Local News
![Congresswoman Amata with Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao in a committee room on Capitol Hill. [courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Congresswoman%20Amata%20with%20Transportation%20Secretary%20Elaine%20Chao%20in%20a%20Committee%20room%20on%20Capitol%20Hill.jpg?itok=96GaDCo9 "Congresswoman Amata with Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao in a committee room on Capitol Hill. [courtesy photo]")
Washington, D.C. – Friday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata highlighted the first steps in developing a national infrastructure plan, which President Trump urged in this week’s State of the Union Address, and said she will work to bring attention to American Samoa’s needs in Congress. The draft planning...
![“GOLDEN” [coourtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/healthy%20dog_1964.jpg?itok=D1F_75nc "“GOLDEN” [coourtesy photo]")
People often look at my dog, “Golden”, and assume I brought him from off island because he is so big and healthy. He’s a Samoan dog, the best kind there is. As the territorial veterinarian, I am often asked how he stays so good looking and healthy. Here is a list of seven things you can do to help...
The local Homeland Security Department (ASDHS) is conducting an investigation into the laser incident, which occurred the evening of Jan. 19 while a Hawaiian Airlines aircraft was heading for landing at Pago Pago International Airport.
Hawaiian spokesperson, Ann Botticelli told Samoa News early...
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/pago-pago-airport_7.jpeg?itok=S9lFMNxt "[SN file photo]")
American Samoans can use the territorial government-issued Certificate of Identity for travel to Hawaii as long they provide additional identification information, required by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) - which oversees security checks points at all US airports.
ASG...
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/AM%20Samoa%20HC_85.jpeg?itok=M82bSAvh "[SN file photo]")
MELCHOR ALAMIS
The government is going forward with their case against Melchor Alamis even without what could have been one of their strongest pieces of evidence — the results of a DNA test. Investigators recently discovered that the sample for the DNA test that was sent over to the LBJ Lab for...
![American Samoa Drugs Council including Acting Chief of Customs, Keith Gebaur [Photo: RNZ Pacific / Monica Miller]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_Drugs_Council.JPG?itok=dB82I-BH "American Samoa Drugs Council including Acting Chief of Customs, Keith Gebaur [Photo: RNZ Pacific / Monica Miller]")
Law enforcement officials say a lot of the illegal drugs smuggled into American Samoa are coming through the local postal service.
Federal and local officials are meeting in Pago Pago to discuss an increasing drug problem.
Close to 20 federal agents representing the Coast Guard, FBI, Alcohol...
![This 2017 Sword family photo posted on social media, shows the late Mrs. Juliette Caroline Sword (right) with her husband of 29 years, Taulapapa William Sword. [photo: Sword family]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Will%20n%20Julie.jpg?itok=sxCrVf8L "This 2017 Sword family photo posted on social media, shows the late Mrs. Juliette Caroline Sword (right) with her husband of 29 years, Taulapapa William Sword. [photo: Sword family]")
Taulapapa William Sword has confirmed the passing of his wife, Juliette Caroline Sword, the first Miss South Pacific (1987), who was Miss American Samoa at the time.
Her final church service will be at the Mililani Mortuary Makai Chapel on the island of Oahu in Hawai’i, and is set for 9:30a.m. Feb...
![Site of the since demolished Fono building [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/empty%20fono%20lot_0.jpg?itok=Vqgs6OGy "Site of the since demolished Fono building [SN file photo]")
To help cover costs of renting temporary office space until the proposed new Fono building is completed, the Senate — through a non-binding resolution — is requesting to the governor for a “temporary office stipend” of $500 a month for each legislator.
Introduced on Wednesday, the resolution noted...
![Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Lei_0413_2.jpg?itok=nGAlqzGN "Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson [SN file photo]")
Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson told Samoa News that DPS is treating the alleged misconduct case involving a male DPS officer assigned to the Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) seriously, and he will do everything in his power to make sure the person or persons involved face prosecution.
“This...
![Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/GovLolo_0766_23.jpg?itok=W_RkU9Eo "Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga [SN file photo]")
Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga cited the Department of Human and Social Service food stamp fraud case, as an example of problems occurring in a department or office if directors leave their leadership roles to someone else, while the cabinet member is off island for weeks.
The DHSS food stamp fraud...