Local News
Washington, D.C. — Friday, Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata detailed what’s in the telehealth grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will enhance local maternal health services. This federal funding relies in part on appropriations from Congress in 2020 COVID relief legislation...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Vice Speaker of the House, Rep. Fetu Fetui Jr has called the move by the Lemanu & Talauega Administration to roll back pay raises and conversion of several employees from contract to career service as “unprofessional and unfair” during a hearing with the newly...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Thirteen teachers at South Pacific Academy who went on strike last week Monday presented a signed petition to the SPA board of directors, which met on Wednesday afternoon. The meeting was chaired by new board member, Fiti Sunia, who is also the Associate Justice of the...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man who was convicted of stealing was released from custody, after the court determined that the 12 months he served at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF), to await sentencing, was enough punishment.
Tomasi Faumui, under a plea agreement with the government,...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 40-year-old man who is on probation for 12 months was arrested last month on the allegation that he assaulted his neighbor while he was intoxicated.
Vaega Toala made his initial appearance last week. He is charged with 3rd degree assault, trespass, resisting arrest,...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The driver of a blue truck that was pulled over by police two weeks ago for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) is also being charged with unlawful possession of drugs.
David Tone, who has a pending drug case in High Court made his initial appearance in District...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In an order issued Mar. 3rd, US District Court Judge, Trevor N. McFadden with the federal court in Washington D.C has denied another request by local resident Steven Jay Pincus Hueter’s for a Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction against federal and...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A young man convicted of burglarizing a home and stealing several items worth more than $2,000 was released from custody last week after the court decided that the 272 days he served while awaiting the outcome of his case was enough detention in this matter.
Tasi So’...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 41-year-old man from Samoa who was convicted for violating the drug laws of the territory was ordered to depart the territory and remain outside of its border, as a condition of his 5-year probation sentence.
Vincent Viiltone, who has been in custody since his arrest...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Close to 24,000 COVID-19 vaccination shots have been administered to date in the territory.
This is about 42 percent of the eligible population according to the Department of Health's Aifili Dr John Tufa.
The latest vaccination site, which opened Monday at the Lee...

![Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata congratulated local government agencies and grant writers who “undoubtedly worked hard to get the people of American Samoa this vital support,” including Health Dept. director Motusa Nua. [courtesy photo] Amata with Motusa](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/_congresswoman_uifaatali_amata_and_director_motusa_nua.jpg?itok=tRcGSVrT)
![Department of Human Resource director, Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo appeared before the House Government Operations Committee last Friday for a hearing to answer faipule questions regarding the roll back issue. [photo by AF] Department of Human Resource director, Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/hr_director_lynn_0205.jpg?itok=zQmdyeU5)
![A CIRCLE OF PRAYER — South Pacific Academy teachers are going into the second week of a strike and were joined last week by parents who support the teachers’ move to see policies established with teacher input to address serious conflicts of interest with overseeing grades, student policies and classroom management. [courtesy photo] Striking SPA teachers with their supporters outside of the school.](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/teacher_strike_1.jpg?itok=ZtGkU-eq)
![Faumui was credited the 12 months he spent in pretrial confinement and the balance (8 months) is stayed as long as he complies with all conditions of probation. Faumui is ordered to pay a $500 fine within 6 months, and find a job. [SN file photo] TCF Territorial Correctional Facility sign](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tcf_100.jpg?itok=4CtPT5VJ)
![According to the victim’s son, Toala became upset when his father did not do what the defendant wanted him to do. The victim and his family are neighbors with the defendant and there are times the defendant gave instructions to the victim for things he wanted the victim or his children to do. However, the victim instructed his children not to do anything Toala instructed them to do because he (Toala) is not the family Sa’o. [SN file photo] Court Report banner](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/court-report_605.jpg?itok=8uM_CEYS)
![David Tone, who has a pending drug case in High Court made his initial appearance in District Court two weeks ago. [SN file photo] American Samoa District Court building](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/district_court_196.jpg?itok=PmgjiiL8)
![According to the federal judge, the “Court finds that Hueter has not met his burden to show that the extraordinary relief of a temporary restraining order is warranted here.” [SN file photo] Federal Courthouse Washington, D.C.](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fed_ct_washington_dc_3.jpg?itok=S2STBffD)
![The good news is, according to the court, the stolen items were recovered by cops and returned to the owner. [SN file photo] Court Report banner](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/court-report_604.jpg?itok=b-Sx9A7a)
![Execution of sentence was suspended and the defendant is placed on probation for the period of 5 years, subject to certain conditions, including serving a period of detention of 20 months at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF); time already served would be counted toward his sentence; the remaining period of detention is stayed, and he is ordered to depart the territory and remain outside of its border for this stayed period. [SN file photo] American Samoa High Court building](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/high_court_123.jpg?itok=8ZGtZDe8)
![Dr Tufa said American Samoa's coverage is now one of the top among US states and territories. [SN file photo] Department of Health's Aifili Dr John Tufa](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/dr_a_tufa_1.jpg?itok=ClBgES7_)