DoH stops sale of products after expiration/use by dates

The Department of Health has served notice that all products must be removed from shelves and cannot be sold after the date of expiration or best used by date shown on the product. Previously DOH had allowed a 30 day grace period for such items to...

DPS CIIB investigating alleged assault involving three TCF inmates

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB) of the Department of Public Safety is currently conducting an investigation in response to a reported assault involving three inmates at the Territorial...

Faipule looks into status of funds allocated for new hospital on hold

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Faipule Larry S. Sanitoa during a recent House session inquired into the status of the $186.5 million that was allocated to build a new hospital in Tafuna by the past administration and which has since been put on hold...

Quid pro quo: Guam lists demands in exchange for role as frontline defense

Guam Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio, left, joins CNMI Gov. David Apatang and American Samoa Gov. Pula Nikolao Pula at the 2025 IGIA Mid-Year Senior Plenary Session held in Washington, D.C., Sept. 4, 2025. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Guam Governor...

Health Exchange between US Army’s 9th MSC and LBJ

A special health exchange program between the U.S. Army’s 9th Mission Support Command (MSC) and LBJ Tropical Medical Center took place September 16th to the 26th. Medical teams from the U.S. Army’s 1984 USAH (United States Army Hospital) worked...

‘First 1000 Days’ focus for annual health conference

Secretary of Health Bob Williams. TMO/24040122 Te Marae Ora, the Ministry of Health, is focusing on reducing the rate of childhood obesity, with the goal of ensuring that today’s children are free from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) from 2030...

Innovative Readiness Training 2025 AMSAM

The 2025 Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) in American Samoa brought combined efforts from the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, National Guard, and Reserve forces with the Samoan Department of Health to deliver medical, dental, vision, and behavioral...

Letters to Editor: health, burgers, trains

Today's Letters to the Editor from readers cover topics including the importance of clinical voices in health discussions, McDonald's arrival in Samoa, and the building of a complex rail system. Voice of health leaders vital as reforms begin Where...

Courtroom left in shock when defendant in Figiel trial suddenly bolts from the room

Apia, SAMOA — The testimonies of two medical professionals in the high-profile murder trial of celebrated Samoan poet and playwright Papalii Sia Figiel on Thursday, September 11, 2025, confirmed that she is suffering from a serious psychotic...

Photo Essay: Kalaupapa National Historical Park Reopens

Kalaupapa Saints Tour brings visitors back to Molokaʻi’s top tourist attraction. On a media tour, Bryce Moore, left, and Star-Advertiser reporter Allison Schaefers photograph a grave in Papaloa Cemetery. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025) A Mokulele...

Man arrested for alleged assault of his mother and sister

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 22, 2025, a woman walked into the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) and reported her brother who allegedly assaulted her and her mother. The suspect was later apprehended and charged with: Count 1: Assault in the...

2025 Pacific Jurisdiction Artist Fund awardees are announced

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In August 2025, Creative West introduced the awardees of Creative West’s inaugural Pacific Jurisdictions Artist Fund (PJAF). Forty-five artists and cultural practitioners across American Samoa, Guam, and the...

Eastern District lawmakers unhappy with state of roads

Senators and Representatives from the Eastern District have decried the state of roads on that side of the island and particularly the unfinished road project between Alofau and Amouli which they said has created hazrdous driving conditions and if...

VA Pacific Islands Health Care System clinics closed on Thursday

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As the nation observes Jan. 9, 2025 as a day of mourning for former President Jimmy Carter, all VA Pacific Islands Health Care System clinics — including in American Samoa — will be closed. As another year begins, the...

Public Schools opening date moved to September 8

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — AS-DOE is delaying the opening of schools until Monday, September 8, 2025 in order to ensure that students return to schools that are not only safe from a continued rise in Dengue Fever, but also to address both health...

RFK Jr. presents a clear and present danger to America's health (Letter)

Regarding the expected confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as President Donald Trump's secretary of Health and Human Services: Kennedy has a long and documented history of opposing lifesaving vaccines, and he has pledged to restrict...

$186.5 million for new hospital has been re-allocated

Over $180 million left of the $200 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds approved for the new specialized hospital, that was to be built at Tafuna, has been reprogrammed. Tuala-uta Representative Larry Sanitoa, on Tuesday, queried what...

State Department publications riddled with omissions and inaccurate info on Pacific island entries

Photo courtesy of the State Department The Facebook page of the U.S. Embassy in Palau is named U.S. Embassy Koror, which refers to the capital of Palau. However, the embassy’s official website says the embassy is actually in Airia. In one...

No report of ‘critical’ dengue cases in the territory

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As of August 14th, the American Samoa Department of Health has reported 48 confirmed cases of Dengue Fever within the territory, as detailed in a health advisory issued over the weekend. This outbreak has prompted a...

$48M EPA Thriving Communities Grant Program Launches For Local Entities Addressing Environmental And Health Challenges In Pacific Southwest

(MENAFN- PR Newswire) LOS ANGELES, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Liberty Hill Foundation and its grantmaking partners announced the launch of award applications for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Thriving Communities Grantmaking...