CHARLOTTE AMALIE – Gov. Kenneth Mapp was correct to object to the current state flag of South Carolina – it does have symbolism of the Confederacy in it — and Confederate ideals are tied in the American psyche to racism and slavery. Virgin Islands Daily News Executive Editor Gerry Yandel took

  travel writer Jim Byers KEY WEST — The let-it-all-hang out capital of North America, mostly because the weather’s better than San Francisco. There are fabulous resorts, including the Casa Marina, a Waldorf-Astoria property. Budget-minded folks should try some of the historic inns, including the casual, but well-tended Key Lime Inn. Food

By JOHN McCARTHY/Virgin Islands Free Press One of the things to come out of the debate over what is wrong with South Carolina after nine African-American citizens were massacred last month in an historically black church is the symbolism of the Confederate flag flying in public places in the American

CHRISTIANSTED – The former Managing Editor of the St. Croix Avis newspaper has taken a public stance in favor of the scofflaw businessman who did not pay an employee their final paycheck, according to a post on LinkedIn. Stephanie Hanlon-Nugent, a part-time instructor at the University of the Virgin Islands,

                    J’wa Charlery of St. Croix RICHMOND, Virginia — A St. Croix man is a suspect in the killing of a woman at a Virginia hotel last year has been added to U.S. Marshals Service’s “15 Most Wanted” fugitives list. J’Wa Emone Charlery, 19, has been charged by Richmond police

FREDERIKSTED – The Virgin Islands Police Department said Tuesday that it had rounded up five men in different parts of St. Croix on illegal weapons possession charges. Among the weapons recovered were a machine gun and a Glock handgun, believed to have been stolen from the residence of a police officer a few

Ernice Gilbert, owner of the VI Consortium CHRISTIANSTED – An online newspaper that has been in business for less than a year has refused to issue at least one payroll check owed to a former employee, the Virgin Islands Free Press has learned. The Virgin Islands Consortium, owned and operated

Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Governor Kenneth E. Mapp has asked the Virgin Islands National Guard (VING) to remove the Mississippi state flag from the armories in St. Croix and St. Thomas, citing its incorporation of the Confederate flag within the design of the flag, Government House said

CHARLOTTE AMALIE – The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said on Tuesday that it has begun a study of coral reefs and fish populations in the Virgin Islands. Scientists will collect data on reefs surrounding St. Thomas and St. John through July 23 as part of the NOAA Coral

  CANE BAY — Staring into the turquoise Caribbean Sea while sipping a tropical drink topped by a tiny paper umbrella, I suddenly realized what makes St. Croix so special. My first inkling was the sign outside Off the Wall Beach Bar: “No shirt, no shoes, no problem.” Then came