MUM’S THE WORD: Juan Figueroa-Serville ATLANTA – The Virgin Islands government is the only state, territory or commonwealth in the United States not to report its flu statistics to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Virgin Islands Free Press has learned. Nearby Puerto Rico is reporting high

HONOLULU – The Polynesian voyaging canoe that recently completed a 3,500-mile trek across the Atlantic Ocean is now on its way to the Caribbean. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that the Hokulea left Brazil Friday for the next part of its around-the-world journey. The crew is expecting an 18-day, 2,400-mile trip

CHARLOTTE AMALIE – Crime is a booming business in the U.S. Virgin Islands. With that in mind the U.S. Attorney’s Office is hiring more prosecutors for its offices in the territory, according to an advertisement in the Latin American Herald Tribune. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of the

  Dr. Tom Frieden of CDC WASHINGTON – Dr. Tom Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tweeted a damning picture of Zika virus research blaming “50 years of neglect” on the current crisis facing the whole world. Testifying before politicians in Washington, Dr. Frieden warned

HUD Secretary Julián Castro WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro announced Friday that HUD is allocating more than $1.8 billion to public housing authorities in all 50 states, as well as the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. From that allocation, $5,983,706 will go to the

CHARLOTTE AMALIE – The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) said today that five beaches on St. Thomas, three beaches on St. John and one beach on St. Croix are not safe to swim or fish in. Lindbergh Bay, Brewer’s Bay, Water Bay, Vessup Bay and Frenchman’s Bay are

CHICAGO — The federal government is asking an Illinois federal judge to throw out a case challenging how voter rights are extended to the territories, saying the plaintiffs’ issue should be with the state, not the feds, the Virgin Islands Free Press has learned. Guam resident and National Guard Staff

  NOMINEE: Vince Danet CHARLOTTE AMALIE – The Senate Committee on Rules, chaired by Sen. Kenneth Gittens of St. Croix, voted today to hold prominent Tea Party member Vince Danet’s nomination to the board of the Public Services Commission in committee for further review. But the Senate sent Gov. Kenneth

                      Gov. Kenneth Mapp SAN JUAN — Puerto Rico has always gotten the most attention among the U.S. territories. It’s the most-populous, most-indebted, most-proximate to the U.S. mainland and most-vocal in pressing the case for bankruptcy. Now, officials from the

Committe Chairman Sen. Marvin Blyden CHARLOTTE AMALIE – The Committee on Housing, Public Works and Waste Management met today in the Legislature on St. Thomas to take testimony about VITRAN, VITRAN Plus and Americans With Disabilities compliance by VITRAN. Committee Chairman Sen. Marvin Blyden introduced testifiers including the Department of