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.
This time, Murkowski votes with Democrats on Planned Parenthood
Sen. Lisa Murkowski was one of eight Republicans to vote against advancing a bill that would have defunded Planned Parenthood. She also explains why she missed an abortion-related vote on Tuesday: She was in Texas, fundraising.
Sullivan hopes pope learns about America during visit
Pope Francis' address to Congress is tomorrow, and if his speeches in Washington Wednesday are an indication, Alaska’s congressional delegation is likely to hear the pontiff say things they disagree with. This is especially true for U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, who says he’s not convinced human activity is a major cause of climate change. Sullivan describes himself as a life-long Catholic, and he is getting a double dose of pope this week.
Murkowski missed – didn’t duck – abortion vote, staffer says
Sen. Lisa Murkowski was absent today for a procedural vote on banning abortion after the 20th week. As her spokeswoman explains it, Murkowski did not intentionally duck the abortion vote, but missed it due to "prior travel commitments."
Murkowski frets fees on public lands, especially Mendenhall
Sen. Lisa Murkowski on Thursday challenged National Park and Forest Service officials about the fees they collect from visitors. At a Senate hearing, Murkowski said she “generally” supports the law allowing the agencies to collect fees. But then Murkowski homed in on the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center, in Juneau.
Download Audio
Of $1B settlement, $125M earmarked for Alaska tribes
Attorneys for Indian tribes and the Interior Department announced today an agreement to settle a class-action lawsuit for $940 million. It’s a case that dates back to 1994. Since then, until 2013, the department short-changed some 640 tribes that had federal contracts to provide services to their people. Alaska tribes are among those owed money.
Download Audio
Feds transfer 23 acres to YKHC for hospital expansion
The U.S. House on Wednesday passed a bill to transfer 23 acres of federal land in Bethel to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation.
Anchorage Assemblywoman savors White House embrace
It’s almost like the White House has a crush on Alaska. First, President Obama visits and gushes in social media about what a great time he had. Then, of dozens of cities honored in a Let’s Move event at the White House, the person organizers chose to introduce the First Lady? Anchorage Assemblywoman and Vice Chair Elvi Gray-Jackson.
Download Audio
Activists say ‘keep it in ground’; Jewell calls it simplistic
Hundreds of environmental groups are uniting under a new banner to curtail greenhouse gas emissions. It’s called: “Keep it in the ground.” They’re asking President Obama to stop new petroleum leases on public lands. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell rejected the idea in a meeting with reporters today.
Download Audio
Murkowski’s oil export effort gains traction, yet fate uncertain
Sen. Lisa Murkowski is making progress on ending the U.S. ban on crude oil exports. It’s one of her biggest goals as chairman of the Senate Energy Committee. But powerful interests are fighting to keep the ban in place.
Download Audio
Alaska’s U.S. senators assail Iran deal
Republicans in the U.S. Senate Republicans on Thursday failed to get enough votes to advance a resolution rejecting the nuclear accord with Iran. Both Alaska senators say the deal forces the U.S. to concede too much.
Download Audio
In bid to restore Voting Rights Act, Murkowski strays from party lines
The settlement of the Native vote lawsuit comes on the same day as news that Sen. Lisa Murkowski has co-sponsored a bill to revive the Voting Rights Act. Sen. Murkowski is the first Republican to join more than 30 Democratic co-sponsors on an issue that has divided the two parties.
Download Audio
Judge rules against road between King Cove, Cold Bay
A U.S. District Court judge in Anchorage has ruled against a group from King Cove seeking an emergency road to Cold Bay.
Download Audio
Walker may call gas line special session in October
Gov. Bill Walker may call a special session of the Legislature next month to consider the Alaska LNG Project, and a possible state purchase of TransCanada's share in the gas pipeline.
Download Audio:
Rep. Young Ducks POTUS Hoopla
Alaskans of all stripes came out this week for a chance to shake hands with President Obama, or glimpse his motorcade, but one person not on hand was Don Young, Alaska’s only member of the U.S. House of representatives.
Download Audio
Obama Does Seward
President Obama is flying to Dillingham and Kotzebue today. The White House says he’ll announce a new role for the Denali Commission in helping Alaska communities respond to climate-change impacts. Yesterday, Mother Nature indulged him with stunning fall weather in Seward.
Download Audio:
Obama Lands in Alaska; Says Time is Now to Act on Climate
Air Force 1 landed in Anchorage yesterday, with President Obama and Gov. Walker on board. Obama's motorcade sped downtown, where the president struck a somber note in a speech about climate change.
‘Denali’ restored as official name for North America’s tallest peak
President Obama is due to arrive in Alaska on Monday, and the White House says he will announce a new official name for North America’s tallest mountain.
Obama to Talk Climate, Reveal New Alaska Policies
To a president calling for global action on climate change, Alaska is one big show-and-tell exhibit. Exit Glacier is on the presidential itinerary next week, and Obama is expected to announce new Alaska initiatives related to climate.
Download Audio:
Anchorage Mayor: Obama Visit to Cause ‘Minimal Disruption’ Downtown
Mayor Berkowitz today announced which street will close for security. He said residents should be flexible when visiting downtown for the first half of the week, but he says the event won't shut down commerce.
Listen now:
Walker Hopes to Reframe POTUS Perspective
President Obama’s visit to Alaska is now less than a week away, and he's not the only one with an agenda for his trip.
“It’s an exciting time for Alaska. We don’t have a lot of presidents who stop here unless they’re low of fuel," Gov. Walker says.