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 burned ballot box

Ballots set on fire in 3 states as Election Day approaches

Federal officials have warned that in recent months, some social media users have been encouraging sabotage of ballot drop boxes.
a white raven

Waiting for a white raven in Spenard

Experts say the leucistic bird could return to Anchorage for the winter — but so far there have been no confirmed sightings.
rioters

The Jan. 6 riot included Marines. The military is wrestling with the consequences.

A Marine and his buddies joined the mob that entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. They were not the only Marines there.
a building

Deadly Mountain Village police station blaze was started within holding cell, troopers say

One of two men being held at the Mountain Village Police Department, 39-year-old Lawrence Chiklak, was killed in the Friday fire.
Deena Bishop

False citations show Alaska education official relied on generative AI, raising broader questions

Education Commissioner Deena Bishop said the false citations were in a draft she used generative AI to create.

Should Alaska keep ranked choice voting? | Alaska Insight

Host Lori Townsend and her guests discuss arguments for and against keeping Alaska’s new election system on this Alaska Insight.

How candidates for the Alaska Legislature are talking about education as Election Day nears

A vote on overriding the governor's veto of an education bill has come up repeatedly in talks with voters, candidates said.
a man

City and Borough of Juneau apologizes for 1962 burning of Douglas Indian Village

The apology was sudden, and not widely advertised, but it’s been on the mind of one Juneau Assembly member for years.
a rehearsal

The play that lived: ‘Harry Potter’ comes to Ketchikan High stage after landslide

“We don’t let things stop us,” said drama instructor Tommy Varella-Kossack, whose home was destroyed in the Aug. 25 slide.
A black horse held from behind by a person.

Anchorage sues woman charged with neglecting horses, to recoup cost of their care

The horses were found to be underweight and had been kept in an enclosure filled with as much as two feet of feces, the lawsuit says.
a cruise ship

Last cruise ship leaves Juneau’s tumultuous tourism season

Thursday's departure ended a season dominated by a contentious ballot proposition and a surprise port announcement.
Mary Peltola

Rep. Mary Peltola talks regional fisheries, Arctic security during Unalaska visit

Peltola stopped by Unalaska to hear more about the community’s unique concerns during her reelection bid.
an apology

Biden offers apology for ‘horrific era’ of U.S. Native American boarding schools

President Biden visited Arizona on Friday to apologize for the horrors of the federal Indian boarding schools that ran for over 150 years.
a refuge

Several key steps toward drilling in Alaska’s Arctic refuge are due before year’s end

A legal ruling on a 2021 lease sale is expected as soon as Friday from a federal judge in Alaska.
a rescue

Kotzebue airport reopens as flood damage assessments and cleanup continue

With winter quickly approaching, many homes are unsafe. Two homes, Kotzebue’s dock, roads, bridges and subsistence camps were destroyed.
a man

South Korea warns it may send Ukraine weapons after North Korea sent troops to Russia

South Korea's president says it may provide offensive weapons to Ukraine after North Korean troops deployed to Russia.
a man

After sex scandal leads to judge’s resignation, Alaska prosecutors ask to vacate a conviction

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Anchorage has identified at least 44 cases in which Joshua Kindred's actions are in question.
king crab

Red king crab harvest looking ‘very good’ so far for Bristol Bay fleet

So far about 680,000 pounds of king crab have been taken, with harvesters getting about $2 more a pound for the massive crabs.
A sign that reads help wanted

Alaska businesses are divided over a ballot measure that would raise minimum wage and mandate sick leave

Ballot Measure One would raise the minimum wage and allow workers to accrue sick leave. Many business owners say it makes sense, while others believe it’ll drive up high operating costs even further.
Palmer City Hall

Palmer city council to investigate ousted manager’s deleted emails as mayor faces recall

The emails were deleted during Stephen Jellie's final hours on the job, city officials said.