Corinne Smith
@corinne-smith.bsky.social
✍️ Reporter @alaskabeacon.com, covering Alaska statewide news, politics & policy, focused on education, and social and criminal justice
www.alaskabeacon.com
www.alaskabeacon.com
The Alaska State Board of Education has a special meeting next Weds, Dec 3 @ 12pm, I'll be tuning in for the update on students displaced by Typhoon Halong + updates on regs to be cut under AO 360 - also interested in why the Alaska Bible College is presenting...
education.alaska.gov/State_Board/...
education.alaska.gov/State_Board/...
November 28, 2025 at 7:32 PM
The Alaska State Board of Education has a special meeting next Weds, Dec 3 @ 12pm, I'll be tuning in for the update on students displaced by Typhoon Halong + updates on regs to be cut under AO 360 - also interested in why the Alaska Bible College is presenting...
education.alaska.gov/State_Board/...
education.alaska.gov/State_Board/...
The Alaska National Guard has responded to public concerns around a rapid response unit trained for "civil disturbance operations:" 100 service members will be trained "to support civil authorities."
At the request of Gov. Dunleavy, they will deploy to Washington D.C. in March 2026.
Story TK
At the request of Gov. Dunleavy, they will deploy to Washington D.C. in March 2026.
Story TK
November 19, 2025 at 4:00 AM
The Alaska National Guard has responded to public concerns around a rapid response unit trained for "civil disturbance operations:" 100 service members will be trained "to support civil authorities."
At the request of Gov. Dunleavy, they will deploy to Washington D.C. in March 2026.
Story TK
At the request of Gov. Dunleavy, they will deploy to Washington D.C. in March 2026.
Story TK
If you are dealing with a lapse in SNAP benefits in Alaska:
The Food Bank of Alaska has a list of food resources - for Anchorage & Mat-Su here's a list of hot meals and food pantry hours:
foodbankofalaska.org/hubfs/Websit...
The Food Bank of Alaska has a list of food resources - for Anchorage & Mat-Su here's a list of hot meals and food pantry hours:
foodbankofalaska.org/hubfs/Websit...
November 7, 2025 at 8:06 PM
If you are dealing with a lapse in SNAP benefits in Alaska:
The Food Bank of Alaska has a list of food resources - for Anchorage & Mat-Su here's a list of hot meals and food pantry hours:
foodbankofalaska.org/hubfs/Websit...
The Food Bank of Alaska has a list of food resources - for Anchorage & Mat-Su here's a list of hot meals and food pantry hours:
foodbankofalaska.org/hubfs/Websit...
A moment from the No Kings protest yesterday - Tom Begich, former state senator and now Democratic candidate for governor of Alaska, sings to the crowd gathered in downtown Anchorage
October 20, 2025 at 3:47 AM
A moment from the No Kings protest yesterday - Tom Begich, former state senator and now Democratic candidate for governor of Alaska, sings to the crowd gathered in downtown Anchorage
More like thousands of people in Anchorage, the crowd extends back to the Atwood Concert Hall
October 18, 2025 at 11:23 PM
More like thousands of people in Anchorage, the crowd extends back to the Atwood Concert Hall
Anchorage, Alaska joins the nationwide Hundreds No Kings protest.
Hundreds rally at Town Square Park downtown, lots of creative signs and inflatable animals, and speeches about to begin
Hundreds rally at Town Square Park downtown, lots of creative signs and inflatable animals, and speeches about to begin
October 18, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Anchorage, Alaska joins the nationwide Hundreds No Kings protest.
Hundreds rally at Town Square Park downtown, lots of creative signs and inflatable animals, and speeches about to begin
Hundreds rally at Town Square Park downtown, lots of creative signs and inflatable animals, and speeches about to begin
Alaska Republican US Rep. Nick Begich III addresses the Alaska Federation of Natives conference today.
No protesters, like at Sen. Sullivan's yesterday, but also notably less attendees.
No protesters, like at Sen. Sullivan's yesterday, but also notably less attendees.
October 18, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Alaska Republican US Rep. Nick Begich III addresses the Alaska Federation of Natives conference today.
No protesters, like at Sen. Sullivan's yesterday, but also notably less attendees.
No protesters, like at Sen. Sullivan's yesterday, but also notably less attendees.
Protesters stand and turn their backs to US Sen. Dan Sullivan during his address to the Alaska Federation of Natives conference.
Signs read: "Medicaid Matters" + "Public radio saves lives"
Sullivan does not acknowledge or stop speaking
Signs read: "Medicaid Matters" + "Public radio saves lives"
Sullivan does not acknowledge or stop speaking
October 17, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Protesters stand and turn their backs to US Sen. Dan Sullivan during his address to the Alaska Federation of Natives conference.
Signs read: "Medicaid Matters" + "Public radio saves lives"
Sullivan does not acknowledge or stop speaking
Signs read: "Medicaid Matters" + "Public radio saves lives"
Sullivan does not acknowledge or stop speaking
Evacuees from Kipnuk and Kwigillingok board the second mass evacuation flight this morning in Bethel, headed to Anchorage.
More photos and stories coming this afternoon @alaskabeacon.com
More photos and stories coming this afternoon @alaskabeacon.com
October 16, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Evacuees from Kipnuk and Kwigillingok board the second mass evacuation flight this morning in Bethel, headed to Anchorage.
More photos and stories coming this afternoon @alaskabeacon.com
More photos and stories coming this afternoon @alaskabeacon.com
Evacuees from Kipnuk and Kwigillingok wait to board the first evacuation flight to Anchorage today at the Alaska National Guard Readiness Center in Bethel.
October 16, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Evacuees from Kipnuk and Kwigillingok wait to board the first evacuation flight to Anchorage today at the Alaska National Guard Readiness Center in Bethel.
300 evacuees from Kipnuk and Kwigillingok departed on a C-17 military plane from Bethel to Anchorage today to shelter there.
Roughly 500 people have been evacuated from those two villages so far, the remaining 200 are sheltering in Bethel tonight. More flights will go out tomorrow
Roughly 500 people have been evacuated from those two villages so far, the remaining 200 are sheltering in Bethel tonight. More flights will go out tomorrow
October 16, 2025 at 5:18 AM
300 evacuees from Kipnuk and Kwigillingok departed on a C-17 military plane from Bethel to Anchorage today to shelter there.
Roughly 500 people have been evacuated from those two villages so far, the remaining 200 are sheltering in Bethel tonight. More flights will go out tomorrow
Roughly 500 people have been evacuated from those two villages so far, the remaining 200 are sheltering in Bethel tonight. More flights will go out tomorrow
Search and rescue for 2 people missing in Kwigillingok *is ongoing* says the Association of Village Council Presidents.
"No one is giving up."
State of Alaska and US Coast Guard officials had said yesterday their search was done - but locally it continues.
www.facebook.com/share/p/18sm...
"No one is giving up."
State of Alaska and US Coast Guard officials had said yesterday their search was done - but locally it continues.
www.facebook.com/share/p/18sm...
October 15, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Search and rescue for 2 people missing in Kwigillingok *is ongoing* says the Association of Village Council Presidents.
"No one is giving up."
State of Alaska and US Coast Guard officials had said yesterday their search was done - but locally it continues.
www.facebook.com/share/p/18sm...
"No one is giving up."
State of Alaska and US Coast Guard officials had said yesterday their search was done - but locally it continues.
www.facebook.com/share/p/18sm...
Volunteers sort donations at Bethel Search and Rescue, where some evacuees are picking up items today.
Most needed items: men's razors, jackets, socks, sweaters, underwear, shoes and boots
Most needed items: men's razors, jackets, socks, sweaters, underwear, shoes and boots
October 14, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Volunteers sort donations at Bethel Search and Rescue, where some evacuees are picking up items today.
Most needed items: men's razors, jackets, socks, sweaters, underwear, shoes and boots
Most needed items: men's razors, jackets, socks, sweaters, underwear, shoes and boots
Good morning from Bethel. I was here to cover a few cultural events, and am now covering the Western Alaska storm - damage, rescue and recovery efforts.
What questions do you have?
What questions do you have?
October 13, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Good morning from Bethel. I was here to cover a few cultural events, and am now covering the Western Alaska storm - damage, rescue and recovery efforts.
What questions do you have?
What questions do you have?
KYUK is also providing timely on-air radio and online updates on the search and rescue effort now centered on Kwigillingok and Kipnuk.
Anyone in need of immediate rescue should contact the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at 907-551-7230.
www.kyuk.org
Anyone in need of immediate rescue should contact the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at 907-551-7230.
www.kyuk.org
October 12, 2025 at 11:34 PM
KYUK is also providing timely on-air radio and online updates on the search and rescue effort now centered on Kwigillingok and Kipnuk.
Anyone in need of immediate rescue should contact the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at 907-551-7230.
www.kyuk.org
Anyone in need of immediate rescue should contact the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at 907-551-7230.
www.kyuk.org
The National Weather Service Alaska Region is doing very thorough briefings on the storm's progress on Youtube -
Forecasts for Sun night, into Monday and Tuesday.
Eye of the storm hitting Kotzebue Sound now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rss_...
Forecasts for Sun night, into Monday and Tuesday.
Eye of the storm hitting Kotzebue Sound now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rss_...
October 12, 2025 at 11:22 PM
The National Weather Service Alaska Region is doing very thorough briefings on the storm's progress on Youtube -
Forecasts for Sun night, into Monday and Tuesday.
Eye of the storm hitting Kotzebue Sound now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rss_...
Forecasts for Sun night, into Monday and Tuesday.
Eye of the storm hitting Kotzebue Sound now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rss_...
Notably, local schools are serving as emergency shelter + evacuation centers throughout coastal communities hit by remnants of Typhoon Halong in Western Alaska -
www.kyuk.org/alaska-state...
www.kyuk.org/alaska-state...
October 12, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Notably, local schools are serving as emergency shelter + evacuation centers throughout coastal communities hit by remnants of Typhoon Halong in Western Alaska -
www.kyuk.org/alaska-state...
www.kyuk.org/alaska-state...
Alaska Gov. Dunleavy has extended the Oct. 9 disaster declaration to include Yupitt, Pribilof Island, and Lower Kuskokwim Regional Education Attendance Areas.
The State Emergency Operations Center says U.S. Coast Guard has been deployed to Kipnuk and Kwigillingok to assist with search and rescue.
The State Emergency Operations Center says U.S. Coast Guard has been deployed to Kipnuk and Kwigillingok to assist with search and rescue.
October 12, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Alaska Gov. Dunleavy has extended the Oct. 9 disaster declaration to include Yupitt, Pribilof Island, and Lower Kuskokwim Regional Education Attendance Areas.
The State Emergency Operations Center says U.S. Coast Guard has been deployed to Kipnuk and Kwigillingok to assist with search and rescue.
The State Emergency Operations Center says U.S. Coast Guard has been deployed to Kipnuk and Kwigillingok to assist with search and rescue.
Update: Education Commissioner Deena Bishop asked the board to take no action on the local contributions, and return the proposal to the department for further discussion and feedback from districts.
The State Board is scheduled to meet again tomorrow 10/8 @ 10:45am to vote or table the proposal.
The State Board is scheduled to meet again tomorrow 10/8 @ 10:45am to vote or table the proposal.
October 8, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Update: Education Commissioner Deena Bishop asked the board to take no action on the local contributions, and return the proposal to the department for further discussion and feedback from districts.
The State Board is scheduled to meet again tomorrow 10/8 @ 10:45am to vote or table the proposal.
The State Board is scheduled to meet again tomorrow 10/8 @ 10:45am to vote or table the proposal.
In a Facebook post on Mon, DEED posted a statement over an image of a dumpster fire, walking back their proposal to limit local govts' funding for schools.
"DEED is NOT asking the Board to adopt the proposed regulation amendments"
Instead, they say it should go back to DEED for more development.
"DEED is NOT asking the Board to adopt the proposed regulation amendments"
Instead, they say it should go back to DEED for more development.
October 8, 2025 at 8:15 PM
In a Facebook post on Mon, DEED posted a statement over an image of a dumpster fire, walking back their proposal to limit local govts' funding for schools.
"DEED is NOT asking the Board to adopt the proposed regulation amendments"
Instead, they say it should go back to DEED for more development.
"DEED is NOT asking the Board to adopt the proposed regulation amendments"
Instead, they say it should go back to DEED for more development.
Ran through the Telephone Hill neighborhood this morning, and its hard to believe a city in a severe housing crisis like Juneau would knock down these multifamily homes with people living in them for decades...
September 13, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Ran through the Telephone Hill neighborhood this morning, and its hard to believe a city in a severe housing crisis like Juneau would knock down these multifamily homes with people living in them for decades...
But a state hiring report found "1 week on/off" as "expensive, less effective and create additional administrative burdens.
OCS Director Guay agreed, but said she didnt agree they were less effective.
OCS Director Guay agreed, but said she didnt agree they were less effective.
September 10, 2025 at 11:33 PM
But a state hiring report found "1 week on/off" as "expensive, less effective and create additional administrative burdens.
OCS Director Guay agreed, but said she didnt agree they were less effective.
OCS Director Guay agreed, but said she didnt agree they were less effective.
Guay said they created the flexible schedule about 5 years ago, called LOAs, for "a better work-life balance" which seems to help with recruitment.
But asked if it was adequate to substitute for full-time social workers Guay said she wish they had local people to fill the positions.
But asked if it was adequate to substitute for full-time social workers Guay said she wish they had local people to fill the positions.
September 10, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Guay said they created the flexible schedule about 5 years ago, called LOAs, for "a better work-life balance" which seems to help with recruitment.
But asked if it was adequate to substitute for full-time social workers Guay said she wish they had local people to fill the positions.
But asked if it was adequate to substitute for full-time social workers Guay said she wish they had local people to fill the positions.
Im back in federal court records today, reading transcripts of the class action lawsuit trial against Alaska's foster care system in Anchorage.
OCS director Kim Guay testified that to help with recruitment + staffing shortage - like Alaska police - social workers also do "1 week on, 1 week off"
OCS director Kim Guay testified that to help with recruitment + staffing shortage - like Alaska police - social workers also do "1 week on, 1 week off"
September 10, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Im back in federal court records today, reading transcripts of the class action lawsuit trial against Alaska's foster care system in Anchorage.
OCS director Kim Guay testified that to help with recruitment + staffing shortage - like Alaska police - social workers also do "1 week on, 1 week off"
OCS director Kim Guay testified that to help with recruitment + staffing shortage - like Alaska police - social workers also do "1 week on, 1 week off"
Beautiful Juneau view from the federal court records office.
Less rosey: there's no longer a federal judge in Juneau or Southeast, they fly in from Anchorage for all court business (~monthly).
That means longer wait times for the accused - sitting in jail or pre-trial monioring - and for victims
Less rosey: there's no longer a federal judge in Juneau or Southeast, they fly in from Anchorage for all court business (~monthly).
That means longer wait times for the accused - sitting in jail or pre-trial monioring - and for victims
August 27, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Beautiful Juneau view from the federal court records office.
Less rosey: there's no longer a federal judge in Juneau or Southeast, they fly in from Anchorage for all court business (~monthly).
That means longer wait times for the accused - sitting in jail or pre-trial monioring - and for victims
Less rosey: there's no longer a federal judge in Juneau or Southeast, they fly in from Anchorage for all court business (~monthly).
That means longer wait times for the accused - sitting in jail or pre-trial monioring - and for victims