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.”

Three relatively small windmills turn above small, one-story homes. Green grass in the foreground and thick fog in the background .

COVID-19 cases confirmed in St. Lawrence Island communities

According to the regional health corporation, his newest patient was tested as a close contact of the individual in Savoonga who was confirmed as a positive case on Sunday.

Judge tosses Alaska suit against feds over contaminated ANCSA lands

The federal court decision blocks a possible avenue for forcing a solution to a decades-long problem.
An empty conference room

As Anchorage students return to classrooms, COVID risk and learning loss top list of concerns

While relatively few COVID-19 tests have come back positive, the latest grade data shows an increase in failing marks.

Fairbanks Gives Anchorage Developer More Time

The city of Fairbanks is giving the owner of the Polaris Building more time to advance a plan to renovate the vacant and deteriorating downtown high rise. KUAC’s Dan Bross reports. Listen Now
a snowy Airport Heights street

Overnight snow leaves Southcentral roads slick

The National Weather Service reports West Anchorage received 4.2 inches of snow overnight, with 10 inches recorded in Soldotna.
children with fishing nets

Alaskans invited to tell Congress what climate change means for them

Alaskans can submit their input on a draft of the upcoming National Climate Assessment until Jan. 27.

Audio: John McCain introduces Sarah Palin as his VP choice

Today in Dayton, Ohio John McCain celebrated his 72nd birthday by announcing his choice for Vice President on the presumptie Republican Presidential ticket: Alaska's...

New capital budget is much lower than previous budgets

State lawmakers who voted to pass the capital budget Thursday said it will help the economy. But it will provide less help than it did just a few years ago. Listen now

The weatherman at the end of the western world

William Wells lives and works at what may be the nation's most remote weather station. It's 300 miles off the west coast of Alaska (and 500 miles off the east coast of Siberia) in the Bering Sea. Even by St. Paul Island standards, his station is remote: it's off by itself, a few miles away from the village of 400 people who call St. Paul home. Download Audio

Persily Makes His Case at Senate Confirmation Hearing

Larry Persily, President Obama's nominee to be the Federal Coordinator of the Office for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects, and Patricia Hoffman, appointed to...

Petersburg police officer fired after Nazi-themed social media post

The post appeared to be supportive of Adolph Hitler and Nazi Germany, but the former officer says it was a reference to a comedy film that was taken out of context.
a woman talks into a microphone at a podium on stage

Peltola says she’ll dig in on salmon crisis during report to the Alaska Federation of Natives convention

The congresswoman tried to deliver a "business as usual" report but the crowd of hundreds delivered their own message of comfort and support.
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 green school with metal siding and a walkway leading to the front door.

In wake of scandals, Y-K school district revamps protocols for sexually inappropriate behavior

The policy proposals identify specific examples of what “sexual grooming” behavior is, and it spells out how the district should respond to reports of such behavior, following the arrest in 2019 of a Bethel school principal on charges of sexual abuse.
The ConocoPhillips building in downtown Anchorage.

For sale: A stake in an array of ConocoPhillips’ Alaska projects

On the block are old, new and unbuilt projects: the Kuparuk River Unit, which is Alaska’s second-largest oil-field; the newer Alpine unit to the west; and the undeveloped Willow prospect in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.
A man with a green T shirt faces the camera for a mugshot in front of lines showing his height.

LISTEN: An Alaska ski legend is accused of murder. This writer went inside ‘The final descent of Dean Cummings’

Dean Cummings was a champion skier and a pioneer in the Alaska heli-skiing industry, but according to reporting by Outside Magazine, colleagues described him as increasingly out of touch with reality in the years before he allegedly shot and killed a man.

Alaska Human Rights Commission proposes regulation changes to protect LGBTQ community

Alaska's Human Rights Commission is taking steps to legally protect members of the LGBTQ community from discrimination. Listen Now
A white man in a suit speaking at a podium

Planners in Anchorage brace for surge of COVID cases with more hospital space, mortuary preparation

Anticipating more coronavirus cases, officials in Anchorage are racing to bring more medical beds online, scrounging for equipment, and even preparing potential mortuary spaces.
A stop sign on a small road with wooden buildings and rain on the

Neighbors in Hyder, Alaska and Stewart, B. C. ask Canada to ease border restrictions

The town of 65 is stuck on the American side of the border with nearly impassable travel restrictions.

VECO chairman Allen takes the stand in Kott trial

The corruption and bribery trial of former legislator Pete Kott continued today in Anchorage. Former VECO chairman Bill Allen testified today in the Pete...