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.”

Anchorage Mayor-elect LaFrance announces chief of staff and municipal manager

Suzanne LaFrance has hired Becky Windt Pearson as her municipal manager and Katie Scovic as her chief of staff.
a library

Drag story hour carries on in Seward despite a bomb threat and evacuation

Families evacuated from Seward's library and Museum moments before Saturday's story hour began. It continued at the Alaska SeaLife Center.
A man in a black t-shirt and down vest.

18-year-old Mat-Su grad seeks seat on school board that silenced him

“I thought that sitting on the board as student representative would be enough to make a positive change within our district, but I realized it wasn’t,” Ben Kolendo said.

Assembly leaders aim to postpone police chief confirmation until LaFrance takes office

Assembly chair Chris Constant said the decision to name the next chief should come from the next administration.
A mostly empty hospital hallway

A new lawsuit over Alaska’s Medicaid backlog asks a judge to order faster processing

As of last month, more than 15,000 Alaskans had Medicaid applications awaiting approval by the Division of Public Assistance.
A young woman in a blue puffy jacket and navy beanie poses inside of a glacial ice cave.

8 young Alaskans reignite a court fight over climate change and fossil fuel development

Sagoonick v. State II seeks to block a controversial natural gas project and asks the court to recognize Alaskans’ right to a livable climate.
a group of people drum and sing in the street for a celebration

Hundreds of Indigenous dancers fill the streets in Juneau to kick off Celebration

The four-day festival attracts thousands of Indigenous people from across Southeast Alaska.
three people at a meeting

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly swiftly kills proposed tobacco tax

Mayor Peter Micciche called the proposal a "nanny tax for child care, essentially."
two people on a trail

Lawmaker-approved Alaska Long Trail projects, all in Anchorage, await governor’s verdict

The biggest project approved would put just over $1 million toward creating an uninterrupted 25-mile connection between Turnagain Arm and the northern area of Anchorage.
a pipeline

Oil industry employee dies in workplace incident at Prudhoe Bay

The death is the fourth reported workplace fatality on Alaska’s North Slope in a little over a year.
fishing nets

How much fish do Alaskans eat? Enough to require new water pollution rules, EPA says

The EPA is giving the state six to 12 months to come up with new or revised standards for more than 100 pollutants in state waters.

Michigan man is accused of burglarizing cars and stealing a SUV at Anchorage’s airport

Troopers say they caught the man as he sped down the Seward Highway. He also faces a DUI charge.
A man holding a microphone appears to speak while standing in front of a lecturn.

In Alaska, top cybersecurity official says state’s remoteness makes it vulnerable but touts resiliency

Being disconnected from the rest of the U.S. means a cyberattack on Alaska's infrastructure could cause big problems.
two men pose

Downtown Anchorage businesses are stressed. Advocates hope new projects will revitalize the area.

Between a rise in homelessness and a hit to the economy, several business owners say they’re fighting to stay afloat.
a seal pup

2 Southcentral Alaska seal pups admitted to Alaska SeaLife Center

The pups are the third and fourth seals from the state to be admitted this season.
a courthouse

Alaska state judge considers fine against backers of ranked choice repeal measure

Judge Laura Hartz said she intends to issue a decision by June 21, though it may not be until the following Monday.
a D-Day remembrance

Biden commemorates D-Day invasion’s 80th anniversary, linking it to Ukraine conflict

President Biden said the historic invasion is a reminder of the costs of freedom and democracy — and the value of alliances.
a woman speaks in front of two flags

Anchorage police identify the man fatally shot by officers on Monday as a 21-year-old

This is the third armed man shot by Anchorage officers in the past month.
a portrait of a woman

Murkowski votes to advance Democrats’ ‘messaging’ bill on contraception rights

Only two Republicans crossed the aisle. Sen. Dan Sullivan didn't vote on the birth control bill, which is now stalled.