CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Attorney General’s Office said it has received numerous calls and inquiries after yesterday’s United States Supreme Court ruling in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This case overturned th e cases of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. These two cases determined that a women had […]
Category: Territorial Affairs
Cane Bay Partners Faces Another Class-Action Lawsuit By A Native American Group Over Predatory Payday Loans
MADISON — St. Croix-based business Cane Bay Partners and founding co-owners David Johnson and Kirk Chewning are facing a class-action lawsuit over an alleged nationwide payday lending program that imposed exorbitant annual interest rates while using Native American tribes as a front to evade state usury laws, according to a complaint filed June 22, 2022 […]
FEMA and USVI Run Disaster Simulations To Prepare For Hurricane Season
CHRISTIANSTED — The majority of the people living in the territory — regretfully — know what happens when a major hurricane strikes. As the June 1 start date of the Atlantic hurricane season approached … governmental agencies rehearsed in detail — the steps to take — should history repeat itself … and the USVI become […]
Bryan Wants SSI Parity, Stresses Need For Fairness With Territories In House Speech
WASHINGTON — Governor Albert Bryan, testifying virtually on Wednesday before the U.S. House’s Committee on Natural Resources, urged lawmakers to give territories parity with states for Supplemental Security Income or SSI, which provides monthly payments to meet basic needs, such as food, shelter and clothing. According to a statement released by Government House, Bryan’s remarks came […]
Bryan Asks For $21 Million In Federal Funding Available Through Omnibus Bill
CHRISTIANSTED — Governor Albert Bryan issued the following statement regarding $21 million in Community Project Funding (CPF) requests he forwarded to Delegate Stacey Plaskett to submit to Congress for consideration under the $1.5 trillion Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, which President Biden signed into law in March: “Congressional earmarks for federally funded local projects are back, […]
U.S. Supreme Court Allows Puerto Rico’s Exclusion From Welfare Program
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court this week rejected a bid to extend a federal program offering benefits to low-income elderly, blind and disabled people to residents of Puerto Rico, finding that Congress had the authority to prevent those living in the American territory from receiving the assistance. The justices ruled 8-1 in favor of […]
Virgin Islands Assistant U.S. Attorney Receives Prestigious Justice Department Award
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper has been awarded an Attorney General’s Award by the United States Department of Justice for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee. “The Annual Attorney General’s Awards recognize Department of Justice employees for theirextraordinary contributions to the rule of law and the pursuit of justice,” U.S. […]
RNC Threatens John Canegata With Criminal and Civil Legal Action
A six-page cease and desist letter from the top lawyer for the national Republican Party threatened John Canegata with legal action. The letter, sent by Republican National Committee chief counsel Justin Riemer, comes after the national party recognized Gordon Ackley as chairman of its V.I. affiliate following Ackley’s win in a territorial caucus on March […]
Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett Shares More Details About Her VISA Waiver Act
WASHINGTON U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett released the following statement of clarification regarding her Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act’s (H.R. 5460) approval by the House Judiciary Committee: “The Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act was passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, which is one step in the legislative process. The […]
U.S. Virgin Islands Greenlights Caribbean Nationals’ Visits By Waiving Visa Requirement
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The territory will no longer require a visa for visitors from neighboring Caribbean islands. The House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee approved The Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act, making it possible for visitors from the Caribbean to receive a non-immigrant visitor visa exemption to enter St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John for up to […]