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.”

How DNA and an obituary helped ID a victim of the Green River killer

Lori Anne Razpotnik, 15, was found dead in 1985. Her mother, who lives in Juneau, learned last year that she was one of Gary Ridgway's 49 victims.
a building

Federal energy grants help lighten Alaska nonprofits’ load

Nonprofits typically run on a shoestring, and energy — which the $4 million in federal funding assists with — is usually their second-highest expense.
Crowds of people walk past food trucks and vendors along a city street on a summer afternoon.

Alaska tourism industry expecting another strong year, led by cruise passengers

An Alaska tourism industry advocate expects last year’s record-breaking cruise passenger numbers to repeat in 2024.
stacks of shipping containers. A few read "Matson."

An Alaska lawmaker has quietly proposed taking over Anchorage’s port, but won’t say why

The city’s local elected officials are concerned Senate Bill 155 could lead to a knock-down, drag-out fight.
a proposed bridge

Alaska transportation leaders weigh Knik Arm tunnel

State officials say “significant increases in tunneling technology” have prompted a new look at a Knik Arm crossing first proposed as a bridge.
Koyuk

Koyuk man charged with fatally shooting his father

Troopers say Franklin Adams, 35, is charged with first-degree murder in the Saturday shooting of Dennis Adams, 74.
the Alaska State Capitol

Alaska’s Capitol among U.S. statehouses targeted by wave of ‘hoax’ bomb threats

The Alaska State Capitol received bomb threats Wednesday believed to be related to similar threats reported across the country, officials say.
Ron Dupee

Fairbanks police, state investigate death of man handcuffed after disturbance

Chief Ron Dupee says investigators have been interviewing officers and reviewing body-camera footage after Timothy McArdle Jr.'s death Thursday.
a toy bunny

State compiles first comprehensive account of Alaska children’s stress and trauma

A new bulletin presents baseline information about adverse childhood experiences in Alaska that are known to lead to poor health outcomes.
the Willow project

State labor department forecasts modest job growth in 2024 fueled by infrastructure and energy spending

A new report predicts the state will add 5,400 jobs in 2024, a 1.7% increase, with bright spots in construction, mining and oil and gas.
A police car marked as Anchorage Police.

Anchorage woman wounded in domestic violence shooting, vehicle chase

Police say Isaiah N. Savok, 27, fired point-blank at an SUV near Point Woronzof early Sunday, then rammed it off a nearby road.
Museum-goers and listen to audio and look at a collection of photos on a red wall.

Anchorage Museum exhibit explores climate change through resilience and care

“How to Survive” uses works from Alaska and beyond to highlight how investing in community and caring can be forms of climate mitigation.
a dock

Unauthorized $10M steel purchase for Haines dock provokes borough political crisis

Borough officials were surprised and angered by the purchase, which comes as newly elected leaders had expressed interest in changing the dock's design.
The glass door to the entrance of the PFD office. In black lettering is "PFD State of Alaska, Lobby hours Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m."

Alaskans begin filing for 2024 Permanent Fund Dividends

Eligible Alaska residents have until March 31 to file PFD applications with the state Department of Revenue.

After Wrangell’s deadly landslide, dogs helped the search and rescue team

After Wrangell’s deadly landslide last month, search and rescue teams worked around the clock for days looking through debris for six missing people. Teams of dogs assisted.
photo: news conference

A suit over federal emissions rules caps an active year for Alaska in federal court

Attorney General Treg Taylor has cast the growing volume of litigation as a response to threats from the federal government and outside groups.

Tribes organize ‘First Indigenous Sovereign Habitat Tribal Conservation District’ from Bering Sea to Interior Alaska

38 tribes would like to co-manage land near their villages, to have their say over federal acreage that's been in land-use limbo since 1971.
a trooper car

Man charged with manslaughter, DUI in woman’s death near Big Lake

Billy Sheldon, 33, was over twice the legal limit when he fatally struck Kotzebue resident Athena Chambers early Thursday, troopers said.

Ex-Alaska trooper gets 4 years for planned sexual abuse of teen he pulled over

Vance Peronto, 63, was sentenced on one count of attempted child sexual abuse in the 2018 case stemming from a Soldotna-area traffic stop.
a search

Troopers suspend search for woman missing under Eagle River ice

Active efforts to find 45-year-old Amanda Richmond have been called off, after extensive air and water searches with drones and sonar.