Alaska has the lowest fuel tax yet some of the highest gas prices. We asked Larry Persily, former federal coordinator for Alaska natural gas projects: Why is it so expensive to fill up the tank in Alaska?
4 Special Coverage
State responds to two oil spills at Drift River in Cook Inlet
So far, state regulators say there isn’t evidence that the nearby Drift River was contaminated, or that any wildlife was affected by the Hilcorp-owned facility’s spills.
Unlikely allies: U.S. and Russia work together on walrus
A new federal database, created with over a century of information, shows where Pacific walruses haul out on both sides of the border. And that’s especially important as sea ice disappears and the animals spend more time on land.
New effort shines a spotlight on ocean acidification in Alaska
Climate change may get all the attention, but it has a less-talked-about but no less troubling twin: ocean acidification. And a growing chorus of Alaskans, from shellfish growers to fishermen, are fretting about the potential impacts to the state’s waters. Now a new collaboration is aiming to bring ocean acidification into the spotlight — with the hope that better understanding it will better prepare the state to adapt.
Federal, state researchers map Alaska’s geochemical atlas of rocks and minerals
The updated geochemical atlas was an outgrowth of another project. Geologists and surveyors were on a mission to find rare earth elements and minerals that could be strategically important to the country.
Why a Bahamas tanker is carrying North Slope crude
A foreign-owned tanker is expected to transport North Slope crude to Asia in the coming weeks. BP has shipped its oil overseas before, but it’s been decades since it was on a tanker built and managed outside the U.S.
Warm ocean water leads to heavy rain in Alaska
It’s been unusually wet across a large section of the state this summer.
Moody’s downgrades Alaska credit rating; fourth downgrade this year
Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded Alaska’s credit rating for the second time in six months, citing the state’s massive budget deficit. It’s the fourth time since January the state has been downgraded by one of the three major ratings agencies.
Northwest Native caucus presents priorities in Philadelphia
A Native American caucus from the Pacific Northwest is in Philadelphia this week to speak for the priorities of Northwest tribes at the Democratic National Convention.
Clinton Picks Tim Kaine As VP Running Mate
The Virginia senator and former governor is a loyal ally who can help reach out to Hispanics and may be able to woo disaffected independents or moderate Republicans who are turned off by Donald Trump.