#TBT: June 26, 2025
The 1917 Samoa earthquake affected the Samoan Islands, including American Samoa, on June 26, 1917. The epicenter of the magnitude 8.0 earthquake was located in the southwest of the Samoan Islands. It was described as the worst earthquake in Samoa in 50 years, although...
How the reorganization of the US Department of Health impacts the US Territories
In late March, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled a sweeping restructuring plan to streamline the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and cut an estimated 10,000 full-time jobs. This drastic policy reduces...
Oil spill, troop activity, and conservation collide in the Northern Mariana Islands
On June 6, 2025, over 113.5 liters of oil were spilled near the Tinian Harbor by the United States-flagged vessel Mariana. Crew members of both the Mariana and Galide successfully coordinated clean-up efforts, which officially ended on June 8. The oil spill was...
Praise and pushback follow Governor González-Colón’s first major speech to Puerto Rico
Governor of Puerto Rico Jenniffer González-Colón (NPP, R) delivered her first major address on May 29, 2025, outlining her administration's early achievements and priorities. While the nearly two-hour state of the territory speech was met with applause from her...
#TBT: June 19, 2025
Fighter plane contrails mark the sky over Task Force 58, during the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot" phase of the battle on June 19, 1944, west of the Northern Mariana Islands. These were photographed from on board USS Birmingham during the Battle of the Philippine Sea...
The voting controversy over American Samoans in Alaska, in context
Tensions between the US government and a small group of people of American Samoan descent have broken out in Alaska in recent weeks, raising questions about the future of birthright citizenship in America. About ten months after Tupe Smith, a mother and resident of...
Kristi Noem unclear on disbursing FEMA funds to Puerto Rico as hurricane season begins
United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem recently spoke on President Trump’s fiscal year 2026 budget, specifically on the proposed budget increase for the US Department of Homeland Security. This change brings concerns surrounding significant cuts to...
Northern Mariana Islands move forward with comprehensive waste management plan
The Northern Mariana Islands is making notable progress toward improving its approach to waste management through the Comprehensive Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (CISWMP). A public hearing took place on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the...
Weekly Action Checklist: June 13, 2025
This week’s top 3 actions are urgent, high-impact, and take less than 15 minutes to complete: Action 1: Urge congressional oversight of ICE facilities.Oversight saves lives. Ask your lawmakers to personally inspect local detention centers. Action 2: Limit executive...
#TBT: June 12, 2025
Mount ʻAlava is the second-highest mountain on Tutuila Island in American Sāmoa. Its summit has an elevation of 1,610 ft. It has developed into a notable tourist attraction thanks to an observation platform that provides sweeping views of the island, as seen in this...
