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.
Spending bill includes rider on GMO salmon labeling
A bill poised to pass the U.S. Congress would require the FDA to produce labeling guidelines before it allows the sale of genetically engineered salmon.
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Young defends right to arms for people on ‘no-fly’ list
Alaska Congressman Don Young doesn’t think much of the proposal to bar people on the no-fly list from buying guns. "And I will fight until my dying breath," he pledged, "to make sure that we ... retain the Second Amendment.”
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Alaskan hiker falls to her death in New Zealand
A 24-year-old Alaskan died in a hiking accident in New Zealand on Wednesday. Nicole Leman was the youngest daughter of former Lt. Gov. Loren Leman. A police constable says the terrain was severe but Leman and her companion hadn't done anything reckless.
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Alaskan dies in New Zealand hiking accident
A 24-year-old Alaskan died in a hiking accident in New Zealand on Wednesday. Nicole Leman was the youngest daughter of former Lt. Gov. Loren Leman.
Education reform ditches only part of No Child Left Behind
The U.S. Senate today passed an education reform bill, and the president is expected to sign it tomorrow. Many lawmakers say they’re happy to dump No Child Left Behind. But, the new education bill leaves in place major elements of the law, and that may not be a terrible thing.
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EPA fines Army for toxic leaching at Ft. Wainwright
The Environmental Protection Agency has fined the Army nearly $60,000 for failing to notify the agency of a munitions dump on Fort Wainwright.
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BOEM staffers say rush for Arctic study undermined their work
When Shell announced it was giving up on its leases in the Arctic Ocean, it blamed, in part, the challenging regulatory climate. But an inspector general’s report released today says many of the government regulators who worked the Arctic lease case felt they were too rushed to provide a rigorous review.
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VA: Fix for Choice plan taking longer than expected
The Veterans Affairs Department pledged to create a pilot program to help Alaska vets get health care services outside the VA. The pilot program didn’t get underway in November, as promised, but a top VA official says they’re making progress.
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Alaskans say feds shirk ANILCA’s ‘no more’ pledge
It's the 35th anniversary of ANILCA, the federal law that reshaped Alaska, literally redrew the map. ANILCA created new preserves and refuges across the state. It nearly doubled the size of the National Park system. It’s a complicated document that took years of negotiation. But Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Gov. Bill Walker say the feds aren’t living up to their end of the bargain.
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Oh, Chugach tree! Soldotna girl flies to DC to light Alaska spruce
A 74-foot tree from the Chugach National Forest is lit up now on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol. A 10-year-old Soldotna girl helped Speaker of the House Paul Ryan flip the switch.
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Alaska ambassadors field questions from DC kids
A trio from Girdwood, in the nation's capital for the lighting of an Alaskan Christmas tree, acted as cultural ambassadors, explaining all things Alaskan to a group of Washington school children.
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Education bill aims to give power to states
Congress appears close to passing an education reform bill that would give Alaska and other states more flexibility than the current 14-year-old education law.
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Obama nudges locality pay for federal workers
Federal workers aren’t getting much of a pay increase next year, but those in Alaska will get a small extra bump.
Feds say TAPS owners can’t raise rates to pay for over-budget upgrades
A federal commission says the oil companies that own the trans-Alaska pipeline can’t raise rates to cover cost overruns for an upgrade that went horribly over-budget.
Obama honors Alaskan who turned grief to service
President Obama has bestowed the Medal of Freedom on Alaskan Bonnie Carroll. She’s a military widow who founded a service organization to help family members of the fallen. Many of the 16 others awarded the medal today are household names or Hollywood icons. Carroll may not be as well known, but her life was already cinematic.
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Costco won’t sell genetically engineered salmon ‘at this time’
Costco has been the target of a massive consumer campaign opposed to genetically engineered salmon.
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Chugach tree fulfills holiday destiny on Capitol lawn
A 74-foot tree cut from the Chugach National Forest near Seward nearly a month ago arrived at the U.S. Capitol today. It’s the first time the Capitol Christmas tree has come from the 49th state, and it had an entourage.
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FDA OK’s engineered salmon; lawmakers seek mandatory labels
It’s the announcement the Alaskan salmon industry has long feared: The FDA approved an application for genetically engineered salmon, declaring the product as safe to eat as natural salmon. Critics, including Alaska’s congressional delegation, are considering their next steps.
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FDA approves genetically engineered salmon
In a blow to Alaska’s salmon industry, the Food and Drug Administration announced this morning it has approved genetically modified salmon, finding it is as safe to eat as natural salmon. It's the first GM animal approved for human consumption in this country.
State Forester: Feds should ease certification for fire aircraft
After Alaska’s second worst fire season on record, the state forester told a U.S. Senate committee the government should stop practices that he says needlessly sideline firefighting aircraft.
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