being among the first to receive doses on a nationwide scale, and add that the first shipment will do little to ease the current demands of the pandemic.

One per customer for Southeast halibut charter clients

Southeast halibut charter clients will be limited to one fish per day starting June 1st. The federal government announced the new rule yesterday. Ed Schoenfeld,...

Vice President meets with Walker over the weekend on his way to Asia

Vice President Mike Pence stopped in Anchorage on Saturday and met with Governor Bill Walker. Listen now

A new transportation route for the proposed Pebble Mine faces backlash from land owners

The Army Corps of Engineers plans to release its final environmental review for the proposed Pebble Mine later this summer. Last month, the Corps changed which transportation corridor it recommends. The route cuts through land owned by several Bristol Bay entities that refuse to grant Pebble access to their properties.