Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media
Liz Ruskin is the Washington, D.C., correspondent at Alaska Public Media. Reach her at lruskin@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Liz here.
Sullivan takes issue with Biden vaccine mandate, asks employers to delay enforcement
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan says employers should disregard President Biden’s vaccine mandate, keep unvaccinated workers on the job and wait for the courts to rule. "I think the president is going to lose that case in every court in America," he said.
Biden administration lets stand a judgment thwarting Willow, a ConocoPhillips drilling project in Arctic
A judge's decision reversed approval for the NPR-A project. The Biden administration did not appeal the ruling by Tuesday's deadline.
Voting reform bill stalls in US Senate. Alaska senators, like all Republicans, voted no.
The "Freedom to Vote" bill sets minimum standards and would make election day a holiday.
Nearly all workers at Providence and Alaska Native health care system are complying with COVID vaccine mandates
Local health care employers say more than 96% of their staffers are vaccinated.
Incivility in Anchorage: Ex-Assembly members do not approve
There was a time when the other side wasn't considered evil, they say.
Why you might see tribal recognition on Alaska’s 2022 ballot
Voters will decide if the state should recognize tribes, if a signature drive is successful.
Ex-Alaska Psychiatric Institute docs win federal court victory in challenge to Dunleavy ‘loyalty pledge’
Two psychiatrists who were fired from the Alaska Psychiatric Institute in 2018 have won their case in U.S. District Court against Gov. Mike Dunleavy and former Chief of Staff Tuckerman Babcock.
Murkowski helps move bill to avoid national default, but with limited political risk as no Republicans vote to raise debt cap
Sen. Lisa Murkowski was among 11 Republicans who joined Democrats to advance a bill to extend the national debt limit Thursday night, but she didn't stick her neck out very far.
The final vote was...
Even Murkowski won’t cross aisle to help Democrats raise debt ceiling
U.S. Sen. Murkowski says a national debt default would be the "height of irresponsibility." But the GOP is united in saddling Democrats with the duty.
Sullivan suggests US could protect teens from Facebook with Chinese-style screen-time mandates
"Can you really, on your own, help people take a break?" Sen. Sullivan asked Facebook's head of safety. "Or do we, the U.S. government, have to help people take a break, like the Chinese are doing right now?”
Someone else, not a Homer woman, is said to be Capitol intruder who took Pelosi laptop
The FBI thought Marilyn Hueper stole a laptop from the Capitol Jan. 6. Now a NY woman has been charged.
Murkowski calls on Alaskans to ‘show some kindness’ amid COVID tensions
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski calls out bad behavior toward Alaska health care workers and use of Holocaust symbol.
‘Appalling’: Scholars say Holocaust symbol has no place in Anchorage mask debate
Mayor Bronson said 'borrowing' Star of David for COVID debate was 'credit' to Jewish culture. He later apologized.
Sen. Sullivan: Alaskans furious over lack of accountability for Afghanistan withdrawal
Sullivan is a military man who generally likes his generals. But he gave Pentagon leaders a dressing-down Tuesday.
Clerk accuses Anchorage mayor of using city website to influence election
The banner is unprecedented and "clearly intended to influence this election."
Anchorage mayor blames vaccine mandates for hospital staff shortage. Hospitals say he’s wrong.
Hospitals say they're swamped with COVID patients now. Mandates aren't in effect yet.
Biden appoints Arctic Research commissioners
The 6 appointees to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission reflect an emphasis on Alaska and Alaska Native representation.
In ERs and public meetings, Alaskans rage at health care workers trying to stem COVID spread
Alaskans have been "belligerent, disrespectful, very, very aggressive" to contract tracers, says a public health nurse manager. They've followed nurses to yell at them.
Judge deals blow to Eklutna’s bid for tribal gaming
Parcel Eklutna wants for gaming parlor is not "Indian land," judge rules.
Alaska’s largest hospital expects health care rationing to last weeks
Dr. Kristen Solana Walkinshaw, chief of medical staff at Providence Alaska Medical Center, says the hospital is likely to continue on its crisis footing for at least another two weeks.