The Alaska Legislature this week sent to the governor a $2.2 billion capital budget, smaller than in some recent years but likely larger that can be expected in the future.
Gov. Sean Parnell Tuesday signed an oil tax cut bill that will guarantee budget deficits for years to come at projected oil price and production levels, and then praised himself and legislative leaders for showing fiscal restraint.Pat Forgey
With his eyes on a possible 2014 U.S. Senate run, Alaska tea party politico Joe Miller has been dealt a financial blow after losing a legal fight with the media stemming from his last attempt to win a Senate seat.Jill Burke
At this week's Arctic Council meeting, Asian nations were admitted as permanent observers while the European Union was forced to wait. Here's a news roundup from the meeting.Mia Bennett
The National Republican Senate Committee is trying to to tie U.S. Sen Mark Begich to possibly illegal Internal Revenue Service targeting of conservative political organizations, but there is no indication the Alaska Democrat has had any involvement.Craig Medred
A month after state lawmakers approved a multibillion-dollar oil tax cut, ConocoPhillips executives told investors they hope to ramp up oil production, but offered no specifics.Pat Forgey
Costs have ballooned for the long-awaited project to tap Alaska's vast natural gas reserves in the Arctic as the proposal morphed from an overland route bound for the Lower 48 to a dramatically different project to ship liquid natural gas across oceans.Alex DeMarban
Education, healthy and safety priorities -- along with regional funding equity -- were the guideposts for lawmakers during the recent session's budget balancing.Arctic Sounder staff
Alaska has considered sending state employees away from home for cheaper health care. The state has explored incentives for insurers who steer patients toward low-cost treatments. Will newly-public hospital billing data drive down Alaska's unsustainably increasing medical costs?Pat Forgey
The U.S. has lofty aspirations for a safe and secure Arctic but will a lofty new "strategy" translate into focus and financial investment along the country's northernmost boundary? Alaskans weigh in.Jill Burke
The federal appeals court in Denver is set to hear arguments Thursday on whether the Obama health-care law can compel business owners to violate 'sincerely held religious beliefs.'
Saudi Arabia's religious police force is infamous for patrolling streets and shopping malls to enforce Islamic conduct. With an eye to restless youth, the kingdom's aging king has ordered reform.
