Alaska News Nightly: Februrary 2, 2010

Individual news stories are posted in the Alaska News category and you can subscribe to APRN’s news feeds via email, podcast and RSS.Download Audio (MP3)Fuel Survey Exposes High Prices in AlaskaDave Donaldson, APRN - JuneauThe results of a statewide survey released this week shows Alaskans pay considerably more for their fuel than the rest of the U.S. It also showed high price variations among communities within Alaska.Persily Makes His Case at Senate Confirmation HearingLibby Casey, APRN - Washington, D.C.President Obama’s choice to lead the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects faced a handful of Senators in Washington today (Tuesday) and assured them an Alaska gas line has a future.Senate Confirms New U.S. Marshall for AlaskaLibby Casey, APRN - Washington, D.C.Alaska has a new U.S. Marshal. Former Anchorage Police Chief Rob Heun was confirmed in the job by the U.S. Senate today (Tuesday). He was approved by unanimous consent after sitting on the Senate’s calendar for a week and a half.Fairbanks Man Builds Militia to Protect the ConstitutionDan Bross, KUAC - FairbanksThe Fairbanks man who started the 2nd Amendment Task Force says it’s spawned a local army, and grassroots support across the country. Schaeffer Cox says the group has seven thousand Fairbanks members, 35 hundred of whom are part of a militia.Lawmakers Pass Bill Promoting Electric CarsEd Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska - JuneauLegislation promoting electric cars is on its way to the governor’s office. Senate Bill 59 allows the vehicles on more roads in villages and small cities, especially in Southeast.Economist Predicts Continued Job Loss in Alaska in 2010Len Anderson, KSKA - AnchorageThe total number of jobs in Anchorage will continue to fall throughout 2010. That was the assessment of state labor economist, Neal Fried, at his annual luncheon presentation to the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce today.Fairbanks at Near Record Low Snow LevelsDan Bross, KUAC - FairbanksFairbanks is experiencing one of its lowest snow seasons. Only 20 point 7 inches have fallen since July 1st, making this Fairbanks 10th lowest snowfall season at this point. It snowed just 1 inch last month, the second smallest accumulation for January on record.Alaskans Win Snow Sculpting ContestTara Bicknell, KHNS – HainesLast weekend’s International Snow Sculpture Championships in Colorado left behind a garden of 12 foot tall cold, white sculptures for the people of Breckenridge to gaze at. And their favorite among all of them: Team Alaska’s The Last Iceberg.Jeff King Invents a New Kind of Sled Dog RaceLaureli Kineen, KNOM – NomeYou've heard of tennis doubles... now an Alaskan musher wants to transfer the concept to his sport.Alaska Celebrates "Marmot Day" for the First TimeDan Bross, KUAC - FairbanksWhat’s Groundhog day in the rest of the country, is now Marmot Day in Alaska. A bill signed into state law last year designates February second as Marmot Day. The change is aimed at Alaskanizing the holiday, but Link Olsen a biologist and curator of mammals at the University of Alaska Museum of the North says Alaska’s 3 species of Marmot, include the groundhog.