Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · 2d

Trump approves a controversial road to develop a new mining region in the Arctic. He said he's making Alaska "greater, bigger and more powerful and job-producing."
alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

Trump OKs road for Ambler Mining District, to make Alaska 'bigger and more powerful'

The Ambler Road would enable development in a mineral-rich area of Northwest Alaska. Road opponents worry it would endanger the landscape and wildlife.

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · 2d

Alaska Women, Infants and Children food benefits are at risk if shutdown lasts. Gov's office says it has funds for a week. alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

Women, Infants and Children food benefits are at risk if shutdown lasts

The state has enough money to pay WIC benefits for the first week of the shutdown. It's unclear what happens after that. In past lapses, the state found money to keep the program running.

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · 6d

Tiny public radio station KUCB in Unalaska basks in love from afar. It and 13 other small public radio stations in Alaska finally catch a break. alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

14 small public broadcasting stations in Alaska catch a break

Months after losing federal money, the Interior Department steps forward with a one-year reprieve. Meanwhile, stations like KUCB in Unalaska are basking in love from afar.

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · 8d

Shutdown. Sen. Murkowski says Congress giving up its authority, giving President Trump free rein to do as he likes.
alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

The federal shutdown is upon us. Murkowski warns it could be a long one.

By letting funding lapse, Congress is giving President Trump free rein, Sen. Murkowski says. Both Alaska senators voted for a stop-gap spending bill but the measure failed.

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · 12d

Sen. Murkowski calls FCC chief's comments 'chilling' and inappropriate.

Kimmel is back on air but the threat still looms.

alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

Murkowski calls FCC chief's Kimmel comments 'chilling' and inappropriate

Sen. Murkowski sees Brendan Carr's threat as part of a pattern in the Trump administration. "This is more than concerning," she says.

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · 14d

Holey moley
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

White House to agencies: Prepare mass firing plans for a potential shutdown

In memo, the Trump administration says the Reduction-in-Force plans would go beyond standard shutdown furloughs.

www.politico.com

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · 14d

Sen. Murkowski says letting subsidies expire would force some Alaskans off their health coverage:

“Now, you tell me, who out there can find an additional half of their income to go towards insurance?”

She wants a solution in the short-term spending bill.
alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

Alaskans would see spike in health insurance rates if Congress lets subsidies expire

Some Alaskans would have to pay half their income to keep health insurance without enhanced tax credits. Sen. Murkowski calls it a "looming crisis."

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · 19d

“A reporter who publishes only what the government ‘authorizes’ is doing something other than reporting.”

www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Pentagon demands journalists pledge to not obtain unauthorized material

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is imposing strict new rules that would severely limit the ability of journalists to report on the Pentagon.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · 19d

Sen. ⁦Murkowski‬⁩ was 1 of 2 Republicans to join Ds & reject the GOP spending extension. She voted no on the Dem version, too alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

Murkowski votes no on partisan spending bills, seeks middle path

Both parties' stop-gap spending bills failed. Sen. Murkowski says there’s still time to negotiate a solution to avoid a government shutdown.

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · 21d

Republicans gushed over Alaska’s oil/gas export potential.

Dems focused on the energy woes of tiny AK village, worsened by President Trump’s tariffs and aversion to windmills. alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

Dueling Alaska narratives emerge at U.S. House hearing on ‘unleashing’ energy

Republicans focused on Alaska's exportable oil and LNG. Democrats homed in on a small Alaska village whose energy solutions hit Trump administration roadblocks.

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · 28d

Some Alaskans want Mary Peltola to run for governor. Some want her to challenge US Sen. Dan Sullivan. Some on the left are sidelined until they know: “What will Mary do?” alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

In Alaska governor’s race, Democrats leave the aisle clear for Mary Peltola

As more Republicans join the crowded field, a question hangs over potential Democratic hopefuls: What will Mary Peltola do?

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · Sep 4

US House votes to repeal Central Yukon land plan. Stated goal: advance mining, the Ambler road & Alaska LNG. Also, to transfer fed land to the state.

That alarms subsistence users, who'd lose their rural priority for hunting/fishing on those lands.
alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

U.S. House votes to repeal Central Yukon land plan

The stated goal is to advance the Ambler Road and Alaska LNG Project. But residents of the region say they worked for years to create that plan, balancing subsistence and and development.

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · Aug 28

Pre-NEPA at least

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · Aug 28

Alaska’s gov & US Rep say it’s time to get drilling & mining again.
“There was a time, many, many years ago, that if you wanted to build something, you build it. Here in Alaska! Do you want to blow it up? You blew it up," @GovDunleavy said.

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · Aug 27

Alaska Congressman Nick Begich has done well with Bitcoin, turning a $100 investment into an asset worth $760,000.

His bill would have the government buy lots of the cyber currency. alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

Rep. Nick Begich did well with Bitcoin. He wants the government to own some, too.

Begich spent $100 on Bitcoin in 2013. It's worth about $760,000 now. A bill he sponsored would make the government a big buyer of the cryptocurrency and create a "Strategic Bitcoin Reserve."

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · Aug 15

Does Putin have seller’s regret about the czar’s sale of Alaska to the U.S.? What’s all this talk about “Alaska is ours” among Russian nationalists? My colleague Alena Naiden breaks it down. www.facebook.com/share/v/18gj...

Redirecting...

www.facebook.com

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · Aug 15

Some in Anchorage are waving Ukrainian flags. Others hope the big meeting could elevate the city’s place in history.
“It could be the new Versailles,” one resident said. alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

Alaskans greet the Trump-Putin meeting with worry, hope and Ukrainian flags

Some in Anchorage plan to protest. Others say it could elevate Anchorage's place in history. “It could be the new Versailles,” one resident said.

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · Aug 6

RFKjr., on visit to Anchorage, defends nixing $500m for mRNA vaccine development: "The mRNA vaccines … don't work against upper respiratory infections," he said. "They don't work very well — Let me put it that way."

Protesters outside: “Vaccines save lives.” alaskapublic.org/news/2025-08...

RFK Jr., on visit to Anchorage, casts doubt on mRNA vaccines

The Health secretary pulled the plug Tuesday on nearly $500 million for vaccine development. He spoke at ANTHC, a champion of vaccination as a pillar of community wellness.

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · Aug 4

Awkward moment for SenDanSullivan: Politico reports he was blocking confirmation of top Navy officer just as he was on the floor denouncing Democrats for slow-walking confirmations alaskapublic.org/news/2025-08...

Sullivan blocked confirmation of Navy chief while denouncing Democrats for slowing confirmations

Sen. Dan Sullivan lifted his hold, a few hours after Politico reported that he was blocking the confirmation to pressure the Navy to re-open the Adak base.

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · Jul 31

Murkowski reports progress on filling Alaska's federal court seats. 2 of 3 have been vacant as Sens. Murkowski & Dan Sullivan disagreed on how to select candidates alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

Murkowski reports progress on filling Alaska's federal court seats

Three judges should sit on Alaska’s U.S. District Court. For the past year it's had just one. Alaska's senators haven't been able to agree on a selection process.

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · Jul 30

Murkowski says she’s not onboard with a Republican move to let Trump to bypass the Senate and get controversial nominees seated with recess appointments alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

Murkowski votes against controversial Trump nominee for appeals court

"When somebody ... basically tells other attorneys that you should disregard the law —That, to me, is disqualifying," Sen. Lisa Murkowski says. Emil Bove was confirmed anyway.

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · Jul 30

level, basically tells other attorneys that you should disregard the law --That, to me, is disqualifying. Just plain and simple, disqualifying." Murkowski told me this afternoon.

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · Jul 30

Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins were the only Republicans to vote against the confirmation of former Trump defense attorney Emil Bove to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. He was confirmed 50-49.
"When somebody who is going to be placed on the bench at the Circuit Court ...

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · Jul 18

“I have no surety that these small stations that provide such important connections within their community are going to be able to stay afloat,” Murkowski said. alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

Congress has defunded public broadcasting. Murkowski explores what’s next for Alaska stations.

The fate of Alaska’s smaller public radio stations is in doubt after Congress passed a bill to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

alaskapublic.org

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Liz Ruskin @lizruskin.bsky.social · Jul 17

It’s not the app that sends credible warnings. It’s people on the platform. Local journalists are some of the most credible voices on social media

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