Local News
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga “remains hopeful and optimistic” that repatriation flights “will be successful and that the Territory will maintain the least amount of COVID-19 cases globally.”
This is according to a statement from the Governor’s Office,...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Fono has officially confirmed the first two cabinet directors of the Lemanu Administration following separate confirmation hearings and votes in both the Senate and House. Both confirmation votes were made yesterday in both chambers.
In the Senate, Malemo Lafoia...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Acting Treasurer Malemo Tausaga during his confirmation hearing before House Ways and Means Committee this week highlighted a few issues regarding the status of the ASG economy.
He said that according to the First Quarter of this Fiscal Year 2021 (FY2021), the ASG...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) has expanded its LTE mobile phone and data service to the village of Fagamalo, Lealataua County. The new service expansion was commissioned on Friday, January 15, 2021.
ASTCA launched its LTE mobile network in the...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Five people out of the 166 passengers screened for the 10-day quarantine in Honolulu, Hawai’i before catching the first scheduled repatriation flight to American Samoa tested positive for the coronavirus yesterday.
These five people are now under special care quarantine...
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata attended the inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., and Vice President Kamala Harris, and echoed the call for unity.
“I’ve been to a number of inaugurations, and each one is memorable because the beginning of a new presidency is a part of...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — American Samoa Medicaid State Agency director Sandra King-Young says last week’s medical charter went very well although the agency did encounter passengers arriving late to the security check-point as well as passengers traveling with pets.
King-Young said the Jan. 13th...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Sen. Togiola T.A. Tulafono has requested the Senate legal counsel for a review of the credentials and resume for the governor’s nomination of Tofa Sualauvi H. Su’a to fill the long vacant position of the Territorial Auditor, who also heads the Territorial Audit Office —...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The House DPS Committee is holding a hearing this week to discuss several issues regarding operations at the Department of the Public Safety (DPS), which includes the Fire Bureau Division.
Aua Representative, Faimealelei Anthony Fu’e Allen raised the matter about the...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A woman convicted for violating local drug laws is ordered to serve 180 days at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF). Malaetina Laulu, 44, who has been in custody since her arrest last month, unable to post a $5,000 surety bond, appeared in court last week for...

![A crowd seen in this Health Department photo at the Tafuna Community Health Center last week, as people wait to get their COVID-19 vaccine. [photo: DoH]] A crowd with masks at DoH](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/doh_n_wear_mask.jpg?itok=B-yz_A1c)
![Catherine A. Saelua was confirmed as director of the Office of Program, Planning and Budget in a unanimous endorsement of 18-0 in the Senate. [SN file photo] Catherine A. Saelua](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/catherine_saelua_6467cropped_9.jpg?itok=rIrQXxdx)
![ASG’s new Treasurer, Malemo Tausaga appeared before the House Ways and Means Committee this week for his confirmation hearing. [photo by AF] ASG’s new Treasurer, Malemo Tausaga](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/treasurer_0431.jpg?itok=zimOOrZE)

![Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga addressing the territory during a press conference at the Governor’s Office conference room. Lemanu’s speech was recorded before it was aired by local television KVZK-TV last night. [photo by AF] Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/gov_lemanu_0493.jpg?itok=tUYpchtz)
![Congresswoman Amata on Inauguration Day 2021 said, “The first focus should be continuing to get all the needed vaccines everywhere they need to go, making sure everyone who wants that vaccine can get one,” she continued. “I’ve had the vaccine, and had no problems, so I would encourage people to talk to their doctor when it’s their turn.” [courtesy photo] Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/amata_on_inauguration_day.jpg?itok=eniYycuH)
![King-Young confirmed that the Hawaii state government had granted American Samoa’s request for a “quarantine exemption” waiver for all passengers entering Hawaii from a COVID-19 free US jurisdiction. [SN file photo] American Samoa Medicaid State Agency director Sandra King-Young](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/sandra_king-young_0926_2.jpg?itok=LdyFtxNs)
![During yesterday’s Senate session, Togiola scheduled the territorial auditor nominee confirmation hearing for the morning of Jan. 26th. He also requested that the legal counsel look into the law pertaining to the requirements for a territorial auditor and if the nomination is in compliance with that law. Togiola also requested a review of the nominee’s resume. [SN file photo] Sen. Togiola T.A. Tulafono](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/togiola_tulafono_0833_0.jpg?itok=wm5jcpeC)
![What’s left of Utusi’a gas station destroyed by fire last week. The lack of a fire truck in the Eastern District was brought up by a faipule in the House, a week before the Utusi’a fire happened — he said it could have been saved with a fire truck more available to fight the fire. [photo by AF] What’s left of Utusi’a gas station](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/gas_station_on_fire_0938.jpg?itok=tCAKgZTk)
