Alaska News Nightly: Friday, Feb. 1, 2019

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Calls for ‘vigilance’ on Russian military buildup in Arctic

Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media – Washington D.C.

Russia’s Arctic ambitions worry regional experts. So do the lack of ambitions on the part of the United States.

Governor’s mid-year budget bill cuts VPSO recruitment funds

Robyne, KUAC – Fairbanks

Governor Mike Dunleavy has proposed pulling back $3 million in unspent money for the VPSO program to help pay for larger Permanent Fund Dividends, among other items.

Coast Guard crew member dies in accident on Homer Spit

Renee Gross, KBBI – Homer

A U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hickory crew member died in an accident on the Homer Spit on Thursday.

Medical community mourns loss of missing Guardian Flight colleagues

Adelyn Baxter, KTOO – Juneau

The Juneau-based crew of a medevac plane went missing this week. And the news hit the medical evacuation community in Alaska particularly hard.

Klawock mayor pleads guilty to soliciting prostitution

Associated Press

A mayor in southeast Alaska received a 10-day suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to soliciting prostitution.

Survey will monitor cruise ship emissions in downtown Juneau this summer

Adelyn Baxter, KTOO – Juneau

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation shared a new plan Tuesday to start tracking air quality in downtown Juneau in order to learn more about the impact of cruise ship emissions.

12 rookie mushers prepare to tackle Yukon Quest trail

Lex Treinen, KUAC – Fairbanks

Twelve of the thirty mushers signed up to run this year’s Yukon Quest are rookies, but many of them are already very experienced mushers.

‘Life is going to spring back to us’: the sun returns to Utqiaġvik

Ravenna Koenig, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Fairbanks

“Life is going to spring back to us,” said Robin Mongoyak. “Spring is coming, summer is around the corner. Birds when they come in big flocks, it’s like thousands of people coming to greet us.”

AK: Hunters sleep in Bethel parking lot to get muskox permits

Anna Rose MacArthur, KYUK – Bethel

Muskoxen are prized for their fatty, flavorful meat and soft, warm fur. Every year, thousands of people apply online for less than 200 winter permits to hunt them in Alaska. Or, for the truly devoted, you can travel to Bethel to sign up in person.

49 Voices: Peter Atchak of Bethel

Anna Rose MacArthur, KYUK – Bethel

This week we’re hearing from Peter Atchak in Bethel. Atchak was the president of the Bethel volunteer Search and Rescue team for years, before retiring 6 years ago.

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