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.
Alaskan Joe Balash resigns as assistant secretary of Interior
Joe Balash is one of the highest placed Alaskans in the Trump administration.
This August is extremely abnormal, and fire likes it
Usually by August, peak fire season has passed. But fire and climate experts say conditions in Southcentral Alaska were nearly perfect for fire this weekend, from the sky to the dry forest floor.
Enviros say new rules weaken Endangered Species Act. Interior says they enhance it.
The Interior Department announced Monday that it has finalized new rules for carrying out the Endangered Species Act. Sec. David Bernhardt describes the changes as improvements. Environmental groups say the new regulations weaken the Endangered Species Act.
Russian nuclear power plant afloat in Arctic causes anxiety across Bering Strait
Russia has produced the world's first floating nuclear power plant. A barge mounted with nuclear reactors is expected to begin traversing the Arctic this month, bound for the Chukotka Peninsula. Across the Bering Strait, Alaskans are worried about radiation, though one Arctic security expert also sees room for optimism.
New Izembek land swap? New lawsuit, too.
The Wilderness Society and eight other environmental groups have filed a new lawsuit to block a road in the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. For nearby King Cove, it's the latest in a long series of legal and political hurdles, dating back decades.
Conduct of Denali Commission staffer draws scrutiny
The Denali Commission is awaiting results of an investigation into the conduct of one of its staff members.
Politico: Science ‘trampled’ as Interior hurries toward ANWR lease sale
The magazine Politico has obtained leaked documents suggesting the Department of Interior has altered the work of at least two agency scientists as it presses to finish the environmental reviews on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
This time, EPA decision has Pebble mine developers cheering
The EPA has thrown out a proposal launched during the Obama administration that some called a "pre-emptive" veto of the mine. It's a procedural decision that has bad implications for mine opponents.
‘Tired of playing defense’: GOP claims the environment issue. But climate change? Not so much.
President Trump and Republicans in Congress want you to know: Republicans care about the environment, too. That was the message from events this month, at the White House and the U.S. Capitol. But climate change wasn't high on the Republican list.
It’s back: Interior signs new land swap for King Cove road
Alaska Public Media has obtained a copy of the new agreement, signed earlier this month by Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and the CEO of King Cove Corporation.
Feds withdraw appeal of Izembek Refuge road decision
For now, that leaves in place U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason's decision blocking a land exchange for a road corridor through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.
Congressional delegation eyes federal funds at risk in state budget impasse
A pile of federal dollars on the line as legislators negotiate the state's capital budget and whether to restore some of the roughly $400 million Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed.
Two worlds that overlap: Richard Glenn sees ANWR drilling as a boon to Inupiaq communities
Richard Glenn is an inconvenient truth for opponents of drilling in the Arctic Refuge. He presents a challenge to the prevalent narrative in D.C., that Native people oppose development in the Arctic.
Galvin tries again to unseat Young
Anchorage education advocate Alyse Galvin has filed to take another run at Alaska Congressman Don Young in 2020.
Young votes against condemning Trump for racist tweets
Alaska Congressman Don Young declined an opportunity Tuesday to criticize President Trump for tweets he wrote that are widely viewed as racist.
‘This needs to stop’: Murkowski rebukes Trump for tweet
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has condemned President Trump for saying that four left-wing congresswomen should go back to where they came from. All four congresswomen are non-White.
Sec. Acosta did right by Alaska, Murkowski and Sullivan say
"I've been impressed with his level of attention to the details of his job," Murkowski said Wednesday, two days before Acosta announced his resignation.
Murkowski finds EPA criticism of Pebble Mine ‘substantial’
The Environmental Protection Agency issued harsh assessments of the proposed Pebble Mine last week, and they've made an impression on Lisa Murkowski.
EPA says Pebble may be riskier than study says, rekindling hope for mine foes
The Environmental Protection Agency has weighed in once again on the proposed Pebble Mine, and it has mine opponents cheering.
EPA says report on Pebble Mine lacks detail, likely underestimates risks to water quality
The Environmental Protection Agency has just released formal comments on the proposed Pebble Mine, and mine opponents will find a lot to cheer about.