Emily Schwing
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U.S. schools can make use of special visas to hire teachers from other countries. In some rural school districts in Alaska, foreign teachers make up over half the staff.
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In the northernmost town in the U.S., there's no Santa's workshop. But there is a unique maker's space where Indigenous artists can come anytime to make traditional artwork.
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A nationwide shotgun shell shortage is making it harder for Alaska Natives to hunt for food. Migratory birds are a main source of sustenance for many rural communities at this time of year.
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The federal government is giving millions of dollars to tribal communities in Alaska to help them move to higher ground. The relocations are necessary because of the effects of climate change.
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A storm that hit western Alaska last month severely damaged the tiny Native village of Newtok. Prior to the storm, residents had already begun relocating the village to higher ground.
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Paleontologists are studying dinosaur tracks at the base of Alaska's Aleutian Islands. Their findings may have implications for climate science today.
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Spring comes late to western Alaska and brings a mix of anxiety and anticipation. Citizen scientists use traditional knowledge to predict river breakup and flooding for dozens of remote communities.
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Alaska's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race gets underway in March. Officials require participants to be vaccinated. Mushers also won't stop at one remote community to avoid possibly spreading the virus.
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As pandemic restrictions loosen, tourists flock to Jack Sprat, a restaurant in Girdwood, Alaska. But like many businesses in resort towns, it's having trouble hiring servers as the economy rebounds.
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The price of lumber has more than doubled during the pandemic. Now people are turning to extreme DIY for building projects. Instead of buying boards, they're buying their own sawmills.
