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 ship

Coast Guard confirms new icebreaker will be homeported in Juneau

Plans to dock an icebreaker in the capital city have been discussed for a few years, but previous funding attempts were removed from federal legislation. 
a grainy video still of a shirtless man holding a shotgun stepping off a curb

Family of man killed by Anchorage police files wrongful death lawsuit

“There appears to be a real failure to train these officers on when to use deadly force,” an attorney for Kristopher Handy’s family says.
A police car

Anchorage police fatally shoot teen girl who they say was holding a knife

APD Chief Sean Case said the 16-year-old approached officers holding a knife late Tuesday night, calling her death "tragic."
outside a costco store

Costco says it’s going to start cracking down on membership sharing

The retail giant says shoppers will soon have to start scanning their membership cards at the entrances to Costco warehouses.
images of three people

Peltola still holds fundraising cash advantage in U.S. House race, new figures show

In the past month, Democratic incumbent Mary Peltola has raised more money than her Republican competitors and has more cash on hand.
surf

The oceans are weirdly hot. Scientists are trying to figure out why.

Scientists knew that climate change would cause the oceans to heat up a lot. But current ocean temperatures are even higher than expected.
a whale

Vessel strike suspected in Southeast Alaska whale death

The whale was one of two found dead last month in the Icy Strait area near Hoonah, according to NOAA biologists.
An emergency sign outside a hospital.

Rising pertussis case numbers in Alaska prompt warnings and prevention recommendations

This year’s spike in the disease known as "whooping cough" follows COVID-19 pandemic years that had very few cases reported.

Local students get park renamed to honor Chitose, Anchorage’s Japanese sister city

Students from Sand Lake Elementary, which houses the school district’s Japanese immersion program, were behind the name change.
Kristen Faulkner

Homer’s Kristen Faulkner recalls her ride to cycling gold at the Paris Olympics

KBBI reporter Jamie Diep spoke with Faulkner about her path to winning two gold medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
a naval vessel

Coast Guard encounters Russian military ship near Atka

The Coast Guard said the cutter Alex Haley encountered the Russian naval vessel Aug. 5 in international waters off Atka Island.
Power transmission lines on poles in the foreground, with mountains in the distance.

Power-line problem triggered brief but broad outage across Southcentral Alaska

About 65,000 Chugach Electric and MEA customers lost power Monday night after a transmission-line fault near Wasilla.
a truck

Disaster assistance centers open in Juneau as flood clean-up continues

The city now estimates that at least 290 Juneau homes, including apartments and condos, were damaged by last week’s glacial outburst flooding.
a tower

Bethel’s KYUK tower comes down after 5 decades

A brand-new 180-foot tower has been erected in the former tower's place to continue beaming local TV and radio programming.
poll workers

Alaska’s pre-primary election turnout is down from extraordinary 2022 and 2020 primaries

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic emergency boosted absentee turnout to record highs, and in 2022, there was a special U.S. House election.
Stone building entrance with gold letters that say "Fifth Avenue Building."

Disabled Alaskans sue state and appointed guardian for alleged financial abuse, neglect

Thomas McDuffie had over 100 wards in his care as a guardian between 2021 and 2023. The lawsuit names him, the state and two state employees as defendants.
Lisa Murkowski

Advocates, Murkowski seek next steps after Native boarding school report

Alaska boarding-school survivors and Sen. Lisa Murkowski applaud the federal report, but say it tells only part of the story.
Hoonah

Boundary commission report recommends denial of Hoonah borough petition

Staff with Alaska’s Local Boundary Commission cited “substantive concerns” with the plan, before members meet Sept. 5 in Hoonah.
a rally

Alaska school districts got a one-time funding boost. It came too late for many teachers.

Many school boards opted for conservative budgets that included layoffs of teachers before the governor signed the budget this year.
an icebreaker

Coast Guard icebreaker Healy cancels Arctic mission after electrical fire

The Healy, one of only two operational U.S. icebreakers, had just begun its summer patrol northwest of Alaska in the Chukchi Sea.