The Alaska Beacon is an independent, nonpartisan news organization focused on connecting Alaskans to their state government. Our journalists fairly and fearlessly report on the people and interests that determine state policy. We’re part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

3 days ago · The state of Alaska is bringing in less money than it is spending, and is on pace to finish the current fiscal year with a deficit of $171 million, according to figures presented Tuesday. Lacey Sanders, Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s top budget official, told …

2 days ago · Alaska public school students are continuing to struggle in math and reading proficiency, as measured by a national standardized test known as the “The Nation’s Report Card.” The National Assessment of Education Progress is a congressionally mandated test which evaluates students’ proficiency in reading, math, science and writing. Students are selected at random for the test, as a ...

6 days ago · China, Alaska's biggest international trading partner, is also targeted by tariffs that are likely to trigger a trade war.

4 days ago · Alaska’s rates of tuberculosis inched up in the past year, continuing the state’s long pattern of having the nation’s highest or nearly highest rates of this respiratory disease, according to preliminary figures. The rate of tuberculosis in 2024 was …

6 days ago · Gov. Dunleavy introduces education legislation he says aims to tackle school policy reforms BY: Corinne Smith - January 31, 2025 Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy introduced an omnibus education bill on Friday, which he said would tackle both education policy reforms and expanded funding for specific programs. “I’m hopeful,” Dunleavy said at a news conference Friday unveiling the bill ...

Jan 6, 2025 · Kate Troll argues that economic growth happened because the Biden Administration started addressing Alaska’s economic needs early.

Jan 11, 2025 · Alaska lawmakers from fishing-dependent communities say they have ideas for ways to rescue the state’s beleaguered seafood industry, with a series of bills likely to follow. Members of a legislative task force created last spring now have draft recommendations that range from the international ...

Nov 20, 2024 · Alaska’s open primary and ranked choice voting system survived, while Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich defeated Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, according to the unofficial results released on Wednesday. The Alaska Division of Elections completed the ranked choice tabulations for all nine races in which no candidate received more than 50% of first-preference ballots. The division is ...

Alaska Beacon is an independent, nonpartisan news organization focused on connecting Alaskans to their state government. Alaska, like many states, has seen a decline in the coverage of state news. We aim to reverse that.