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 man in a suit with black glasses on at his trial in court.

Anchorage man’s fate again before a jury in Spenard triple homicide

Anthony Pisano is charged with killing three men at a Spenard gold shop in 2017. An earlier jury failed to reach a verdict.
a woman holds out her hands in front of a brain poster

Domestic Violence in Alaska: Advocates link Alaska’s high rate of traumatic brain injury with domestic violence

Alaska has the highest rate of deaths from traumatic brain injury in the nation and among the highest rates of domestic violence.
an airliner

3 passengers sue Alaska Airlines over Horizon Air flight scare

According to the complaint, the plaintiffs have suffered from anxiety, insomnia, fear of flying and other emotional effects due to the incident.
a totem pole

A Chilkoot totem pole is coming home after 50 years as airline property

Staff at Delta Air Lines' museum offered last summer to repatriate the totem pole, which was carved for Delta predecessor Western Airlines in 1969.

Anchorage photo exhibit highlights Taiwanese diaspora in Alaska

Photographer Jeff Chen said he wanted to highlight the diverse experiences of those people who made Alaska their home.

Sullivan puts on the pressure but Alabama senator hasn’t loosened his grip on hundreds of blocked military promotions

The move carries some political risk for U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, who opposes the same Pentagon abortion policy Tuberville is protesting.
salmon in the water

Pink salmon are thriving in warmer waters, affecting other species, scientists say

A new scientific paper shows that the pink salmon population is booming in the North Pacific Ocean — and global warming is helping it happen.
A man with a newborn and other children.

Training child care providers in Southeast Alaska

Quality child care is in limited supply across Alaska, but especially so in rural parts of the state.
the Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court will consider taking up Alaska union dues case no sooner than December

The U.S. Supreme Court receives hundreds of appeal requests each year, but it takes up only a relative handful.
a whale

How Alaska wildlife officials saved a humpback whale found ‘hogtied’ to a 300-pound crab pot

Two Southeast Alaska residents first spotted the whale on Oct. 10 off the coast of Gustavus, which is surrounded by Glacier Bay National Park.

Why are more Alaskans in the Interior contracting HIV?

Health officials are working to better understand why Fairbanks and the Interior have seen a cluster of new HIV cases over the past two years.
American Indian elders

Survivors say trauma from abusive Native American boarding schools stretches across generations

The traumas inflicted by abusive Native American boarding schools are getting belated attention through a series of federal listening sessions.
a man in a suit with black glasses on at his trial in court.

Anchorage jury convicts man in second trial over 2017 triple homicide

Anthony Pisano was convicted Monday afternoon of first-degree murder in the 2017 deaths of Steven Cook, Kenneth Hartman and Daniel McCreadie.
People wearing yellow clothing wave yellow signs.

In Alaska’s right-leaning Mat-Su, challengers aim to unseat conservative school board incumbents

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School Board has come under scrutiny after some recent, controversial decisions.
hemp

Hemp growers sue Alaska agriculture officials in attempt to keep hemp products legal

Plaintiffs say millions of dollars in products are at stake and will be removed from shelves unless they win.
a mountain ridge

Wastewater plan ruling for hard-rock mine near Haines appealed from both sides

Environmental groups and the Chilkat Indian Village are facing off in court against Constantine Metals over the planned mine at the Palmer Project.
Marvin Roberts

Most Fairbanks Four members settle for $5M after vacated conviction

Kevin Pease, George Frese and Eugene Vent will each receive $1.59 million from the City of Fairbanks' insurer. Marvin Roberts is still suing the city.

PrEP prevents HIV transmission and it’s free. Why can’t some Alaskans get it?

Robin Lutz, executive director at the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association, or 4-As, said the organization has been talking with people newly diagnosed with HIV. She said Alaskans face many barriers to accessing PrEP.
a highway

Anchorage-area commuters can expect ‘messy’ storm Wednesday

Warmer temperatures Wednesday are expected to turn snowfall into freezing rain, before falling below freezing overnight into Thursday.

Alaska Municipal League is helping rural communities qualify for climate change funds

Alaska communities have an opportunity to invest heavily in climate change mitigation at the local level, by targeting federal grants.