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 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.
Kruzof Island

Search suspended for 4 missing people after charter boat accident near Sitka

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for four people after recovering one body from the wreck of a fishing charter near Sitka.
a Juneau labor protest

Alaska justices rule against Dunleavy administration in long-running union-dues lawsuit

The state claimed the case was about the First Amendment; justices said the facts showed the state was hostile toward unions.
an opossum in a white room with on a bed of straw

Alaska’s most-wanted opossum is settling into her new home at the Alaska Zoo

Grubby arrived at the zoo in Anchorage Wednesday, and is the first opossum to live there.
Close-up of a nurse pushing patient on wheelchair in hospital

A bill to get nurses licensed more quickly in Alaska faces pushback from unions

There’s agreement that there’s a nurse shortage, but no consensus on what to do about it.
A panel of people in business attire.

Anchorage superintendent reflects on his first year at the helm of the state’s largest school district

Jharrett Bryantt had a tumultuous first year as the superintendent of the Anchorage School District. There was the bus driver shortage, an unprecedented string of snow days and a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. But, he noted, there were many bright spots, too.
two kids hold signs that call for more education funding

Alaska school officials say one-time funding boost leaves budgets unpredictable

School district leaders and many legislators were hopeful that the state's base student allocation to schools would increase significantly this year.
underwater grasses in a tundra pond, with a boardwalk

Alaska Gov. Dunleavy says court decision limiting federal regulation of wetlands aids ‘responsible development’

The U.S. Supreme Court trimmed the EPA's authority. Implications for the Pebble Mine are unclear.

Alaska’s heavy dependence on federal dollars could mean big impacts from debt default

Alaska Beacon reporter James Brooks wrote about the potential impacts to Alaska from a debt default recently.
a person shopping

3 ways to protect your money if the U.S. defaults on its debt

From social security payments to interest rates, a lot hinges on a debt-ceiling deal. Personal finance experts say you should prepare for a possible debt default as you would a recession.

Man charged with selling bootleg alcohol to Anchorage homeless residents

Investigators say Brandon Reed sold thousands of dollars' worth of vodka to people at the Sullivan Arena and other places frequented by the homeless.
three people stand outside of a yellow van

Campsites around Midtown Anchorage park will be cleared starting June 6

It's the first major camp abatement of the year in Anchorage. Many questions remain about where and when people can set up camps with shelter space full.
a possum

Homer police take Grubby the opossum into custody

Homer police confirmed the Wednesday capture of the “wanted fugitive and somewhat local celebrity” on Facebook.
people in line at a crowded airport

A record number of Americans may fly this summer. Here’s everything you need to know.

Memorial Day weekend kicks off the busy summer air travel season and this may be the busiest ever. But some worry it could be another summer of delays and cancellations after a "pretty rocky" 2022.