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.
For Alaskan home from Paris, attacks resonate
The world watched in horror today as multiple attacks struck Paris. Paris officials say the death toll could exceed 120. For one Anchorage woman, the tragedy hits close to home.
Download Audio
Walker’s appointee for top DC job: No one
Last month, Gov. Bill Walker fired the director of his Washington, D.C. office and two associate directors, giving them 30 days notice. At the time, Walker’s spokeswoman said a new appointment was imminent. Now, though, Walker says he’s decided to leave the top job in D.C. empty.
Download Audio
Forecast: $80 oil at decade’s end
The International Energy Agency is predicting the return of higher oil prices, but not soon enough to end the gut punch to Alaska’s budget.
Download Audio
Defense bills clear U.S. Senate with Alaska projects
Just in time for Veterans Day, the U.S. Senate has passed two bills to keep the military running, and they include several provisions specific to Alaska.
Download Audio
Obama brings Native youth into spotlight
Politicians and captains of industry would give a small fortune for this invitation, but a 16-year-old Anchorage girl had an hour-long discussion yesterday with the President of the United States. The opportunity came as President Obama addressed the White House Tribal Nations Conference, an annual event that started with his administration.
Download Audio
Pebble finds friends on US House panel
Proponents of the Pebble mine in southwestern Alaska brought their case to the U.S. House today. Pebble says the EPA collaborated with mine opponents to restrict the project, in what the company calls a pre-emptive veto. Pebble got a sympathetic ear from Republicans on the Science, Space and Technology Committee.
Download Audio
White House Tribal Nations Conference kicks off in Washington DC
The seventh White House Tribal Nations Conference begins in Washington, DC today, and each of Alaska’s 229 tribes was invited to send a representative.
Senate witnesses describe dark side of Russian bear
Russia is still on good terms with the U.S. in the Arctic, where their coast guards cooperate. But Americans have been warily eyeing President Vladimir Putin’s military buildup in the far north. At a U.S. Senate hearing today, witnesses described Putin more as a cunning bully than a good neighbor.
Download Audio
Arctic coast guards team up, Russia included
The head of the U.S. Coast Guard met with counterparts from seven northern nations to create the Arctic Coast Guard Forum. The forum is intended to help pool resources when life, limb or the environment are in danger. But perhaps the most significant feature of today’s event was Russia’s presence.
Download Audio
Senators grounded while Sec. Carter visits state without them
Alaska’s two U.S. senators were supposed to be at Fort Wainwright today. Instead, due to mechanical troubles, they were reduced to making videos describing what they would have said to Defense Secretary Ash Carter, if they'd had the opportunity to talk to him about keeping troops at JBER.
Download Audio
US Senate passes budget deal; Alaska senators split on vote
The U.S. Senate passed a two-year budget bill early Friday morning, in a vote that split Alaska’s two senators.
Shell’s Q3 results reflect Arctic hit
Royal Dutch Shell has announced its quarterly financial results. They're not good, and Shell’s dry hole in the Chukchi Sea is just one factor.
Download Audio
Shell reports $6B in Q3 losses
Royal Dutch Shell has announced its quarterly financial results and they're not good. Adjusted for changes and one-time tems, earnings fell 70 percent.
Point Hope gets $3M in transportation grants
The U.S. Transportation Department on Thursday announced half a billion dollars in grants. Among the recipients: Point Hope.
U.S. House passes budget deal; Young votes no
The U.S. House today approved a two-year budget deal. Alaska Congressman Don Young, like a majority of House Republicans, voted no. His primary objection is that it cashes out part of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Download Audio
Defense Secretary says he’ll visit Alaska this week, little else
Defense Sec. Ashton Carter revealed that he’ll visit the 49th state this week. Details are scarce, but he let slip his travel plans at a Senate hearing, after agreeing with Sen. Dan Sullivan that the military should have a serious operation plan for the Arctic.
Download Audio
Park Service bans controversial methods to hunt wolf, bear
The National Park Service has published its final rule on hunting in Alaska’s national preserves, turning a corner in a long-running tussle with the state. Park Service is now enacting a permanent ban on several controversial hunting practices allowed under state law, like using artificial lights to shoot black bears in the den, and using bait to hunt bears.
Download Audio
Bill combating illegal fishing awaits president’s signature
Congress has passed a bill to combat pirate fishing. The bill, called the “Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act” now goes to the president of his signature. It puts in law the provisions of an international treaty aimed at denying illegal fishing vessels access to a country’s ports.
Drones vie for role in wildfire fight
They’re a danger when they intrude on the airspace, but unmanned aircraft can also be an asset in firefighting and efforts are underway to bring more pilotless aircraft to the fight.
Download Audio
Bill to crack down on IUU fishing goes to White House
Congress has passed a bill to combat pirate fishing. It puts in law the provisions of an international treaty aimed at denying illegal fishing vessels access to a country’s ports.