Local News
![This Mar. 22, 2018 photo shows residents waiting to register for federal assistant at the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) inside the DYWA Pago Pago Youth Center. [photo: FEMA]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/DRC1_0.jpg?itok=JJL0hq_S "This Mar. 22, 2018 photo shows residents waiting to register for federal assistant at the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) inside the DYWA Pago Pago Youth Center. [photo: FEMA]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — American Red Cross personnel and volunteers deployed to American Samoa following last month’s Tropical Storm have returned to the US, with their disaster recovery work completed and turned over to the local Red Cross as registration for assistance at the Disaster...
![In this 2017 file photo, Senate legal counsel, Mitzie Jessop-Ta’ase (left) is pictured in the Senate chamber with Senator Magalei Logovi’i [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/senate%200324.jpg?itok=-qt6sNUp "In this 2017 file photo, Senate legal counsel, Mitzie Jessop-Ta’ase (left) is pictured in the Senate chamber with Senator Magalei Logovi’i [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Current law setting the marriage age for females at 14-years old, with the consent of a parent or guardian, was passed by the Fono many years ago during the Seventh Legislature, says Senate legal counsel, Mitzie Jessop-Ta’ase in testimony before a Senate committee...
![Rep. Vailiuama Steve Leasiolagi [photo by AF]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/RepVailiuama_0097.jpg?itok=jA77h4zT "Rep. Vailiuama Steve Leasiolagi [photo by AF]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Rep. Vailuama Steve Leasiolagi told KVZK-TV deputy director, Tautinei Misioka Olo during a hearing before the House Government Operations committee last Friday, that Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga should not be involved in making decisions about how the government’s...
![ERTF chairman Utu Abe Malae [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Utu%20file%20photo_0813_3.jpg?itok=O4QSesw1 "ERTF chairman Utu Abe Malae [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Educational Reform Task Force (ERTF) has drafted a proposed bill that, according to ERTF chairman Utu Abe Malae, "significantly restructures the form of public education in the Territory, and further updates the current statutory scheme which dates from the 1960s and...
![Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Gov%20Lolo%202833%20web_10.jpg?itok=eRRgQDgQ "Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMAERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga defended ASG’s position in voting against Western Pacific Fisheries Management Council recommendations on a large vessel Prohibited Area, according to a Radio New Zealand story supplied by KHJ Radio.
Lolo said the government would maintain its...
![Congresswoman Amata and a Natural Resources Committee colleague, Congressman Daniel Webster of Florida, working on a markup of a bill in March. [courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/webRecent%20photo%20from%20a%20Committee%20markup%20this%20month.jpg?itok=1rRHWQP1 "Congresswoman Amata and a Natural Resources Committee colleague, Congressman Daniel Webster of Florida, working on a markup of a bill in March. [courtesy photo]")
Washington, D.C. — Friday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata announced the passage of H.R. 1625, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, the major yearly government funding bill, including an increase in the ASG operations account and a 2.4% military pay raise.
The negotiators in the House of...
![An earlier clinic held in 2012. [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Spay%20and%20Neuter%20031.jpg?itok=3RmpPdDH "An earlier clinic held in 2012. [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Department of Agriculture Veterinary Clinic has scheduled village clinics on the following dates:
March 28 - Iliili at the Leituala Guesthouse
April 25 & 26 - Leone at Andra Samoa’s residence
Clinics will be held from 8am-3pm, and pre-registration is available...
![Vaifanua faipule, Rep. Lavea Fatulegae’e Palepoi Mauga was told by the House Speaker to remember that he's a faipule and he needs to act like one, especially when he's in the House chamber. See story for more details. [photo: AF]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Rep%20Lavea_0068.jpg?itok=4Of9lYNv "Vaifanua faipule, Rep. Lavea Fatulegae’e Palepoi Mauga was told by the House Speaker to remember that he's a faipule and he needs to act like one, especially when he's in the House chamber. See story for more details. [photo: AF]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale has reprimanded Vaifanua faipule, Rep. Lavea Fatulegaee Palepoi Mauga to remember he is a faipule and he has to behave himself when he's in the House chamber.
“You've been given warnings so many times, to comply with all House Rules and...
![Three ASPA workers on a return boat ride last Friday from Aunu’u to Auasi. [photo: Leua Aiono Frost]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/AUNUU.jpg?itok=Pmv7iqMF "Three ASPA workers on a return boat ride last Friday from Aunu’u to Auasi. [photo: Leua Aiono Frost]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The island-village of Aunu’u is getting help from the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council to develop its 'alia fishery.
Among the issues raised during a presentation on American Samoa, at last week’s Council meeting in Honolulu, was an update on Aunu’u’s...
![Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson appeared before the House Public Safety Committee yesterday to discuss various DPS issues, including the alleged mistreatment of inmates at the TCF. [photo: AF]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Lei_0046.jpg?itok=qdDTzPFg "Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson appeared before the House Public Safety Committee yesterday to discuss various DPS issues, including the alleged mistreatment of inmates at the TCF. [photo: AF]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Police Commissioner Le'i Sonny Thompson has accused Samoa News of not reporting anything positive about DPS’s daily service to the community, including issues that were discussed during a hearing before the House Budget and Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, where a...