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.”

Outbreak at Seward salmon processing plant grows to 96, state says

The plant has about 260 workers, who are a mix of residents and nonresidents, according to Scott Meszaros, Seward's city manager. He said 90 employees have been tested so far, and that more positives are expected as the remainder of the workers are tested.
COVIDChart

Additional actions needed, state warns, or ‘cases are expected to continue to rise rapidly’

The state stepped up warnings about Alaska's spike in COVID-19 cases in its weekly summary Tuesday, saying that without more compliance with masking and social distancing, the case count will continue to rise quickly.
Boats in a sweeping bend in a river

Alaska fishing communities feared COVID-19 contagion from industry. It hasn’t shown up.

As the Bristol Bay salmon season winds down, seafood company executives and public health authorities point to a remarkable fact: The industry has succeeded in keeping its seasonal workers and fishermen from infecting Alaska residents.

A tsunami warning that sent coastal Alaskans to higher ground has been canceled

Following a Magnitude 7.4 earthquake Tuesday night south of Chignik, the National Tsunami Warning Center has issued a warning for coastal Alaska from Kennedy Entrance, 40 miles southwest of Homer, to Unimak Pass, 80 NE of Unalaska.

Alaska Bar sidesteps contentious Dershowitz keynote choice

The bar association cancelled this year's conference, which made the selection of the former defender of Jeffrey Epstein a moot point.
a woman stands at a podium

Anchorage Schools superintendent says ‘high probability’ students will attend all classes online next month

COVID-19 cases are surging in the Municipality of Anchorage, prompting the state’s largest school district to likely pivot to a “high risk” plan for schools.

Southcentral Foundation fires three dentists, including husband of chief executive, for falsifying health records

One of Anchorage’s leading tribal health-care providers has fired a senior executive and two dentists after an anonymous complaint documented “falsified health records” and “serious compliance issues,” the provider said in a statement Tuesday.
A front counter with signs about COVID-19

CHARR asks for restaurant mandates, hoping to slow restaurant and bar related COVID spread

A large Alaska hospitality group is asking Gov. Mike Dunleavy to implement binding, statewide mandates on the restaurant and bar industry, instead of its...
America's Best Value Inn and Suites

What are the city’s plans after controversial building purchases in Anchorage? Here’s what we know.

On Tuesday, the Anchorage Assembly will hold its fourth day of a public hearing on the city’s controversial plan to revamp homelessness services. Many people who testified in person so far have raised concerns about the planning process and proximity of the facilities to Midtown neighborhoods.
A concrete sign with an emblem of the Alaska flag and the words "Nesbett Courthouse". A sidwalk and streetlamps are in the background

No more prison time for Anchorage man who shot mom and sister as a juvenile

Now that he is 20 -- the age limit for juvenile custody -- and the case against him has been resolved in court, Corbin Duke walked out of the Anchorage courtroom with no additional jail time or conditions of release, after about four years at a juvenile detention facility.

Pebble Mine to clear environmental review this week, but is it ‘practicable’?

The Pebble Mine becomes a step closer to reality this week but legal questions remain.

New protections for LGBTQ individuals unanimously approved in Ketchikan

The ordinance came up for vote following a controversy over a flower shop that refused to sell to a same sex wedding.

Juneau Assembly passes emergency mask mandate

The move follows an COVID-19 outbreak at a Juneau seafood plant that infected dozens.
Seattle-based American Seafoods

COVID-19 outbreaks among seafood workers help push Alaska’s one-day case count to new record high

Also, over the past several days, three Anchorage restaurants and a local bar have announced infections and temporary closures.

A fishing boat docked in Dutch Harbor with 85 COVID-19 cases. Now it’s headed for Seward.

The 34 crew members who tested negative will be flown to Anchorage on chartered planes. Those who tested positive will remain on the boat, which will sail to Seward, then be transported to Anchorage.
A roll of "I voted" stickers with the blue alaska flag nexxt to secrecy folders

Lawsuit: Alaska absentee application mailings discriminatory

A lawsuit filed Friday says state elections officials are discriminating by mailing unprompted absentee ballot applications to older Alaskans but not to all qualified voters.

Wrong fuel caused May crash of Department of Forestry plane, says NTSB report

There were no fatalities in the accident, but the Division of Forestry says only one of the three firefighters who was injured has returned to work.
AK Doctors

Should I dipnet? Or open the mail? Here’s how Zink and 5 other Alaska health experts manage COVID-19 risks in their daily lives

You probably know that health officials have warned about going to parties and bars. But how risky is hiking or dipnetting? How about ordering takeout? Should I send my kids to daycare? Alaska Public Media recruited six local experts to tell us how they answer those questions for their own families.

Private Christian schools in Anchorage grapple with outpouring of alumni stories about racial discrimination

Alumni say they were inspired by recent protests across the country, and hope change can take place in Alaska.