Local News
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — LBJ Medical Center will no longer receive any specific “earmarked” funding under with the elimination of the 2% wage tax, while the tobacco excise tax will hike by 3 cents under the final language of a Senate bill approved by the majority of the Fono Conference Committee...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Plaintiffs’ federal lawsuit is their “attempt to make a federal case out of a local real estate dispute. The actual dispute concerns the utility easement where the cables pass,” argued AST Telecom LLC d/b/a Bluesky Communications in court filings last Friday, in response...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man who is on probation for stealing and burglary is now in custody after being arrested by police last month and charged for violating local drug laws.
William Pania made his initial appearance in District Court last month.
He is charged with one count of unlawful...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A Senate bill seeking to increase the annual salaries of the governor and lieutenant governor was introduced during Saturday’s session, and the effective date of the proposed hike in salaries of the two leaders is in 2026.
Sponsored by Sens. Tuipine Fuimaono, Alo Paul...
Washington, D.C. — Friday, Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata detailed what’s in the telehealth grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will enhance local maternal health services. This federal funding relies in part on appropriations from Congress in 2020 COVID relief legislation...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Vice Speaker of the House, Rep. Fetu Fetui Jr has called the move by the Lemanu & Talauega Administration to roll back pay raises and conversion of several employees from contract to career service as “unprofessional and unfair” during a hearing with the newly...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Thirteen teachers at South Pacific Academy who went on strike last week Monday presented a signed petition to the SPA board of directors, which met on Wednesday afternoon. The meeting was chaired by new board member, Fiti Sunia, who is also the Associate Justice of the...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man who was convicted of stealing was released from custody, after the court determined that the 12 months he served at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF), to await sentencing, was enough punishment.
Tomasi Faumui, under a plea agreement with the government,...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 40-year-old man who is on probation for 12 months was arrested last month on the allegation that he assaulted his neighbor while he was intoxicated.
Vaega Toala made his initial appearance last week. He is charged with 3rd degree assault, trespass, resisting arrest,...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The driver of a blue truck that was pulled over by police two weeks ago for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) is also being charged with unlawful possession of drugs.
David Tone, who has a pending drug case in High Court made his initial appearance in District...

![Togiola repeated at least three times, that he wants his objection “on record” for the Senate journal and insisted that this bill — in its amended form — leaves LBJ with no “earmarked” funding source. [SN file photo] Sen. Togiola T.A. Tulafono](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/sen_togiola_tulafono_0833.jpg?itok=deZ-JKlz)

![After making his initial appearance in District Court last month, Pania is scheduled to appear in court next week for his preliminary hearing (PX) for drug and resisting arrest charges. [SN file photo] American Samoa District Court building](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/district_court_197.jpg?itok=7CSYBEC8)
![Sponsored by Sens. Tuipine Fuimaono, Alo Paul Stevenson and Satele Aliitta’i Lilio, the legislation seeks to increase the governor’s annual salary from $85,000 to $150,000 and the lieutenant governor from $75,000 to $125,000. [SN file photo] Rendering of the proposed new fono building.](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fono_bldg_rendering_69.jpg?itok=jlGgKCj0)
![Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata congratulated local government agencies and grant writers who “undoubtedly worked hard to get the people of American Samoa this vital support,” including Health Dept. director Motusa Nua. [courtesy photo] Amata with Motusa](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/_congresswoman_uifaatali_amata_and_director_motusa_nua.jpg?itok=tRcGSVrT)
![Department of Human Resource director, Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo appeared before the House Government Operations Committee last Friday for a hearing to answer faipule questions regarding the roll back issue. [photo by AF] Department of Human Resource director, Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/hr_director_lynn_0205.jpg?itok=zQmdyeU5)
![A CIRCLE OF PRAYER — South Pacific Academy teachers are going into the second week of a strike and were joined last week by parents who support the teachers’ move to see policies established with teacher input to address serious conflicts of interest with overseeing grades, student policies and classroom management. [courtesy photo] Striking SPA teachers with their supporters outside of the school.](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/teacher_strike_1.jpg?itok=ZtGkU-eq)
![Faumui was credited the 12 months he spent in pretrial confinement and the balance (8 months) is stayed as long as he complies with all conditions of probation. Faumui is ordered to pay a $500 fine within 6 months, and find a job. [SN file photo] TCF Territorial Correctional Facility sign](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tcf_100.jpg?itok=4CtPT5VJ)
![According to the victim’s son, Toala became upset when his father did not do what the defendant wanted him to do. The victim and his family are neighbors with the defendant and there are times the defendant gave instructions to the victim for things he wanted the victim or his children to do. However, the victim instructed his children not to do anything Toala instructed them to do because he (Toala) is not the family Sa’o. [SN file photo] Court Report banner](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/court-report_605.jpg?itok=8uM_CEYS)
![David Tone, who has a pending drug case in High Court made his initial appearance in District Court two weeks ago. [SN file photo] American Samoa District Court building](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/district_court_196.jpg?itok=PmgjiiL8)