February 2021
ASHSAA girls soccer season underway
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The victorious Fa’asao Cougars Soccer Teams both Varsity and Junior Varsity from Fa’asao Marist High School gather for a team meeting during the conclusion of their matc
Vice Speaker tells faipule to tone down questions at confirmation hearings
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Vice Speaker of the House, Fetu Fetui Jr told his fellow faipule to refrain from asking so many questions of the governor’s appointees appearing in the House Ch
Gov Lemanu moves responsibility for school maintenance back to DOE
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga has rescinded another directive issued by his predecessor.
Young man charged with over 25 counts of sex abuse including rape
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — An alleged sexual relationship between two high school students resulted with a young man being arrested and charged with more than 20 criminal charges, after t
More contagious UK variant of COVID-19 may have been found In Hawaii
Honolulu, HAWAII — A highly contagious COVID-19 variant first detected in southeast England may be present in Hawaii, state health officials said Tuesday.
New DOC director fully confirmed after Senate approves nomination 18-0
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — If an incident of “sexual harassment” surfaces within the Commerce Department, “we will address it and we will remove that person, there are no questions asked
Change order reason for delay in renovation of Amouli Health Center
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — It was the high cost of the “change order’ from the construction company doing the repairs for the Amouli Health Center that caused the delay to the work, accor
First-batch of stimulus checks for territory to be released next week
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The second round of Economic Impact Payments (EIP) — or stimulus checks, as part of the federal COVID Related Tax Relief Act, will be distributed in three batch
Gov posts messages to returning residents and issues new directives
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As television news footage out of Honolulu on the morning of Feb.


![The Faga’itua Vikings Girls Soccer Team posing for a Samoa News photo following the conclusion of their match up against the South Paci c Academy Dolphins yesterday at the FFAS Soccer Field in Pago Pago – Faga’itua suffered a 2 - 1 loss against the Dolphins. [photo: Heavenly Letuli] The Faga’itua Vikings Girls Soccer Team](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/top_3620_n.jpg?itok=o1wBFShh)
![“Lets make our work much easier by giving them [governor’s nominees] our support and confirming them,” Rep. Fetu Fetui Jr. told faipule. [photo: AF] Rep. Fetu Fetui Jr](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/rep_fetu_0843.jpg?itok=Cc5I3JuI)
![Through a Jan. 28th memorandum, released this week by the Governor’s Office, Lemanu directed the transfer of the school maintenance division back to ASDOE. [SN file photo] Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/lemanu_head_shot_3.jpg?itok=EXvdU_ya)

![The state’s public health laboratory needs several days to confirm whether or not a highly transmissible U.K. COVID-19 variant has arrived in Hawaii. [Ronen Zilberman/Civil Beat] Healthcare worker with COVID-19 test kit](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/covid-testing-sample-kit-.jpg?itok=-U2BZXD3)
![Former Commerce director Fuiavaili’ili Keniseli Lafaele (left) and the now, fully confirmed new DOC director Petti Tagipo Matila (right) pose for a photo yesterday following Matila’s confirmation hearing before a Senate committee. Fuiavaili’ili was among several family members, friends, and co-workers in the Senate gallery during the confirmation hearing. During her testimony, Matila removed her face mask to ensure that senators heard her replies to questions. [photo: FS] Former Commerce director Fuiavaili’ili Keniseli Lafaele (left) and new DOC director Petti Tagipo Matila](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/doc_directors_old_and_new.jpg?itok=WsNWpNhc)
![Current condition at the Amouli Health Center, where the high cost of a change order has delayed the renovation, according to the DoH director. [photo by AF] Photo of Amouli Health Center](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/amouli_health_center_0264.jpg?itok=zayUzZ0X)
![According to Malemo, taxpayers with valid mailing addresses on their 2019 tax return should expect their checks in the mail while those without mailing addresses are to pick up their checks from Treasury’s Disbursing Office at the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building in Utulei. [SN file photo] ASG Treasurer Malemo Tausaga](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/treasurer_malemo-tausaga-e1554187171392-o5rmz2t95ew2x8gxgnu2xdljl5ljwb3bmmw83mkhgc.jpg?itok=XCh1sKxn)
![This Feb. 1st Samoa News photo shows an American Samoa Power Authority vehicle pulling up on front of the entrance — manned by police — to the Tradewinds Hotel, where 159 passengers from Monday’s repatriation flight are in quarantine for 14-days. A banner — produced by Tagata Tutu Fa’atasi of American Samoa Alliance — on the side fence welcomes home the repatriated passengers. The entrance has a tent with police officers and other security personnel to stop unauthorized people. [photo: FS] Police vehicle and policeman blocking road into Tradewinds Hotel](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/quarantine_site.jpg?itok=cehuDgdZ)