Alaska Dispatch by Alex DeMarban.  State officials called Alaska's much-awaited oil and gas lease sale a qualified success on Wednesday, noting that the state took in $21 million as 19 groups entered bids. Tuesday, the Committee held an oversight hearing to examine how excessive Endangered Species Act (ESA) related litigation impacts species recovery, job creation and the economy. This was the first hearing in series that will be held by the Committee to take a fair look at the ways in which the ESA is working well and areas where it could be improved and updated. "The [...]