Local news

A St. Thomas man, Tahir Donadelle, 43, was sentenced by Chief District Judge Robert Molloy to 43 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U. S. Attorney Delia L. Smith announced Monday.

Prolonged, exceptionally warm temperatures have caused the fourth ever global coral bleaching event – a likely precursor to yet more massive loss of the world’s coral reefs.

Members of the 35th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, led by Senate President Novelle E. Francis Jr. hosted a Perma Plaque ceremony at the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room Monday, according to a press release.

During Monday’s weekly Government House press briefing, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. celebrated the upcoming horse races at the Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack on St. Thomas during Carnival. Bryan also shared updates and enthusiasm regarding the future of tourism and improved infrastructure across the territory. 

For years, St. John residents have been struggling with a critical housing shortage, and now one local landowner is seeking to address the problem.

New and returning authors, educators, artists, journalists, filmmakers, poets, historians, culture bearers, technologists, public officials and others from the Virgin Islands community, the Caribbean region and around the globe celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Virgin Islands Literary Festival and Book Fair that began on Thursday and ran through Sunday.

The Virgin Islands garnered major attention at the recent 42nd annual International Sea Turtle Symposium in Pattaya, Thailand. The Hawksbill Project, founded by Scott Eanes, was spotlighted for its substantial progress in filling critical data gaps regarding hawksbill turtles in St. John last year.

The landlord of the Virgin Islands Daily News has filed a complaint in V.I. Superior Court seeking to evict the newspaper from its St. Thomas office, claiming it hasn’t paid the rent since last May, and prior to that had arbitrarily reduced the amount it was paying. The case appears linked to an ongoing property dispute between the paper's owner and the company he purchased the paper from in 2014.

Three contestants emerged victorious Saturday night, each a testament to the dedication and talent of the young women who compete for Carnival royalty. Petite Princess Keemayah Ford, Carnival Princess Jazmine Samuel, and Junior Miss Ne'Keya Fraser will wear their crowns with pride throughout the month-long St. Thomas Carnival celebration.

Due to significant rainfall since February, drought conditions have improved across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The trend is anticipated to continue over the coming months, and both U.S. territories are forecast to become drought-free.

Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta who previously served as senior advisor and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, will be the keynote speaker at UVI’s 60th Commencement Ceremonies.

Watch Now: Guest Troy DeChabert Schuster, State Director of AARP Virgin Islands, shares more about the legislation the organization has been championing while host Adisha Penn recaps the biggest headlines of the week. Watch Consider the Source on our Virgin Islands Source websites, Viya Channel 4 and Fox/NBC.

Watch now: Check out our weekly weather forecast with Jesse Daley, covering Sunday, April 14, through Saturday, April 20.

At least three cases of dengue fever have been reported in the territory recently, officials said, meaning the true number may be far higher.

Officials placed "shovels to dirt" at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Charles "Tappy" Seales Fire Station and Multi-purpose Complex Friday in Grove Place.

The sun was shining, waves were glistening, and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement at Magens Bay Saturday, as the Rotary Club of St. Thomas Sunrise hosted its 12th annual kids triathlon.

The Virgin Islands Department of Public Works announced a fare increase to the Virgin Islands Transit System fixed-route and paratransit services will take effect in June.

Authorities executing a warrant detained a man charged with taking part in a scheme to rob the Office of Management and Budget of $500,000 in COVID-19 relief funds.

Liberty VI announced it will start working on a fiber installation project at Estate Barren Spot in St. Croix which will bring fiber connectivity and improve broadband service within that area.

Officials held a press conference Friday to announce the commencement of the U.S. Army "Partnership for Your Success" program in the Virgin Islands.