Samantha Watson
News ReporterSamantha (she/her) is a news reporter at KYUK. Originally from Massachusetts, she attended the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Maine where she figured out that if she could be a reporter, she could make a career out of having interesting conversations. When away from her microphone, Samantha can be found writing, hiking, and playing the guitar.
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On July 25, Bethel’s cultural center filled with Bruno Mars, rainbow lights, and lots of sequins in the city’s second annual drag show. The free event, co-sponsored by Teens Acting Against Violence and Bethel Actors Guild, included a roster of five performers from across Alaska. Returners Ice Warah and Osha Violation were joined by queens Golden Delicious, Ella Mental, and drag king Mister Chance.
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In the rush to recover an archaeological site, a shifting climate links Quinhagak's past and presentFor the village of Quinhagak, the storm flooded a critical piece of their past: an archaeological dig. This summer, an emergency dig will help them excavate that past before it's gone.
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Alaska’s deadline for voter registration is coming up soon, but some Typhoon Halong-impacted voters don’t need to update their residential address to vote, even if they’re living somewhere else.
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Bethel’s Lego robotics team, the Dirt Busters, have been digging into a project on Alaska’s archaeology to bring more awareness to their age group. Last month, it took them to an international tournament.
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Drones are used across industries like construction, real estate, and even news production. But in Western Alaska, their applications also dovetail with subsistence activities and search and rescue missions.
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On June 13, community members flocked to Riverview Park for the Return of the Salmon event put on by Mother Kuskokwim Tribal Coalition, a grassroots organization opposing the proposed Donlin Gold mine.
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Alaska is one of 29 states that allow at least some late-arriving ballots to be counted as long as they are postmarked on or before election day. But a U.S. Supreme Court ruling could complicate that, especially for voters in the Bush.
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On June 3, Mother Kuskokwim, an advocacy group opposing the proposed Donlin Gold mine project on account of environmental concerns, hosted a protest event in Bethel.
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The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge announced a 30-day closure for all migratory bird species. The closure will be in effect from June 6 through July 6 and applies to the entire region. The only exception is scoters, which have their own closure from June 11 through July 11.
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Last week, communities along the Yukon River experienced ice jam-related flooding. But as of the evening of May 26, significant ice jams close to the mouth of the river gave way and the water began to recede.