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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Lockheed wins $800M contract for radar at Clear
The Missile Defense Agency has awarded a contract of nearly $800 million to Lockheed Martin to install a sophisticated radar system at Clear Air Station, in the Interior.
Latest trouble with F-35 bars light pilots from cockpit
While an environmental review is underway to determine whether Eielson Air Force Base will get two F-35 squadrons, the Air Force is already flying the fighters in the Lower 48. But the aircraft remains controversial in Congress. The latest problems are with the ejection seat.
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Murkowski’s irate; Interior nominee heard all about it
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski used a confirmation hearing as an opportunity to voice her frustration over a string of decisions by Sec. Sally Jewell limiting development in Alaska, including last week's cancellation of Arctic offshore lease sales. An Interior Department nominee felt the burn today.
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Obama Administration cancels offshore lease sales, citing lack of interest
The Interior Department won't auction off drilling rights in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas in the next two years. The auctions would have been the first in the Arctic Ocean since 2008, and the first under President Obama.
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Murkowski spotlights civic heroes at AFN
Every year, Alaska’s congressional delegation is invited to address the AFN convention, and today was U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s turn. She stuck close to the theme of the convention, "Heroes in our Homeland," but did mention a few of her own accomplishments.
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Alaska officials fighting mad over Arctic lease cancellation
When the Obama Administration announced the cancelation of drilling opportunities in the Arctic Ocean, the reaction of Alaska’s congressional delegation and governor was swift and terrible. They're pledging a bold response, which, if Rep. Don Young has his way, involves renting a drilling rig.
For Sen. Sullivan, Rep. Young an easier AFN
At its convention last year, AFN endorsed Dan Sullivan’s opponent in a tense campaign, and Congressman Don Young apologized to the audience for remarks he’d made about a teen’s suicide.
What a difference a year makes. Sullivan today addressed the audience as their U.S. senator, and Young was all smiles.
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Murkowski raises big cash, expects a fight
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski is raising serious money for her re-election bid next year, despite having no serious challenger yet.
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Congressional panel to hear criticism of EPA’s Pebble process
A U.S. House Committee chairman has announced a hearing to examine whether the EPA unfairly blocked the Pebble Mine in Southwest Alaska with a so-called “pre-emptive veto,” before the mine has even applied for permits.