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.
Kodiak Spaceport lands big customer
The Missile Defense Agency is bringing some business to Kodiak’s space launch facility. The MDA announced today it is awarding a sole-source contract to the Alaska Aerospace Corporation that could be worth as much as $80 million over the next six years. Download Audio
Walker cuts $58M from schools
Gov. Walker’s vetoes fall heavily on K-12 education. He cut the reimbursement for school bonds, shifting the burden to local governments, and reduced formula funds. Download Audio
EIA predicts lean oil decades for Alaska
The Energy Information Administration released and annual forecast that shows oil production from Alaska dwindling to less than half its current level after 2030.
“Unless more oil is found in Alaska or along the pipeline right of way, it’s very possible that the Alaska pipeline itself ... would end up shutting down," says the EIA Administrator. Download Audio
Maritime unions endorse Rep. Young’s rival
Rep. Don Young has enjoyed lots of support from organized labor. Now, two maritime unions are endorsing his opponent. They blame Young for staying silent while a non-union company is poised to win a tanker-escort contract. Malarkey, says Young.
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Congressional delegation on Trump: Meh
We asked Congressman Don Young and U.S. Sens. Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski how they feel about Donald Trump these days. Their responses ranged from tepid to chilly. Download Audio
Lawmakers to Pebble: Why not file already?
The proposed Pebble Mine was Exhibit A at a hearing in the U.S. House this morning. The Republican-led hearing was supposed to be a critical look at environmental regulation, but the focus shifted as lawmakers of both parties kept asking the same question: Why hasn’t Pebble filed for its permits yet? Download Audio
Tesoro gives up terminal to avoid antitrust case over gasoline
The state of Alaska is forcing Tesoro to sell one of its gasoline storage terminals at the Port of Anchorage. With the company's purchase of the Flint Hills tank farm at the port, the state says Tesoro would have too much control over gasoline prices in the Railbelt. Download Audio
Murkowski, Sullivan vote no on gun limits
In the U.S. Senate today, gun control measures failed to get enough votes to advance. Alaska’s U.S. senators voted with their fellow Republicans, to block the amendments. Sen. Dan Sullivan says the only thing that would have stopped two recent mass murders "is not having the rise of ISIS." Download Audio
Democrats say Murkowski sinks bill with riders
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, through her assignment on the Appropriations Committee, is charged with writing a bill that funds a wide swath of the federal government. It is a major opportunity to direct money to agencies important to Alaska. The committee passed her bill today, but a Democratic leader says it's unlikely to see the full Senate. Download Audio
Former Mayor Dan Sullivan drops out of senatorial race
Former Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan is dropping out of the race for U.S. Senate. He made the announcement just 15 days after he filed to challenge Lisa Murkowski in the Republican Primary. In a press release, Sullivan said conservative leaders, who he did not name, asked him to run just 1 day before the filing deadline. He says there’s “significant” financial support for a conservative candidate, but he says it would be best for him to work on other political issues. Download Audio
Young, Murkowski bills would delay change for Tongass
The Forest Service has a plan for the Tongass National Forest that would shift loggers away from the harvest of old-growth trees and offer the industry young trees instead. At the U.S. Capitol this week, Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Don Young are working on separate bills to block the plan. Download Audio
Murkowski puts riders in spending bill; Dems decry ‘poison pills’
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski had a chance to flex some legislative muscle today. As chair of an Appropriations subcommittee, Murkowski writes the legislation that sends money to several agencies and tells them how to spend it. Democrats say her bill is loaded with riders that gut environmental protection. Download Audio
VA relieves contractor of role in appointments
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will return to using its own employees to make appointments for Alaska veterans who need services outside the VA system. Download Audio
Juneau cooking prodigy sails to White House on a crêpe
An amateur chef from Juneau has won a White House-sponsored recipe competition, and he’s just 9 years old. Denali Schijvens will attend a Kids’ State Dinner in July, hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama. Download Audio
Memo: US Attorney General to visit Alaska Friday
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch intends to visit Alaska on Friday. She plans to discuss public safety concerns of Alaska Natives communities and tribes. Download Audio
Non-candidate Joe Miller issues campaign-ish press release
Joe Miller didn't file to run for U.S. Senate this year, but the Republican issued a statement last night that has the look of a campaign press release.
As Stock flies non-partisan banner, bits of blue show through
Fifteen candidates are running for Lisa Murkowski’s U.S. Senate seat. Only one Murkowski challenger, though, has already raised a sizable war chest: Anchorage attorney Margaret Stock. While Democrats recruited Stock to run, Stock insists she’s no Democrat. Download Audio
Sullivan says surprise candidacy followed call to Joe Miller
Ex-Anchorage mayor Dan Sullivan says he didn’t want to file for Sen. Lisa Murkowski's seat until he knew who else was running. Late in the afternoon, he spoke to Murkowski’s 2010 rival, Joe Miller. Download Audio
Ex-Mayor Dan Sullivan challenges Murkowski
Former Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan is apparently challenging U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski in the Republican Primary. The news, broken by an ADN reporter on Twitter, raises the prospect that Alaska would have two Republican U.S. Senators named "Dan Sullivan." Download Audio
Juneau man captures story of icebreaker Storis in labor-of-love documentary
Congress is considering funding a new icebreaker to serve in the Arctic. It would be a heavy, polar-class Coast Guard cutter, to get through thick ice. But size isn’t everything when it comes to Coast Guard ships. A Juneau man has made a film about the Storis, a dainty icebreaker by polar standards, that rescued mariners and enforced the law along Alaska’s coast for almost 60 years.