Local News
![Satellite imagery of Tropical Storm Gita at 1 a.m., Feb. 10, 2018 local time. [image from Joint Typhoon Warning Center]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/1%20am%2010-jan%20am%20sam%20time.jpg?itok=WZXJ6CCk "Satellite imagery of Tropical Storm Gita at 1 a.m., Feb. 10, 2018 local time. [image from Joint Typhoon Warning Center]")
OVERNIGHT UPDATE — Tropical storm Gita began to move away from Tutuila late yesterday afternoon while a tropical storm warning remains in effect for all of American Samoa. The National Weather Service warned that heavy rainfall and runoffs may cause small streams to overflow resulting in flooding...
![Salend Singh (second from right) with his family including his wife and daughter outside of High Court after the jury found him not guilty to all four charges against him. [photo by AF]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Salene%20Singh_0725.jpg?itok=SBuwNCT9 "Salend Singh (second from right) with his family including his wife and daughter outside of High Court after the jury found him not guilty to all four charges against him. [photo by AF]")
Tears of joy were seen in High Court yesterday afternoon when the jury delivered their verdict of “not guilty” to all four charges filed by the American Samoa government against Salend Singh, who is now a free man.
A six-member jury took over two hours to deliberate on their verdict, after hearing...
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/AM%20Samoa%20HC_90.jpeg?itok=h4vtuPXz "[SN file photo]")
THIRD ALLEGED WU THEFT AT SAME BRANCH
Another former Western Union employee have been charged with stealing money from its customers. The government alleges Mavis Fusimalohi stole $1,000 from an Asian customer, while employed at the Western Union branch in Nu’uuli.
The case against Fusimalohi...
![Amata discusses veterans’ health services and planning with Director Jennifer Gutowski in a visit to Tripler Center in Honolulu. [courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Amata_%20Veterans%20health%20services.jpg?itok=5uq9yYSR "Amata discusses veterans’ health services and planning with Director Jennifer Gutowski in a visit to Tripler Center in Honolulu. [courtesy photo]")
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Aumua Amata visited Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu on Monday where veterans from American Samoa often seek health services that are not available to them through the VA locally in American Samoa.
The Congresswoman spoke with Jennifer Gutowski, Director of...
![Called by village residents — our temporary “lake” — it’s seen in this photo yesterday morning — it’s the Malaeloa malae. [SN photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Malaeloa%20flood.jpg?itok=dLSumkWF "Called by village residents — our temporary “lake” — it’s seen in this photo yesterday morning — it’s the Malaeloa malae. [SN photo]")
Around 3p.m. today, Thursday, the National Weather Service in Tafuna issued a Tropical Storm Watch for American Samoa, as Tropical Disturbance 07F was upgraded to Tropical Storm 07F - which is “intensifying and slow moving” towards the Samoan islands.
By tomorrow morning, Friday, the storm will “...
The Coast Guard, port partners and local authorities are responding the grounding of the 88-foot commercial fishing vessel Chui Zai Fa No. 1 about 300 yards off Leone Bay, Wednesday.
Coast Guard responders are en route to American Samoa from Honolulu expected to arrive Wednesday afternoon via an HC...
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/AM%20Samoa%20HC_89.jpeg?itok=H95QcAe7 "[SN file photo]")
The jury trial of the businessman charged with attempted sexually assault of a 13-year-old schoolboy continues in the High Court.
The defense called a number of witnesses including the victim, his teacher, the responding police officer and two residents of the Mt. Logotala area. The witnesses...
![Territorial Bank of American Samoa president Philip Ware shares with reporters from local media the “Official Notice of Routing Number Assignment” issued to TBAS by the American Bankers Association, during an interview Wednesday. Ware plans to put the notice in a picture frame and display it in the bank’s lobby for all to see. [photo: FS]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Phil%20Ware%200786.jpg?itok=OxHH3e7I "Territorial Bank of American Samoa president Philip Ware shares with reporters from local media the “Official Notice of Routing Number Assignment” issued to TBAS by the American Bankers Association, during an interview Wednesday. Ware plans to put the notice in a picture frame and display it in the bank’s lobby for all to see. [photo: FS]")
Territorial Bank of American Samoa (TBAS) is now at work setting up its “master account” with the Federal Reserve Bank, after getting official confirmation last week that the bank is authorized to establish the account, which is the second step needed for the government owned bank to move forward...
![Rep. Fialupe Felila Fiaui Lutu [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Fialupe%20Lutu_0921_1.jpg?itok=BE0_tJMR "Rep. Fialupe Felila Fiaui Lutu [SN file photo]")
Female Rep. Fialupe Felila Fiaui Lutu is moving to amend local marriage laws, by raising the marrying age for females to 18 from the current 14-years old.
Provisions of local law pertaining to “Requisites of Marriage”, state in part that the male shall be at least 18 years old and the female at...
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Pago%20Dist%20Court%20014_83.jpeg?itok=nhRqU6y_ "[SN file photo]")
District Court Judge Fiti Sunia has dismissed one count of criminal fraud against one of the defendants — Jane Vasa — from the Department of Human and Social Services (DHSS) food stamp program, after the government was unable to provide sufficient evidence to the court during her preliminary...