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.
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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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