WASHINGTON — Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced Thursday she will vote against confirming Pete Hegseth to lead the Pentagon, becoming the first Republican to oppose one of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks.

A sweeping executive order signed by President Donald Trump during the first hours of his second term aims to boost Alaska’s natural resource industry by reversing environmental protections that limit oil and gas extraction, logging, and other development projects across the state.

Alaska's political leaders are cheering an expansive executive order signed by President Donald Trump that aims to boost oil and gas drilling, mining and logging in the state.

The first day always involves more pomp and circumstance than legislating, and this time was no exception — but senators offered some clues about the road ahead.

Republicans said they were seeking ways to quickly reverse the restrictions in the state’s North Slope region.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy introduced a bill through the House, and the Senate majority is expected to introduce its own election reforms later this week

A 4.1 magnitude earthquake struck Alaska on Thursday afternoon. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake struck around 3:24 p.m. PT in the Chugach Mountains near the city of Valdez, which has a population of about 3,900. The epicenter was east of Anchorage.

For the first time in eight years, the Alaska Legislature has opened its two-year session without a deadlock in its lower chamber.

Alex Shalukho came from Sumy, a Ukrainian town on the border with Russia. As the war began, Sumy residents fought for their town, building barricades and anti-tank obstacles. To protect their children, he and his wife, Katya Klymenchenko, decided to move to Alaska.

MAGA is almost a decade old at this point. MAHA, thanks to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other crunchy conservatives who have gotten behind President Donald Trump, has gained significant traction over the past few months.

Harrisburg renamed its Market Street to Martin Luther King Boulevard and then switched back to Market Street several years later — with loud complaints both times.