Commentary
A New Mexico official who joined the Capitol attacks is barred from politics
A county court in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Sept. 6, 2022, became the first in more than 150 years to disqualify a person from public office because they participated in an insurrection. District Court Judge Francis Mathew found that Couy Griffin, a former county commissioner and founder of the group Cowboys for Trump, had […]
Alaska Beacon offers stories that connect Alaskans with their government
The Alaska Beacon is among 30 affiliates of States Newsroom that’s participating in a news media collaboration on Democracy Day, a yearly opportunity to learn more about how our democracy works. The Beacon has a focus on informing Alaskans about their state government. Since our launch on May 11, the Beacon staff has written stories […]
Alaska has shown how to achieve sensible election reform states like Idaho can learn from
Idaho had an open primary system prior to 2012. When the primary election rolled around voters would just request a ballot for the party of their choice – Republican, Democrat, whatever – and then vote among the candidates on that ballot. It worked well, but not to the satisfaction of right-wing Republicans who wanted to […]
Why are some people mosquito magnets and others unbothered?
It’s rare to attend an outdoor party in warm weather without hearing people complain about mosquitoes. They swat away, sit in campfire smoke, cover up with blankets and eventually just give up and go indoors. On the other end of the spectrum, there are plenty of people who don’t seem bothered by mosquitoes in the […]
Scientists are using high-tech tools to study birds’ amazing migrations
Although it still feels like beach weather across much of North America, billions of birds have started taking wing for one of nature’s great spectacles: fall migration. Birds fly south from the northern U.S. and Canada to wintering grounds in the southern U.S., Caribbean and Latin America, sometimes covering thousands of miles. Other birds leave […]
Anchorage’s economic outlook depends on attracting workers
Earlier this month, Anchorage Economic Development Corp. shared our 2022 3-Year Outlook report, which forecasts what we expect for the next few years in our city’s economic landscape. Overall, we believe there is much to be optimistic about for the future of Anchorage, but we must be realistic about the types of investments and work […]
In four months, Congresswoman Mary Peltola can accomplish much: Here are some possible ways how
Along with much of the Alaska Native community, I am celebrating every moment of Mary Peltola’s win in the special election to fill the remainder of the late Congressman Don Young’s term. I know that she will bring her pride into the chambers of the U.S. House of Representatives and get straight to work and […]
What’s going on with the Greenland ice sheet?
I’m standing at the edge of the Greenland ice sheet, mesmerized by a mind-blowing scene of natural destruction. A milewide section of glacier front has fractured and is collapsing into the ocean, calving an immense iceberg. Seracs, giant columns of ice the height of three-story houses, are being tossed around like dice. And the previously […]
University of Alaska administration proposal would weaken academic freedom
Academic freedom and the tenure system are central to the University of Alaska, but the principles are not widely understood. Academic freedom is about finding the truth–wading through noise and opinions–and getting to the facts. It gives teachers, researchers and artists at the top of their field the freedom to express their views publicly and […]
Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. has gone too long without an executive director
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board of trustees has gone too long without hiring an executive director. It’s been more than nine months since the board fired Angela Rodell from the job, and the board has spent little time in public session at its meetings discussing the vacancy or its hiring plan. The Legislature is […]
Alaska’s economic development strategy needs more robust input
How can the State of Alaska develop an innovative, just and achievable strategy for our collective economic future? Those writing the state’s economic development strategy need to incorporate input from people and organizations not wedded to business as usual such as the Alaska oil and gas industry, which still seems in denial about climate change. […]
University of Alaska offers paths to success for non-traditional students
As the new school year ramps up for faculty and students at our University of Alaska campuses statewide, this year is my first as an adult that I will not be an undergraduate student in the UA system. Because so much focus about life after high school is brought toward higher education or vocational-technical training, […]