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.”

Sen. Maria Cantwel

Washington senator says Congress should block Pebble’s permit

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell says she’ll support a bill to block a permit for the Pebble Mine. She also wants an investigation into whether Pebble’s CEO lied to Congress.
The sign outside the federal courthouse in Anchorage along 7th Avenue with the museum in the background

Indictment: Drug conspiracy that sent kilos of heroin, meth to Alaska led to Anchorage man’s murder

The indictment names Jordan "Two-3" Shanholtzer, 33, as their leader and Matthew "Matt Matt" Moi, 35, as the trigger man in the murder, both described as formerly from Anchorage.
yellow trees along a country road

PHOTOS: As termination dust arrives, a look back at September in Southcentral Alaska

Southcentral Alaska is awash in gold and red, as temperatures slowly drop and winter approaches. Here are some images that capture the feelings and...

An initiative proposes to overhaul Alaska’s elections. But not everyone thinks they’re broken.

The initiative’s drafters argue that Alaska’s election system punishes bipartisanship and rewards partisan loyalty. And they’re proposing an overhaul, but they face opposition from those who say the state's elections work just fine.
Grey and white sled dogs howl in nblack harnesses

Yukon mushers struggle to feed dogs after poor salmon runs

Mushers usually rely on king and chum salmon - this year, both species have hadd poor returns.
A square tan and grey building

COVID-19 unemployment boost may arrive mid-October

A program to boost unemployment benefits for Alaskans out of work because of the pandemic is still weeks away from implementation.  In mid-August, the state...
A railroad track leading into yellow leaves

Trump to OK cross-border railroad line from Alaska to Canada

1,600-mile rail line from Alberta to Alaska would move potash, sulfur, bitumen, and other products from Canada to Alaska where it could be exported overseas.
A fat brown bear's bust

Haines mourns death of Speedy, the ‘Bearoness of the Chilkoot’

The bear was known to wait for people to pass by on the roadside in what appeared to be an attempt to let them pass.
A grey building with a red roof and wooden stairs leading ip next to a boardwalk

Thanks to the pandemic, Medicaid is covering more Alaskans than ever

While Medicaid enrollment has risen over 5% in Alaska since the start of the pandemic, that's less than the rise in most other states.
a person wearing a mask teaching students

‘It has exceeded my expectations’: Here’s what in-person school looks like in Mat-Su

By-and-large, students, teachers and administrators are happy to be back in schools, even if it means wearing uncomfortable masks.
A man in a blue hospital gown and a blue surgical mask passes a swab to a man in a blue hoody from across the table

Flying to Bethel? You could win $1,000 if you get tested for COVID-19

But the number of passengers getting tested at the airport hasn’t changed.

Fish and Game is looking for a black bear that followed and charged people in Anchorage park

The repeated run-ins with the bear were part of the reason that one children's camp decided to move out of Russian Jack to another park.
A beige building with long windows and three front doors

Tribes win decision to exclude Alaska Native corporations from $8B coronavirus fund

A federal appeals court says Alaska Native corporations can't receive a share of the $8 billion coronavirus fund Congress created for tribes.
A blue, three story building next to other buildings, with cars parked beneath

Juneau homeless shelter closes after positive cases

Two people tested positive for COVID-19 and 7 others are in quarantine.

Kenai Peninsula schools face substitute teacher shortage

The school district voted to raise substitute teacher pay in response to the shortage.

LISTEN: The fallout from Pebble recordings continues

Pebble Mine opponents say CEO's resignation is just scapegoating. Gov. Dunleavy denies he served as Pebble's messenger to the White House, and Sen. Murkowski is furious.
hand sanitizer in a classroom window and people behind the window

Many Anchorage teachers say they don’t want to return to classrooms

Overwhelmingly, public testimony during the meeting came from district teachers who expressed concerns about social distancing, cleaning supplies, and class sizes.
A pink blocky, two story building next to a sprucy hillside

Ketchikan assembly passes pro-police resolution seen as ‘backlash’ to LGBTQ rights measure

The mayor cross-examined public testifiers in the unusual hearing on the resolution at the Ketchikan Borough Assembly.
A silver sign that says "The Pebble Partnership"

Pebble CEO Tom Collier resigns

The news comes following the release of recordings with an "investor" in which CEO Tom Collier appeared to contradict the company's public statements and downplayed Alaska's senators' doubts about the project.
A white, fluffy headed alpaca looks directly into the camera.

Wild brown bear killed after fatal attack on Alaska Zoo’s alpaca, Caesar

A brown bear in Anchorage has been killed after breaking into the Alaska Zoo and killing an alpaca, according to a statement from the zoo.