JUNEAU — News that Alaska has been chosen as a test site for the integration of drones into U.S. airspace is being welcomed by state political leaders.

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, said the initiative will bring jobs, resources and a new mission to the University of Alaska system. It will also help lay the foundation for other new economic activity “and put our state on the world map when it comes to this exciting emerging technology,” he said in a statement.

JUNEAU — Gov. Sean Parnell’s administration is looking to get out from under a 2007 law as it seeks to further advance a major natural gas pipeline project in Alaska.

Specifics on how that might happen, though, have yet to be decided, Natural Resources Commissioner Joe Balash said Wednesday.

The law, known as the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act, was aimed at encouraging construction of a pipeline to move North Slope gas to market.

JUNEAU — Some Bristol Bay fishermen sued Monday over the sinking last June and subsequent salvage of the Lone Star, which they say leaked fuel into the water and brought salmon fishing to an early halt.

The fishermen, in a lawsuit filed in state court in Dillingham, claim future fishing seasons are likely to be hurt as well. They also allege negligence in the salvage of the vessel, which they say resulted in salmon waste being spilled into the water and washed ashore, attracting bears that broke into and damaged cabins owned by the fishermen.

JUNEAU — The state is expecting nearly $2 billion less in oil and gas production taxes this year, which Revenue officials say has more to do with lower-than-expected oil prices and declining production than with the new oil tax law.

The fall revenue forecast, released Wednesday, shows that the state expects to receive nearly $2.1 billion in unrestricted revenue from the production tax, compared with an estimated $4.1 billion in fiscal year 2013 and $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2015.