Corinne Smith

You may know Jeron Joseph for his beautiful and personal writings on the evacuation from Kwigillingok following ex-Typhoon Halong, and his photography is now up at the Anchorage Museum!

www.kyuk.org/arts-culture...

Alaska officials stonewall state legislators on justification for handing voter data to feds | Alaska Beacon The Division of Elections and Department of Law declined to waive secrecy on advice that led state to hand over detailed data.

Alaska has a constitutional right to privacy, and the state might have violated that right with the handover.

Legislators are trying to investigate, but they're being stonewalled by elections officials: alaskabeacon.com/2026/03/06/a... #akleg #Alaska

Alaska and Texas are the only two states that have voluntarily given the federal government their voter rolls, despite a nationwide request that's gone out to 48 states.

They've also signed an agreement that allows the feds to individually pick voters for eventual removal from those rolls. (1/2)

Alaska officials stonewall state legislators on justification for handing voter data to feds | Alaska Beacon The Division of Elections and Department of Law declined to waive secrecy on advice that led state to hand over detailed data.

Alaska officials stonewall state legislators on justification for handing voter data to feds, writes @alaska.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/03/06/a...

Alaska Supreme Court considers limits of executive and legislative power, including on abortion | Alaska Beacon A seven-year-old dispute over union dues has the potential to reset boundaries between two of Alaska’s branches of government.

Alaska Supreme Court considers limits of executive and legislative power, including on abortion, writes @alaska.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/03/05/a...

After historic education funding increase, some Alaska lawmakers aim to boost the BSA again | Alaska Beacon Alaska lawmakers introduced new legislation in the House of Representatives that would raise the state’s per student funding for schools. They say it is critical to help school districts struggling wi...

After historic education funding increase, some Alaska lawmakers aim to boost the BSA again, writes @corinne-smith.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/03/05/a...

University of Alaska Anchorage interim chancellor appointed to permanent role | Alaska Beacon The University of Alaska president appointed Cheryl Siemers to the permanent role as University of Alaska Anchorage chancellor, following ten months serving as interim chancellor.

University of Alaska Anchorage interim chancellor appointed to permanent role, writes @corinne-smith.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/briefs/unive...

Alaska Supreme Court: Mark Andrews v. Jennifer Winkelman, Timothy Ballard, and James Milburn, in their official capacities for the State of Alaska, Department of Corrections Case #S19453

Alaska Supreme Court is hearing a case now challenging involuntary treatment, or forcibly medicating inmates within the Alaska Department of Corrections.

Case: Mark Andrews v. DOC
appellate-records.courts.alaska.gov/CMSPublic/Ca...

www.ktoo.org/video/gavel/...

I have an interview scheduled for tomorrow @ 10am with Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case on the questions raised in this docuseries -

What questions do you have?

Sitka Sen. Bert Stedman had these made of the mouse named by Mt. Edgecumbe High School students

Alaska lawmakers push Trump administration to waive $100k visa fee for international teachers | Alaska Beacon Some Alaska school districts say they can’t afford to hire and retain international teachers after the Trump administration hiked fees for highly skilled worker visas.  Alaska school districts have in...

Alaska lawmakers push Trump administration to waive $100k visa fee for international teachers, writes @corinne-smith.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/03/03/a...

Early prenatal care declines across US, reversing years of progress | Alaska Beacon Nearly a quarter of pregnant women aren’t getting prenatal care in the early stages of pregnancy, according to a new analysis from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The share of pre...

Early prenatal care declines across US, reversing years of progress, writes Anna Claire Vollers for @stateline.org alaskabeacon.com/2026/03/03/r...

Death toll for US service members in Iran war at 4 as Trump projects weeks of conflict | Alaska Beacon President Donald Trump said Monday he expects war with Iran will continue however long it takes to achieve his objectives.

Death toll for U.S. service members in Iran war at 4 as Trump projects weeks of conflict, write @ashleymurray.bsky.social and @jennifershutt.bsky.social for our D.C. bureau @statesnewsroom.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/03/02/r...

ProPublica Sues Education Department for Withholding Records About Discrimination in Schools Under Secretary Linda McMahon, the work of the Office for Civil Rights, which aims to protect students from discrimination, is cloaked in secrecy.

NEW: ProPublica has sued the Department of Education in federal court, accusing it of withholding public records about how it’s enforcing civil rights protections for millions of U.S. students.

The House Judiciary + State Affairs Committees are holding a hearing now on the Dunleavy admin sharing Alaska voter rolls with the US Dept of Justice.

Background: alaskabeacon.com/2026/02/13/a...

Alaska House OKs bill to crack down on AI-generated child sexual abuse material | Alaska Beacon House members tagged on new penalties for AI and social media tech companies, and social media controls for minors including age verification, parental access controls and a curfew.

NEW: House lawmakers passed a bill to add state felony charges for AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

Lawmakers added on significant parental controls & penalties for tech companies too - incl parental access to minors' social media, age verification + curfew
alaskabeacon.com/2026/03/02/a...

Alaska House OKs bill to crack down on AI-generated child sexual abuse material | Alaska Beacon House members tagged on new penalties for AI and social media tech companies, and social media controls for minors including age verification, parental access controls and a curfew.

Alaska House OKs bill to crack down on AI-generated child sexual abuse material, writes @corinne-smith.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/03/02/a...

Alaska Beacon state and legislative daybook for the week of Mar. 2, 2026 | Alaska Beacon Here’s what we’re watching in the Alaska Capitol and elsewhere across the state.

It's a new week at the Alaska State Capitol — follow along with the @alaskabeacon.com state and legislative daybook for the week of Mar. 2, 2026 alaskabeacon.com/2026/02/28/a...

Alaska House advances bill intended to boost workforce housing | Alaska Beacon The bill allows the state’s economic development agency to finance construction of commercial housing with more than five units.

Alaska House advances bill intended to boost workforce housing, writes Sean Maguire for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/02/28/a...

National series highlights Alaska MMIP crisis, questions of justice for Alaska Native people | Alaska Beacon A new investigative documentary series on HBO highlights the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples in Alaska.

A caution to viewers: this is a very explicitly violent true-crime account imo of the case of the serial killer Brian Steven Smith.

It also raises important questions of justice for the victims & families of Kathleen Jo Henry, Veronica Abouchuk & Cassandra Boskofsy
alaskabeacon.com/2026/02/27/n...

National series highlights Alaska MMIP crisis, questions of justice for Alaska Native people | Alaska Beacon A new investigative documentary series on HBO highlights the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples in Alaska.

National series highlights Alaska MMIP crisis, questions of justice for Alaska Native people, writes @corinne-smith.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/02/27/n...

Interesting. The House sub finance committee for education (chaired by Rep. Galvin) held a moment of silence this morning for him.

Relevant for Alaska as this is where people arrested by ICE in AK are detained, at the privately-run ICE detention center in Tacoma.

DHS Contracts Visualizer Looker Studio turns your data into informative dashboards and reports that are easy to read, easy to share, and fully customizable.

A visual tool for tracking US Dept of Homeland Security / ICE detention warehouse purchases and lease agreements across the country:

Est. number of beds so far ~34,000

lookerstudio.google.com/u/0/reportin...

Two more chances for public testimony today on the budget. Testify from your local Legislative Information Office or call in to let Senate Finance members know what you'd like to see in this and next year's state budget. #akleg

Anchorage lawmaker pushes legislation to protect sibling ties for Alaska foster youth | Alaska Beacon Alaska foster youth could see their ties to siblings legally protected through the adoption process, under legislation proposed last year in the Alaska House of Representatives.

Anchorage lawmaker pushes legislation to protect sibling ties for Alaska foster youth, writes @corinne-smith.bsky.social for @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/02/26/a...

Current and former foster youth with Facing Foster Care in Alaska share about their lived experiences in state OCS custody at a Lunch & Learn at the Capitol.

Listen: www.ktoo.org/video/gavel/...

Alaska House advances bill to boost free legal aid for vulnerable Alaskans | Alaska Beacon Supporters say the Alaska Legal Services Corporation is critical for assistance in housing disputes, financial abuse cases, for seniors, veterans and people with disabilities.

We are thrilled to have Alaska political reporter, formerly with ADN, Sean Maguire freelancing for us for while.

Check out his latest on the budget debate around the Alaska Legal Services Corp, which provides free essential legal services for Alaskans.

alaskabeacon.com/2026/02/26/a...

Lawmakers press for cuts to Alaska corrections spending amid persistent increases The department’s budget has grown more than 54% during Gov. Dunleavy’s tenure.

The Alaska Department of Corrections is facing heightened scrutiny from lawmakers after its budgets have repeatedly exceeded the Legislature’s approved spending plans.

Mat-Su school bus workers to strike Monday The walk out starts four days before students head out for more than a week of spring break.

The walkout pauses daily school transportation for the district’s more than 18,000 students until workers reach a contract agreement with the district’s main school bus operator. (via Mat-Su Sentinel)