Local News
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — After a slight decline 0.4% in November, the Basic Food Index (BFI) recorded a 1.1% increase in December 2022 in food prices tracked on Tutuila, according to the report released this week by the ASG Commerce Department’s Statistics Division.
The BFI reports that twelve...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Manu’a High School represented American Samoa at the National History Day Summer Institute in Hawaii this week.
The student, Lama Petelo was escorted by his teacher, Lio Alofaituli who is American Samoa’s Teacher of the Year 2022.
American Samoa was among the 16 schools...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Tualatua faipule, Samuel Ioka Ale Meleisea continues to fight for a law to protect enforcement animals in the territory.
In doing so he has sponsored a bill that criminalizes harming of law enforcement animals. An identical bill was introduced during the 37th Legislature...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Governor’s State of the Territory Comprehensive Report, distributed to lawmakers on Monday during the opening of the 38th Legislature, includes a summary update on the Samoan Language Commission, which was created by law.
The Commission — established during the 37th...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A federal judge in Honolulu has granted U.S prosecutors’ motion to detain a Samoan man without bail, with a new jury trial date set for the summer this year.
Laneserota Fa’avesi Seufale, whom prosecutors say is a citizen of the Independent State of Samoa, pled not guilty...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Two senators from Manu’a, Malaepule Saite Moliga and Ma’o Fa’auma S. Gogo are sponsors of a Senate bill, which seeks to amend local law, allowing permanent residents of American Samoa to vote in elections.
The bill, introduced during yesterday’s Senate session, seeks to...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Rep. Luaitaua Gene Pan has called on the Lemanu and Talauega Administration to “re-adjust” their priorities in terms of the public’s safety for residents in the far east.
The lawmaker expressed disappointment over the lack of police officer presence at the Fagaitua Sub...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A credit union is reported in the works for this year in American Samoa while the government owned Territorial Bank of Samoa (TBAS) is reported to have written off $18 million worth of loans that were executed off island.
These are some of the issues revealed yesterday...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Department of Health (DoH) is confident that the current COVID-19 vaccines and treatments still work for all infections from Omicron variants and sub-variants, including the new XBB.1.5 also known as Kraken.
The DoH has already sent samples overseas for testing to...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In his State of the Territory Address to lawmakers on Monday, Gov. Lemanu P. S Mauga revealed that the Administration “will invest in preventative care that cannot be done locally.”
He explained that the American Samoa Medicaid program will administer the “Health and...




![Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga signed into law the Samoan Language Commission Bill on April 5, 2022. [ASG photo] Gov. Lemanu P.S. Mauga signing bill creating Samoan Language Commission](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/lemanu_signing_sam_lang_comm_bill_web.png?itok=5rudo8rQ)


![Faipule Luaitaua Gene Pan in front of the Fagaitua East Substation, where he raised concerns over the minimal presence of police officers stationed there, in light of the many residents who live on the far eastside of Tutuila. [photo supplied] Faipule Luaitaua Gene Pan in front of the Fagaitua East Substation](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/gene_pan_n_substation_0174_n.jpg?itok=WKLHTjwW)
![The senate president said he wants the 75th Anniversary celebration to coincide with the official opening of the new Fono Building in June and that a committee will be appointed to plan the ceremony.Aso Lua i le tulaga ua o’o i ai le galuega o le fausia o le Fale Fono fou i Fagatogo. [ata: FS] New fono building under construction in Jan. 2023](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/img_8586_fono_in_construction.jpg?itok=ppinB3U4)

