Canadian Press.  As Kinder Morgan launches a series of information sessions in the Metro Vancouver area about the proposed expansion of its Trans Mountain pipeline, city officials are exploring whether Vancouver can force the Texas-based company to increase its liability coverage in kind.

The Alaska House of Representatives announced its new organization: The Alaska House Majority Mike Chenault, Alaska, Speaker of the House, ACES, AGIA, AGDC, Photo by Dave HarbourCaucus has organized for the 28th Alaska Legislature. Representative Mike Chenault (NGP Photo) , R-Nikiski, returns for a third term as House Speaker. Representative Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage is the new Majority Leader, and Representative Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, returns as Rules Chair. Representatives Bill Stoltze, R-Mat-Su/Chugiak, & Alan Austerman, R-Kodiak, are the co-chairs of the House Finance Committee.  "I am grateful for the opportunity to return as Speaker," Chenault said. "The gavel comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility, and I am confident we will continue to respect and uphold the tradition and powers of the Speaker’s Office and Alaska State House."  "We welcome five new members to caucus, and are eager to continue relationship building and educating each other prior to the start of session," Pruitt said. "We will continue focusing on key issues – oil tax reform, affordable energy, quality education, public safety, and responsible investments – and are looking forward to working with the new Senate leadership and Governor to finally push Alaska forward."

Alaska Journal of Commerce by Becky Bohrer, AP.  Republicans on Wednesday wasted no time in claiming control of the Alaska Senate, one day after winning a majority of seats in the chamber.   …   The majority’s three areas of concern will be increasing oil production, getting affordable energy to Alaskans and developing sustainable capital and operating budgets for "current and future generations."

The Telegraph by Sean Cockerham and Kyle Hopkins.  President Barack Obama lost the Alaska vote Tuesday in a landslide and Gov. Sean Parnell has been openly hostile toward him, but now the state’s leaders have no choice than to accept that a majority of the rest of the nation wants Obama as president.  More than 60 percent of Alaska is federal land, and the decisions Obama makes over the next four years are going to shape the development of the state.