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.
Hospitals say a disaster declaration would help Alaska cope with record hospitalizations
The state hospital association wants Gov. Dunleavy to issue a disaster declaration to help ease the hospital crisis.
Breakthrough COVID cases are rising in Alaska. Here’s why, and why vaccines are still ‘amazing.’
One in five of Alaska's COVID hospitalizations in July was vaccinated. So were four of the 17 COVID deaths.
Going to a show at Anchorage’s Performing Arts Center? Bring your vaccination card.
The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts is requiring proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test.
To cope with COVID overload, Anchorage hospitals delay surgeries
"Hard discussions" about postponing cancer and bypass procedures to preserve hospital resources.
With no mask mandate, Anchorage businesses are left to decide what they’ll risk for public health
COVID cases are surging in Anchorage again, but this time, there’s no municipal mask mandate and no authority telling businesses how to keep COVID from spreading. That leaves some business owners in the uncomfortable position of deciding how much they are willing to confront their customers and employees to protect public health.
Immunocompromised? State recommends a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
State and federal health authorities say people with compromised immune systems should get a third dose of Pfizer or Moderna.
Energy secretary praises Alaska’s innovation in renewables
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm says Alaska's resilient solutions might work in places like Puerto Rico.
He’s running: Walker aims to be Alaska’s governor again
Former Alaska Gov. Bill Walker has announced that he's running for governor again.
‘Devastating’: Murkowski saddened by Afghanistan withdrawal
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski says the U.S. couldn’t stay in Afghanistan forever, but she calls the result of the withdrawal "just devastating.”
Boom in COVID testing prompts Anchorage to open new drive-through site
Daily demand for tests in August is nearly quadruple the June average.
U.S. Sens. Murkowski and Sullivan help Senate pass trillion-dollar infrastructure bill
“It's incredible to me to think that we would want to deny the American people a win," Murkowski says
Alaska senators mixed on weekend votes moving $1T infrastructure bill toward finish line
It's a top priority for U.S. Sen. Murkowski. U.S. Sen Sullivan hasn't said how he'll vote.
Maggie, former Alaska Zoo resident, dies at 41
“She was really a wonderful elephant. A beautiful elephant with a rough history but an indomitable spirit. A big, big personality," said Jackie Gai, Maggie’s veterinarian in her final years.
Between the lines: 8 ways the US Senate infrastructure bill sends money to Alaska
It takes some decoding, but you can find billions in the $1.2 trillion bill designed to benefit Alaska.
Biden administration goes back to drawing board on oil leasing in Arctic Refuge
The government will conduct a new study and reconsider options to oil leases in ANWR.
What’s to blame for Alaska’s poor king salmon runs? Submarines, suggests Rep. Young.
Congressman Young adds nuclear submarines to the list of suspects that could be harming chinook returns.
Young, Murkowski ramp up message on COVID-19 vaccines as delta variant surges
Two-thirds of Alaska's congressional delegation is urging Alaskans to get vaccinated. U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan takes a different approach.
Infrastructure bill is ‘once in a lifetime investment,’ Murkowski says
It’s impossible to say how much of the trillion dollars in spending would go to Alaska. A lot of it will be awarded as grants. But U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said some would be allocated by formula, such as $4.3 billion over five years for Alaska’s highways.
Alaska’s ranked choice voting and top-four primary are legal, judge says
Judge Gregory Miller rejected arguments that the new election method voters adopted with Ballot Measure 2 is unconstitutional.
They have a deal: Murkowski, bipartisan senators’ group, get infrastructure bill to square 1
Sen. Murkowski was part of a bipartisan group that reached deal with the White House on a $1t bill.