By Kevin Diaz, Star Tribune, Minneapolis Aug. 7--WASHINGTON -- Gov. Tim Pawlenty rolled out his "Sam's Club Republican" brand to a national audience Wednesday, making two well-covered speeches calling for a more hopeful message to check recent Democratic electoral gains.

By Kevin Diaz, Star Tribune, Minneapolis Jul. 14--PHILADELPHIA -- The price of oil has doubled since Gov. Tim Pawlenty became chairman of the National Governors Association a year ago and made energy his signature policy issue.

By Kevin Diaz, Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Jun. 10--WASHINGTON -- Henri Bisson, former Alaska director for the Bureau of Land Management, has been named the Interior Department's acting senior adviser for Alaska affairs.

By Kevin Diaz, Anchorage Daily News, Alaska May 17--WASHINGTON -- BP's top U.S. executive acknowledged Wednesday that company budget pressures "put our employees in a difficult place," but he stopped short of saying they led to the pipeline corrosion and leaks at the Prudhoe Bay oil field.

By Kevin Diaz, Anchorage Daily News, Alaska May 3--WASHINGTON -- A top BP executive has told congressional investigators that he is "troubled" by the extent of the frustrations expressed by oil field workers in the period leading up to last year's North Slope oil spills.