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.
Bad timing: Power outage hit Earthquake Center before 7.9 shaker
The tsunami warning that rattled Alaskans last week exposed weak spots in the disaster safety net. A fluke caused the Alaska Earthquake Center to go dark for an hour. Listen now
Tsunami warning: what’s important, and what’s crucial
The Trump administration has proposed significant cuts to the tsunami warning system. That includes all funding for 39 sophisticated data buoys. Tsunami experts worry about this but are even more concerned about proposed cuts to something a whole lot more basic. Listen now
Alaska’s US senators split on abortion vote
The U.S. Senate on Monday rejected a bill to ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Sen. Lisa Murkowski was one of only two Republicans to vote “no” on the procedural motion. Listen now
Delegation to Zinke: Thanks, but no thanks, for huge leasing plan
The congressional delegation has asked Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke to exclude all but three areas from his plan for oil and gas leasing off Alaska's shores. Listen now
Zinke signs land trade to allow road for King Cove
Alaska's congressional delegation ticked another item off its decades-old to-do list Monday: Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke signed a land swap agreement to allow a road in the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge for King Cove. Listen now
What’s open, what’s closed if the government shuts down
The government is set to cease operations at Friday at 8 p.m. Alaska time if Congress can't reach an agreement on spending. How will that affect you? Listen now
Alaska senators vote ‘no’ as Congress renews surveillance law
FISA allows the government to collect email and phone records of foreigners overseas without a warrant. Privacy advocates warn it sweeps up communications of Americans, too.
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Rep. Young wants earmarks back, and he’s not alone
Alaska Congressman Don Young says without earmarks, lawmakers can't effectively represent their constituents. "This to me is one of the crucial issues to this Congress, the next Congress and this House," Young told colleagues. And he defends the "bridge to nowhere." Listen now
Economist sees big role for US oil, LNG but finds hurdles in Arctic
The Trump administration says it wants to achieve "energy dominance." The director of the International Energy Agency says the U.S. is well on its way when it comes to petroleum, though he was lukewarm on the Arctic. Listen now
Knowles quits National Parks panel, says new administration won’t listen
Former Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles led a mass resignation this week from the advisory board of the National Park System. “The department showed no interest in ... continuing to use the forward-thinking agenda of science, the effect of climate change, protections of the ecosystems, education." Listen now
Murkowski, Sullivan contend with less-Republican Senate
Last year, it was all eyes on Sen. Lisa Murkowski. The fate of health care and tax bills seemed at times to turn on what she would do. But this year is shaping up differently in the Senate, and both Alaska senators will have to contend with new dynamics. Listen now
Murkowski condemns Trump for ‘offensive’ remark
Sen. Lisa Murkowski has condemned President Trump for a vulgar term he reportedly used in a White House meeting, referring to countries in Africa and elsewhere. Listen now
Speaker Ryan honors Young, offers tip: ‘swear in,’ not ‘at’
The U.S. House of Representatives honored - nearly roasted - Congressman Don Young Wednesday for becoming the new "dean of the House." And back home, Young gains a challenger: Alyce Galvin. Listen now
New oil estimate for NPR-A: It’s ‘HUGE’
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has called for more energy production in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, and the new announcement could serve as a marketing brochure. Listen now
$200m for Fort Greely interceptors in spending bill
Congress passed a bill that includes funding to build a fourth field of underground missile silos at Fort Greely. Listen now
Trump lauds ANWR passage; Young: ‘We finally got it done’
For hours at a time, no one mentioned the refuge during the congressional debate over the tax bill. But at a White House celebration, ANWR got big props from the president. Listen now
ANWR drilling bill passes Congress
"We finally got it done." Congressman Don Young said. Young dates the start of his work the issue to the Alaska land bill of 1980. For Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the fight over ANWR is a family legacy.
Long ANWR battle ending quietly
After 40 years of fighting about it, Congress is on the verge of opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil development. Environmental groups were able to defeat all previous ANWR drilling bills. Why they were powerless to stop this one? Listen now
Murkowski unsure Congress can investigate Trump on groping charges
Lisa Murkowski was one of the voices calling for Democratic Sen. Al Franken to resign, but she doesn't know what Congress can do about the allegations against the president. Listen now
Protests fail to slow tax bill, or Arctic drilling
Republicans say they've reached a final agreement on their tax bill, and it appears to include ANWR drilling. Democrats complain they haven't been allowed to even see the final agreement, and Rep. Young explains the purpose of cowboy boots. Listen now