Local News
![Rendering of proposed new Fono Building [SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fono%20bldg%20rendering_36.jpg?itok=DDZu6Tkm "Rendering of proposed new Fono Building [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The House Budget and Appropriations Committee met to discuss two House bills yesterday morning.
One bill appropriates $198,621 to fund the local share of the cost of purchasing eleven 2018 Harley-Davidson police motorcycles (see separate story for details), and the other...
![[SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/anz-samoa_0.jpeg?itok=L6duaXA- "[SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Three American Samoa residents have filed a civil lawsuit at the federal court in Guam, against ANZ Guam Inc., the parent company of ANZ Amerika Samoa Bank in Pago Pago.
Filed Mar. 21 (which is Mar. 20 in American Samoa), the lawsuit identifies the plaintiffs as Ronald...
![Paul Collins (second from left) with Pope Francis at the Vatican [Photo: Catholic News Agency]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/meeting%20popeweb.jpg?itok=TFXd1SBY "Paul Collins (second from left) with Pope Francis at the Vatican [Photo: Catholic News Agency]")
A young man from American Samoa was chosen to greet Pope Francis when the pontiff arrived at a pre-synod youth gathering in Rome this week.
Paul Collins was not the original delegate from the Oceania region picked to travel to Rome.
A last minute withdrawal by the Cook Islands youth delegate meant...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Pre-registration for residents who were affected by Tropical Storm Gita is set to be completed tomorrow, while the government has released the list of more villages to register for federal disaster assistance at the Disaster Recovery Center, which is operated jointly by...
![Rendering of proposed new Fono Building [SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fono%20bldg%20rendering_35.jpg?itok=aug-USI3 "Rendering of proposed new Fono Building [SN file photo]")
by Fili Sagapolutele
Samoa News Correspondent
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Senate legal counsel Mitzie Jessop-Ta’ase says a proposed law to raise the marriage age of females from 14 to 18, “aligns” with other current laws, such as the criminal code and the age of a person who can vote in American...
![SG’s Budget Office director, Catherine D. Saelua. [SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Catherine%20Saelua%206467CROPPED.jpg?itok=k_pgxuP2 "SG’s Budget Office director, Catherine D. Saelua. [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Despite the impending uncertainties of reaching a consensus, ASG’s Budget Office and its director Catherine D. Saelua have presented a positive picture of local spending for the first three months of FY 2018 (Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 2017).
“Thankfully, Congress has averted...
![Environmental Protection Agency Director Ameko Pato (center) with members of his staff who successfully completed a Leadership Training held last week by ASCC. Seventeen participants from the EPA attended the two-day training which covered the principles and practices of effective leadership. [photo: J. Kneubuhl]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/ASCC%20Leadership%20Training%20for%20EPA%20%202.jpg?itok=oC7S3Anr "Environmental Protection Agency Director Ameko Pato (center) with members of his staff who successfully completed a Leadership Training held last week by ASCC. Seventeen participants from the EPA attended the two-day training which covered the principles and practices of effective leadership. [photo: J. Kneubuhl]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A stated component of the Vision of the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) is for the institution to have “an active impact in the development of the educational, social, cultural, political, economic, technological, and environmental well-being of American Samoa...
![Congresswoman Aumua Amata speaks out on funding for American Samoa during Tuesday’s budget oversight hearing of the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs, noting the proposed cut of $1.2Mil in the FY 2018 insular operations for the territory cannot be easily absorbed, especially in light of Cyclone Gita’s impact. [Courtesy photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Amata%20speaks%20out%20on%20funding%20for%20American%20Samoa.jpg?itok=6tYg0u7f "Congresswoman Aumua Amata speaks out on funding for American Samoa during Tuesday’s budget oversight hearing of the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs, noting the proposed cut of $1.2Mil in the FY 2018 insular operations for the territory cannot be easily absorbed, especially in light of Cyclone Gita’s impact. [Courtesy photo]")
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Aumua Amata strongly defended American Samoa’s federal funding needs on Tuesday, questioning the Interior Department’s 2019 reduced budget request for insular operations funding in the territory, and instead suggested an offsetting increase that includes recognition...
![House Speaker, Savali Talavou Ale says teachers shouldn't complain about not having a spring break, because they work 9 months and get paid for the whole year. See story for details. [photo: AF]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Speaker%20of%20the%20House_0981.jpg?itok=4QgnuRU0 "House Speaker, Savali Talavou Ale says teachers shouldn't complain about not having a spring break, because they work 9 months and get paid for the whole year. See story for details. [photo: AF]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In response to a request from Manu'a Rep. Vesi Talalelei Fautanu Jr., that the American Samoa Department of Education (ASDOE) should have a spring break so teachers can get time off from work, House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale told lawmakers during yesterday's session...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Hawaiian Airlines will waive change fees and fare differences “for our guests” in Pago Pago, whose Spring break plans were impacted by Tropical Storm Gita last month, said airline spokesperson Ann Botticelli.
More than a week ago, Samoa News received calls from local...