Local News
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — “For us in American Samoa, disaster resilience is not a matter of choice. It is a matter of survival,” declared Attorney General Fainu’ulelei Falefatu Alailima-Utu who is currently acting governor while both the Governor and Lt. Gov are off island. He made the comment...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Medical Center Authority budget for the new fiscal year outlines an increase of $15 million allocated for salaries.
In the current fiscal year, personnel expenses were $29.81 million, but the new budget has personnel at $45.27 million. The entire...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man with an outstanding arrest warrant was picked up by police last month. Finauvale Aniseko is implicated in two separate drug cases.
When cops arrested the defendant, they discovered illegal drugs in his possession.
In the first case, Aniseko is charged with unlawful...
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming inclusion of American Samoa’s federal matching rate for Medicaid, known as FMAP, in a Continuing Resolution that would fund the U.S. government until December 16, 2022. This extension would allow Congress time to complete major...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A huge quantity of methamphetamine (meth) along with drug paraphernalia was discovered when armed DPS Vice and Narcotics officers executed a search warrant at the Aua home of a former police officer early yesterday morning.
No weapons were found during the raid.
Five...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Senate has amended its bill that initially sought to increase the salaries for the Governor from $120,000 to $150,000 and Lt Governor from $100,000 to $120,000.
Instead the bill now seeks to amend the language of the bill to say that former Governor’s should receive...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — At last week’s Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council meeting, Council members discussed the importance of maintaining tuna supply to the StarKist cannery in American Samoa, which relies heavily on tuna brought in from U.S.-flagged purse seiners.
The Council...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Former Governor and now Senator Togiola Tulafono has cautioned about “emergency funding” poured into the territory and overlooking the shortfall of $11.67 million in revenue collections by the Government.
“The emergency funding we are now receiving will finish and after...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man found driving a vehicle while his license is suspended for a year was arrested and is now facing a criminal charge of felony driving, a class D felony.
Alofa Vitale made his initial appearance last month in District Court where his bail was set at $5,000.
On Aug....
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is an original cosponsor of a bill introduced Thursday in the House, along with a companion bill in the Senate, to provide local grants that enhance nationwide opportunities for youth to enjoy the outdoors and take part in fishing.
“In American...