In addition to the biggest local stories of 2014, we’ve also compiled the most popular ones. KTOO published nearly 4,000 stories on our website in 2014. Here’s what you clicked and commented on the most.
10. Why Attu Island is still fighting WWII
Kelsey Gobroski
Feb. 19, 2013
This story about surveying leftover World War II explosives, equipment, fuel and other detritus on a remote, uninhabited island in the Aleutians was published almost two years ago, but continues to draw a lot of fresh hits. It’s a fascinating story that connects the biggest armed conflict in history to modern day Alaska.
It was No. 2 on our 2013 version of this list.
9. Sullivan leads Begich by 8,000 votes
Liz Ruskin – APRN
Nov. 5, 2014
A Republican unseated Alaska’s lone Democratic lawmaker in Washington, D.C., in November after the most expensive political campaign in state history. Alaskans were inundated with unsolicited phone calls, web ads, television ads, campaign mailers and door knockers from backers of Republican Dan Sullivan and incumbent Democrat Mark Begich.
The hard fought race was on national observers’ radar, too, because of Begich’s vulnerability and the soon-to-be-realized potential for Republicans to take control of the Senate from Democrats.
8. Empire reporter fired following disagreement with publisher
Lisa Phu
Feb. 10, 2014
Office politics at a Juneau news institution, Alaska Capitol politics and journalism ethics clashed in this story.
Managers at the Empire asked their Capitol reporter, Jennifer Canfield, to arrange a meeting for them on a bill that would’ve affected public noticing requirements and advertising revenue. The Empire maintains their interest and opposition wasn’t related to business, but about government transparency.
Canfield says she refused on ethical grounds, and then was fired. She ended up at the Alaska Budget Report and after the legislative session, did a temporary stint in our newsroom, too. The bill fizzled.
The firing story got hat tips from the Anchorage Press and national media observer Jim Romenesko.
7. New fossil takes a bite out of theory sharks are barely evolved
Geoffery Brumfiel – NPR
April 17, 2014
SHARKS!
6. Floating strip club flourishes in Kodiak
Associated Press
Nov. 20, 2014
The Associated Press picked up this titillating story of a crab boat turned strip club from KTVA. A couple of weeks after the story blew up, the club lost its liquor license.
Our publication rights for the AP version of the story have expired, but here’s a link to KTVA’s original story.
5. 109 Delta passengers sleep in SeaTac after fog turns back plane
Lisa Phu
July 15, 2014
Delta’s announcement in 2013 that it would challenge Alaska Airlines’ monopoly on summer market share in the capital city was No. 5 on that year’s version of this list. The ensuing price war that sent airfares plummeting made our list of the biggest news of 2014. But it was coverage of this fog-related airline hiccup that drew more readers and even sparked a back and forth in the comment section.
4. One dog dead in another musk ox attack in Nome
Jenn Ruckel – KNOM
July 31, 2014
An unusually high number of musk ox wandered into populated areas in and around Nome this summer. Clashes with people, their property and dogs ticked up, as did residents’ anxiety. Some musk ox even attacked and killed dogs.
Surprisingly unsympathetic reader comments poured in. Some casual investigation reveals a few commonalities among many of the commenters: They don’t live in Alaska and they’re members of anti-animal cruelty movements that oppose the chaining or tethering of dogs.
3. AMHS dock in Skagway collapses
Rosemarie Alexander
April 24, 2014
The Alaska Marine Highway System’s floating dock in Skagway stopped floating. It was a fail that severed one of Skagway’s transportation lifelines for more than two weeks.
And why it failed was a mystery, at least until state transportation officials concluded a burst water pipe was the cause.
2. Earthquake felt in Southeast Alaska, no tsunami expected
KTOO News Department
July 25, 2014
An 5.9 magnitude earthquake shook Southeast Alaska one early morning in late July, knocking out telecommunications across the panhandle.
1. Alaska becomes the second state to officially recognize indigenous languages
Casey Kelly
April 21, 2014
Dedicated supporters for a bill recognizing Alaska’s indigenous languages staged an overnight sit-in at the Capitol on Easter Sunday. The Alaska Legislature passed it nearly unanimously and Gov. Sean Parnell signed it into law in October.
This is also the most read story in the history of KTOO’s website.
Did your favorite story make our lists? Let us know in the comments what you think the biggest story was of 2014.
