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.
Anchorage suspends restaurant dining, bar service
Mayor Berkowitz has banned dine-in service for food and drink at restaurants, bars and breweries. The order also closes gyms, bingo halls and theaters, and it bans gatherings of more than 50 people.
Former Alaska first lady Bella Hammond dies at 87
Former Alaska First Lady Bella Hammond was a commercial fisherman who took on her role as the governor’s wife without airs.
State restricts visitors to Alaska nursing homes
The State of Alaska is restricting visitors to long-term care facilities and nursing homes, to shield residents from exposure to the coronavirus.
Anchorage Assembly considers legal changes to help city cope with virus
The Anchorage Assembly will meet Thursday in a special session to consider new rules for governing Alaska’s largest city during a coronavirus outbreak.
Older Alaskans, those over 60, are most at risk and should take measures to protect themselves, state health officials say
It’s just a matter of time before Alaska confirms a case of coronavirus, state epidemiologist Joseph McLaughlin said Tuesday, speaking on Alaska Public Media’s “Talk of Alaska.”
On high alert for coronavirus, services to Alaska elders roll on
One subset of Alaskans is particularly at risk from the coronavirus: the elderly. Alaska facilities that serve senior citizens likely have tough choices ahead.
‘Eventually, everyone wants to give a musher a hotdog’: An audio postcard of Iditarod ‘trailgaters’
For these fans, "trailgating" is a chance to share a moment, and maybe a hotdog, with their favorite mushers.
Coronavirus update, March 5: Eight negative tests, one pending; school districts weigh travel restrictions
The Anchorage School District announced Wednesday it has cancelled all school sponsored out-of-state travel through April
Female Denali Commission employees file discrimination complaints against boss
At least four female employees have filed civil rights complaints against the top executive at the Denali Commission, according to an Anchorage lawyer. Jason Hoke has been out of the office since Friday.
Wells Fargo becomes third major US bank to nix Arctic oil investment
Wells Fargo says it won’t finance oil development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. That follows similar announcements by Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase,
Coronavirus hasn’t hit Alaskans, but economists here are bracing for impact
Alaska has no known cases of the coronavirus, but the outbreak has set off economic shockwaves that are already jolting Alaskans. But foreseeable outcomes are not universally terrible.
Behind the scenes, Pebble leaned on Dunleavy, pleading for its survival
Publicly, Pebble CEO Tom Collier radiates confidence about his company. His emails to the governor's office tell a different story.
What Congress and the Trump administration are doing to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women
A 2018 report highlighting the crisis of "Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women" got the gears of government to turn.
Alaska’s US senators split on curbing Trump’s power to attack Iran
Sen. Murkowski was one of eight Republicans who crossed the aisle to pass a resolution restricting President Trump’s power to attack Iran.
Senate confirms Kindred to US District Court
The U.S. Senate today confirmed Joshua Kindred to be a federal District Court judge in Alaska.
President’s budget would whack Denali Commission, but that’s just a suggestion
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Several large cuts to Alaska programs are included in the 2021 budget the Trump administration sent to Capitol Hill Monday.
As in past years, Trump proposes to slash the Denali Commission. Its...
Sullivan, after voting to acquit Trump, calls the president’s actions less than ‘perfect’
"I believe the President should have requested such an investigation through more official and robust channels," Sen. Dan Sullivan says
Murkowski: ‘The president’s behavior was shameful’
Sen. Murkowski says President Trump brought dishonor to the office, but she won't vote to remove him.
Murkowski, whose Alaska supporters run the spectrum, has angered the left
Sen. Murkowski's support is drawn from right and left, ensuring she'll disappoint a lot of her base on any high-profile partisan vote.
Murkowski confirms she’ll vote no on witnesses in impeachment trial
Senator Lisa Murkowski announced Friday that she will vote to call witnesses in the impeachment proceedings before the Senate, putting herself among a minority of Republicans to support a Democratic push to extend the proceeding.