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Alaska Beacon
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The Alaska Beacon is an independent, nonpartisan news organization focused on connecting Alaskans to their state government.

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As U.S. is poised to lose measles-free status, RFK Jr.’s new CDC deputy downplays its significance, writes @amymaxmen.bsky.social for @kffhealthnews.org in this article republished by the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/22/a...
As U.S. is poised to lose measles-free status, RFK Jr.'s new CDC deputy downplays its significance | Alaska Beacon
To maintain its measles elimination status, the U.S. must prove that the virus has not circulated continuously in the nation for a year.
alaskabeacon.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Alaska Legislature fails to override Dunleavy’s veto of a tax bill intended to help education, writes @alaska.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/22/a...
Alaska Legislature fails to override Dunleavy’s veto of a tax bill intended to help education | Alaska Beacon
Republicans in the Alaska Legislature voted down a new funding source for public school programs as they sustained the governor’s veto.
alaskabeacon.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Alaska reports state police conducted no phone wiretaps in 2025, writes @alaska.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/briefs/alask...
Alaska reports state police conducted no phone wiretaps in 2025 | Alaska Beacon
The Alaska Department of Law is required by state law to publish an annual report; it doesn't include internet intercepts.
alaskabeacon.com
January 22, 2026 at 7:17 PM
School districts file lawsuit saying Alaska has failed to adequately fund education, writes @corinne-smith.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/22/s...
School districts file lawsuit saying Alaska has failed to adequately fund education | Alaska Beacon
Two school districts have filed a lawsuit challenging the state of Alaska for failing to fulfill its constitutional duty to adequately fund public education.
alaskabeacon.com
January 22, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Dunleavy to propose ‘temporary, seasonal sales tax’ in Thursday’s Alaska State of the State address, writes @alaska.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/21/d...
Dunleavy to propose ‘temporary, seasonal sales tax’ in Thursday’s Alaska State of the State address | Alaska Beacon
The governor’s final annual speech to the state legislature will be highlighted by his pitch for a long-term plan to fix state finances.
alaskabeacon.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:02 AM
Commercial fisherman and former schools superintendent will run for U.S. House as independent, writes @alaska.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/21/c...
Commercial fisherman and former schools superintendent will run for U.S. House as independent | Alaska Beacon
Entering the race for Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Bill Hill says he's concerned about billionaires' influence.
alaskabeacon.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:16 PM
The caribou herd at the center of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling debate has declined by about a third over the past eight years, writes @yjrosen.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/21/p...
Porcupine Caribou Herd, in Alaska oil debate spotlight, sustains population decline | Alaska Beacon
The herd that roams between northeastern Alaska and northwestern Canada is down in size from its all-time high but still the state's biggest.
alaskabeacon.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Trump announces ‘framework of a future deal’ on Greenland, relents on 8-nation tariffs, writes @jennifershutt.bsky.social from our D.C. bureau @statesnewsroom.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/21/r...
Trump announces 'framework of a future deal' on Greenland, relents on 8-nation tariffs | Alaska Beacon
President Donald Trump announced on a social media that he and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte brokered a possible agreement on Greenland.
alaskabeacon.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Alaska’s oil renaissance has arrived at the doorstep of an Iñupiaq village, writes Max Graham for the Northern Journal in this article republished by the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/21/a...
Alaska's oil renaissance has arrived at the doorstep of an Iñupiaq village | Alaska Beacon
ConocoPhillips wants to drill wells and pump oil just two miles from the village, within clear view of Nuiqsut’s center.
alaskabeacon.com
January 21, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Alaska legislators convene session, with budget issues and a veto override vote awaiting, writes @alaska.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/21/a...
Alaska legislators convene session, with budget issues and a veto override vote awaiting | Alaska Beacon
Gov. Mike Dunleavy is expected on Thursday to roll out a long-term plan to bring state expenses and revenue into balance.
alaskabeacon.com
January 21, 2026 at 5:46 PM
It's the first day of the second session of the 34th Alaska State Legislature and @corinne-smith.bsky.social takes an early look at Alaska education bills for 2026: homeschool testing, curriculums and student safety
@alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/20/a...
An early look at Alaska education bills for 2026: homeschool testing, curriculums, student safety | Alaska Beacon
Alaska legislators set out new education priorities from homeschool student testing and district budgeting to curriculums and student safety.
alaskabeacon.com
January 21, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Cartoonist Chuck Legge weighs in on the state budget in this commentary for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/20/j...
Just off the top of my head, by Chuck Legge | Alaska Beacon
Chuck Legge is a freelance cartoonist and writer living in Sutton.
alaskabeacon.com
January 21, 2026 at 2:13 AM
Trump says people will ‘find out’ how far he’s willing to go to acquire Greenland, writes @jennifershutt.bsky.social for our D.C. bureau @statesnewsroom.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/20/r...
Trump says people will 'find out' how far he’s willing to go to acquire Greenland | Alaska Beacon
President Donald Trump showed no signs of backing off his goal to acquire Greenland, after saying over the weekend he would place a 10% tariff on eight European countries that object to his plans.
alaskabeacon.com
January 21, 2026 at 2:06 AM
US Education Department delays plan to garnish wages of student borrowers in default, writes Shauneen Miranda from our D.C. bureau @statesnewsroom.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/20/r...
US Education Department delays plan to garnish wages of student borrowers in default | Alaska Beacon
The U.S. Department of Education is backtracking on plans to garnish wages and seize tax refunds of student loan borrowers in default.
alaskabeacon.com
January 20, 2026 at 8:47 PM
It's the first day of the second session of the 34th Alaska State Legislature and @alaskabeacon.com reporters James Brooks @alaska.bsky.social and Corinne Smith @corinne-smith.bsky.social and editor Claire Stremple are in the building to keep you updated on your state government!
January 20, 2026 at 8:08 PM
One year of Donald Trump: Alarms sound over relentless expansion of presidential powers, write @ashleymurray.bsky.social and
@fischler.bsky.social for @statesnewsroom.com
One year of Donald Trump: Alarms sound over relentless expansion of presidential powers | Alaska Beacon
President Donald Trump promised during his bid for another White House term that he would be a dictator only on “day one.”
alaskabeacon.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Dispute between fur trapper and dog owner ends up in Alaska’s federal court, writes @alaska.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com
alaskabeacon.com/briefs/dispu...
Dispute between fur trapper and dog owner ends up in Alaska’s federal court | Alaska Beacon
Conflicts between trappers and dog walkers are not rare in Alaska, but federal citations are unusual, court records show.
alaskabeacon.com
January 20, 2026 at 6:30 PM
After party breaks up, Alaskan Independence members will get official notice from state, writes @alaska.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com
alaskabeacon.com/briefs/after...
After party breaks up, Alaskan Independence members will get official notice from state | Alaska Beacon
The leaders of Alaska's third-largest political party dissolved it in a quiet vote in December, then announced their move weeks later.
alaskabeacon.com
January 20, 2026 at 6:00 PM
You can keep up with notable events in the Alaska State Capitol with the Alaska Beacon state and legislative daybook for the week of Jan. 19, 2026, compiled by @alaska.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com
alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/19/a...
Alaska Beacon state and legislative daybook for the week of Jan. 19, 2026 | Alaska Beacon
A listing of committee assignments and events we have our eyes on during the coming week in the Alaska Legislature.
alaskabeacon.com
January 20, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Proposed surcharge on oil would help pay for responses to climate-related disasters in Alaska, writes @yjrosen.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/16/p...
Proposed surcharge on oil would help pay for responses to climate-related disasters in Alaska | Alaska Beacon
A new bill proposes establishing a surcharge to help cover the mounting costs of Alaska disasters like landslides and floods.
alaskabeacon.com
January 17, 2026 at 1:03 AM
In a commentary for the @alaskabeacon.com, Gwen Holdmann reconsiders nuclear energy: What’s changed, and why it matters for Alaska alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/16/n...
Nuclear energy, reconsidered: What’s changed, and why it matters for Alaska | Alaska Beacon
Projects in Alaska are part of a shift towards real-world development of new, safer nuclear energy in the United States.
alaskabeacon.com
January 16, 2026 at 11:21 PM
In decades-old dispute, Gwich’in advocates and allies advance Arctic Refuge defense, writes Jenni Monet for the @alaskabeacon.com
alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/16/i...
In decades-old dispute, Gwich’in advocates and allies advance Arctic Refuge defense | Alaska Beacon
The Gwich’in Steering Committee and conservation groups renewed litigation to block the federal oil and gas leasing program in Alaska’s National Wildlife Refuge.
alaskabeacon.com
January 16, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Trump threatens tariffs on Greenland, countries that oppose US takeover, writes @jennifershutt.bsky.social for our D.C. bureau @statesnewsroom.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/16/r...
Trump threatens tariffs on Greenland, countries that oppose US takeover | Alaska Beacon
President Donald Trump threatened Friday to place tariffs on Greenland and any country that opposes efforts to take over the Arctic island.
alaskabeacon.com
January 16, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Alaska appeals court judges appear skeptical about American Samoan voter misconduct case, writes @alaska.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/16/a...
Alaska appeals court judges appear skeptical about American Samoan voter misconduct case | Alaska Beacon
In oral argument, two of three judges voiced disagreement with the state's interpretation of a law used to charge a Whittier woman.
alaskabeacon.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:08 PM