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.”

man in suit sitting at a table

For the first time, America has an Arctic ambassador, and he’s Alaskan

Michael Sfraga, from Fairbanks, is "probably the most recognized go-to Arctic expert that we have," Sen. Lisa Murkowski says.
an iphone

Why Sitka lost almost everything else when it lost the internet

"A lot of times people talk about fiber as being future proof, but I think maybe we’re learning that it’s not Alaska proof," said one expert.
jackets hung up

Alaska youth need expanded access to mental health support, advocates tell lawmakers

“We know that Alaska is No. 1 in all of the bad things," Sen. Löki Tobin said. "So I think we have a real opportunity to figure out some ways that we can intervene."
a smoking pile of organic material

Solid Waste Services accepts fish carcasses in effort to increase lifespan of landfill

It’s one of several new initiatives at Solid Waste Services that aim to keep organic material and plastics out of the landfill.
a man holds paddles outside

Quakers travel to Kake to return wooden paddles, baby booties and other cultural artifacts

The group's visit was part of an ongoing effort to apologize for its participation in the forced assimilation of the Tlingit people.
An emergency sign outside a hospital.

Alaska’s life-expectancy drop was biggest among all states in 2021, CDC says

Alaska’s life expectancy in 2021 was 74.5 years, down from the average of 76.6 years in 2020.
police cars near beige homes

Suspect in custody after shooting 3 people in Anchorage, including an officer, police say

The suspect barricaded himself into a trailer on the east side of town for hours, drawing a large police presence. All victims were expected to survive.
a car

EVs are cleaner than gas cars, but a growing share of Americans don’t believe it

Data from Ipsos shows the percentage of Americans who believe EVs are better for the environment than gas cars has dropped 5 points since 2022.
a drone view of a boat

New study warns permafrost thaw along Yukon River could release high levels of mercury

Researchers believe that if permafrost thaw continues at its current rate, it could pose a real threat to many Alaska communities.
businesses line water

A three-way race is on to replace five-term House Rep. Dan Ortiz in Ketchikan

In the coastal district — Alaska’s farthest south — the candidates say they want to support education, fishing and energy, but differ on how.
A police car marked as Anchorage Police.

This September is the deadliest month for pedestrians in Anchorage in over a decade

Two pedestrians were struck and killed over the weekend, bringing the city’s total number of fatal vehicle-pedestrian collisions this month to six.
a person looks over papers

What would a statewide hand-count election look like in Alaska?

As Georgia plans to implement a partial hand count, a small Alaska experiment shows that it could be time-consuming here.
Two men, one in a suit and another in a police uniform, sit at a desk with a woman wearing a blazer.

How can Anchorage Police improve accountability and community trust? | Alaska Insight

In the wake of seven police shootings, some Anchorage community members are calling for reforms and more accountability.

Anchorage police hope focus on officers’ mental health and change in state law will encourage more to seek resources

Senate Bill 103 establishes clear confidentiality rules for police peer support sessions. It’s part of an emerging focus on mental health and wellness at Alaska public safety departments.
Alaska Native Cultural Charter School students gather at the start of the school day.

Anchorage School Board considers policy update to encourage patriotism in schools

The board is considering a watered-down version of a proposal that would have required schools to play the national anthem and state flag song monthly.
A vaccine for whooping cough.

Whooping cough spike reaches epidemic level in Alaska, public health experts warn

The total number of cases reported has reached 286. Officials say case numbers are rising in Anchorage, but falling statewide.
water near mountains

Bottled water companies and Anchorage’s water utility engage in feud

The president of one of the companies said the utility’s leaders had taken a “scorched earth, take no prisoners, Sherman’s march to the sea” decision-making approach.
cash in hands

In a major shift, the U.S. government explores giving renters cash, not vouchers

A key goal of cash is getting people housed faster.
a fishing vessel

Marquee Alaska sockeye run was bigger than expected, but the individual fish were small

Bristol Bay’s sockeye salmon have been shrinking over past decades, and this year’s average fish size was the smallest on record.
dogs

Peltola bill would lift ban on bringing puppies through Canada

The bill aims to ease the burdens of a CDC rule that took effect in August, at least for dogs coming from countries at low rabies risk.