Corinne Smith

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)

Alaska lawmakers probe state detention policies following ICE arrest of Soldotna family Clergy, immigration attorneys and advocates raised concerns about increased ICE operations in Alaska, particularly the detention of minors.

Lawmakers will hold an investigatory hearing on Monday on the arrest and detention of minors in Alaska. (via Alaska Beacon)

Anchorage School Board approves ‘severe’ budget with hundreds of staff layoffs and 3 school closures With the school district facing a $90 million budget deficit, the budget trims hundreds of teachers, more than 50 administrative staff, over a dozen nurses, nine principals and eight counselors, but p...

Last night, the Anchorage School Board approved a budget that officials described as "severe," to address a $90 million budget deficit.

Cuts include more than 500 staff -- including over 300 teachers -- and three elementary school closures.

alaskapublic.org/news/educati...

Alaska lawmakers probe state detention policies following ICE arrest of Soldotna family Clergy, immigration attorneys and advocates raised concerns about increased ICE operations in Alaska, particularly the detention of minors.

The arrest of a Soldotna family by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement prompted a wave of concern and lawmakers to hold an investigatory hearing on Monday on the arrest and detention of minors in Alaska.

(From @alaskabeacon.com)

image of a legal notepad on a wood desk, with a black pen, and two folders around it. Text on the notepad: Alaska Supreme Court Request for Comments on proposed rule changes: Criminal Rule 6.1: Grand Jury Reports — Public Welfare or Safety Criminal Rule 6: The Grand Jury Comments due April 6, 2026 https://courts.alaska.gov/rules/index.htm#comments

Your Chance to Comment – Proposed Changes to Criminal Rule 6.1

The Alaska Supreme Court seeks comments on proposed changes to Criminal Rule 6.1 (and Rule 6) addressing grand jury investigations into public welfare or safety matters.
1/3

Alaska lawmakers probe state detention policies following ICE arrest of Soldotna family | Alaska Beacon The arrest of a Soldotna family by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement prompted lawmakers to hold an investigatory hearing on the arrest and detention of minors in Alaska.

Alaska lawmakers probe state detention policies following ICE arrest of Soldotna family, writes @corinne-smith.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/02/25/a...

Alaska lawmakers probe state detention policies following ICE arrest of Soldotna family | Alaska Beacon The arrest of a Soldotna family by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement prompted lawmakers to hold an investigatory hearing on the arrest and detention of minors in Alaska.

NEW: Top judiciary legislators held an investigative hearing on the ICE arrest of the Soldotna family on Feb. 17 - the first reported case of arrest and deportation of minors in Alaska.

“Is Alaska about to see more children detained?” - Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage
alaskabeacon.com/2026/02/25/a...

Alaska House passes nearly $500M budget deficit bill, amid split support for Dunleavy spending | Alaska Beacon The Alaska House of Representatives advanced a nearly $500 million supplemental budget bill to address the state’s budget deficit, but failed to pass a vote to draw from a state savings account to pay...

Alaska House passes nearly $500M budget deficit bill, amid split support for Dunleavy spending, writes @corinne-smith.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/02/24/a...

UA Board of Regents to continue anti-DEI policy, despite federal court ruling | Alaska Beacon The University of Alaska Board of Regents says the university will continue the policy to ban references to “DEI,” or “diversity, equity and inclusion” enacted last year, despite a federal court rulin...

NEW: The UA Board of Regents has no plans to change or rescind the anti-DEI policy enacted last year after the "Dear Colleague" letter.

Per a university spokesperson: despite a federal court ruling, “the direction of enforcement and potential risk has not gone away"
alaskabeacon.com/2026/02/23/u...

🧵 The Senate Judiciary Committee is underway with a hearing on the disproportionate incarceration of Alaska Natives in the state's prison system.

#akleg

Watch: www.ktoo.org/video/gavel/...
Docs: www.akleg.gov/basis/Meetin...

UA Board of Regents to continue anti-DEI policy, despite federal court ruling | Alaska Beacon The University of Alaska Board of Regents says the university will continue the policy to ban references to “DEI,” or “diversity, equity and inclusion” enacted last year, despite a federal court rulin...

UA Board of Regents to continue anti-DEI policy, despite federal court ruling, writes @corinne-smith.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/02/23/u...

The Kids Trump Sent to ICE’s Dilley Detention Center ProPublica went inside the immigrant detention center for families in Dilley, Texas. Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of...

We found the Trump administration kept about 300 kids at the Dilley detention center for more than a month, despite a long-standing legal settlement that generally limits the time children can be held in detention to 20 days.

🫶🏼