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.
Why general aviation isn’t cheering Trump’s air traffic control plan
The president wants to privatize air traffic control to improve a system he calls "broken, antiquated, horrible." Most major airlines are on board. But among small-plane pilots and general aviation, skepticism abounds.
Former Murkowski campign manager selected for Interior job
Sen. Lisa Murkowski's former campaign manager has a new job in the Trump administration. Steve Wackowski will be the new senior advisor for Alaska Affairs in the Interior Department. Listen now
This weekend, Ryan Zinke makes inaugural Alaska visit as Interior Secretary
Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke is visiting Alaska this weekend. Listen now
Young joins Afghanistan war skeptics in Congress
Rep. Don Young wants to know why Americans are still fighting in Afghanistan. He has co-sponsored a bill that would end funding for the war in a year, unless the president and Congress affirm the need for it. Listen now
3 things for Alaskans to know about Trump’s budget
President Trump is proposing to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. He's also proposing cuts that will fall hard, particularly on rural Alaska. Listen now
Progressives make voices heard at Sullivan town hall
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan held a town hall meeting in Anchorage Saturday. The event drew hundreds of left-leaning constituents and they were not quiet. Listen now
Interior nominee sees ‘clean slate’ on land in trust
Tribes that want to place land in federal trust are still waiting to see how the Trump administration will treat their applications. The nominee for deputy Interior secretary suggests history won't be any guide. Listen now
Young OK with special counsel, rues ‘media hype’
Alaska Congress Don Young says it's fine with him that the Justice Department appointed a special counsel to investigate Russia's role in the 2016 election. "This is all media hype," Young said. Listen now
Sullivan calls for White House ‘discipline’; Murkowski mulls special prosecutor
Both of Alaska's U.S. senators say they're concerned by reports that President Trump shared classified intelligence with top Russian officials in the Oval Office. Sen. Sullivan said it would help if the president stops the morning Tweets and focuses on the goals that got him elected. Listen now
EPA settles with Pebble, clears permitting path for mine
The EPA has announced a new process that could let the Pebble Partnership develop a controversial mine at the headwaters of Bristol Bay, if its permits are granted. Listen now
Murkowski, Sullivan diverge in statements on Comey firing
Murkowski sees "serious cause for concern" in timing of President Trump's dismissal of the FBI director. Sullivan sees "questions" there, and in the conduct of the Obama White House. Listen now
Rep. Young votes for health care bill, says he won pledges for more
A bill to replace the Affordable Care Act squeaked through the U.S. House today, with help from Alaska Rep. Don Young. He denounced a prior version as bad for Alaska. Now he says he's won assurances there'll be more for the state. Listen now
Rep. Young mum on health care bill; Murkowski knocks it
Alaska Congressman Don Young isn’t staking out any position on the latest proposals by his Republican colleagues to replace the Affordable Care Act. His office says Young has no new comments. Listen now
Enviros challenge legality of Trump’s Arctic order
As expected, environmental groups have filed a lawsuit over an order President Trump signed last week to reverse a ban on Arctic offshore oil and gas leasing. Listen now
National omnibus bill contains Mental Health Trust-Tongass land trade
A bill to fund the federal government through September is on the move in Congress, and it includes a long-sought land trade in Southeast Alaska. Listen now
Trump order baffles Bering Sea Elders
When President Trump signed an order last week lifting his predecessor’s restrictions on offshore leasing in the Arctic, he also revoked a decree that created the “Bering Sea Climate Resistance Area.” People who worked to get the designation aren't happy. Listen now
Supreme Court leaves polar bear habitat intact
A California-sized chunk of the Arctic will remain designated as critical polar bear habitat. That’s the effect of a U.S. Supreme Court order Monday declining to hear an appeal from the state of Alaska, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and an oil industry trade group. Listen now
Trump lifts ban on Arctic offshore drilling
The president has signed an order lifting a ban Obama imposed on drilling off Alaska’s Arctic shores. Environmental groups say the ban is permanent. Expect a lawsuit. Listen now
UPDATE: Trump rescinds Obama’s ‘permanent’ Arctic leasing ban
President Trump is expected to sign an order Friday aimed at lifting his predecessor’s ban on new oil leasing in waters off Alaska’s Arctic coast. Listen now
All smiles for Rep. Young in Eagle River
In other states, Republican Congress members are dogged by anti-Trump protestors. But Alaska Congressman Don Young found a friendly crowd Wednesday in Eagle River. It was his only public event scheduled in the Anchorage area this recess.