Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media

Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media
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Liz Ruskin is the Washington, D.C., correspondent at Alaska Public Media. Reach her at lruskin@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Liz here.
A man speaks at a podium

Alaska Congressman Don Young has died

Young, a former teacher, trapper and riverboat captain from Fort Yukon was first elected to Alaska’s sole U.S. House seat in 1973 and has held it ever since.
Two men sit at a table in a house

Alaskan, at 20, launches on a one-man mission to help Ukrainians. What’s a dad to do?

Someone has to help war refugees. Ryan White is heading to a Polish border town with bags of medical supplies.
moonrise over Capitol, with dome to the left and purple sky.

Why Sen. Sullivan voted against a bill to fund government, aid Ukraine and renew VAWA

Sen. Sullivan says he supports much of the $1.5 trillion bill but wasn't given enough time to read it.
people hold up signs that spell out "VOTE"

Unlimited: Floodgates are open for campaign cash in Alaska

You can now give unlimited funds to state and local candidates in Alaska.

Russia’s war strains Arctic Council; 7 member nations call Ukraine attack ‘flagrant violation’ of council values

It’s an unprecedented development for the Arctic Council. It formed in 1996 with the idea that the Arctic should be a zone of peace and cooperation. Now, Russia's war in Europe is spilling over into the region.

Murkowski and Sullivan strike familiar Alaska themes in response to Russian attack on Ukraine

Alaska’s U.S. senators renew calls to advance home-state priorities in response to Russia's war.
dog team on urban street

Anchorage sees return of Fur Rondy sled dog races after COVID hiatus

Nineteen dog teams launched from Fourth Avenue amid familiar rituals and unusual weather.

Alaska delegation condemns Putin’s aggression; senators say Biden could do more

Murkowski and Sullivan say Biden's crisis energy policy falls short
A bunch of tools and mining equipment on a gravelly mountainside

Biden administration deals setback to Ambler road

In a court filing Tuesday, the administration agreed with road opponents that the environmental analysis of the project is flawed.
A woman in a red jacket stands at a podium in a meeting room

Murkowski touts infrastructure success, tells Legislature she’s fighting Biden admin daily for resource development

Condemned by her party, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski gave an address to the Legislature marked by her moderate brand of politics.
A cruise ship next to a forested hill

Bill from Alaska delegation would allow cruises to bypass Canada ports again

Royal Caribbean International’s Ovation of the Seas, a quantum-class cruise ship, in Skagway’s port. (Claire Stremple/KHNS) Alaska’s congressional delegation wants to extend the waiver of a law that makes Alaska-bound cruise ships stop in Canada.  Sens....
A man speaks to others with a mask on

Anchorage Assembly member Chris Constant kicks off run for US House

Constant is running as a Democrat against longtime Congressman Don Young.

VAWA bill in Senate would expand power of up to 30 Alaska tribal courts

Tribes in the pilot program would be able to try and sentence anyone who commits domestic violence, rape or related crimes in their villages, even if the offender is non-Native.
A man talks next to a flag.

Dunleavy offers bills to tighten criminal laws in Alaska

The bills would boost penalties for buying sex and exploiting victims of trafficking.

Former state Sen. Johnny Ellis has died

Ellis served more than three decades in the Alaska Legislature.
woman stands at podium that says "violence against women Act" other women behind her.

Senators offer bill to renew Violence Against Women Act, with a section honoring an Alaska murder victim

Angelina Jolie lent her star power to a bill in the U.S. Senate to renew the Violence Against Women Act.
mailboxes under snow at night

US House passes bill, co-sponsored by Alaska delegation, to fix financial woes of Postal Service

Rep. Don Young was overjoyed to see the bill pass, and it's chances are good in the Senate.
pillars and dome of u.s. capitol

While Murkowski and Young steer toward middle ground in weekend statements, Sullivan tacked to their right

Alaska's D.C. delegation took different approaches to GOP calling Jan. 6 "legitimate political discourse."
A photo of a TV screen with a woman talking on a news show.

Murkowski, breaking with GOP, says Biden is right to nominate a Black woman to Supreme Court

Sen. Lisa Murkowski urged President Joe Biden on Sunday to pick an "exceptional individual" who has appeal to both parties.