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.”

birds fly by a mountain

Biden administration gives support to controversial land trade in Alaska wildlife refuge

A land swap would allow for a road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge that supporters say King Cove needs; opponents say it would be ecologically ruinous.
yogurt on a shelf

Fed up with high prices? Here’s where things stand with inflation.

Inflation remains substantially lower than it did during its 2022 peak — but Americans are still frustrated with high prices.

Trump’s pick for attorney general isn’t a ‘serious candidate,’ Murkowski says

A spotlight will be on Lisa Murkowski as a GOP senator who could block Trump's agenda. The Gaetz nomination offers a preview.
a man

Trump announces he will nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz to be attorney general

"Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System," Trump said.
a barge

‘All public services … decommissioned and shut down’: Newtok’s end is imminent

The last residents are moving to Mertarvik, as the local tribal government has deemed the village too unsafe to remain there this winter.
a dog

A dog on Prince of Wales Island is helping to conserve wolves by tracking their poop

Last summer, managers hired a dog named Barley to sniff out an important source of data on Prince of Wales Island wolves: their poop.
a polar bear

Chukchi Sea polar bears are increasingly exposed to disease-causing pathogens

A new study signals potential future stress for bears already coping with a warming environment in Alaska and Siberia.
people waive signs

Begich maintains lead and repeal of ranked choice still passing in updated election results

Nick Begich III now has 49% of first-place votes to U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’s 46%, while Ballot Measure 2 is passing by a margin of 1 percentage point.
a clinic

Anchor Point man arrested after shots fired at Homer health nonprofits

Police say Josiah Kelly, 30, confessed to shooting at a clinic for people recovering from addiction and substance use disorder.
Cars on a highway with snow

Percentage of Alaska high schoolers texting while driving jumps to a new high

Last year over 40% of high school drivers reported that they texted or emailed while on the road.
a man

He sold his house. Now, he is struggling to find a home he can afford.

It can be hard to get a foothold in today's tough housing market — even for folks who have been homeowners before.
a processing plant

Silver Bay Seafoods acquires Peter Pan facilities in Dillingham, Port Moller

Silver Bay is set to to take immediate control of the processing plants, sold by former Peter Pan Seafoods co-owner Rodger May.
salmon

Strong sockeye salmon return expected next year in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region, biologists say

The size of the famous Bristol Bay run is forecasted to be above the long-term average, but the economic outlook is unclear.
A lawn with an elevated pedestrian walkway over it.

UAA launches Alaska’s first in-state training program for school psychologists

University officials say they hope the master’s degree program will boost the number of school psychologists who understand the needs of Alaska schools.
a building

Alaska-owned corporation approves $750K for legal fights over Ambler Road and ANWR

The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority is preparing to bid on an upcoming oil and gas lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
A fuming, snow-covered mountain peak

Alaska volcanologists continue to track unrest at Mount Spurr

That's after seismometers picked up an increased number of small earthquakes at the volcano and GPS sensors showed it was swelling up.
people on a beach

At least 8 teens injured in an explosion at a Kodiak beach party

“Thankfully, at this point, nobody has died from this — this tragic incident," said a trooper spokesman.
corroded beams under a dock

Former Haines mayor says he did not authorize contested $10M steel purchase

The dispute about who’s responsible for the bill – Haines taxpayers or the construction contractor – is now almost a year old, and continues to delay the project.
the Boney Courthouse

3 nominated for upcoming vacancy on Alaska Supreme Court

Gov. Mike Dunleavy will have 45 days to make a final selection that will make the court majority female for the first time.