Local News
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Fofo County Rep. Andra Samoa has utilized her $30,000 a year office expense allowance — tax free — to among other things, purchase new sewing machines to help 17 residents of her beloved Leone village “seek entrepreneur opportunities” after attending four months of...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 35-year-old man accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl has pled guilty.
Mapu Tagaloa, who is out on a $10,000 surety bond, appeared in High Court last week for a Change of Plea hearing.
Assistant Public Defender Rob McNeill represents Tagaloa, while prosecuting...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Government’s FY2020 budget threshold is set at the same ceiling as the current fiscal year, and deadline for submission of proposed budgets is 4p.m., June 7th, according to Office of Program Planning and Budget director Catherine D. Saelua’s budget...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The court has granted a 30-day continuance for several criminal matters against Elliott Siaumau Jr.
Last week, Siaumau Jr appeared in court for a pretrial conference in one case, a continued initial appearance in another, and an order to show cause to modify/revoke...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 24-year-old accused of burglarizing a trio of Tafuna stores last year has entered into a plea agreement with the government.
Motu Meleisea was initially charged in three separate cases. In the first case, he was charged with stealing and first-degree burglary, both...
Washington, DC — Congresswoman Aumua Amata is pleased to inform her constituents that the U.S. Senate has passed a disaster relief bill containing Amata’s $18 million provision for nutrition assistance in American Samoa, and her request for a 100 percent match for Medicaid. Under the new compromise...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Samoa News was contacted early last Friday by a disgruntled nurse claiming that her colleagues were about to "walk out" because they were upset that their overtime hours were not included in their paychecks that were issued that day.
Apparently the overtime hours for...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Last Thursday, government employees who work at the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building (EOB) in Utulei had to buy their morning coffee and lunch plates elsewhere, after Department of Health (DOH) inspectors closed off the Le Fonuea, a fast food establishment located...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The jurors have spoken: Manu Lefatia is 'not guilty' of all three charges that were filed against him by the government.
Lefatia was accused of taking police on a high speed chase back on Dec. 24, 2017. A jury of six — all females — were convinced by defense attorney...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The High Court is taking under advisement a motion from the government to revoke bail for Alex Brown, a.k.a Aleki Palauni.
Prosecutor Laura Garvey said the government feels Brown violated conditions of his release from a previous case filed last year.
On Feb. 20th, Brown...

![This recent photo provided by Fofo County Rep. Andra Samoa shows sewing instructor, Diana Tarrant (sitting) teaching certain methods of sewing to a participant of the four-month, Leone village sewing class, whose 17 participants are graduating today. Rep. Samoa used her tax-free Fono allowance to fund the classes. [courtesy photo] sewing instructor, Diana Tarrant teaching certain methods of sewing to a participant](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/a_leone_village_sewing.jpg?itok=ixBBoMtN)

![ASG Office of Program Planning and Budget director, Catherine D. Saelua [SN file photo] Office of Program Planning and Budget director Catherine D. Saelua](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/catherine_saelua_6467cropped_5.jpg?itok=X-CofW4E)


![Congresswoman Amata urging her $18 million amendment on the floor of the House this month. [photo: courtesy] Congresswoman Amata speaking on the floor of the House](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/amata_urging_her_18_million_amendment_before_the_house.jpg?itok=DzE6NKHq)

![[photo: BC] Le Fonuea eatery with closed sign](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/le_fonuea_copy.jpg?itok=9YPi5sCY)
![NOT GUILTY: In a unanimous vote, jurors handed down a 'not guilty' verdict last week in the government's case against Manu Lefatia, who was alleged to have taken police on a high-speed chase in 2017. [photo: AF] Manu Lefatia in handcuffs escorted by two police officers](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/manu_lefatia_1110_0.jpg?itok=ylDcCkIw)
