Local News
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A bill establishing a Samoan Language Commission of American Samoa provides a source of funding and establishes Samoan and English as official languages in the territory and languages of instruction in public schools.
According to the preamble of the bill, there is a...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — At last Friday’s Health Department news conference, the territory lead Epidemiologist, Dr. Aifili J. Tufa, confirmed that DOH is working in collaboration with the Human and Social Service Department (DHSS) this week to shut down child care centers in efforts to “curb the...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Quarantine days for the more than 200 passengers on board the Jan. 27 flight from Honolulu have been pushed forward as more positive COVID-19 cases were confirmed, including several “historical positives” and four members of the quarantine staff. Although no firm date...
Honolulu, HAWAII — A federal judge on Wednesday declined to order Hawaiian Airlines to halt its mandatory vaccination policy for employees, despite a request from seven current and former employees who have filed a lawsuit alleging the company violated federal law when imposing the policy.
U.S....
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man accused of having a sexual relationship with his niece is now in custody after being arrested last month.
The defendant made his initial appearance in District Court.
He’s charged with 3 counts of rape and 3 counts of sodomy, all class B felonies, punishable by a...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Former Chief Election Officer during the Lolo and Lemanu Administration has now been reappointed by Gov. Lemanu Peteli Mauga as the new Chief Election Officer for a 3-year term upon confirmation.
Lemanu said in his Jan. 31 letter to the Speaker of the House that...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Sen. Togiola T.A. Tulafono is the sponsor of a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the U.S Secretary of Interior to delegate her authority to appoint the American Samoa High Court justices, to the territory’s governor, with confirmation by the Fono.
The measure notes...
Wahington, D.C. — “We can be thankful for the many advances in cancer treatments, and the ongoing research in this important field through efforts like World Cancer Day,” Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata said in a press release to raise awareness of the day.
“Almost everyone’s family at some point...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A woman accused of threatening and forcing two young girls to smoke methamphetamine (meth) has been arrested and charged.
The defendant, Juanita Kisena is charged with two counts of unlawful possession of meth and two counts of child abuse, all felonies.
Bail is set at $...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — During a committee hearing yesterday, Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean said there are a lot of complaints regarding the Territorial Bank of American Samoa (TBAS) and asked TBAS board member Leilua Stevenson to look into it.
Tuaolo made the public statement and...


![LBJ Medical Center, Chief Pediatrician Dr. Maria Guyapa (left) and the territory’s lead Epidemiologist, Dr. Aifili J. Tufa (right) of the Health Department addressed reporters’ questions on the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) outbreak at last Friday’s DoH news conference, where all those in attendance wore masks and removed them only to speak. [photo: FS] Dr. Maria Guyapa (left) Dr. Aifili J. Tufa](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/drs_guyapa_n_tufa.jpg?itok=Sy8m2mQr)







