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.
Big win for Murkowski: Public lands bill passes Senate
The U.S. Senate today passed a massive public lands bill, and to the delight of its sponsor, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the vote was overwhelming.
Drilling foes in House launch bill to close ANWR
Opponents of development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge filed a U.S. House bill Monday that would end the possibility of drilling in the refuge. The bill's prospects are dim in the Senate, but sponsors say they will press on.
State of the Union gets warm reception from Alaska delegation
Alaska’s all-Republican delegation to Congress praised President Trump for delivering a positive message in his State of the Union address Tuesday night.
US House dems push climate change into spotlight
The House hasn't paid much attention to climate change in nearly a decade. That streak came to an end Wednesday with two simultaneous hearings. Democrats are showing that things are different now that they hold the gavels.
Trump’s pick for Interior secretary has worked for Alaska and energy industry
President Trump has nominated David Bernhardt to be the next secretary of Interior, to replace Ryan Zinke.
Calls for ‘vigilance’ on Russian military buildup in Arctic
Russia's Arctic ambitions worry regional experts. So do the lack of ambitions on the part of the United States.
Pebble boosts spending to lobby feds
Washington, D.C. firms report Pebble paid them $1.2 million to lobby Congress and the executive branch in 2018.
‘Uber for icebreakers’ idea gains traction
Money for a new polar icebreaker is caught up in the fight over whether to build a wall at the southern border. But there’s more than one way to break ice.
ERA now, Murkowski says
Sen. Murkowski is pushing for the Equal Rights Amendment. Yes, she knows that sounds like 1972 is calling and asking for its protest sign back.
Critics say shutdown will doom Arctic projects in court
The Trump administration continued work on some Alaska oil development projects, despite the partial shutdown. Critics say that could invalidate the government's ultimate decisions to approve them.
Alaska’s US senators veer apart on shutdown votes
Two competing bills to end the partial government shutdown both fizzled. Alaska's senators took different tacks.
Some GOP defied Trump on Russia sanctions, but Alaskans did not
Congress almost passed a measure to keep sanctions on companies affiliated with Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska. Alaska's Congressional delegation voted to let the Trump administration lift them.
Those 20 ‘new’ interceptors Trump wants in Alaska? They’re not NEW new
President Trump highlighted the role of Fort Greely in the missile defense plan he unveiled Thursday. But what sounded like a call for a major expansion at the Interior base isn't breaking new ground.
In this shutdown, every day is a winding road
Sen. Lisa Murkowski says it's slow-going, but she sees progress at the U.S. Capitol among lawmakers working to end the partial government shutdown, now in its fourth week.
Protesters target SAExploration in Texas over Arctic Refuge
A group of Native American protesters went to the offices of SAExploration in Houston today to object to work the company wants to do in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Federal furlough drives Alaskans to the unemployment line
Hundreds of furloughed federal workers in Alaska are filing unemployment claims. They'll have to pay back any benefits they receive once they get retroactive pay.
A functioning government or border security? Murkowski wants both
"I've got a lot of people who are saying 'Lisa, you've got to stand with the president. ...'" Murkowski said on the Senate floor. "And then I have an equal number that are saying, 'Please, please, do something to help reopen this government.'"
In Congress, Alaskans are split over shutdown
Republicans in Congress remain mostly united behind President Trump and his rejection of legislation to re-open government departments unless it includes $5 billion for a border wall. But the Alaska delegation is split on this.
Young considers crossing aisle as shutdown grinds on
In Congress, several Republicans are talking about voting with the Democrats to reopen most of the unfunded departments. Among Alaska's delegation to Congress, two say they're warm to the idea, and one isn't saying.
Build a wall with military funds? Murkowski says no
Trump has been floating the idea of building a wall using military construction dollars. Sen. Lisa Murkowski isn’t on board with that. With 5,700 Alaskans unsure whether they'll miss a payday, she wants to see Congress pass the less controversial bills to at least shrink the number of workers affected.