Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Alaska
9 State Attorneys General Urge EPA to Add Mifepristone to Contaminant Candidate List
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- Nine state Attorneys General submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding the agency's Draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List. The letter urges the EPA to include mifepristone and its approved generics as unregulated drinking water contaminants due to emerging concerns about their environmental and public health impacts.
The letter highlights that mifepristone is a synthetic steroid and endocrine disruptor commonly used as an abo
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A Long Shadow: Mapping Mesothelioma's Uneven Decline Across the United States
MIAMI, Florida, June 11 -- The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine posted the following news:
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A Long Shadow: Mapping Mesothelioma's Uneven Decline Across the United States
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Summary
* Mesothelioma rates have declined nationally, but the number of people affected continues to rise due to population aging and long disease latency.
* Progress has been uneven, with a growing burden among women and persistent hot spots in several high-risk states.
* Survival has not meani
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Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission Opposes Changes to Federal Subsistence Program
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- The Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission, Glennallen, Alaska, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding the programmatic review of the Federal Subsistence Management Program. The commission expressed opposition to proposed changes intended to restructure or diminish federal subsistence management authority.
The commission stressed that these proposals conflict with the Alaska National Interes
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Ala. Fish & Game Commissioner Lang Provides Input on Spectacled Eider Status Review to Fish & Wildlife Service
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- Doug Vincent-Lang, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service urging the agency to carefully evaluate whether continued Endangered Species Act protection for the spectacled eider remains warranted during its ongoing five-year status review and to incorporate updated population and monitoring information before reaching a determination.
The letter highlighted that the global popula
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Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Advocates for Preservation of Federal Subsistence Management Program
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior regarding the Federal Subsistence Management Program. The consortium emphasized the importance of maintaining the Program's rural subsistence priority, the Federal Subsistence Board's current structure, and keeping the Office of Subsistence Management within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget.
ANTHC, which ser
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Alaska Outdoor Council Challenges Federal Subsistence Management Practices in Alaska
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- The Alaska Outdoor Council, Wasilla, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior regarding the program review of subsistence management for federal public lands. The group raised concerns about duplicative federal spending, problematic regulatory structures, and potentially discriminatory practices affecting subsistence users.
The council advocates for eliminating the Office of Subsistence Management, arguing that it duplicates the State o
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As Summer Travel Ramps Up, Duckworth Joins Welch, Colleagues in Raising Alarm on How Trump's War in Iran Has Impacted Air Travel
WASHINGTON, June 11 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following news release:
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As Summer Travel Ramps Up, Duckworth Joins Welch, Colleagues in Raising Alarm on How Trump's War in Iran Has Impacted Air Travel
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June 11, 2026
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)-Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation-joins U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and other Senate Democratic colleagues in expressing serious co
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Attorney General Alan Wilson touts securing critical funding for ICE and CBP
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, June 11 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news:
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Attorney General Alan Wilson touts securing critical funding for ICE and CBP
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(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - Attorney General Alan Wilson recently joined a 22-state coalition in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune in support of the immediate passage of the Secure America Act. On Wednesday, President Trump signed the $70 billion legislation.
The Secure Am
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Attorney General Bonta Urges Congress to Continue Funding Legal Services for Low-Income Americans and Vulnerable Communities
SACRAMENTO, California, June 11 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Bonta Urges Congress to Continue Funding Legal Services for Low-Income Americans and Vulnerable Communities
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OAKLAND -California Attorney General Rob Bonta, alongside a bipartisan coalition of 40 attorneys general, urged Congressional leaders to continue funding the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in the Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related
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Cantwell Reminds Republican Colleagues: The Roadless Rule Drives Economic Growth, Protects Pristine Lands, & Saves Taxpayers Money
WASHINGTON, June 11 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, issued the following news release:
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Cantwell Reminds Republican Colleagues: The Roadless Rule Drives Economic Growth, Protects Pristine Lands, & Saves Taxpayers Money
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06.11.26
Popular conservation measure protects 58.5 million acres of pristine land from destructive and expensive roadbuilding, supports outdoor recreation economy; Cantwell has been the lead Senate champion of the Roadless Rule since it was overturned by the Bu
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Center for American Progress: Trump Opens Three Marine National Monuments to U.S. Commercial Fishing Interests
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- The Center for American Progress issued the following news release on June 11, 2026:
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Trump Opens Three Marine National Monuments to U.S. Commercial Fishing Interests
Today, President Donald Trump signed proclamations rolling back protections and expanding industrial fishing access to portions of three marine national monuments in the Pacific Ocean: Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument near Hawaii; the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument near the Mariana
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Center for Biological Diversity Warns of Historic Spectacled Eider Decline, Urges Continued Endangered Species Act Protections
WASHINGTON, June 11 -- The Center for Biological Diversity, Tucson, Arizona, submitted a public comment letter to the Fish and Wildlife Service addressing the agency's 5-Year Status Review for the spectacled eider. The organization emphasized research findings highlighting critical population declines, habitat degradation, and escalating threats from climate change and other stressors that jeopardize the species' survival across its Arctic range.
The spectacled eider, a sea duck native to Alask
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Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences: Dead Organisms Have a Lasting Ecological Legacy
BOULDER, Colorado, June 11 (TNSjou) -- The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences issued the following news on June 10, 2026:
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Dead organisms have a lasting ecological legacy
New research shows foundation species have an afterlife
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Trees, grasses, corals, and oysters are foundational to the structure of an ecosystem while they are alive. But new CIRES-led research shows that when they die -- due to extreme events like storms, wildfires, or marine heatwaves -- the
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Craig Tribal Association Urges Federal Subsistence Program Preservation Amid Proposed Changes
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- The Craig Tribal Association, Alaska, has urged the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture to preserve the Federal Subsistence Management Program without alterations that could undermine the priority for rural subsistence users as established under Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
The Tribal Association emphasizes maintaining the OSM's current organizational placement within the Office of the Assistant Secretar
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Fourth Icebreaker Announced for Alaska; Two to be Homeported in Kodiak, One in Seward
WASHINGTON, June 11 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release:
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Fourth Icebreaker Announced for Alaska; Two to be Homeported in Kodiak, One in Seward
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Alaska Delegation Secured Icebreaker Funding Through Working Families Tax Cuts Act
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska), today welcomed an announcement from the U.S. Coast Guard that a fourth icebreaker, an Arctic Security Cutter, will be homepor
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Fourth Icebreaker Announced for Alaska; Two to be Homeported in Kodiak, One in Seward
WASHINGTON, June 11 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release:
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Fourth Icebreaker Announced for Alaska; Two to be Homeported in Kodiak, One in Seward
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Alaska Delegation Secured Icebreaker Funding Through Working Families Tax Cuts Act
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska), today welcomed an announcement from the U.S. Coast Guard that a fourth icebreaker, an Arctic Security Cutter, will be homeporte
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GCI Strengthens Network Resiliency Across Alaska With Starlink
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, June 12 -- GCI, a telecommunications company, issued the following news release on June 11, 2026:
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GCI Strengthens Network Resiliency Across Alaska with Starlink
The agreement enhances GCI's ability to provide resilient and reliable connectivity to Alaskans
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GCI, Alaska's largest telecommunications company, today announced it will leverage Starlink's dedicated service with bonded gateways to strengthen its ability to deliver resilient, reliable connectivity to thous
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ICYMI: Rep.Vasquez Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Protect Public Lands from Being Sold Off in Backdoor Deals
WASHINGTON, June 11 -- Rep. Gabriel Vasquez, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release:
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ICYMI: Rep.Vasquez Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Protect Public Lands from Being Sold Off in Backdoor Deals
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last week, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) introduced the bipartisan Public Lands Integrity Act, a commonsense bill to protect America's public lands from being sold off to the highest bidder through the budget reconciliation process.
"Treating public land
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KFF: Maine Homelessness Falls, But More Than 2,600 People Still Without Stable Housing
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- Maine recorded 2,695 people experiencing homelessness according to the latest Point-in-Time survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in January 2024. Data compiled by KFF show that while the state's homeless population declined from the previous year, thousands of residents continue to experience housing instability, with the vast majority relying on shelters, transitional housing, and emergency accommodation rather than living unsheltered.
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KFF: New Mexico Sees Growing Homelessness Challenge as Unsheltered Population Remains High
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- New Mexico is facing a homelessness challenge according to the latest Point-in-Time survey conducted by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in January 2024. Data complied by KFF show that the state continues to struggle with both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness, reflecting broader national trends but with distinctive local characteristics.
According to New Mexico's 2024 count, approximately 4,649 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night.
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KFF: North Carolina Homelessness Surges as Sheltered and Unsheltered Populations Reach Record Levels
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- North Carolina experienced a sharp rise in homelessness in 2024, with the latest Point-in-Time count showing 11,626 people experiencing homelessness on a single January night, up from 9,754 in 2023. The increase of 1,872 people represents a 19% year-over-year jump, closely matching the national increase of 18%.
The KFF data, sourced from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2025 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness, indicate that homelessness in North
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KFF: U.S. Homelessness Data Climbs Sharply as Unsheltered Population Remains a Major Challenge
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- The number of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. reached a record level in the latest Point-in-Time count, according to data compiled by the health policy organization KFF. The figures, collected during the last 10 days of January, provide a one-night snapshot of homelessness across all states.
The table, sourced from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2025 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness, shows that an estimated 771,480 people were e
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King Bill to Strengthen Rural Hospitals Passes U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON, June 11 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release:
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King Bill to Strengthen Rural Hospitals Passes U.S. Senate
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is celebrating Senate passage of bipartisan legislation that would allow hospitals to continue testing innovative hospital payment models under Medicare as they face unprecedented financial challenges in delivering care in rural areas. The Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Reauthori
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Kuukpik Corp. Advocates for Strong Federal Subsistence Protections in Alaska
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- Kuukpik Corp., Anchorage, Alaska, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture addressing proposed revisions to the Federal Subsistence Board regulations. The letter emphasized the vital role of subsistence activities for the food security, cultural resilience, and well-being of the Nuiqsut community, underscoring the importance of maintaining current federal protections against shifts in regulatory aut
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Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act - Issues for the 119th Congress Topic of White Paper From CRS
WASHINGTON, June 11 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13210) by natural resources policy analyst Anthony R. Marshak:
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The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA): Issues for the 119th Congress
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended (MSA; 16 U.S.C. Sec.1801 et seq.), is the primary law authorizing the conservation and management of U.S. federal marine fisheries (i.e., th
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Native Village of Kipnuk Urges Preservation of Federal Subsistence Management Program Amid Climate Challenges
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- The Native Village of Kipnuk, Alaska, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior concerning the proposed review of the Federal Subsistence Management Program. The letter expresses concern over recent proposals initiated by the Safari Club that may undermine existing protections for subsistence hunters and fishers in Alaska.
The Native Village of Kipnuk, a Yup'ik community located in western Alaska, is confronting severe consequences of cl
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SAMHSA Announces $40 Million in Funding Opportunities to Prevent Addiction, and Address Child Trauma, Suicide, Mental Illness
WASHINGTON, June 11 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the following news release:
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SAMHSA Announces $40 Million in Funding Opportunities to Prevent Addiction, and Address Child Trauma, Suicide, Mental Illness
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WASHINGTON -June 11, 2026 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), today announced $40 million in funding opportunities for eight grant programs tha
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SBA Proposes Overhaul of 8(a) Program Social Disadvantage Standards
WASHINGTON, June 12 (TNSFR) -- The Small Business Administration has proposed changes to eligibility standards for individually owned firms seeking admission to the 8(a) Business Development Program, including the removal of a long-standing rebuttable presumption that members of designated racial and ethnic groups are socially disadvantaged.
The proposal applies only to small businesses owned and controlled by individuals and does not affect firms owned by tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, Na
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SBA Reforms 8(a) Business Development Program to End Racial Discrimination in Federal Contracting
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on June 11, 2026:
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SBA Reforms 8(a) Business Development Program to End Racial Discrimination in Federal Contracting
Agency issues new proposed rule to dismantle race-based admissions
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) released a proposed rule to end racial discrimination in the 8(a) Business Development Program and dismantle the race-based admissions framework that previously
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Schizophrenia Policy Action Network Highlights New Evidence for Medicare Hospital Payment Policy
WASHINGTON, June 11 -- The Schizophrenia Policy Action Network, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding payment policies for inpatient hospital care under the Medicare Program. The letter urges CMS to incorporate recent peer-reviewed research and public survey data in evaluating the New Technology Add-On Payment application for COBENFY as part of the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Inpatient Prospective Pa
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Sen. Murkowski: Water Power Bill Moved from Committee
WASHINGTON, June 11 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release:
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Water Power Bill Moved from Committee
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Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) passed the Fair Licensing for Operations of Water Structures (FLOWS) Act led by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Angus King (I-ME). The FLOWS Act will streamline routine updates for existing hydropower facilities and establish a commonsense licensing pathway for ne
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Sitka Conservation Society Urges Strengthening of Federal Subsistence Management Program for Alaska's Rural Communities
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- The Sitka Conservation Society, Alaska, has provided public comment to the U.S. Department of the Interior regarding the ongoing review of the federal subsistence management program for public lands. The nonprofit conservation organization, dedicated to protecting the Tongass National Forest and supporting sustainable communities throughout Southeast Alaska, emphasized the critical importance of maintaining the program's commitments to rural communities, Alaska Native Trib
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Tanana Chiefs Conference Urges Preservation of Federal Subsistence Program Protections
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- The Tanana Chiefs Conference, Fairbanks, Alaska, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior regarding the ongoing review of the Federal Subsistence Management Program. As an Alaska Native tribal consortium representing 42 Interior Alaska communities and over 18,000 members, TCC emphasized the critical importance of subsistence hunting and fishing for food security, cultural continuity, and economic stability in rural Alaska.
TCC expressed sup
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Three new Hawaiian Airlines liveries set sail this summer for Disney's live-action "Moana"
SEATTLE, June 12 [Category: BizAerospace] -- Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, posted the following news release on June 11, 2026:
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Three new Hawaiian Airlines liveries set sail this summer for Disney's live-action "Moana"
Summary
* Hawaiian Airlines today unveiled the first of its three aircraft designs for Disney's live-action "Moana" on an Airbus A321neo, ahead of the film's July 10 debut.
* In July, the remaining two designs will make a splash on an A330 -Hawaiian
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U.S. Coast Guard advances Arctic security with Kodiak and Seward homeports
WASHINGTON, June 11 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Coast Guard issued the following news release:
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U.S. Coast Guard advances Arctic security with Kodiak and Seward homeports
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WASHINGTON -The U.S. Coast Guard announced it would homeport its first two Arctic Security Cutters in Kodiak, Alaska with a third Alaska Arctic Security Cutter homeported in Seward when the infrastructure is ready. This follows April's announcement that the Service would homeport its first two Arctic
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What If Trump Offered an Oil Lease Sale, and Nobody Came?
BERKELEY, California, June 11 -- The International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute issued the following commentary on June 10, 2026, by Associate Director Mark J. Palmer:
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What if Trump Offered an Oil Lease Sale, and Nobody Came?
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest protected areas in the world. Located in the northeast corner of Alaska, the Refuge has long been contentious because the coastal plain, the heart of the refuge, has oil potential. Nobody
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