Local News
![Amanave native Ryan Taifane (center) with local US Army recruiters SFC Kenny Tran and 1SGT Josh Polonowski after Taifane was officially sworn in at the Konelio Pele Army Reserve Center earlier this month. Taifane is the first Samoan in five years to be sworn in locally as an officer candidate. [photo: LF]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Ryan%20Taifane%20N%20Army.jpg?itok=ETUe614a "Amanave native Ryan Taifane (center) with local US Army recruiters SFC Kenny Tran and 1SGT Josh Polonowski after Taifane was officially sworn in at the Konelio Pele Army Reserve Center earlier this month. Taifane is the first Samoan in five years to be sworn in locally as an officer candidate. [photo: LF]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — At 27, Ryan Taifane has his life plan laid out. And in less than two months, he will be tackling his first hurdle: boot camp.
The future military officer told Samoa News yesterday that his goal is "to go off island and make something of myself - do something that matters...
![Chief Justice Michael Kruse [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Kruse_0723_11.jpg?itok=dUVoYsqq "Chief Justice Michael Kruse [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 23-year-old father who was convicted of breaking into a room at Siliaga Elementary School in Aoloau and stealing a computer received a second chance from the court this week.
Chief Justice Michael Kruse ordered Tuna Talipope Lepou Suitulaga to be released from prison...
![Red Cross Volunteers hard at work at some of the Red Cross Point of distribution centers at the West side of the island over the weekend. At some PODs, frustrated residents, verbally abused volunteers, after standing in long lines only to find out that their names were not on the list. Residents were given phone numbers instead of supplies and told to contact the EOC to have their homes assessed and put on a list for emergency supplies. [Photo: THA]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/red%20cross%20supplies_0639.jpg?itok=f0rPsaqI "Red Cross Volunteers hard at work at some of the Red Cross Point of distribution centers at the West side of the island over the weekend. At some PODs, frustrated residents, verbally abused volunteers, after standing in long lines only to find out that their names were not on the list. Residents were given phone numbers instead of supplies and told to contact the EOC to have their homes assessed and put on a list for emergency supplies. [Photo: THA]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has submitted a request for a US Presidential major disaster declaration, which would pave the way for federal aid to American Samoa in the wake of Tropical Storm Gita that hit the territory on Feb. 9th.
In its 6p.m bulletin on Feb. 26, the...
![This Jan. 2017 file photo shows the area where the deadly accident took place on Saturday morning around noontime, Jan. 14, 2017. Yellow police tape encloses the area, with a fire truck and firefighters stationed on site as a precautionary measure. [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/electrocution%20site-4156_0.jpg?itok=CX2IjwxK "This Jan. 2017 file photo shows the area where the deadly accident took place on Saturday morning around noontime, Jan. 14, 2017. Yellow police tape encloses the area, with a fire truck and firefighters stationed on site as a precautionary measure. [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The local company alleged to have been contracted for crane service for a project at Manu’a’s Store at the Tafuna Industrial Park, where three men were electrocuted and died early last year, has contested the proposed fines of more than $17,000 imposed by the US...
![A ‘wear all blue’ day photo — Manulele SPED — that was posted on the ASCCC Facebook page last year in promoting colorectal cancer awareness. March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and the American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition is asking you take a picture or two, this Friday, Mar. 2nd, while wearing BLUE, and send it to them — to help promote awareness. [Courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Manulele%20SPED.jpg?itok=jxENf4na "A ‘wear all blue’ day photo — Manulele SPED — that was posted on the ASCCC Facebook page last year in promoting colorectal cancer awareness. March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and the American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition is asking you take a picture or two, this Friday, Mar. 2nd, while wearing BLUE, and send it to them — to help promote awareness. [Courtesy photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — March is designated as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal (colon) cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States.
It is important for everyone to know that colorectal cancer is “preventable, treatable and beatable”...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has submitted a request for a US Presidential major disaster declaration, which would pave the way for federal aide to American Samoa in the wake of the Feb. 9 Tropical Storm Gita.
In its 6p.m bulletin on Feb. 26, the Emergency Operations Center...
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/AM%20Samoa%20HC_98.jpeg?itok=CBViEdTA "[SN file photo]")
OKESENE ALO
Chief Justice Michael Kruse has granted a motion by private attorney Richard deSaulles to withdraw himself as counsel for Okesene Alo, one of the four DPS officers assigned to the Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) in Tafuna, who is facing various drug and sex charges.
During Alo’s...
![[photo: FS]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fuel%20tanks%200859.jpg?itok=RzrZiLEm "[photo: FS]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — This Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, photo shows the new Jet-A-Fuel Tank Farm, which is currently under construction; it’s where the airport jet fuel tank farm will be relocated from its current site next to the Tafuna Airport parking lot. The Lolo Administration moved forward...
![In addition to her meeting with the American Chamber of Commerce in Auckland, Aumua also spoke to the leaders of the high-powered women's organization Pacifica, whose President is Tofilau Bernadette Pereira, the sister of Iulogologo J. Pereira, Executive Assistant to Governor Lolo. [courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Pacifica.jpg?itok=ne3J7D50 "In addition to her meeting with the American Chamber of Commerce in Auckland, Aumua also spoke to the leaders of the high-powered women's organization Pacifica, whose President is Tofilau Bernadette Pereira, the sister of Iulogologo J. Pereira, Executive Assistant to Governor Lolo. [courtesy photo]")
Washington, D.C. – Last week, Congresswoman Aumua Amata met with the American Chamber of Commerce group of Auckland, New Zealand, many of whom have extensive business endeavors throughout the Pacific, to encourage investment in American Samoa and to explore any possible ways to strengthen the...
![A photo from last Saturday when police were called to one of the Points of Distribution for the Red Cross.
[photo: THA]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/ft%20page%20red%20cross%20assessment.jpg?itok=iGI6wLKM "A photo from last Saturday when police were called to one of the Points of Distribution for the Red Cross.
[photo: THA]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Last Saturday when police were called to one of the Points of Distribution for the Red Cross, Samoa News was told that no one was arrested; however, people were not happy — after the long wait in line, to be told they were not on the ‘assessment’ list. More than one...