Local News
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata called attention to Ranking Member Bruce Westerman’s public remarks of support regarding a new or modernized LBJ Tropical Medical Center for American Samoa. Ranking Member Westerman (R-Arkansas) has toured LBJ Medical Center with Congresswoman Amata...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Attorney General Fainu’ulelei Falefatu Ala’ilima-Utu has appointed Divine Iuli Falaniko as the new registrar for the Office of the Territorial Registrar — which is part of the Department of Legal Affairs.
Fainu’ulelei announced the appointment in a Mar. 26th media...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — To keep the momentum going and to ensure that all local residents stranded in the US are able to return home, Tagata Tutu Faatasi Alliance of American Samoa’s local members, along with family members, friends, supporters and repatriated passengers — returned last Friday...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Leading the procession of worshipers on a cloudy Palm Sunday, from Saint Joseph Community Malae, to the Holy Family Parish Cathedral for a combined Mass at Fatuoaiga. Prior to the procession, made up of more than 200 parishioners, there were morning prayers and blessing...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The federal government has requested additional time to file a response to the Territory of American Samoa’s writ of certiorari petition to review a federal appeal’s court ruling, which reversed a lower court decision dealing with the Large Vessel Protected Area (LVPA)...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The first of three cases against Tavita Lemuelu has been dismissed, under a plea agreement with the government. Last week, the defendant appeared in District Court and pled guilty to public peace disturbance in the second case. In the third case, the defendant pled...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man who pled guilty to public peace disturbance has been sentenced to 12 months probation, because the court said the 6-months probation recommended by attorneys from both sides is not enough.
Leati Mapu was initially charged with two counts of third degree assault and...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Due to construction on the runway, Ofu Airport — in the Manu’a island group — will be closed from Apr. 19th and will remain closed for up to six months, according to Port Administration director Christopher King in a recent public notice.
Port Administration apologizes...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga and the First Lady Ella Perefoti Mauga left for Manu'a last week on Samoa Airways and were scheduled to return Saturday afternoon, March 27, 2021.
According to a press release companying them on the trip were Lt. Governor Talauega...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a Mar. 22 memorandum to cabinet members, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga announced that ASG’s Commerce Department is accepting proposals from governmental departments or agencies for wellness programs to help improve the healthiness and fitness of the ASG...

![“In 2017, I was part of a bipartisan congressional delegation that visited several islands in the South Pacific,” Ranking Member Westerman said, in Wednesday’s hearing of the full Natural Resources Committee. “I remember being quite shocked at the state of the Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center.” [screenshot from virtual committee meeting] Screenshot from virtual Natural Resources committee meeting](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/amata_n_ranking_member_westerman.jpg?itok=ZRMXhAKX)

![Among the members and recent repatriated passengers at last Friday morning’s Tagata Tutu Fa’atasi Alliance of American Samoa “Thank You Wave” at Utulei, are Feo Lagafuaina (left), who was among the repatriated passengers on the first repatriation flight last month, and Veronica Vaouli-Gasio (right), who was among the passengers on the Mar. 10th repatriation flight. [photo: FS] Feo Lagafuaina (left) and Veronica Vaouli-Gasio (right)](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/img_5928.jpg?itok=fRpS7DEt)
![[photo: FS] Palm Sunday procession](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/palm_sunday_2021_5956.jpg?itok=sNDD50y0)



![Ofu Airport Rehabilitation Project Ground Breaking was held in front of Palega Misalefua Tausulu Executive Office Building near the runway. [Manu’atele Community Worldwide Facebook page] ASG officials at Ofu runway rehab groundbreaking](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/ofu_airport_rehab_groundbreaking.jpg?itok=06ICBE3b)
![Governor Lemanu visited the Manu’a Islands over the weekend on official business for the ground breaking of the Ofu Runway project and then headed over to Ta’ū Island Saturday for the ground breaking of a new construction site for Faleāsao Elementary School & construction of a School Lunch Program Warehouse. [Manu’atele Community WorldwideFacebook page] Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/gov_lemanu_in_ofu.jpg?itok=8Cf9tbiD)
![Lemanu explained that funding is being provided to pay for services provided through locally licensed fitness businesses and/or other well-established local fitness programs. [SN file photo] Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/gov_lemanu_at_desk_0493_12.jpg?itok=Xxfm95oz)