Murkowski: Infrastructure deal would benefit Alaska
June 25 By Liz Ruskin Lisa Murkowski and nine other U.S. senators Thursday announced they have an agreement with the White House for a $950 billion infrastructure bill. It includes $312 billion for transportation projects, $65 billion for broadband, and $55 billion for ports and…
Drop politics to fix immigration, Harris says at U.S.-Mexico border
June 25 By Nandita Bose Vice President Kamala Harris visited a border patrol facility near the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday and urged a focus on children and practical solutions to migration, in a trip meant to blunt Republican criticism of White House immigration policies. The…
Murkowski: ‘Historic’ U.S. infrastructure plan will grow Alaska’s economy
June 24 By Linda F. Hersey Sen. Lisa Murkowski was part of a bipartisan group of U.S. senators who joined President Joe Biden Thursday to announce they reached a deal on an infrastructure package that would not raise taxes on Americans. The plan calls for…
US, Germany confront rising antisemitism, Holocaust denial
June 24 By Matthew Lee The United States and Germany launched a new initiative Thursday to stem an alarming rise in antisemitism and Holocaust denial around the world. The two governments announced the start of a U.S.-Germany Holocaust Dialogue that seeks to reverse the trend…
With new lawsuit, Alaska Gov. Dunleavy’s administration escalates budget feud with legislators
June 23 By Nathaniel Herz Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy has said he won’t sign the budget passed by the state Legislature, citing lawmakers’ failure to garner the two-thirds support needed to make the spending plan take effect at the start of the fiscal year…
Pelosi could announce creation of a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection
June 23 By Savannah Behrmann Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, told Democratic House members Tuesday she will create a select committee to probe the January 6 attack and insurrection, a source familiar told USA TODAY. After USA TODAY and several other outlets reported on her announcement,…
Australia’s inaction on climate puts Great Barrier Reef ‘in danger,’ UNESCO report says
June 22 By Dennis Normile Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef should be inscribed on a list of World Heritage Sites that are “in danger,” according to a draft decision UNESCO released on 21 June. The Australian government opposes the recommendation, which was made partly to…
Here’s what you need to know about the Legislature’s stalled budget process
June 21 By Andrew Kitchenman The Alaska Legislature’s special session ended on Friday without an agreement to avoid a state government shutdown on July 1. Lawmakers will get back to work this week to, again, try to reach a deal. The new special session starts…
Senate holds historic hearing on DC statehood
June 21 By Zach Merchant The fight for D.C. statehood continues this week at the U.S. Capitol as proponents prepare to make their case in front of a Senate committee. The hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs starts at 10…
Biden Says ‘America Is Back,’ But US Allies Aren’t So Sure
June 20 By Rob Garver In his meetings with G-7 and North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies in Europe last week, President Joe Biden missed no opportunity to repeat his assertion that “America is back” on the world stage and ready to take the lead in…
AP FACT CHECK: Putin’s Twisted Tale on Rival; Biden GOP Jab
June 19 By HOPE YEN Russian President Vladimir Putin faulted his imprisoned political rival for leaving Russia without legal permission, omitting the vital detail that the departure was, literally, an unconscious decision: Alexei Navalny was in a coma. After meeting President Joe Biden in Geneva,…
Alaska House Fails Key Vote Affecting Dividend, Programs
June 19 By Becky Bohrer The Alaska House passed a state budget late Tuesday but failed to garner sufficient support for a roughly $1,100 dividend for residents this year, which was the higher of two potential payouts under the package. Dividends typically have been paid…