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.
Cold-weather pay exists for some Alaska-based military members, but most Air Force personnel aren’t eligible
The Army pays soldiers extra for Alaska duty. Only a few far-flung airmen get hardship pay for their service in the 49th state.
Whatever happened to ‘Arctic pay’ for the military?
In 2022, Congress authorized cold weather incentive pay for the military. A year later, no one has received the Arctic pay bonus.
Eagle River member resigns from Anchorage Assembly
Kevin Cross will leave by April 1. He calls Assembly work important but not what God intends for him. He prefers hands-on volunteer projects.
America is larger now, by declaration of State Department
U.S. territory off Alaska grew by nearly a Texas Tuesday, when the feds defined the outer limit of its continental shelf.
Speaker Johnson picks Dahlstrom to beat Peltola and flip Alaska’s House seat
The speaker's political operation chose Alaska's lieutenant governor over the other Republican in the race, Nick Begich.
Murkowski straddles divide on climate at COP28
The only Republican senator at the climate conference favors more Alaska oil production and also measures to reduce emissions.
EPA wants to get the lead out of aviation gas. Alaska’s U.S. senators say it’s a bad move for the state.
Sens. Murkowski and Sullivan are trying to reverse an EPA finding that the lead in fuel for small aircraft poses a danger to public health.
Biden to sign order promoting tribal self-determination
The White House is hosting the 11th tribal summit this week. Interior Secretary Haaland says the administration has focused on co-management.
400 military officers were just promoted. Sen. Sullivan says the confirmation blockade shouldn’t have lasted so long.
Sen. Tuberville has blocked every military confirmation vote since February to protest an abortion policy. He finally relented.
Anti-ranked choice voting campaign is operating out of a South Anchorage church, new APOC complaint alleges
An attorney for ranked choice foes says the complaint is overblown and that the religious organization receives rent.
For Wrangell’s new city manager, deadly landslide highlights other potential threats to public safety
It was Mason Villarma's first day on the job when the disaster struck. Now he's also concerned about the city's dam giving way.
Peltola flips script on long-running congressional drama over Arctic drilling
Room 1324 has seen this Alaska controversy play out for decades. This time, new characters changed the vibe.
Congress members behaving badly? Murkowski sees a solution in song.
Amid congressional ruckus, Sen. Murkowski finds a sing-along can boost collegiality and get senators "energized about working together.”
Photo of a toddler hostage stays on Murkowski’s desk, signifying the senator’s stance on Gaza
Sen. Lisa Murkowski hasn't budged from her support of Israel, despite "extraordinary grief" for the deceased children of Gaza.
Alaska ranked choice voting opponents blame ‘incompetence,’ not subterfuge, for errors in campaign disclosure
The founders of Alaskans for Honest Elections say a $90,000 political donation wasn't routed through a church group, despite what they wrote on a form.
Murkowski’s view from the vanishing center
Sen. Lisa Murkowski spoke at a Tuesday summit about her style of legislating and the shrinking middle in the Senate.
Nancy Dahlstrom, Alaska lieutenant governor, announces run for Congress
Republican Nancy Dahlstrom is running for U.S. House, challenging Rep. Mary Peltola.
Federal judge rejects legal challenge to ConocoPhillips’ Willow Project
U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason's highly anticipated decision clears what ConocoPhillips has called a "make-or-break" point for the project.
Peltola votes to defund new Office of Gun Violence Prevention
The Alaska congresswoman was one of just two Democrats to vote to eliminate funds for the White House office on guns. The amendment failed.
Sullivan puts on the pressure but Alabama senator hasn’t loosened his grip on hundreds of blocked military promotions
The move carries some political risk for U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, who opposes the same Pentagon abortion policy Tuberville is protesting.