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What It's Like To Live In A Small, Rural, Politically Divided Town

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If you fly into Haines, Alaska, you'll be on a prop plane so small that your pilot will call the roll. "Melissa." Yup. "Mary." Yes. "Joseph?" Right here. Just 2,500 people live in Haines — a small town in southeast Alaska surrounded by water. The scenery is incredible, with snowy mountains and lush green forest beyond. The city center is just a few blocks, with several bars, a few restaurants and a beautiful, award-winning library. But lately, this idyllic place has been roiled by a bitter political battle. A group of residents wants to recall more than half the members of the local government, the borough assembly. In the 2016 presidential election, Haines split right down the middle: Hillary Clinton eked out a four- vote margin of victory over Donald Trump, getting 374 votes to his 370. To better understand this community, and to find out what all the fuss is about, we gathered a small group to talk about their lives. On a weekday evening, they gathered in a circle at the community

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