President Obama today issued an executive order creating the “Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area” of 112,300 square miles.
Federal Government
Trump faces a more skeptical public than any incoming president since 1989
However, Democratic fears appear to have cooled substantially since October.
Energy bill fails; Murkowski blames House
The office of House Speaker Paul Ryan announced Wednesday there was no time left to pass an energy bill, according to the publication The Hill.
Newtok to ask Obama for federal disaster declaration
Officials say a federal disaster declaration may be the best chance to unlock federal funds for relocation before the existing village becomes uninhabitable.
Trump picks fast-food executive Andrew Puzder as Labor Secretary
The chief executive of CKE Holdings, the parent company of Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr., is an outspoken critic of raising the minimum wage and increasing overtime and workplace safety regulations.
Census Bureau adds areas, languages served by translations for elections
The Census Bureau designates languages for translation based on its estimates for speakers who have limited English proficiency.
In looming fight over ANWR, a big unanswered question: how much oil is there?
The coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ranks as one of the most controversial chunks of land in Alaska. Since Congress set it aside for more study in 1980, environmental groups, politicians and industry have battled over whether to explore for oil there or to protect the wilderness forever. As the Trump administration gets ready to take the White House in January, the debate will likely flare up again. But even though the fight’s dragged on for decades, there’s still a lot we don’t know about what lies beneath the refuge.
Trump transition team adds Alaskan as tribal liaison
An Alaskan has joined President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team. The Trump team has selected former state senator Jerry Ward as its liaison to the 500-plus federally recognized tribes.
Time magazine names Donald Trump person of the year
The magazine continues a recent trend of naming the U.S. president-elect “Person of the Year” in election years; Barack Obama was given the title in 2012 and 2008, and George W. Bush in 2004 and 2000.
Reports: Trump taps retired Marine general to head Homeland Security
Ret. Gen. John Kelly, the former boss of the U.S. Southern Command, would be the third former general picked by President-elect Trump.