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.”

two people hug in finish chute

Iditapod: An Iditarod champ from the founding family

The 40-year-old Ryan Redington has won his first Iditarod and the first championship for the Redington family, on his 16th try (and after six previous scratches). "I've just been on pins and needles," said his mom, Barb, at the finish line. We'll hear Redington's finish itself in this episode, and from Alaska Public Media's Lex Treinen about the finish and how Redington arrived there first. The dog friends that did the leading into Nome -- Sven and Ghost -- are our obvious picks for Dogs of the Day. And we have a listener question about dog-human friends, with a fun answer from a friendly musher.
a musher behind a dog team

Kaiser and Diehl round out ‘almost unheard of’ all Alaska Native Iditarod podium

After Ryan Redington’s win, Richie Diehl and Pete Kaiser say they’re showing that rural mushing isn’t dying.
Tallie Medel

Ketchikan’s Tallie Medel has ‘surreal’ Oscar night after co-starring in Best Picture winner

Medel co-starred in “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” which took home a total of seven Oscars, including Best Picture.
the Alaska House Finance Committee

After years of contentious fights, Alaska’s state budget is advancing smoothly in the House

House subcommittees made few changes to a proposal authored by Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
the Willow project

Conservation groups sue to block Biden-approved Willow oil project on Alaska’s North Slope

A day after President Biden approved the controversial North Slope oil development, opponents sought to stop it from moving forward.
A man with curly hair in a parka with a fur ruff

Eddie Burke Jr. wins Iditarod Rookie of the Year

The former amateur boxer and garbage truck driver had the best rookie finish since Jessie Holmes in 2018, finishing in seventh place.
A man in a black parka with two dogs

Iditapod: The all-Indigenous Iditarod podium

Alaska Native mushers took the podium in the 2023 Iditarod, with the Knik Kid, Ryan Redington, winning his first championship and Bethel's Pete Kaiser and Aniak's Richie Diehl mushing into second and third place. The race's top 10 were all into Nome by Wednesday morning, and we have an update on Rookie of the Year honors, as well as three Dogs of the Day, two listener questions and a story about collecting dog pee. Also: This'll do it for Season 7 of the Iditapod. Thanks for coming along with us on this thousand-mile journey!

ACLU sues Alaska prison system over forced medication policy

The ACLU says Mark Andrews' experience shows that a policy affecting many people in state custody with mental illness should be struck down.
People cut up meat in a kitchen.

On appeal, state wins right to challenge subsistence hunting decision for Kake

The state can try again to get a judge to rule that a 2020 emergency hunt was illegal.
Willow project

Willow oil project approval intensifies Alaska Natives’ rift

Some say that oil money can’t counter the damages caused by climate change, but others defend the project as economically vital.
Lisa Murkowski giving a remote address

Murkowski, Peltola tell ComFish more needs to be done about ‘crisis’ levels of species decline

The lawmakers discussed the challenges faced by Alaska’s fishermen in a remote address to Kodiak’s annual commercial fishing trade show.
Jamie Heinz inside Anchorage Election Center

Furor over mail-in voting fades as Anchorage prepares for April election

It peaked in 2021. Anchorage’s election administrator thinks increasing transparency around election operations has helped settle the public’s concerns.
Bob Penney

Bob Penney, KRSA founder, dies at 90

Kenai River Sportfishing Association founder Bob Penney died earlier this week at his winter home in Indian Wells, Calif.
A mirrored building.

Anchorage Assembly sues Mayor Bronson to force disclosures about former health department head 

Several Assembly members previously accused the administration of using confidentiality to hide the lackluster investigation from the public.
Large white boxes that read "Vote by Mail Ballot Drop Box" sit in a warehouse.

Anchorage voters to decide on using marijuana taxes to fund early education, child care programs

Proposition 14 would specifically allocate Anchorage marijuana tax revenue to child care and early education initiatives.
Host Lori Townsend sits at a desk, with a monitor across from her showing the face of Dr. Oivind Toien

How understanding hibernation can help improve human medicine | Alaska Insight

On this episode of Alaska Insight, host Lori Townsend is joined by Dr. Kelly Drew and Dr. Oivind Toien, two researchers at the University of Fairbanks Alaska who are looking at the possible medical applications of understanding hibernation.

Palmer to set up interim library after roof collapse

Residents of Palmer have rallied to support the Palmer Public Library since the building suffered a partial roof collapse on Feb. 15.
a school

Lower Kuskokwim School District measures Yugtun in a Yup’ik way

The district has rolled out an innovative language test based on Yugtun, or central Alaskan Yup'ik, for students up to sixth graders.
a map near Pedro Bay

Pedro Bay deal blocked Pebble before EPA’s veto, but still protects salmon habitat

Late last year, the Pedro Bay Corporation closed a $20 million deal that blocked the Pebble Limited Partnership’s proposed transport route.
banner on grass outside a building with columns

Willow protesters dog Biden as he touts his environmental achievements

The protests haven't been huge, but the focus on the Willow project could tarnish Biden's climate legacy.