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 boat

3 found dead on boat anchored off Juneau’s Sandy Beach

Police said there were no immediate signs of foul play.

Anchorage Assembly lukewarm on proposal to sanction camps for homeless population this summer

Felix Rivera, the Assembly’s lead on homelessness issues, expects a close vote on a scaled back version of the proposal.

Hilcorp fined again for deviating from permit at Milne Point

The company was fined $267,000 for substituting equipment without authorization, the latest in more than 60 compliance issues.
three people getting off an airplane

Anchorage now has the third busiest cargo airport in the world, with plans for growth

Geographic advantage helped Anchorage's airport claim its new title. To keep growing, it needs to market the shape of the Earth.
a tiny opossum on top of a piece of cardboard

Grubby’s son captured as Homer faces growing opossum problem

It turns out that Grubby the opossum — who hitched a ride to Alaska in a shipping container in March — had babies.
Anchorage City Hall

Anchorage charity under investigation after city gave it a big pandemic recovery grant

The city gave $1.6 million to Rosalina Magaeva’s House of Transformations, despite the state having investigated her for alleged fraud.
a harbor seal pup

SeaLife Center takes in 4 Southcentral Alaska harbor seals

Four harbor seals, rescued from the Copper River and Nikiski, have been brought to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward over the last two weeks.
a family poses for a photo at a graduation

Family’s Alaska fishing trip becomes nightmare with 3 dead and search over for 2 more

The tragedy has torn the Tyau family apart: Two sisters and one of their husbands are dead, while the other’s partner and the boat captain remain missing.
man standing at a microphone

Sullivan votes against lifting debt ceiling, saying the bill didn’t have enough money for military

Alaska's U.S. senators split on Thursday's bill to prevent defaulting on the federal debt, which passed in a last-minute compromise.
a statute outside

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy appoints figure behind illegal loyalty-pledge scheme to university board

Several sitting legislators said they believe Tuckerman Babcock is unlikely to be confirmed by the Legislature when it meets next spring.

Police say there’s ‘nothing to indicate’ East Anchorage homicide and missing man are connected

Police say there are no signs of a link between Wednesday's death of Juan Wright, 25, and 28-year-old Juan Toscano going missing nearby.
a city in the evening

Anchorage gave her a $1.6 million grant despite prior fraud allegations. Now she’s under investigation again.

Rosalina Mavaega was made a city commissioner and given a large grant to support her homeless services charity. Federal investigators are looking into her business dealings.
a man holds a bison

Tourist pleads guilty for handling a Yellowstone bison calf, leading to its death

The Hawaii resident was charged with one count of intentionally disturbing wildlife after he tried to help a baby bison return to its herd. Park rangers later had to euthanize the abandoned animal.
A helicopter in the sky

Victims of Sitka charter wreck identified as a local boat captain and visitors from California and Hawaii

The passengers aboard the fishing charter boat were two sisters and their partners visiting Alaska from out of state.
a woman holds a large fish

A large fish that fills freezers in Northwest Alaska could be in danger

Scientists are concerned that permafrost thaw could lead to declines in the sheefish population, a staple food for many Alaskans.
empty bottles in the grass

Death rate from drinking nearly doubles in Alaska over 2 years

The rate of Alaska deaths due to drinking alcohol nearly doubled from 2019 to 2021, based on state Department of Health data.
man in suit jacket looks at camera in crowded room

Alaska Gov. Dunleavy’s policy adviser who said ‘divorce is worse than rape’ resigns

Jeremy Cubas made $110,000 a year as Gov. Dunleavy’s pro-family policy adviser. On his podcast, Cubas defended Hitler, used racist slurs and said a man raping his wife is "an impossible act.”
woman at mic in studio.

Peltola supports debt ceiling agreement

Alaska's congresswoman likes the permitting reform section, which many of her Democratic colleagues abhor.
school bus in front of building

Some Alaska legislative priorities stalled last session, so where do those bills go from here?

Anchorage Daily News reporter Iris Samuels says those bills aren't dead, though some might be harder to pass during next year's election season.
A woman shows a flash card of two figures hugging to a room of toddlers.

Alaska child care providers say funds approved by Legislature are crucial to staying open

A late addition to the budget would provide $7.5 million for child care centers, but providers say more support is needed.