Stranded killer whale saved after hours-long rescue effort in Alaska
August 4 By Richard Luscombe A killer whale stranded on a rocky shore in Alaska was saved in an hours-long rescue effort by boaters, locals and wildlife officials. The 20-ft (6 metres) orca was spotted washed up on Prince of Wales island last Thursday, apparently…
Sarah Palin hints at Alaska Senate run against Republican Lisa Murkowski
August 3 By Martin Pengelly The former Alaska governor and Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin has hinted at a run for US Senate. “If God wants me to do it I will,” Palin recently told Ché Ahn, leader of the New Apostolic Reformation movement, according…
American Politics Are Not (Yet) Broken
August 2 By Tyler Cowen As President Joe Biden moves toward another legislative victory — namely, the $550 billion infrastructure bill — it’s worth asking what its success says about American politics. Mostly it’s good news, whether or not you agree with the policies of…
Biden’s Buy American push is good politics but bad economics
August 2 By John Harwood With votes in the Senate to advance his bipartisan compromise last week, President Joe Biden took a big step toward upgrading America’s infrastructure. And he took a small step toward ensuring Washington can upgrade less of it. That step backward…
Alaska’s ranked choice voting and top-four primary are legal, judge says
August 1 By Liz Ruskin A Superior Court judge has ruled Alaska’s new ranked choice voting system and open primary are legal. Judge Gregory Miller rejected arguments that the new election method violates the right of free association. The legal challenge was filed by the…
Top Counterterrorism Envoy Could Be First U.S. Ambassador to Sudan in Decades
August 1 By Robbie Gramer The Biden administration is narrowing the list of potential candidates to be the first U.S. ambassador sent to Sudan in decades, and a top counterterrorism official is at the top of the list, according to three current and former U.S….
Infrastructure bill is ‘once in a lifetime investment,’ Murkowski says
July 31 By Liz Ruskin U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski says the trillion-dollar infrastructure bill she helped negotiate is good for Americans, and good for Alaska in particular. “It is pretty historic,” she told reporters on Thursday. “We haven’t seen this level of support and focus…
‘Covid With a Vengeance’ Consumes U.S. Politics
July 31 By Alexander Burns The American political system has come down with a case of long Covid. In Washington and the states, and in both political parties, expectations that the virus might be routed this summer and make way for some version of political-life-as-usual…
Alaska’s gold medal swimmer looked like a winner even before race, dad says
July 30 By Casey Grove Alaskans are still celebrating Seward swimmer Lydia Jacoby’s gold medal win in the Olympics. The 17-year-old shocked the world Monday by winning the 100-meter breaststroke at the Tokyo games. Her parents, Richard and Leslie Jacoby, said the last couple days…
Congress Passes Bill to Fund Capitol Security, Afghan Visas
July 30 By Mary Clare Jalonick Congress overwhelmingly passed emergency legislation Thursday that would bolster security at the Capitol, repay outstanding debts from the violent Jan. 6 insurrection and increase the number of visas for allies who worked alongside Americans in the Afghanistan war. The…
Newsom Casts Political Blame in New California Vaccine Push
July 29 By Janie Har Making a fresh push for vaccinations as coronavirus cases climb in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom turned political as he announced new requirements for state workers and health care employees to show proof of vaccination, blaming “right wing” politicians and media…
Doing it for Alaska: State’s first Olympic swimmer wins gold
July 28 By Paul Newberry When you’re a swimmer from Alaska, there are some misguided stereotypes that must be laughed off. Lydia Jacoby has surely heard them all before. “She practically swims in iced-over lakes,” teammate Gunnar Bentz said. Uhh, no. Jacoby does her swimming…