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.
crowd with Trump banners and flags in front of Capitol

Murkowski votes yes, Sullivan no on establishing a Jan. 6 commission

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski says democratic principles are at stake: “Something bad happened. And it's important to lay that out.”
An aerial view of one of the exploration pads and wells that ConocoPhillips drilled during the 2018 exploration season at its Willow prospect.

Biden administration throws support behind massive Willow oil project in NPR-A

Alaska’s congressional delegation cheered the news, while environmental groups feel betrayed.
Senator Dan Sullivan speaking to the media

Sullivan breaks with Republican senators to champion trails

Trail advocates applaud U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan for crossing the aisle on a bill to fund trails.
A white woman in a pink coat speaks with a microphone

Murkowski supports commission to investigate attack on Capitol

She is the second GOP senator to back the Jan. 6 commission bill. Sen. Sullivan says he hasn't decided.

Biden signs bill to allow cruise ships back into Alaska

The bill allows cruise ships to sail between Washington state and Alaska without a stop in Canada

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
man in suit in front of bookcase

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.
water and mountains

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.
A railroad track leading into yellow leaves

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.
Salmon in bright red spawning colors pool underwater

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
Man in suit at a microphone. name plate on desk says "Mr. Tommy P. Beaudreau"

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.
Senator Lisa Murkowski speaking at the August 26, 2020, opening ceremony for the Operation Lady Justice Task Force Cold Case Office in Anchorage, Alaska. (Jeff Chen/Alaska Public Media)

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.
A man speaks at a podium

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.
The cruise ship Noordam brought close to 2,000 passengers to Haines on Sept. 20, 2017. It and other ships carried more than 1 million passengers this summer, helping increase the region’s tourism economy. (Ed Schoenfeld/CoastAlaska News)

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.
people sit in room

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.