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.
New rules allow cruises in Alaska. Here’s why the season will still be slow.
Carnival, Holland America and Princess are sending one ship each to ply Alaska waters this summer.
Anchorage engineer plans to recycle ocean garbage into plastic lumber
Patrick Simpson wants to build a mobile plastics recycler that could produce lumber in coastal Alaska
Lawyer who won landmark Alaska subsistence case in line to be Interior’s top attorney
Bob Anderson, an advocate of Alaska tribal sovereignty since the 1980s, is nominated to be Interior solicitor.
Feds likely to permit survey work for King Cove road, nominee says
A Biden administration nominee says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is likely to allow a road corridor survey in the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge this summer.
US Senate acts to save part of Alaska’s 2021 cruise season
The U.S. Senate passed a bill hat could allow cruise ships to return to Alaska ports this summer. The bill goes next to the House.
Alaska-Alberta rail project may have a problem: Regulators are investigating its financier
The founder of the Alaska-Alberta rail project paid millions to benefit its lender's CEO, regulators say.
Rep. Young requests a few earmarks — 15 years after his ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ made earmarking taboo
Young submitted a list of 23 requests to a House committee for around the state including a road in Kotzebue, a housing project in Anchorage and a university building in Bethel.
Tongass and Bristol Bay protection can help Biden meet new climate goal, fishing and conservation advocates say
The centerpiece of Biden's plan is preserving 30% of the nation’s lands and waters by 2030. Conservationists want Alaska to play a big role
Ex-Alaskan to become No. 2 at Department of Interior
Tommy Beaudreau, whose family moved to Alaska for his dad's oil field job in 1979, says he understands Alaska's reliance on energy development despite his difference of opinion with Alaska's senators over development.
Murkowski breaks with GOP 12 times to confirm Biden nominees
With votes for Democratic appointees, Sen. Murkowski cements her reputation as a centrist.
Tribes and ANCs present grammar puzzle to Supreme Court, with $530 million at stake
The CARES Act case turns on a definition that specifically includes ANCs as tribes and then seemingly excludes them in the very same sentence.
Young, Murkowski aim to shape Biden’s infrastructure bill
Infrastructure bills are good for Alaska, they say, but they want changes to the Biden proposal.
Rep. Young breaks with GOP colleagues in supporting Puerto Rico statehood
Among many Republicans, statehood for Puerto Rico is viewed as a threat. Congressman Young has been a champion for decades.
Alaska delegation tries multi-pronged effort to save part of cruise season
The congressional delegation sees two impediments keeping cruise ships from coming to Alaska this summer: The CDC and the Canada problem.
Young, Murkowski have doubts about scope of Biden’s infrastructure proposal
Rep. Don Young, no stranger to big infrastructure bills, was one of the GOP lawmakers invited to discuss Biden's $2 trillion plan.
Interior Department chooses Native woman for top Alaska advisor
Interior today named Raina Thiele, a veteran of the Obama White House, to be top advisor on Alaska issues
‘Green bank’ for sustainable energy projects finds favor with Dunleavy and Young
Gov. Mike Dunleavy recently introduced a bill to create a state "green bank," which would give finance renewable energy projects in Alaska.
Dunleavy’s $70m cut to UA could cost the state $130m in federal pandemic funds
The American Rescue Plan has a lot of money for schools. But Alaska may not be able to collect its full share, due to pre-pandemic cuts to the university.
Biden admin nixes plan to sell National Archives building in Seattle
In a win for Alaska tribes, the Biden Administration has cancelled the sale of a National Archives building in Seattle, citing a lack of tribal consultation.
CARES Act flooded Alaska tribes with cash for pandemic programs. Now they’re bracing for a bigger deluge.
When Bethel's tribe got $13 million in CARES Act money, the chief accountant went to his boss's office: “He had a piece of paper in one hand, and he was clutching his chest in his other.”