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.”

Supreme Court photo

Anchorage man threatened U.S. Supreme Court justices, indictment says

Panos Anastasiou, 76, allegedly sent more than 465 threatening messages from March of 2023 to July of 2024.
a woman looking at a phone

OOTD from Alaska? Anchorage influencers describe challenges and opportunities

Alaska’s isolation makes it harder for content creators to make a living off their social media. But the state’s unique fashion and landscapes can help too.
A woman in a tan suit jacket speaking

Anchorage preps private rooms to shelter 500 people this winter

There will be significantly more beds available this winter for a significantly smaller target population.
Men in military uniforms stand in tall grass.

Alaska troops deploy to remote Shemya Island, less than 300 miles from Russia

Alaska Beacon reporter James Brooks says it coincides with Russia and China conducting joint military exercises in the Sea of Japan.
a permanent fund seal in window

Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend for 2024 is $1,702

Residents who applied electronically for direct deposit of the dividend should start seeing it in their accounts on Oct. 3.
a cabin under construction

Alaska Cabins Project will lead to 25 new public use cabins in the state

All cabins in the project will be made from locally sourced wood and built by local contractors.
a house with a for sale sign

Here are 4 ways the Federal Reserve’s big rate cut could change the housing market

After months of anticipation, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates on Wednesday by half a percentage point.
man in suit and red tie holds mic

Alaska on Trump’s mind: He endorses Begich and confuses Arctic refuge with Afghanistan air base

The former president says Nick Begich will fight for MAGA policies. In other Alaska news, Trump twice referred to ANWR as "Bagram."

Anchorage partners police officers with social workers to assist city’s homeless

City leaders say the Homeless Outreach Prevention and Engagement team will help reach homeless residents while ensuring they and program navigators are safe.

In sign of North Slope evolution, privately owned Texas company targets Chevron’s Alaska assets

A little known Texas company is buying a share of a key North Slope pipeline and asked to buy all of Chevron’s oil interests in the region — reviving questions about the Alaska oil industry’s capacity to decommission aging infrastructure and pay damages in the event of a spill.
a woman speaks behind a podium

Alaska pursues appeal of $17.5M penalty over federal education funding equity dispute

Consequences are mounting for Alaska as a dispute continues between the state’s education officials and their federal counterparts.
sunset near water

Men who died in St. Mary’s crash were on a hunting trip, NTSB says

Two of the four men who died were Alaska residents and two lived out of state, according to troopers.
Men in military uniforms stand in tall grass.

In Arctic, Putin is flexing the strength of his alliances, Murkowski says

It's the joint nature of the exercises off Alaska that are unusual, the U.S. senator says. In response, the Army sent soldiers to Shemya.
U.S. Capitol dome

Sen. Murkowski joins Democrats to support IVF bill

Republicans, including Sen. Dan Sullivan, blocked the IVF bill. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins were the only GOP senators to support it.
a man in a suit against the wall

The Federal Reserve is on the verge of cutting interest rates. Here’s what to know.

The Fed is expected to start cutting interest rates on Wednesday — marking a milestone in the central bank's long-running battle against inflation.
(Creative Commons photo by Matt’ Johnson)

Southcentral Alaska plane crashes leave 3 people dead

Two people died in a plane crash on the Kenai Peninsula, and one died in a crash in a Wasilla neighborhood.

Unsubstantiated social media threat disrupts 2 Alaska schools

Bethel Police say the post threatening “BHS” that disrupted Bethel and Bartlett came from the Lower 48.
a photo of two men

Alaska House race in South Anchorage presents contrasts, despite common party affiliation

Both candidates are Republicans, but they differ in their ideas about bipartisan caucuses, state employee retirement benefits and other issues.

Alaska’s own, Lael Wilcox, sets record for around-the-world bike ride

As for why she would want to bike around the world, Wilcox says it seemed like a good way to spend her summer.
Collection of buildings on a grassy hill

4 people killed in St. Mary’s plane crash

The plane crashed short of the runway in the lower Yukon River community.