SAN JUAN — FEMA is sending almost $13 billion to Puerto Rico, directed at the territory’s energy and education systems, to help it recover from 2017’s devastating Hurricane Maria, the White House said. The “federal share” of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s grants to the territory totals $11.6 billion, with

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources has deployed three new fish-aggregating devices, DPNR Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol said. The devices consist of a yellow surface buoy with a radar reflector and flashing light to help vessels navigate around it. Mooring vessels to the devices is

CASTRIES, St Lucia — An explosion of steam and gas in the mountains of the remote, jungle-clad Caribbean island of Dominica has shaken residents, who are fearful it is a harbinger for renewed seismic activity in a nation that is home to nine volcanoes. The Dominica Office of Disaster Management

FREDERIKSTED — The Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority (VIWMA) said that effective Sunday, green waste and seaweed will only be accepted at the Anguilla Landfill Monday through Saturday. “There will be no green waste or seaweed disposal on Sundays,” VIWMA spokeswoman Melody Rames said. Residents are urged to practice backyard

PENSACOLA — Hurricane Sally made landfall Wednesday near Gulf Shores, Alabama, as a Category 2 storm, pushing a surge of ocean water onto the coast and dumping torrential rain that forecasters said would cause dangerous flooding from the Florida Panhandle to Mississippi and well inland in the days ahead. Moving

CHARLOTTE AMALIE – The Virgin Islands Police Department said this weekend it “is concerned about the health and well-being of our employees and our community alike.” “We have taken actions to limit potential exposure to COVID-19,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima said. “Our officers are on the frontline and the nature

CHRISTIANSTED — In a time of coronavirus, there are only so many things you can do tucked away safely inside the confines of your home alone … or is there? Some folks in the U.S. Virgin Islands are getting creative when it comes to how they stave off boredom inside

HAVANA — Caribbean islands already reeling from the economic impact of coronavirus started recovering on Tuesday from the damage wrought by Tropical Storm Laura, which left at least 24 dead and damaged thousands of homes and electricity infrastructure. Brigades of workers were out fixing toppled power poles, removing fallen trees

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — At least seven park benches were temporarily removed from Market Square this afternoon by the COVID-19 Task Force as a way to enforce social distancing and promote better health on St. Thomas, the Virgin Islands Free Press has learned. “The benches were removed by the COVID-19 Task

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Office of Disaster Recovery announces the obligation of $5.7 million to the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority to repair sewer lines in the Garden Street, Savan, and Moravian Guts on St. Thomas. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance Program funds will be used to restore approximately