Local News
![[photo: Blue Chen-Fruean]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Georgina%20and%20Kirsten.jpg?itok=oYPNUYjx "[photo: Blue Chen-Fruean]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Classmates Georgina Alofa and Kirsten De Lara claimed the Top 2 spots (1st and 2nd place, respectively) — overall — in the Level 6- 8 Division during the 2017-2018 Territorial Science Fair competition held at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium last week.
This year's...
![Some of the CCCAS elders, with Chairman Rev. Elder Mamoe Eveni Jr. (right) during court proceedings between the CCCAS and Secretary General Rev. Amaama Tofaeono in June 2017. [SN fie photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/CCCAS%20ministers_1.jpg?itok=I3V8vGpT "Some of the CCCAS elders, with Chairman Rev. Elder Mamoe Eveni Jr. (right) during court proceedings between the CCCAS and Secretary General Rev. Amaama Tofaeono in June 2017. [SN fie photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — It’s been almost a year since the matter between the Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa (CCCAS) and their elected General Secretary Rev. Dr. Amaama Tofaeono was before the Trial Division of the High Court of American Samoa; and while the case is still...
![DPS officials after the House Public Safety hearing last week, where issues at TCF and the Fire Division were discussed. [photo by AF]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/DPS%20officials_0073.jpg?itok=ZbsubCrU "DPS officials after the House Public Safety hearing last week, where issues at TCF and the Fire Division were discussed. [photo by AF]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Firemen who were assigned to guard inmates at the Territorial Correction Facility (TCF) have been returned to their regular jobs, according to Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson during a hearing with the House Public Safety committee last week.
Rep. Manumaua W....
Honolulu, Hawai'i — Cultural mediation is being recommended as a way to address differences between the local alia fishers and the US longliners based in American Samoa, as there’s a “misunderstanding” between the two fisheries in the territory, according to Danika Kleiber of the Pacific Island...
![This Mar. 22, 2018 photo shows residents waiting to register for federal assistant at the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) inside the DYWA Pago Pago Youth Center. [photo: FEMA]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/DRC1_0.jpg?itok=JJL0hq_S "This Mar. 22, 2018 photo shows residents waiting to register for federal assistant at the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) inside the DYWA Pago Pago Youth Center. [photo: FEMA]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — American Red Cross personnel and volunteers deployed to American Samoa following last month’s Tropical Storm have returned to the US, with their disaster recovery work completed and turned over to the local Red Cross as registration for assistance at the Disaster...
![In this 2017 file photo, Senate legal counsel, Mitzie Jessop-Ta’ase (left) is pictured in the Senate chamber with Senator Magalei Logovi’i [SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/senate%200324.jpg?itok=-qt6sNUp "In this 2017 file photo, Senate legal counsel, Mitzie Jessop-Ta’ase (left) is pictured in the Senate chamber with Senator Magalei Logovi’i [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Current law setting the marriage age for females at 14-years old, with the consent of a parent or guardian, was passed by the Fono many years ago during the Seventh Legislature, says Senate legal counsel, Mitzie Jessop-Ta’ase in testimony before a Senate committee...
![Rep. Vailiuama Steve Leasiolagi [photo by AF]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/RepVailiuama_0097.jpg?itok=jA77h4zT "Rep. Vailiuama Steve Leasiolagi [photo by AF]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Rep. Vailuama Steve Leasiolagi told KVZK-TV deputy director, Tautinei Misioka Olo during a hearing before the House Government Operations committee last Friday, that Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga should not be involved in making decisions about how the government’s...
![ERTF chairman Utu Abe Malae [SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Utu%20file%20photo_0813_3.jpg?itok=O4QSesw1 "ERTF chairman Utu Abe Malae [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Educational Reform Task Force (ERTF) has drafted a proposed bill that, according to ERTF chairman Utu Abe Malae, "significantly restructures the form of public education in the Territory, and further updates the current statutory scheme which dates from the 1960s and...
![Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga [SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Gov%20Lolo%202833%20web_10.jpg?itok=eRRgQDgQ "Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMAERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga defended ASG’s position in voting against Western Pacific Fisheries Management Council recommendations on a large vessel Prohibited Area, according to a Radio New Zealand story supplied by KHJ Radio.
Lolo said the government would maintain its...
![Congresswoman Amata and a Natural Resources Committee colleague, Congressman Daniel Webster of Florida, working on a markup of a bill in March. [courtesy photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/webRecent%20photo%20from%20a%20Committee%20markup%20this%20month.jpg?itok=1rRHWQP1 "Congresswoman Amata and a Natural Resources Committee colleague, Congressman Daniel Webster of Florida, working on a markup of a bill in March. [courtesy photo]")
Washington, D.C. — Friday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata announced the passage of H.R. 1625, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, the major yearly government funding bill, including an increase in the ASG operations account and a 2.4% military pay raise.
The negotiators in the House of...