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.
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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Congressional delegation says no to Syrian refugees
Alaska’s congressman and U.S. senators are among the chorus of political leaders calling on President Obama to suspend his plan to admit 10,000 Syrian refugees.
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Alaskan Bonnie Carroll among Medal of Freedom recipients
The White House has announced that President Obama will award the Medal of Freedom to Alaskan Bonnie Carroll. Carroll founded an organization called TAPS to help family members grieving the death of a military service member.
Railroad hopes Congress fixes expensive math gaffe
The Alaska Railroad has a lot riding on a highway bill pending in Congress. The railroad CEO says he hopes it will fix a technical mistake in a 2012 law that has shortchanged the Railroad $3 million a year.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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