Local News
Washington, D.C. — Monday, Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata is hailing the signing into law of a bipartisan effort, which included U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and John Boozman, R-Ark., and U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., Colin Allred, D-Texas, and Amata Coleman Radewagen, R-American...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The United Sates and American Samoa flags are flying at half-staff as of yesterday morning at the entrance into the Port of Pago Pago, as ordered by Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga in a memo issued yesterday for flags be flown at half-staff as a “mark of respect...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga delivered his first State of the Territory Address before a joint session of the Fono yesterday at the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium to officially open the first regular session of the 37th Legislature.
The sitting governor is...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — After reviewing evidence presented by the government during a Motion to Suppress hearing last Friday for the defendant Gaisoa Mapo, accused of unlawful possession of cocaine, Chief Justice Michael Kruse has denied the defense’s motion, saying that there was probable...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Federal Government’s Paycheck Protection Program reopens today, Jan. 11, offering forgivable loans to small businesses and allowing certain cash-strapped firms to borrow a second time, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Congress authorized up to $...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Danny Mika was sentenced by the High Court to 5 years probation after he was convicted of unlawful possession of methamphetamine. As a condition of his probation, he was ordered to serve a period of detention of 20 months, minus the 106 days Mika served before he posted...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The driver of a red pick-up truck in which investigators allegedly found a black pouch containing a green leafy substance and white crystalline substance has been arrested and charged with unlawful possession of illegal drugs in the territory.
Opetaia Valaau made his...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Lealaifuaneva Peter E. Reid Charitable Foundation awarded charitable grants for Year 2021 for more than $89,000, to the Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago and the Boys & Girls Club of American Samoa, on Thursday, January 7, 2021.
The Foundation’s president Olivia Cecilia...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Nearly 20 citizens of Samoa are still in jail, even though they have already served their period of detention, awaiting deportation pursuant to court orders. These inmates are still stuck inside the Territorial Correctional Facility (TFC) because American Samoa’s borders...
Apia, SAMOA — There are now more than 2000 Samoans wanting to return home and more are expected to register in the coming weeks.
The Samoa Observer reports the numbers were confirmed by the Chairman of the National Emergency Operations Centre, Agafili Shem Leo, at a press conference on Thursday.
"...

![Congresswoman Amata and Veterans wave the U.S. Flag on Veterans Day 2020 [courtesy photo] Amata and Veterans wave the U.S. Flag on Veterans Day 2020](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/veterans_day_2020_waveweb.jpg?itok=iwQLRBDj)

![[l-r] Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga, House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale and Chief Justice Michael Kruse at the start of yesterday’s Joint Fono session at the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium, where the governor delivered his first State of the Territory Address. [photo: Leua Aiono Frost] [l-r] Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga, House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale and Chief Justice Michael Kruse](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/asg_leaders.jpg?itok=Ev3ifu_G)
![Chief Justice Michael Kruse has denied the defense’s motion, saying that there was probable cause that led to the arrest of the defendant after which drugs were allegedly discovered in his possession on the night of July 25, 2020. [SN file photo] Chief Justice Michael Kruse](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/kruse_0723_7.png?itok=suZU3ZAU)

![American Samoa High Court building [SN file photo] American Samoa High Court building](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/high_court_100.jpg?itok=brRgqdr1)

![The Lealaifuaneva Peter E. Reid Charitable Foundation for 2021 has awarded charitable funding to the Boys & Girls Club of American Samoa for a skills initiative. The check was presented to BGCAS' Chief Professional Officer/Executive Director, Sailipea Ken D. Barber, since the Chairman of the Board of Directors/ Chief Volunteer Officer, Mrs. Mary Tulafono, is off-island. In this group photo Barber is in the back row, second from the left and some of the great staff of the BGCAS, with the President of the Foundation, Olivia Cecilia Reid center. [Courtesy photo] Reid Foundation presentation at Boys & Girls club](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/reid_foundation_grant_image2.jpg?itok=HKxO1qnr)
![Temporary Acting Police Commissioner, Fo’ifua Fo’ifua Jr., as the appointed PC is still off-island — in a photo taken during the official opening of the new TCF building in Tafuna in 2016 — Fo'ifua was then the correctional facility warden. He spoke to Samoa News about the nearly 20 citizens of Samoa still in jail awaiting deportation while borders are closed between the two Samoas. [photo by AF] Temporary Acting Police Commissioner, Fo’ifua Fo’ifua Jr.](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/foifua_foifua_jr_0513.jpg?itok=-XXpQ4pJ)
!["The Committee can confirm that the number of citizens wanting to return has reached 2,000 on the list at the moment," Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Agafili Shem Leo revealed. He predicted that by next week it will probably go up to 2,500 people. [photo: Samoa Government] Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Agafili Shem Leo](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/agafili_shem_leo_1.jpg?itok=R1VW4RWn)