By Todd Betzold, AGT The pressure was on last night on America’s Got Talent 2014, as the first 12 acts performed in the semifinals on AGT 2014 and that pressure seemed to get to Paul Ieti on America’s Got Talent Season 9. He has a great voice and has a great story, but he seemed to fall apart at Radio City Music Hall last night and the AGT judges 2014 were not impressed. YouTube Read More ...
Poly Air applies for temp exemption By Fili Sagapolutele fili@samoanews.com Based on a request from the American Samoa government, Polynesian Airlines has filed for a temporary exemption with the U.S. Department of Transportation, in order to be able to operate commercial flights between Tutuila and the Manu’a island group. The exemption is required due to federal cabotage law, which...
Hires “Dr. Sean” to spearhead this mandate By Fili Sagapolutele fili@samoanews.com Health Department director Motusa Tuileama Nua has moved to address Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga’s “vision” for primary care by placing it under the jurisdiction of Health with the hiring of a U.S. medical doctor to spearhead this mandate. Motusa made the statement at yesterday’s DoH fiscal...
By Joyetter Feagaimaalii-Luamanu joy@samoanews.com The add-on dialysis unit at LBJ Medical Center, which was converted from a conference room to a temporary dialysis treatment area — without regional office notification or approval until later — has been labeled what Center Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) term an “immediate jeopardy (IJ)”, according to its survey, taken...
By B. Chen blue@samoanews.com The LBJ Hospital’s Dialysis Unit will be receiving $8,000 thanks to Bluesky Communications and its fundraising efforts. On Saturday, August 16, Bluesky employees participated in a walk-a-thon and altogether, they were able to raise $4,000 through monetary donations on their walk-a-thon sheets. Bluesky made good on its promise to match whatever amount was...
By B. Chen blue@samoanews.com Executive Director of the American Samoa Power Authority Utu Abe Malae has confirmed that the water for the water distribution system from Aua to Onenoa (AO) is brackish, especially Aua. Utu was responding to Samoa News queries triggered by complaints from Aua residents claiming that the ASPA water there tastes ‘bitter’ and ‘salty’. ...
By Fili Sagapolutele fili@samoanews.com SENATE URGES LBJ BOARD TO WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE CMS CRISIS The Senate Health/LBJ Committee has urged LBJ Medical Center board to work together with the management team of the hospital to address the many violations cited by the U.S. Center for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS). The call was made at yesterday’s hearing, the second one this week...
By Joyetter Feagaimaalii-Luamanu joy@samoanews.com “Where there is compassion, there is patience, tolerance, forbearance, and understanding,” said Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga during the assembly which begins the school year for the Department of Education. The annual assembly was held at the Tafuna High School gymnasium on Monday morning before some 500 teachers. According...
By Jeff Hayner jeff@samoanews.com The 2014 Annual Conference of the Association of Pacific Island Public Auditors (APIPA) is being held at this time at the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium for those in the auditing and finance professions, and the opening day, yesterday saw close to 100 in attendance. Some of the topics to be discussed this week will be Writing Tools for Auditors, Basic Auditing...
Example: Majority of R&M funds for public schools going to payroll, not supplies By Joyetter Feagaimaalii-Luamanu joy@samoanews.com Lawmakers took issue with the funding earmarked for school supplies being diverted to pay for salaries for the 35 new employees added to the Department of Public Works School Maintenance Division. The funding source for school supplies is revenue from 1% of the excise...
Say birthright citizenship by judicial fiat would jeopardize fa'a Samoa By Fili Sagapolutele fili@samoanews.com Attorneys for the American Samoa Government and Congressman Faleomavaega Eni have both called on the federal appeals court in Washington D.C. to affirm the lower court’s decision dismissing the citizenship lawsuit filed by five American Samoans and a California based organization....
By Kelley Anderson Tagarino, UH Sea Grant Students often wonder where their chosen paths will take them after their time at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC). With so many options available to them today, the possible pathways are endless, and these choices can feel overwhelming. Several former ASCC students returned home for the summer, each of them currently pursuing a Bachelors or Masters...
By Joyetter Feagaimaalii-Luamanu joy@samoanews.com Neptune Pacific Line, with Government of Samoa approval, says that it has reached an agreement with Polynesian Shipping Line shareholders to purchase the business in Samoa, however local Polynesian Shipping General Manager Marlene Lopesi confirmed with Samoa News that this will not have any affect on the local operations. Responding to Samoa...
By Fili Sagapolutele fili@samoanews.com As part of its marketing effort, the American Samoa Shipyard Services Authority is working on a new website that will be used as part of the semi autonomous agency’s effort to market to the world the services of the government owned Ronald Reagan Marine Railway shipyard. The contractor handling the new website is also responsible for researching...
By Joyetter Feagaimaalii-Luamanu joy@samoanews.com Tonga’s Minister for Agriculture & Food, Forestry & Fisheries, Sangster Saulala is leading a delegation from Tonga which includes government officials and some from the private sector, and they arrived in the territory yesterday afternoon. This was confirmed by the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Fui Johnny Saelua in response to Samoa...
The National Geographic Bee is an annual geography contest sponsored by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography. Schools with students in grades four through eight are eligible for this entertaining and challenging test of geographic...
By Jeff Hayner jeff@samoanews.com This past Monday evening, Fa’asao Marist High School (FMHS) held a Spring Art Show and Speech Festival for students in grades 9 through 12 with approximately 70-80 parents in attendance along with friends and families of the students. According to the program, this was the second year that the FMHS Art Club held an art exhibit which integrated literature....
By Tony Gasu tony@samoanews.com The 2014 Pacific Horizons School Graduation commencement ceremony was held in Iliili at the Lupelele Church of Christ chapel for its 7 graduating seniors, last Friday evening. Attending the evening of celebration was Lt. Governor Lemanu P. Mauga, who is also the acting governor, and his wife Pohakalani Mauga, along with numerous government officials, families...
By Joyetter Feagaimaalii-Luamanu joy@samoanews.com “And we owe them something, those boys (Vietnam boys) — and all heroes of all wars and conflicts, we owe them first a promise; that just as they did not forget their missing comrades, neither ever will we,” said Lt Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, who is also Acting Governor, when addressing the veterans, service members, friends and...
But certain conditions must be met to get ASPA help By Fili Sagapolutele fili@samoanews.com The American Samoa Power Authority will be helping 50 families affected by the severe diarrhea outbreak, which has sent some 14 people to the hospital while specimens have been sent off island for testing and confirmation. Certain conditions must be met to get the aid from ASPA, it is not a ‘give-away’,...