Legality of merging DPW and Correction Dept. questioned during budget hearing
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Governor’s Executive Order for the Department of Corrections to temporarily merge with the Department of Public Safety was called into question during the b









![The biological sampling sessions covered fish dissections, gonad extraction and staging, otolith extraction and genetic sampling. [courtesy photo] biological sampling session](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fisheries_monitoring.jpg?itok=PQOBL3Eo)
![A PIFSC scientist collects biological samples from fish caught during the Pago Pago fishing tournament in American Samoa in June 2026. Biological sampling provides information that supports stock assessments and fisheries management. [photo: WPRFMC] scientist collects biological samples](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/westpac.png?itok=K4bvgXeg)