Archive - Jan 10, 2012 - Article (News Story)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States will not be "taking its eye off the ball" in the Middle East as it looks to strengthen its military presence in the Asia-Pacific, the head of the Navy said Tuesday.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert said that he does not forsee a shift in naval forces from the Middle East. He said the vast majority of the United States' 100 deployed ships currently operate in the West Pacific and the Persian Gulf.

Gov. Togiola Tulafono has responded to the Senate’s proposed measures to provide immediate and long term financial solutions for LBJ Medical Center, saying his administration is not supportive of the proposals.

Togiola’s response was made in a two-page Dec. 22 letter to Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie, who provided potential solutions to help the hospital, saying the Senate will act on them as soon as the Fono returns.

WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION

A Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), conducted last spring, using students from the territory’s six public high schools, reveals that although there was a decrease in the number of teenagers considering or planning suicide, actual suicide attempts increased.

Similarly, while fewer students carried weapons such as a gun, knife or club the number who carried such weapons on school property increased.

The American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency is urging the public to continue reporting stores that are still using non biodegradable plastic bags.

That is the message from Nathan Mease, Assistant Attorney General and legal counsel for AS-EPA after three stores were fined $50 each for not complying with the banning of plastics bag law.

Speaking with Samoa News, Mease said these were the first stores penalized under the new law.

Gov. Togiola Tulafono plans to submit to the Fono for consideration and approval a new wage tax bill with revenues being collected to again assist the government, while the other revenue measures submitted last year by his administration, and pending in the Fono, also need to be passed or “ASG will remain in a deficit position” going forward.

Togiola also said that the government was in the black at the end of fiscal year 2011.

Thousands of Laughing Samoan fans and supporters are set to cram the comedic duo’s final, ‘Greatest Hits’ show in Otara next Saturday. The finale will be dedicated as a fundraiser to the village of Fusi, damaged during the 2009 tusnami. Both Eteuati Ete and Tofiga Fepuleai’s , Risati and Semu respectively hail from Fusi.

The fundraising effort will help rebuild the roof and replace church furnishings for Fusi’s Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (CCCS) that suffered major damage in the disaster. An estimated $SAT90,000 tala is needed to foot the repair bill by March this year.

The ‘Bruckner Chase Toa o’le Tai’ (Ocean Heroes) program kicked off last week, with Samoana High School as the pilot school for this first year program, billed as the Ocean Swimming/Ocean Science Physical Education (PE) Class, which began yesterday morning.

CHICAGO (AP) -- Smoking a joint once a week or a bit more apparently doesn't harm the lungs, suggests a 20-year study that bolsters evidence that marijuana doesn't do the kind of damage tobacco does.

POLICE PROBE STORE BREAK-IN

Police are investigating two burglaries at the same store in Satala over the weekend. Two juveniles are in custody after they admitted to breaking into the Satala store twice. The pair were arrested Friday night and appeared before the District Court yesterday morning.

The high school students, both 15 years old, were caught in the store Friday night.

According to police reports, they received a call that there were suspicious acts at the store, and when police arrived, the juveniles were hiding inside.

Radio New Zealand reports that the U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for an 18 year old sailor who has been missing since Monday.

The head of the local Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Unit, Lieutenant Steven Caskey says the search was suspended last night at the end of the 72 hour limit.