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.

This lawsuit stands between Alaskans and a new ranked choice election system

Alaskans are set to elect candidates in a new way, leaving political parties with less power. But a legal challenge could derail RCV.

‘Micro units’: Covenant House launches $5M project to build mini apartments

Each 250 square-foot unit is designed for one person, to bridge the gap between shelter and solo apartment.

Alaska Native corporations win tribal CARES Act case. Both sides say it wasn’t just the money.

The Supreme Court ruled Alaska Native Corporations are eligible for $8 billion in tribal CARES Act fund. For tribes, the case was emotional.
pillars and dome of u.s. capitol

Murkowski: Infrastructure deal would benefit Alaska

One line-item in particular could breathe new life into the Alaska Marine Highway System: "$7.5 billion to fund low carbon and electric buses and ferries."
a two-lane road and big snow-covered mountains

Dunleavy jabs at Biden to open border so Americans can drive to Alaska

"The Biden Administration MUST do more to open this route through Canada,” the governor recently tweeted.

Haaland orders investigation of suffering and burials at BIA boarding schools

“I come from ancestors who endured the horrors of Indian boarding school," Interior secretary said.

Nice try, pollock: How Alaska’s most prolific fish almost won the state’s ranked choice mock election

The humble pollock was, for a few hours, the frontrunner in the state's mock election. Alaskans smelled a rat.
Bright red salmon with green heads swim in shallow waters with small mountain in background.

Pebble: Appeals Court revives case challenging EPA’s removal of watershed protection

In an opinion released Thursday, the panel said EPA could remove the protection adopted by the Obama administration "only when an 'unacceptable adverse effect' on specified resources was not 'likely.'”

Murkowski pins Haaland down on Arctic Refuge

Sen.Murkowski got tough with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland at a hearing Wednesday.
A red arrow with the text 'vote here' and black letters saying 'polling place' are posted on a white fold out sign.

Voting rights bill seems doomed in Senate, without Murkowski on board

Lisa Murkowski is the most likely Senate Republican to be on board. She’s not.
a person speaks behind a podium

Davidson named as president of Alaska’s largest tribal health organization

Valerie Nurr’araaluk Davidson is the new president of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, one of the state's largest employers. She previously was working as its acting president.
A globe shows sea ice.

Pentagon ponders where to build new Ted Stevens Arctic Center. Alaska? Maybe.

The Pentagon is considering three cities for the center, named for the late Sen. Ted Stevens.
A path leads through a dense forest.

White House moves to re-impose Roadless Rule for Tongass

The Biden administration appears poised to reinstate a rule dating back to the Clinton White House that prohibits new roads in the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska.

‘That’s the law’: Murkowski confronts BLM nominee about ANWR

Sen. Murkowski presses the nominee to head the BLM to agree that she must hold a second lease sale in the Arctic Refuge.
A canada flag next to a us flag

Canada might loosen border in early July — but no word yet on ending the recreational travel ban to Alaska

The tourism ban is likely to continue past June 21, when the current rules expire.
two shallow streams meet in a lush green landscape

Pedro Bay shareholders accept $19M deal that would thwart efforts to mine Pebble deposit

The Alaska Native village corporation is selling conservation easements to save salmon habitat and preclude industrial development.
Donald Trump, wearing a black suit and dred tie, gestures in a rainy lot next to several black SUVs with microphones visible in the foreground

Trump accuses Murkowski of killing ANWR; ‘I will be there to campaign against her!’ he vows

Donald Trump says Sen. Murkowski is responsible for the Biden administration's suspension of drilling leases in the Arctic Refuge.
three people on a podium to make speeches. Backdrop is blue and says American Institute in Taiwan.

Sullivan flies to Taiwan for announcement of US vaccine distribution

The 750,000 vaccines headed for Taipei are part of a global allocation the Biden administration announced last week.
a crab

Would you vote for a king? Alaska pits fin against claw to practice ranked-choice voting

King crab was narrowly ahead of three other Alaska seafoods in the Division of Elections’ mock primary, aimed at voter education.
orange-tinted image of earth

Hilcorp tops list for US methane emissions, report says

Alaska's 2nd largest oil producer is the nation's biggest emitter of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.