Local News
![Elijah Jared Tavai exits the front door of the District Court yesterday morning after his initial appearance on 3 criminal charges — child abuse, patronizing prostitution, and endangering the welfare of a child — stemming from an alleged incident involving one of his male students when he was a teacher at Leone High School. [photo: AF]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Elijah%20Tavai_0968.jpg?itok=iyF4fFmJ "Elijah Jared Tavai exits the front door of the District Court yesterday morning after his initial appearance on 3 criminal charges — child abuse, patronizing prostitution, and endangering the welfare of a child — stemming from an alleged incident involving one of his male students when he was a teacher at Leone High School. [photo: AF]")
A 29-year-old man — a Leone High School (LHS) music teacher — from Lepuapua has been charged for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a male student, who later contracted a sexually transmitted disease.
Elijah Jared Tavai made his initial appearance before District Court Judge Fiti Sunia...
![Palolo hunting in American Samoa. [photo: Sea Pics.com]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/092257-450-palolo-worm.jpg?itok=a3x4xdst "Palolo hunting in American Samoa. [photo: Sea Pics.com]")
It's that time of year again. Time to break out the homemade nets, a flashlight, and a plastic container to scoop up the delicacy that is only found in this part of the world, during this time of year: PALOLO!
According to the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR), the palolo rising...
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/ASTCA_6.jpg?itok=D9kOgk8f "[SN file photo]")
Among the conditions of a second loan for the American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority is that the ASG Employees Retirement Fund has part ownership in the spur connecting American Samoa to the new Hawaiki Submarine Cable, to be launched mid-2018.
This is according to testimony by Retirement Fund...
![Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/GovLolo_0766_7.jpg?itok=VCV4hfO9 "Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga [SN file photo]")
Now that the Executive Branch workforce has returned to a full 80-hour pay period, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has set by executive order the regulating and controlling of over- time and compensatory time; and all are required to follow or be subjected to termination if violations continue.
During a...
![The 26th Police Academy kicked off yesterday with training inside the conference room at the OMV in Tafuna, with 32 recruits. [photo: AF]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/page4_Page_1_Image_0003.jpg?itok=XErvTqhz "The 26th Police Academy kicked off yesterday with training inside the conference room at the OMV in Tafuna, with 32 recruits. [photo: AF]")
Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson has called on recruits of the new police academy not to deviate from carrying out their duty, which is to protect the lives of the com- munity — young and old — including many foreigners who have made American Samoa their home.
“This is the beginning of a new...
![Samoa’s Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoaPM_18.jpg?itok=d9t3Xcl6 "Samoa’s Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi [SN file photo]")
Doctors are still conducting checks in New Zealand on Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi since being medivacced late last week.
The medical checks were recommended by doctors in Samoa.
In a statement yesterday the Prime Minister said the checks were progressing well and doctors would...
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/AM%20Samoa%20HC_48.jpeg?itok=ajlTfh1Q "[SN file photo]")
After nearly three years, the High Court finally issued a decision in the case of a 26-year-old woman who was found with a glass pipe used to smoke “ice” or methamphetamine, hidden in the crotch of her pants.
April Peric, a mother of two, was initially charged with two drug offenses: unlawful...
There are many kinds of recruitment in the Territory, and for those interested in hands-on training for very specialized, in-demand technical skills, this week may be the time to check out the presentations being given by UTI representative Jason Tagal in the lobby at the Tradewinds Hotel....
![The 24-hour Gold Conda Store in Fagaalu was shut down by DOH inspectors last week, for various reasons, including unsanitary conditions and poor ventilation.[photo: BC]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Gold%20Conda.jpg?itok=YYf2JNEK "The 24-hour Gold Conda Store in Fagaalu was shut down by DOH inspectors last week, for various reasons, including unsanitary conditions and poor ventilation.[photo: BC]")
The Department of Health's Environmental Division has shut down Gold Conda Store in Fagaalu, after inspectors discovered major health violations at the establishment last week.
A 'Public Notice' taped on the store's main entrance reads: "As of 10/03/2017 by order of the Department of Health,...
![Ernie Haleck (middle) - the lead instructor in Firearms and Tactics for the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) and DPS in American Samoa - briefing local police officers last week, on the last day of a 2-week training course that certifies them to carry weapons. See story for details. [photo: AF]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/cops%20n%20guns_0933.jpg?itok=a4kOiExM "Ernie Haleck (middle) - the lead instructor in Firearms and Tactics for the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) and DPS in American Samoa - briefing local police officers last week, on the last day of a 2-week training course that certifies them to carry weapons. See story for details. [photo: AF]")
Over two dozen local police officers, including sergeants, lieutenants, captains and commanders, were at the shooting range in Aoloau for two days participating in training drills that complete a 2-week course, which ultimately certifies them to carry weapons.
Also present at the shooting range was...