A Dubious Award for the Squeezed Middle

‘Squeezed middle’ beats out ‘occupy’, ‘Arab Spring’ and ‘tiger mother’ to win the OED’s word of the year

North Dakota: Training Pilots of Unmanned Aircraft

Drone pilots may be on the ground, but they still require a high degree of aviation skills and training to fly the planes. The planes also require specialized mechanics and parts. The state of North Dakota is trying to position itself to become a leader in all-things-drones. But first order of business in North Dakota: don’t call them drones.

Exporting North Dakota

The state has the lowest unemployment rate in the country; 3.5 percent and is enjoying an oil boom.

Learning The Language In North Dakota

In Fargo, North Dakota adult refugees are having trouble learning English. Their kids are not. This is creating major problems in the family dynamic, problems that local North Dakotans are trying to correct with language learning software.

Cows to Kazakhstan

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A couple hundred head of cattle boarded a jumbo jet out of Fargo, ND on a 22 hour flight. You can only imagine the scene when the captain turned off the seatbelt light. No seriously, the shipment is part of an agricultural deal to send a couple thousand hardy cows to Kazakhstan. For the Geo Quiz we ask, where did they land? Download MP3

Migrating Money and People

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For some poor nations, money sent back home from family members working in Western Europe and the U.S. is a lifeline. How has the financial crisis impacted this flow of money? Millions of migrant workers have lost their jobs or seen their incomes cut. The value of remittances is expected to fall for the first time since records have been kept. Download MP3

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Refugees and recession in the Dakotas

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It’s always difficult to be an immigrant or refugee coming to a new country. It can be even tougher during times of recession. But what’s it like to be in the refugee placement business these days? In some states, businesses here lean heavily on refugee workers. The World’s Jason Margolis reports from North Dakota. >>> Listen to the Jason’s other stories from The Dakotas

Economic strategy in North Dakota

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North Dakota has fared relatively well in the economic downturn. But as The World’s Jason Margolis reports, some farmers and agriculture businesses there are trying to position themselves to be even less vulnerable to the swings of the world economy next time trouble arises.

On the Road to a Climate Deal: Bismarck, North Dakota

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The World’s Jason Margolis tells us why Bismarck, North Dakota has such a major role in determining US legislation on climate change.