President Obama designated more than 200,000 square miles in Alaska and off its coast as "critical habitat" for polar bears on Thursday, an action that could add restrictions to future offshore drilling for oil and gas.

Alaska's government said Wednesday it plans to issue a challenge to block federal protections for a struggling population of beluga whales in Cook Inlet, a mature oil-producing basin.

A state Personnel Board report released Monday afternoon cleared Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin of charges she broke a state ethics law by firing her top cop. The ruling contradicted the earlier findings issued by the state Legislature's special counsel, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

By Matt Apuzzo Associated Press ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded Friday.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin violated state ethics law by abusing her power, an official investigation has concluded.