Alaska's Herculean vaccine distribution effort evokes the historic "serum run" nearly 100 years ago that saved the town of Nome from a diphtheria epidemic and inspired the Iditarod sled dog race. But this year, instead of driving dog sleds, the state used planes, amphibious vehicles and snowmobiles to make Alaska one of the most successful states so far at getting the COVID-19 vaccine into the arms of its residents. Mountainous terrain and wintry weather further complicated the effort. "On my first airplane trip, the vaccine froze in the metal part of the needle when I was vaccinating on the tarmac and I had to keep it warm by tucking it between my coat and my shirt until right before we gave the vaccine," Dr. Ellen Hodges, Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation chief of staff, said in an email. "We vaccinated people on snow machines, on four wheelers, in trucks, in airplanes, standing on tarmacs in -20 windchill, in clinics, in houses — basically anywhere we could to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible. I feel like we are in a race against this terrible disease."  

VIDEO: Videos and photos are circulating of the historic Mason County Courthouse engulfed in flames. County Judge Jerry Bearden said the building is destroyed. In the overnight hours of Feb. 5, multiple volunteer fire departments including the Brady Fire Department were called to Mason County to respond to "multiple structure fires" including the Mason County Courthouse, the Brady Fire Department said on Facebook. Judge Bearden said the fire started at 10:15 p.m. Thursday at the courthouse. Multiple units responded and no one was hurt, but Bearden said the building is destroyed. The Hill Country Passport reported that by 1 a.m. Friday, firefighters had the fire mostly contained and were only putting out a few hot spots left in the building.  

I have no doubt we've all done it. We're watching a movie or TV show and they're doing something that we personally know really well. Maybe you're a dancer and this person is supposed to be a prima ballerina and you're thinking, "Nope. No way." Maybe you pitched in college and watch an actor try to throw a fastball and you can't help but laugh. The one that always gets me is when they show newsrooms in TV and movies. I spent several years working in a newsroom day-in and day-out. Whenever I see it on TV I think to myself, "How could they get this so wrong? I mean, just ask someone. Anyone who has worked in news could tell you that a reporter in a small town doesn't have his or her own personal camera person or a field producer! They're likely shooting everything by themselves and writing the story on their smartphone in the back of their Accord that has more McDonald's wrappers on the floor than they'd like to admit." Turns out Hollywood doesn't always get firefighting right either.  

The Spokane Fire Department is finding new ways to connect with families during COVID. They've recently launched a new webpage to teach young kids about fire safety. It's like a virtual classroom, with icons and avatars for kids to click on. Jamie McIntyre, with the Spokane Fire Department, says firefighters really value that one-on-one connection they can have with the community. During COVID, they haven't been able to do that, at least in person. That's where this website comes into play, it's meant for parents or teachers to walk through with kids ages 3 through 6. Jamie says by three years old, kids can start to retain some of these safety measures, so it's important they're able to identify what certain things or noises look like. One family who has been using the site says their 4-year-old has already been catching on.  

A Black Firefighters Association fundraiser in Indianapolis starts with t-shirt sales, but it ends with big dreams of owning the property right next door to their headquarters. Capt. Corey Floyd serves as the recruitment officer for the Indianapolis Fire Department. He is also president of the Black Firefighters Association, which was created back in 1992 to help people of color at IFD fight against injustices and equality. They have members from all over central Indiana, including outside the IFD service area. "We started this last year during the social unrest," Floyd said. Floyd showed 13News the Black History Month t-shirt they are re-ordering after selling out - again. They never expected the shirt to be so popular.  

Frightening coronavirus variants have found footing in the U.S. Experts caution that the worst may still be yet to come. Super Bowl watch parties could be the next superspreader event. This is, without question, not the time to let one's guard down. And yet, the COVID-19 picture in America at this moment in time is vastly improved from what it was just a few weeks ago. COVID cases around the country continue to plummet daily, showing no sustained sign of ticking back up, despite the fact that highly contagious COVID variants, which have caused havoc in Brazil, South Africa, and the U.K. have all been detected in America. According to the ever-reliable COVID-tracking project, daily cases stood at 117,000 on Wednesday, and hospitalizations are at 91,440. While both these numbers are vastly higher than they were at the nadir of the pandemic in America (a very high nadir), the drop in the last few weeks is eye-catching.