JUNEAU — Gov. Sean Parnell on Wednesday set new benchmarks for progress on a major natural gas pipeline project in Alaska and urged lawmakers to act this year on legislation to change the state’s oil tax structure.

JUNEAU — Gov. Sean Parnell is proposing an overhaul of Alaska’s oil tax structure, saying his new plan is simpler and aimed at making the state more competitive while encouraging new production.

The proposal, expected to be announced Wednesday, scraps the progressive surcharge that companies have said is a disincentive to new investment and revamps the state’s system of tax credits, focusing those incentives on companies that produce oil from new fields on the North Slope.

JUNEAU — Republican Bob Bell said Monday that he will seek a recount in his race against Anchorage Democratic Sen. Hollis French.

Ballot counting from this month’s general election stretched into last week. When the race was certified Friday, it showed French with a 51-vote advantage, 7,593 to 7,542.

“If 26 people voted the other way, it changes the election,” Bell told The Associated Press on Monday. “So we think that’s close enough. A lot of people spent a lot of time and effort on this campaign, and I think we have an obligation to make sure.”

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (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.

During a hastily called news conference late Wednesday afternoon, after organizational talks earlier in the day, an 11-member Republican majority was unveiled, with Sens. Kevin Meyer and Lesil McGuire of Anchorage the only members of the bipartisan coalition — at least so far — to join.