Federal Government Shuts Down After Failed Senate Votes to Extend Funding

The federal government has shut down after the US Senate failed on partisan votes to pass either a House-passed Republican or Democratic short-term funding bill until full-year bills are passed. KHJ News Washington DC correspondent Matt Kaye...

Guarding the Public Purse: Accountability Must Begin at Home

Honorable Leaders and Members of the Fono, In Letter #1, I warned that the Fund cannot survive without honesty about the $13.9 million debt and the principle of fiduciary duty. In Letter #2, I outlined reforms aimed at restoring fairness and...

Man denies giving his girlfriend a black eye

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 11, 2025, a mother called the Leone Police Substation (LPS) and reported that her daughter was allegedly assaulted by her boyfriend. The suspect was arrested and later charged with: Count 1: Private Peace...

Trump isn’t cutting Pell Grants, after all …

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As an education researcher who has studied the economic returns of higher education, I know that college degrees remain cost-effective investments for most students. But college tuition has risen at roughly twice the...

Family calls for peace between two young women

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 1, 2025, a concerned family member called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported an alleged domestic dispute between two women. One of the women was arrested and charged with: Count 1: Private Peace...

AS-DOE appoints new athletics director, while demoting Ta’ase

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Department of Education has appointed a new Athletics Director. Tulaga Kevin Magalei has been selected by the Director of Education, Maefau Dr. Mary Taufete’e, as announced in a public statement....

Charges filed after tensions go up in land dispute

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 14, 2025, a woman called the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) claiming that she and her son had been threatened and assaulted by members of the Fruean family, in a land dispute incident. Two men were eventually...

Paid maternity leave for ASG employees proposed in the House

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Faipule Malaeoletalu Melesio Gurr has proposed a bill that would grant paid maternity leave to employees of ASG. According to the bill, to qualify for this benefit, employees must have been employed by the American...

Fono bill looks to revive Atoa o Samoa

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A concurrent resolution has been introduced calling for the resumption of the Atoa o Samoa executive meetings and advocating for the active participation of the Legislature of American Samoa. This resolution seeks to...

Sibling squabble allegedly goes too far

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 4, 2025, a victim of a domestic dispute contacted the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) and reported that her brother allegedly assaulted her. The suspect was later apprehended and charged with: Count 1: Assault...

Historic UN High Seas Treaty approved

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A landmark agreement to protect our oceans, known as the United Nations High Seas Treaty, has been officially approved and is set to become international law. The treaty comes amid the 80th Session of the UN General...

Faulty coin box leads to alleged assault

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 26, 2025, Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call from a businesswoman who claimed that a customer had assaulted her husband at their laundromat. The customer was arrested and charged with: Count 1:...

DOH to issue citations to families with mosquitoes breeding sites

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Department of Health will start issuing citations to families that do not maintain cleanliness around their homes. This announcement was made by Eileen Solaita, the head of the Environmental Health Services...

Senate resolution calls for resumption of Atoa o Samoa talks

The Senate last week approved and sent to the House a Senate Concurrent Resolution calling for the resumption of the Atoa o Samoa Executive Meetings between the governments of Samoa and American Samoa. The resolution includes a provision that the...

DOI grant helps support ASCC nursing program

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is highlighting a Department of the Interior grant of $3,264 for the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) to offset costs for the Nursing Program, as requested earlier this month by Governor...

DOI grant helps ASCC Nursing Program

Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is highlighting a Department of the Interior grant of $3,264 for the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) to offset costs for the Nursing Program Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula had requested the funding assistance...

Manuel Quezon and the Push for Philippine Independence in the Early 20th Century

Credentials for Benito Legarda and Pablo Ocampo, the first Resident Commissioners of the Philippines, 1907. / Courtesy U.S. National Archives, Public Domain Quezon was instrumental in lobbying the U.S. Government to grant the islands a greater...

Driver turns himself in after he allegedly hit a pedestrian and kept going

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 19, 2025, the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call regarding a hit and run incident in Nuuuli. The suspect did turn himself in at a later time and was charged with: Count 1: Failure to Render Aid, a...

Mother reports older son allegedly assaulted her 12 year old

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 30, 2025, a concerned mother contacted the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) and reported that her older son allegedly assaulted her 12-year-old son. The mother claimed she was concerned for the safety of her other...

2023 & 2024 Statical Yearbook now available to the public

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Department of Commerce, through the Statistics and Analysis Division, has released the combined Statistical Yearbook for 2023 and 2024. This edition marks the fortieth release of the yearbook, which presents...