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.”

An aerial view of a mining camp, which looks like a clearing in the trees

NovaGold sues research firm for report on Donlin Gold mine

After the short-selling firm J Capital Research released a report suggesting the Donlin Gold mine was too expensive to build, NovaGold's stock price dropped, but since then its prices have rebounded.

Alaska reports 49 new COVID-19 cases and new case at Fairbanks prison

The state also reduced the number of inpatient beds available, which it says more accurately represents the number of inpatient beds that can be used for COVID-19 patients.

Alaska’s top doctor lays out four ways to reduce COVID-19 exposure

Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink said that Alaskans can slow the spread of COVID-19 by minimizing contact with micro-droplets from others in the air.

Wealthy and well-connected Alaska firms among those gaining most from PPP

The SBA has released the names of Alaska companies that scored the largest share of Alaska's $1.2 billion in PPP funds.

Southeast lawmaker is counting on the $5 billion Alaska squirreled away this year for future dividends

The constitutionally-protected portion of the Alaska Permanent Fund got a nearly $5 billion boost as the fiscal year drew to a close last month.

Skagway residents got Permanent Fund dividends and city stimulus checks in the same week

The city's plan was to keep people spending money despite a devastated tourism season. Some residents say it's working.

Ravn sells off dozens of small planes to Alaska companies

The bankrupt RavnAir group sold off dozens of its small planes to three Alaska aviation companies in a Tuesday auction, but Ravn's largest planes and most valuable airline operating certificates won't be sold until Wednesday.

State reports another death as active COVID-19 infections again reach new high

The report of another death follows a recent spike in Alaska’s number of new COVID-19 infections, and warnings from Anchorage city officials that its system for investigating cases has maxed out.

Hospitality industry criticizes decision to release the names of bars and restaurants with COVID-19 cases

The industry argues that it was unfairly singled out and that the announcement created confusion about where people could have been exposed.

Anti-mask mandate campaign gets taken down by GoFundMe

A crowdsourcing campaign to produce ads challenging mainstream advice about using face coverings was removed from the platform for violating its terms of service.

It’s official: Alaska won’t see any large cruise ships this year

Carnival and Royal Caribbean already announced that they wouldn't be sailing to Alaska.

Alaska’s largest rural airline will go on the auction block Tuesday

Fourteen bidders intend to participate in the auction, Ravn said in a prepared statement Monday, though it did not reveal their names.
Envelopes and a bag, all emblazoned with the words "Census 2020"

Census officials say they’ll count all rural Alaskans; Workers on the ground aren’t so sure

With limited person-to-person interaction hampering census effots, only about 17% of Nome's population has been counted.

How Providence workers fought to contain ‘lightning speed’ coronavirus at site of Alaska’s largest outbreak

Two health care workers from the Providence Transitional Care Center in Anchorage share their stories.
Alaska State Troopers. Photo: Monica Gokey/ Alaska Public Media file photo.

As law enforcement agencies diversify, Alaska State Troopers remain nearly 90% white

About 87% of troopers are white, compared to 65% of Alaska’s population. Alaska Natives and American Indians have the next-largest representation among troopers, at 5%, compared to some 20% of the population overall.

A former student speaks out about racism in Juneau schools; administration says it’ll do better

After watching protests unfold for Black lives in Alaska and across the country, Lacey Davis posted a video on Facebook about her experiences of growing up Black in Juneau.

Goldbelt shareholder fined $1,000 over Facebook post accusing state regulator of inaction

State financial regulators have fined a Goldbelt, Inc. shareholder over a Facebook post complaining of inaction by the state agency responsible for financial oversight of the corporate board. This comes as the state’s broad powers over shareholder speech is under review by the Alaska Supreme Court.

Anchorage names bars and restaurants where patrons may have been exposed to COVID-19

The city identified 19 establishments in the municipality, Palmer and Seward where individuals infectious with COVID-19 "spent extended time."

Anchorage struggles to keep up with contact tracing and testing as cases surge

As Anchorage continues to see a sharp uptick in new COVID-19 cases, two important components of the city’s public health resources are maxed out. The city is scrambling to train new contact tracers and expand testing facilities.