Local News
VA’ATUTI TEVITA JR
A 27-year-old man accused of having sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl, has pled guilty in the High Court to deviate sexual assault, which is a felony punishable by up to 7 years in jail, a fine of $5,000 or both, according to a plea agreement between the government and...
![Appointed Director for Administrative Services, Fuega Moliga was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives in a vote of 18-0. His Senate confirmation is scheduled sometime soon. [Photo: JL]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Fuega.jpg?itok=DAo3nQvC "Appointed Director for Administrative Services, Fuega Moliga was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives in a vote of 18-0. His Senate confirmation is scheduled sometime soon. [Photo: JL]")
Emergency evacuation for the employees housed at the government building in Utulei is one of the issues that appointed director for Administrative Services Fuega Lua Moliga is working on. Fuega was responding to concerns and questions by Rep. Vailoata Eteuati Amituana’i who inquired if there was an...
Washington, D.C. – Friday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, released the following statement regarding the Congressional Caucuses she will be serving on during the 115th Congress.
Caucuses are groups of likeminded Representatives that work together to raise awareness on a certain issue, or to produce...
![Seen here in a Samoa News file photo taken Manu'a Cession Day in 2015 are, Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga accompanied by First Lady, Cynthia Malala Moliga, Polynesian Airlines CEO, Seiuli Alvin Tuala, Manu'a Senator Nuanuaolefeagaiga Saoluaga Nua and Deputy Secretary of Samoan Affairs, Tuiagamoa Tavai. [photo: JL]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/manua%20pols%202.jpg?itok=AvYBUN_C "Seen here in a Samoa News file photo taken Manu'a Cession Day in 2015 are, Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga accompanied by First Lady, Cynthia Malala Moliga, Polynesian Airlines CEO, Seiuli Alvin Tuala, Manu'a Senator Nuanuaolefeagaiga Saoluaga Nua and Deputy Secretary of Samoan Affairs, Tuiagamoa Tavai. [photo: JL]")
Three traditional leaders of Ta’u County in Manu’a have challenged the selection of Nuanuaolefeagaiga Saoluaga T. Nua to hold one of the two senatorial seats for Manu’a District No. 1, comprising Faleasao, Ta’u and Fitiuta counties.
The complaint by Ta’u chiefs Lefiti Atiulagi Pese, Maui Aloali’i...
Pima Prevention Partnership (PPP), an off island company, has threatened to report the Department of Health to the United States Inspector General’s office for failing to pay an outstanding balance of $247,124 owed to PIMA for a variety of technical services it provided for DOH. PPP’s Chief...
![U.S. Representative Keith Ellison, a candidate for the Democratic National Committee chair, spoke alongside other candidates for the DNC chair at a party forum Saturday, Jan. 14, in Phoenix. [David Wallace - Associated Press file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/keith-ellisonweb.jpg?itok=miYbGt8k "U.S. Representative Keith Ellison, a candidate for the Democratic National Committee chair, spoke alongside other candidates for the DNC chair at a party forum Saturday, Jan. 14, in Phoenix. [David Wallace - Associated Press file photo]")
If elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), US Rep. Keith Ellison promised a visit to American Samoa and other US territories, which he says should have access to needed resources.
Ellison made the revelation early this week, as former American Samoa Congressman Faleomavaega Eni...
![Tafaigata prison [photo: 60 MINS-NINE]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Tafaigata%20prison_0.jpeg?itok=hEZHxT7o "Tafaigata prison [photo: 60 MINS-NINE]")
A Samoan prisoner has had more time added to his sentence after he admitted to the attempted rape of a foreign woman, and one count of theft.
24 year-old, Daniel Vailopa, will serve three-and-a-half years after serving his current two year sentence in July for separate criminal charges.
According...
![Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson [SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Lei%20Thompson%206463_1.jpg?itok=B9saNZC9 "Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson [SN file photo]")
Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson has suggested training a “special unit” of police officers to respond to serious cases; and cautioned American Samoa when it comes to arming officers in the police force.
Le’i, speaking at his House confirmation hearing last week also revealed that there is...
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is looking at the summer of this year to start the certification process of Tausani Airline, provided that the locally based start-up carrier is prepared to begin the process, says FAA spokesman Ian Gregor.
Two years ago, Tausani leased the ASG nine-...
![Newly confirmed Commerce Department director Keniseli Lafaele during his Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday. [photo: FS]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Lafaele%206495_0.jpg?itok=AQBSYT12 "Newly confirmed Commerce Department director Keniseli Lafaele during his Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday. [photo: FS]")
The Fono has endorsed the governor’s nominations of Keniseli Fa’alupe Lafaele as Commerce Department Director and Samana Semo Ve’ave’a as Director of the local Homeland Security Department, after the Senate on Wednesday handed down separate, but unanimous votes of 16-0 for each director-nominee....