1. Ss. Peter and Paul High School
a. Nicholas Heiman
b. Ashley Forney
2. Sts. Peter and Paul High School
a. Sarah Ann Charles
b. Dahlia Daniel
3. St. Croix Educational Complex
a. Kiminis Vialet
b. Nayyirah Wilson
4. Good Hope School
a. Amaal Idheileh
b. Yasmine Connor
(read more) 
The police blotter is the V.I. Police Departments list of incidents and the time they were reported to the police.
St. Croix
Incidents recorded on the police blotter Friday included:
Assaults - 4:04 p.m. Thursday, Harvey housing community; 6:20 p.m. Thursday, Golden Grove.
Burglaries - 7:37 p.m. Thursday, Estate Glynn; 8:47 p.m. Thursday, Harrigan housing community.
Fire - 1:46 a.m. Friday, Estate Cane; 2:28 p.m. Friday, Herman Hill.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - Golden Grove inmate John Alcindor, 27, was advised of his rights Friday morning in V.I. Superior Court after a corrections officer said he choked her and then stole her phone.
According to an affidavit filed by Police Officer Ellery Quailey, the corrections officer said that she was in the prison's recreation area Thursday afternoon when she saw a shadow inside the officers' station. According to the officer, it was Alcindor who began asking her about money he wanted her to pick up from his sister.
(read more)
ST. THOMAS - A jury found Maliek Ostalaza and Jevern Phillip guilty Friday of killing 26-year-old Kevin James in 2010.
After almost a week of testimony, the case went to the jury Thursday afternoon.
V.I. Superior Court Judge James Carroll III said he received a note from the jury at 11:10 a.m. Friday asking for a computer to play the 911 calls and surveillance videos introduced as evidence during the trial. The computer was provided, Carroll said.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - Today, hundreds of people are expected to join the fight against cancer during the annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life at St. Croix Educational Complex.
The Relay for Life will begin at 2 p.m. today and not end until 2 p.m. Sunday.
The event is now in its 11th year locally and its 28th nationally.
American Cancer Society chairperson Urylee Burke said she hopes the Relay for Life is a huge success, but it will take a lot of support from the community.
(read more)
ST. THOMAS - May is Military Appreciation Month, and today is Armed Forces Day - a day to recognize and honor the nation's military forces and the dedication of the families who serve with them.
The observance began when President Harry Truman set out to establish a single holiday for people to come together and thank military members for their patriotic service in support of the United States. The first observance of Armed Forces Day was on May 20, 1950.
(read more)
ST. THOMAS - Dr. Ivette Freytes and Dr. Connie Uphold are in the territory this week to distribute a resource guide they designed for Virgin Islands veterans and their families.
The Post-Deployment Readjustment Guide will be handed out during several public meetings where the information will be discussed.
On Friday, the two doctors began handing out the booklets at the American Legion on St. Thomas. They will be at several other locations during the next few days to meet with veterans, their families and caregivers.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - Three days of competition ended Friday afternoon at the 18th Annual Moot Court with Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic School dominating.
The school's appellee team placed first in the competition, and its appellant team placed second. The overall best oralist was given to Nicholas Hiedman, also of Ss. Peter and Paul. Their coaches were attorneys Elmo Adams and James Bernier.
Students from the territory's public, private and parochial schools participated in the competition; four were finalists.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - The second man arrested in the May 10 murder of 32-year-old Gilbert Hendricks made his initial court appearance Friday.
Craig Muller, 27, was advised of his rights by V.I. Superior Court Judge Harold Willocks on charges of first-degree murder, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime of violence, failure to report a firarm and first-degree reckless endangerment.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - The University of the Virgin Islands held its 48th annual Commencement Ceremony on St. Croix Sunday and conferred 134 degrees in varying subject areas.
More than 1,000 friends, family and well wishers gathered and spilled out of a large yellow and white tent that was erected on the northeastern lawn of the Albert A. Sheen Campus, many waiting with balloons and flowers and other congratulatory gifts.
(read more)
Total number of degrees on the St. Croix campus: 134
Master of Arts in Education: 18
Master of Business Administration: 1
Master of Public Administration: 3
Bachelor of Science: 7
Bachelor of Arts: 55
Associate of Applied Science: 20
Associate of Arts: 17
Associate of Science: 13
(read more)
ST. CROIX - The V.I. Superior Court jury tasked with deciding the fate of two men charged in connection with a fatal shooting outside a Christiansted bar in 2010, deliberated for three hours Saturday before indicating they were hopelessly deadlocked.
Superior Court Judge Darryl Donohue declared a mistrial, and set a new date for a retrial of the two defendants.
Hillman Faucher, 21, and Jesus Browne, 25, remain charged with first-degree felony murder, first-degree assault, unauthorized possession of a firearm, reckless endangerment, possession of ammunition and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. The men additionally had been charged with possession of an automatic weapon and possession of an automatic weapon in close proximity to a school, but Judge Darryl Donohue granted a defense motion Wednesday night to dismiss those charges.
(read more)
ST. THOMAS - The V.I. Supreme Court upheld the trial court's conviction of Richie Fontaine for an armed robbery and shooting on Aug. 14, 2009.
On March 12, 2010, a jury found Fontaine guilty of six counts: first-degree robbery, second-degree robbery, first-degree assault and three related counts of unauthorized possession or use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.
According to trial testimony, on Aug. 14, 2009, three men approached Edgar Francis near Coki Point. All three men were wearing scarves around their necks, which they pulled up over their noses as they ran toward Francis. Two of the men had guns, and one man ordered Francis to the ground and snatched a chain from his neck. Francis then was shot three times.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - A federal judge has ordered a hearing to determine whether the consent decree that the V.I. Police Department has been operating under for more than three years should be amended.
District Judge Curtis Gomez set the hearing for June 21, following up on a motion by the U.S. Justice Department asking to amend the consent decree.
Gomez wrote that "it became clear" from the testimony at an April hearing that the territory would not be able to achieve and maintain substantial compliance with the consent decree mandates for two years before it expires on March 23, 2014.
(read more)
The annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fair will be ongoing from Thursday to Saturday at the lower level of Sunshine Mall on St. Croix.
Students' scientific projects from all St. Croix public schools will be available for public viewing on Friday from the opening to the closing of the Mall in Frederiksted.
Judging will take place from 9 a.m. until noon Thursday.
For more inform
(read more)
ST. THOMAS - Proud smiles and fist pumps were in abundance Saturday as 226 University of the Virgin Islands students accepted their diplomas.
Friends and family in the packed UVI Sports and Fitness Center on St. Thomas witnessed the transformation from student to graduate as they cheered their loved ones from the stands.
UVI President David Hall welcomed the crowd and introduced the Class of 2012.
(read more)
ST. THOMAS - The V.I. Public Services Commission voted Tuesday to begin the process of returning money it accepted on behalf of utility customers with billing disputes.
A number of court opinions in recent years have ruled that the Public Services Commission does not have jurisdiction to settle billing disputes between the territory's utilities and customers.
The courts also found that the Public Services Commission did not have jurisdiction to handle service complaints. According to the courts' interpretation of the V.I. Code, the Public Services Commission can only set rates and make decisions directly relating to rates.
(read more)
ST. THOMAS - The V.I. Public Services Commission decided Tuesday to begin the process to considering a rate increase for the ferry companies working between St. Thomas and St. John.
The Public Services Commission will choose a hearing examiner at the next meeting.
Tuesday, PSC technical consultant Avery Williams gave his final recommendations to the commission.
Williams said while Transportation Services and Varlack Ventures share the ferry franchise agreement to provide public transportation between St. Thomas and St. John, they are two very different companies.
(read more)
The Virgin Islands received almost $200,000 from the U.S. Interior Department to study the territory's demographics and acquire population data that will benefit the territory's social programs.
The University of the Virgin Islands will conduct the Virgin Islands Community Survey through a $197,720 grant from the Office of Insular Affairs' Technical Assistance Program.
The survey will collect information about employment, age, race, immigration, homeownership, computer usage and economic status of Virgin Islanders.
(read more)
More than 800 travel agents alit on St. Thomas on Tuesday to pursue the business of pleasure travel.
As part of Vacation.com's 14th International Conference and Trade Show, travel experts arrived aboard Oasis of the Seas to tour St. Thomas and experience an oceanside beach-bash at Morningstar Beach on St. Thomas's south side. While about 300 travel agents took part in shore excursions, 500 other agents spent the day at the Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - The Senate Human Services, Recreation and Sports Committee is scheduled tonight to again take up consideration of a bill authorizing development of a multi-million dollar sports complex in Frederiksted.
The committee first heard testimony about the proposal on April 16, during a meeting that started at 6 p.m. and extended past midnight. After multiple rounds of questioning, senators voted to hold the bill - which would authorize the government to move forward with the project - in committee for further consideration.
(read more)
The Lt. Governor's Office Division of Real Property Tax will resume auctions of properties that have been delinquent in paying property taxes for 10 years or more.
A listing of the properties scheduled for auction can be found in the Classifieds section of today's Daily News or online at www.ltg.gov.vi.
Auctions will take place in the St. Thomas-St. John District on May 23-25 in the courtyard of the V.I. Government Employees Retirement System building on Kronprindsens Gade, St. Thomas.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - Police are investigating the report of a rape that may have occurred more than a year ago.
According to the police incident listing, someone walked into the Ancilmo Marshall Police Command in Bassin Triangle just before 7 p.m. Monday and reported a rape.
The incident was initially classified as an assault and later reclassified as a first-degree rape incident.
V.I. Police Department spokeswoman Melody Rames said Tuesday that a woman reported the incident to police and said that the rape occurred in 2011.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - After spending a full day outside of the courtroom Tuesday while attorneys argued the merits of expert testimony, jurors will return today to continue to hear testimony as the prosecution's case continues in the murder trial against two Christiansted men.
Hillman Faucher, 21, and Jesus Browne, 25, are on trial in the case, charged with first-degree felony murder, first-degree assault, unauthorized possession of a firearm, reckless endangerment, possession of ammunition and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence in connection with the Jan. 6, 2010, shooting death of Shamir James, during a gunfight outside Chris' Hideaway bar and restaurant. Faucher also was seriously wounded in the shooting.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - After more than a month of being sought by police, Jose Almestica turned himself in to authorities Tuesday morning.
According to the Virgin Islands Police Department arrest log, Almestica, 36, of Old Fredensborg walked into the police department just before 9 a.m. and said that he realized he was wanted by police and wanted to give himself up.
Detectives had released a picture of Almestica and had been asking the community to help them locate him since last week in connection with an assault almost two months ago.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - Considered trailblazers and men of honor who defended what they believed in and paved the way for other African Americans in the military, members of the Tuskegee Airmen will visit the territory to honor the local chapter of their group.
The Tuskegee Airmen formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps and fought in World War II.
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American aviators in the United States armed forces. During World War II, African Americans in many U.S. states still were subject to Jim Crow laws, and the American military was racially segregated, as was much of the federal government.
(read more)
ST. THOMAS - The V.I. Public Finance Authority on Tuesday approved the release of $650,000 to the V.I. Housing Authority to purchase land for a senior living facility on St. Thomas.
Legislation was signed by Gov. John deJongh Jr. in February to reprogram any available Public Finance Authority funds for the land acquisition.
The Housing Authority is in negotiations to purchase eight acres behind Schneider Hospital from Lockhart Realty for about $1.3 million.
(read more)
ST. THOMAS - Gladys Abraham, 90, died Friday after a long career of educating the St. Thomas community.
Abraham was born Oct. 11, 1922, and attended the Nisky School and Charlotte Amalie High School.
She began her career in education in 1944 as a temporary teacher at the George Washington School before obtaining her teaching license. She continued her formal education abroad, first attending the Teacher's Institute and Polytechnic Institute of Puerto Rico, then transferring to New York University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in 1953.
(read more)
ST. THOMAS - V.I. Police Sgt. Sherry-Ann Hughes was arrested Friday and charged with obtaining money under false pretenses and fraudulent claims upon the government.
Hughes said she was at work and got paid for several days while she actually was off-island on personal business, according to court records.
Hughes works in the Juvenile Unit of the V.I. Police Department. She has been put on administrative leave without pay following her arrest, according to Police spokeswoman Melody Rames.
(read more)
ST. THOMAS - The V.I. Public Employees Relations Board has ruled on a three-year-old unfair labor practices case against the University of the Virgin Islands, ordering the university to enter negotiations with a union that represents UVI faculty members.
The unfair labor practice charge was filed with PERB by the American Association of University Professors in June 2009, when the university was refusing to enter negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement. The UVI chapter of the AAUP represents only full-time faculty at the university.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - Two community organizations have combined forces and want to hear residents' ideas about how St. Croix should grow.
STXAHEAD is a joint project of St. Croix Unified for Community, Culture, Environment and Economic Development, also called SUCCEED, and the St. Croix Environmental Association. It has scheduled a "community brain trust" meeting for May 12, at which a blueprint for economic development will be in the works.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - Just before lunch on Friday, prosecutors dropped the charges against one of three defendants being tried for murder and filed a motion to dismiss his case.
Moments after filing the dismissal motion, prosecutors served Lloyd Henry, 32, with a subpoena requiring him to testify in the case.
Prosecutors realized they lacked sufficient evidence against Henry, according to the dismissal motion. He was being tried with Hillman Faucher, 21, and Jesus Browne, 25, in connection with the shooting death of Shamir James after a gunfight outside a St. Croix bar Jan. 6, 2010. Faucher was wounded during the incident.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - Gov. John deJongh Jr. signed a lease agreement with the USVI Soccer Federation for 12 acres of land in Upper Bethlehem - a space where the federation intends to build a new soccer facility.
"It's something that we've been working on for a number of years. I'm delighted with the news," said Hillaren Frederick, president of the USVI Soccer Federation.
Government House announced that the governor had signed the lease - which will go before the Senate for ratification - in a statement issued Friday.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - Police are asking the community to help them locate a man wanted in connection with an assault almost two months ago.
According to information released by V.I. Police spokeswoman Melody Rames, detectives of the Domestic Violence Unit issued a wanted poster for Jose Almestica, 36, on Friday, after they have been able to located him for the last six weeks.
Almestica is wanted on charges of aggravated assault and battery and unlawful entry, both as acts of domestic violence, according to Rames.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - A detainee at Golden Grove Correctional Facility, awaiting trial in connection with a shooting incident was arrested Monday on charges that he stabbed another inmate just outside his cell.
David Rios, 39, made his initial court appearance after being charged Monday afternoon with third-degree assault.
Monday's stabbing incident was the third in as many weeks and the only one of the three incidents in which someone was arrested and charged in the assault.
(read more)
ST. THOMAS - The V.I. Next Generation Network approved two contracts at its board meeting Tuesday.
The first contract awarded Tuesday is for a vendor to provide some of the required fiber-optic cable for the territory's broadband network initiative. The board approved a $646,000 contract for MSI Building Supplies to supply the cable.
The second contract is for a fiber access point located at the University of the Virgin Islands.
(read more)
Eight teams of 14 students from the University of the Virgin Islands will compete for $60,000 in business start-up funding on Friday on UVI's St. Thomas campus in the final round of the 13D Student Entrepreneurship Competition.
The competition is organized through UVI's School of Business, and the prizes are $30,000 for first place; $20,000 for second place; and $10,000 for third place.
"If you own a business and you're looking for an investment opportunity, you should be at this final round and listen to these presentations as a business person," said Dr. Glenn Metts, who shepherded the competition through its first year.
(read more)
The V.I. Police Department released the names of a man and a woman who were found dead in the Cassi Hill section of St. Thomas Monday morning.
The Medical Examiners' report found that George Erskine, 66, died from multiple stab wounds, according to a statement the Police Department issued Tuesday.
The cause of death of the woman, 59-year-old Jadine Bachelor, has not yet been determined, pending toxicology results, police said.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - Witness testimony will continue today in the murder trial of three men charged in connection with a fatal shooting outside a Christiansted bar more than two years ago.
Lloyd Henry, 32, Hillman Faucher, 21, and Jesus Browne, 25, are on trial before V.I. Superior Court Judge Darryl Donohue on charges of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, unauthorized possession of a firearm, reckless endangerment, possession of ammunition and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.
(read more)
ST. Croix - A McDonald's Restaurant Manager is facing embezzlement and related charges in connection with stealing more than $11,000 from the company during a four-month period.
Kelvin Louis, 24, of William's Delight was arrested and charged with forgery, obtaining money under false pretense, grand larceny, embezzlement by an employee and embezzlement by a fiduciary. Each of the charges carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - School buses are expected to be back in service on St. Croix today, but officials warned that there is a possibility service could be disrupted again.
School bus service was suspended on the island on Monday because the V.I. Education Department owed the bus company, Abramson Enterprises Inc., more than $625,000.
Education officials released a statement announcing the suspension Monday but at that time did not know how long the service disruption would last.
(read more)
ST. THOMAS - V.I. Justice Department has launched an investigation into Her Majesty's Credit Union, and the V.I. Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs is asking credit union members who are unable to access their money to file a formal complaint.
Both government actions are the result of a two-month investigative report by The Daily News found that Her Majesty's Credit Union is operated by a man with a criminal record, multiple aliases and a history of failed business ventures. He currently is under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and has been jailed in the past for refusing to cooperate with state investigators in Colorado looking into possible fraud.
(read more)
Last year, Meg Sheahan decided it was time to do something she always had wanted to do.
A nurse-midwife who worked at Schneider Hospital on St. Thomas, Sheahan had always wanted to go on a field assignment for Doctors Without Borders.
"I've benefitted from a great education," Sheahan said. "I think it's important for me to try to share some of that."
Last year, it felt like it was time, she said.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières is an international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect or catastrophe. The nonprofit was created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971 and operates independently of any political, military, or religious agendas.
(read more)
The V.I. Police Department will host the third annual Summer Youth Fair from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Julius Sprauve School on St. John.
The Summer Youth Fair allows parents and students to get information from more than a dozen summer camp providers at one location and sign up for the summer camp of their choice. More than a dozen summer camps featuring sports, environmental, educational and artistic camps based on St. John, for children ages 6 through 16, will participate.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - Parents who sent their children to catch the school bus on Monday morning on St. Croix are upset they given no indication by the V.I. Education Department that no buses would be coming on St. Croix and that students would be left stranded.
School bus service has been postponed indefinitely on St. Croix because the Education Department owes the bus company, Abramson Enterprises Inc., more than $625,000.
(read more)
ST. CROIX - Calico Jack is coming to St. Croix.
A week ago, Beam Inc., the parent company of Cruzan Rum, announced it had reached a definitive agreement with White Rock Distilleries to acquire White Rock's fast-growing Pinnacle Vodka and Calico Jack rum brands.
Once the deal goes through, Calico Jack branded rum will be produced at the Cruzan distillery on St. Croix.
"It's good news for us," said Cruzan Rum president and master distiller Gary Nelthropp.
(read more)
The Virgin Islands Government’s lax oversight and loose laws put Virgin Islands residents at risk of losing their life savings.
Trusting the government to have rules and regulations for financial institutions, a number of people deposited their money into a new credit union — but when they go to make a withdrawal, they get excuses, evasions and lies.
(read more)
Gov. John deJongh Jr. picked Wayne Biggs Jr. in March 2009 to replace Kenrick Robertson as head of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs.
Biggs told The Daily News that not long after he took over the department, he learned that he was responsible for oversight of non-federally insured credit unions.
(read more)
While the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has been busy cracking down on Her Majesty’s Credit Union, the V.I. government has assuming nothing is wrong despite its own failure to do any oversight.
Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Wayne Biggs Jr. said there is “no indication” the credit union is stealing people’s money.
(read more)
Her Majesty’s Credit Union does not operate like other credit unions.
It does not have insurance.
It does not operate under any government regulations.
It does not have a member-elected board of directors.
It does not have regular membership meetings.
(read more)
Island Action 
