Cabinet told no leave, no travel stay on island for FY 2018 budget Page 4 Samala pea ta’ita’i o le malo i fa’atauli e fa’atatau i fualaau Le Lali Summer basketball league C M Brian Benjamin Loma when he was interviewed by the media outside the High Court last Friday, after Chief Justice Michael Kruse granted the government’s motion to dismiss the case against him. Y K closes Sports [photo: AF]
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PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2017 $1.00 How far does American Samoa Loma case have to go to get a bank? PART II: A CRISIS IN THE MAKING dismissed By Rob Blackwell Despite this, American Samoa has the sixth- CJ KRUSE: COURT DOESN’T WANT TO HEAR ANY Washington Bureau Chief for American Banker highest rate of enlistment in the U.S. armed forces MORE “FAGOGO” FROM AG’S OFFICE (Reprinted with permission) per capita of any state or territory. That is at least American Samoa is one of the United States’ partly because of a lack of economic opportunity by Ausage Fausia most far-flung — and forgotten — U.S. territories. on the island. American Samoa has only two Samoa News Reporter Acquired by the U.S. in 1899 as part of a deal main industries: tuna fishing and tourism. A Hawaiian Airlines passenger from Colorado who was with Germany and Great Britain, it operates in The island’s modern banking history has been arrested for possession of marijuana back in September 2015 is a nebulous area somewhere between statehood centered on two institutions: Bank of Hawaii and now a free man, after Chief Justice Michael Kruse granted the and independence. It has its own democratically ANZ. government’s motion to dismiss the case against him last Friday. elected legislature and governor, but all laws But Bank of Hawaii, which had done business Assistant Attorney General Gerald Murphy asked for a dis- must be approved by the U.S. president, who in the territory since 1969, shocked the island’s missal of the case due to the government being unable to prove retains the power to dissolve the legislature. Its government when it announced in late 2012 that its case beyond a reasonable doubt. However, when Murphy went people are not American citizens, but American it was pulling out of the island, citing American to explain the government’s other reasons, the Chief Justice cut nationals, with the right to live and work in the Samoa’s “geographic isolation” from its other him off — saying the court is granting the government’s request states. It is one of only two U.S. properties in the markets. to dismiss the case against Loma without prejudice for lack of southern hemisphere, with the other being the “Bank of Hawaii was so dominant over here (Continued on page 6) uninhabited Jarvis Island. (Continued on page 7)
C M Y K
The 18-person NPS crew and leader who left to fight wildland fires in California. See story inside. [courtesy photo] Page 2 samoa news, Thursday, August 3, 2017 High Court asked to suppress Yandall’s EMPLOYMENT statements made during police interviews
OPPORTUNITY by Ausage Fausia HEARING to the case. Samoa News Reporter It was revealed during During her cross-examina- The Trial Division of the the hearing that sometime in tion, defense attorney Gwen High Court of American Samoa November 2016 two police Tauiliili-Langkilde asked NEWS REPORTER has taken under advisement a officers went to Yandall’s resi- the witness about the type of motion to suppress statements dence in Iliili, to ask him if he training she has received during made by 87-year old Joseph T. could come to the police station her 7 years as a police officer, Samoa News is looking for a news writer that has a Yandall to police when they to discuss a complaint. and what type of questions natural curiosity about our local community and is interviewed him twice — in DPS Officer Mafina she can ask during an inter- November 2016 and on March view with a suspect like her willing to report accurately for our newspaper readers. Seva’aetasi was the govern- 07, 2017. ment’s first witness — she was client. Seva’aetasi replied that The successful applicant must possess bi-lingual, The court has also taken one of the two officers who vis- she didn’t receive any specific under advisement a second training about how to conduct Samoan and English, speaking and/or writing ited Yandall at his home; and, motion, to reduce the bond according to Sevaaetasi’s tes- interviews with suspects, but skills. They must be able to meet daily deadlines amount from $75,000 to timony, the defendant did not she had received training during and if needed, to work weekends. $45,000. answer when they first knocked the Police Academy on how to Yandall, who is out on on his door, but during their investigate certain matters and Access to computer, camera and vehicle is a $75,000 surety bond, is facing third attempt, Yandall answered the type of questions she can definite advantage. charges in a case involving two and opened the door. ask a suspect. minor females. When asked by the defense Call Samoa News at 633-5599 for an appointment The DPS officer said it was He made his initial appear- then that they asked the defen- counsel about how she started to interview. ance in District Court earlier dant to come to the Tafuna sub- her investigation into the matter, this year in May. station and he agreed to go. Seva’aetasi said that it was after According to court informa- When he arrived at the sta- the first female victim filed her tion, Yandall is charged with tion, Yandall was told to wait complaint against the defen- one count of child molestation, in the Conference Room, where dant, and she went to her super- We’re Here For You! a class A felony punishable by his interview was conducted by visor, DPS Lt. Letuli to ask per- imprisonment of not less than Seva’aetasi, who said it was then mission to go to the defendant’s 10 years and not more than 30 she informed Yandall about the house and ask him to come to years. purpose of the interview — that the police station to discuss the He is also charged with one she was conducting an investi- said matter — which he did count of attempted kidnapping gation into a complaint filed by voluntarily. and attempted sexual abuse in a female victim against him. The leading investigating the first degree — both felonies. DPS Officer Seva’aetasi said officer, DPS Det. Moafanua During the hearing, the gov- before the interview started, she stated in her sworn testimony ernment called three Depart- first introduced herself to the that it was on the morning of ment of Public Safety police defendant, and also informed March 07, 2017 that she called officers as their main witnesses, him that he was not under arrest the defendant for a chance to while the defense did not call nor in custody of the police, and come to the police station in any witness. he was free to leave the room Fagatogo to discuss the matter After the facts were pre- whenever he wanted to. against him. Yandall agreed sented to the court, the defense The court then heard that and voluntarily came to the said it believes the way the Yandall gave a verbal state- police station in Fagatogo for police officers conducted their ment to the DPS officer about an interview. interviews with her client was his side of the story, and it was When Yandall arrived, she not done properly, instead they at that time she made a deci- said she asked Detective Poutoa were done in a way that made sion to refer the case to the DPS I’amanu Jr. to assist her with the her client feel that he was under Criminal Investigation Division interview, which was carried the custody of police officers, (CID). out in the training room behind and he was not free to leave Detective Fiailoa Moafanua, the Commissioner’s Office. the rooms during any of his who was the second witness for DPS Det. Moafanua revealed interviews. the government, was assigned in her testimony that before the (Continued on page 6)
Some residents of Hope House, pictured Tuesday along with Diocese of Samoa Pago Pago Vicar General, Monsignor Viane Etuale (middle); senior members of the Hope House board, and two officers from the Diocese of Samoa Pago Pago’s Mafutaga Tina group, which made a $5,000 donation in support of the Hope House 30th Anniversary celebration this year. Hope House board member and 30th Anniversary Committee chair, Larry Sanitoa said during the brief presentation ceremony that the Mafutaga Tina is one of the many organizations and societies within the Diocese of Samoa Pago Pago, and it is composed of a group of strong, faithful and committed women from every parish. “Aside from prayer meetings, they do a variety of charitable work and religious social events for each parish and the Diocese,” he said. “This is not the first time the Mafutaga Tina has donated to Hope House. In fact, they have generously donated not just monetarily, but also helped meet other needs of the Nazareth/Hope House for many years.” Both Sanitoa and Hope House board chairman Ta’afano Joe Tavale thanked the Mafutaga Tina for their continued support and work within the Diocese. Making the presentation was Monsignor Viane Etuale, who was accompanied by Mafutaga Tina secretary Luana Tavale and treasurer Dr. Annie Fuavai. More local businesses and organizations are expected to make monetary contributions to Hope House, which is the only facility of its kind in American Samoa providing 24-7 care for elderly patients, the terminally ill, and children with severe physical and mental disabilities. [photo: Hope House] samoa news, Thursday, August 3, 2017 Page 3 Dr. Mikaele Etuale resigns from ASCC by Samoa News staff tute (SSI), University Center for American Samoa Commu- Excellence on Developmental nity College’s Vice President Disabilities (UCEDD), Adult of Administration and Finance, Education Literacy & Extended Dr. Mikaele Etuale has tendered Learning (AELEL) and Small his resignation but no additional Business Development Center information is available on the (SBDC) will be under the reason for him leaving and when shared supervision of the Presi- exactly he tendered his resigna- dent and Vice President. tion. Dr. Etuale has worked at Furthermore, all matters ASCC for several years, and regarding ASCC’s new Multi- was recently recognized, along Purpose Center will continue to with his colleagues, for their be under the direct supervision work in guiding the College’s of the President. overall efforts to fulfill its The memo revealed that mission. the ASCC director of Physical An Aug. 1st memo to staff Facilities Management (PFM) from ASCC president Dr. Ros- Loligi Seumanutafa, resigned evonne M. Pato revealed the last month and the PFM divi- resignation. sion is now under the supervi- The memo states that effec- sion of acting director Lokeni tive Aug. 1st, with the resigna- Lokeni. tion of the Vice President of “Please afford your coopera- Administration and Finance, the tion to the individuals who will Samoan woven baskets full of handicrafts produced by the participants of the Children’s Cultural divisions of Finance, Procure- be implementing these changes Maintenance Summer Program which concluded last week. After performing skits and dance num- ment, Human Resources and in supervision until further bers, the kids were presented with baskets full of everything they made, including woven bracelets, the Bookstore will be placed notice,” the memo concluded. hats, and drawings. [photo: Mark Espiritu] under the direct supervision of the ASCC President. The memo didn’t identify Dr. Etuale by name but his role at ASCC has been common knowledge in the community and in the news media. The letter also states that the divisions of MIS and PFM and Printing Service will be under the direct supervision of Vice President Dr. Lina Galea’i- Scanlan who oversees Aca- demics and Student Affairs. According to the memo, all matters pertaining to the divi- sions of Agriculture, Commu- nity, and Natural Resources (ACNR), Samoan Studies Insti- 1980s rapper Kidd Creole arrested in fatal stabbing NEW YORK (AP) — One of the founding members of the 1980s hip hop group Grand- master Flash and The Furious Five was arrested in New York in connection with the fatal stab- bing of a homeless man, police said. Nathaniel Glover, 57, also known as The Kidd Creole, was arrested Wednesday night on murder charges. Information on his lawyer wasn’t immedi- ately available. The stabbing happened in midtown Man- hattan shortly before midnight on Monday. Police said the 55-year-old victim was found with multiple stab wounds to his torso. It’s not clear what sparked the stabbing. Police described the victim, who lived in a shelter, as a level 2 sex offender. His identity has not yet been released. Video shows a handcuffed Glover, his gray hair pulled back into a tightly-wound pony tail, being escorted out of a police precinct Wednesday night. Page 4 samoa news, Thursday, August 3, 2017 Cabinet told no leave, no travel STAY ON ISLAND FOR FY 2018 BUDGET HEARINGS! by Fili Sagapolutele Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga Samoa News Correspondent has stressed in the past the need Cabinet members have been for cabinet directors to remain informed that there is no more on island during budget hear- travel and/or leave from now ings, as the Fono will not accept until the end of the upcoming anyone, even a deputy director, fiscal year 2018 budget hear- to testify. Only the agency ings, according to a memo from director, head of an ASG entity, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, or the executive director is Fiu J. Saelua to all cabinet acceptable. directors. But there have been times The Aug. 1st memo first when the Fono had to reschedule mentions a cabinet meeting a department or office’s budget take place on Aug. 10th at hearing because the director the Department of Agricul- was off island, and this has ture Conference room. “Only made lawmakers very unhappy. directors and acting directors Upon receiving the budget, including presidents and execu- the Fono will start scheduling tive directors” of ASG authori- budget hearings with the official ties and entities “are to attend,” letter and schedule of hearing the memo says. dates then sent to the Gover- It further states: “This memo nor’s Office. The letter always also serves as notification that states that the Fono budget there shall be no more travel committees will only accept and/or leave taken by cabinet testimony from the director of members from now until the the agency and no one else. end of the upcoming budget The Fono would also request hearings.” Fiu thanked cabinet profit and loss statements from members for their usual support authorities but in the past years, and cooperation. some of those reports are not The Fono is currently on submitted, and that has angered their mid-session four-week committee members who want recess and will reconvene on to know specific revenue details by Samoa News Staff important, and much needed’ Aug. 21st. Their priority at the from the previous fiscal year. LEONE ROAD PROJECT ADOPT-A-SCHOOL project. time will be the review, debate, What’s unconfirmed for this “It’s about time.” This is the Governor Lolo Matalasi MAASDAM’S FIRST CALL and approval of the FY 2018 year, is whether the Fono will comment from a Leone resident Moliga’s Adopt-a-School ini- AT AMERICAN SAMOA budget, which goes into effect hold a joint committee budget who uses the access road behind tiative is still in full effect, with David Vaeafe, executive Oct. 1, 2017 hearing and if it’s jointly, where the Leone Catholic Church, government departments and director of the American Samoa Lawmakers took the mid- is it going to be held, because which is currently undergoing agencies visiting their desig- Visitors Bureau, has announced session recess to await the the Senate sessions and hearings a major repair job, being car- nated ‘adopted schools’ to start that Holland America Line’s Administration’s submission are at the Samoan Guest Fale at ried out by the crew from the major clean-up efforts in prepa- Maasdam will make her maiden of the annual fiscal budget, in the Fono compound, while the Department of Public Works. ration for the new school year call to Pago Pago on October 10 which the ceiling is set at 90% House is currently utilizing the Senator Faiivae Iuli Alex which starts later this month. during a 24-night cruise from of the approved FY 2017 budget north wing of the Gov. H. Rex Godinet, in collaboration with The Governor’s Office took San Diego to Sydney. — for local revenues. Lee Auditorium (fale laumei). Fofo faipule Rep. Dorian the lead, heading to the eastside Salave’a are the forces behind Vaeafe said the cruise last month to carry out clean-up the work, which has garnered a ship will be in port again on at Faga’itua High School. lot of support from the village December 10 on a 22-night Earlier this week, the Fono’s residents who frequent the area. return cruise from Auckland. Senate staff was seen mowing Samoa News has been The ASVB executive grass, painting, installing new informed that an estimated also announced that HAL’s screen wires for the windows, 200 people use this piece of Amsterdam will call into port and power washing basketball road on a daily basis and “for on December 7 on a 26-night courts at Afonotele and Mt. many years” they have had to voyage from Sydney to San Alava Elementary School in endure poor driving conditions Diego. Vatia. including huge potholes and According to him, there Everything that was used to bumps. are now a total of seven ships get the job done was paid for, The village has been scheduled to arrive in the terri- and bought by the Fono. informed, by Faiivae and tory throughout the rest of the Even the staff of the House council members to lend their year. of Representatives, have been support of the project and it is They are: busy, cleaning up the campus the Leone community members Maasdam (October 10), and classroom facilities at who are banning together to Noordam (October 11), Alataua II Elementary School provide food and drinks for the Emerald Princess (October 21), in the far west. road workers. Norwegian Jewel (also making This week and next week, A special faafetai goes to a maiden visit on October employees of other government DPW Assistant Director Luki 30), Regatta (November 25), departments and agencies will Tuitasi whom is being credited Amsterdam (December 7) and be out and about, conducting for getting the ball rolling on Maasdam (December 10). clean-up of schools that are what has been called a ‘very (Source: Seatrade.com) assigned to their watch.
© OSINI FALEATASI INC. RESERVES ALL RIGHTS. FILE - In this March 12, 2007, file photo, The Furious Five, from left, Scorpio, Melle Mel, Kidd Creole and Rahiem appear in the dba Samoa News publishes Monday to Friday, except for some local and federal holidays. press room at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony Send correspondences to: OF, dba Samoa News, Box 909, Pago Pago, Am. Samoa 96799. in New York. The Furious Five is being inducted into the Hall of Telephone at (684) 633-5599 • Fax at (684) 633-4864 Fame with Grandmaster Flash. One of the founding members of Email advertisements to [email protected] the 1980s hip hop group Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five Email the newsroom at [email protected] has been arrested in New York in connection with the fatal stab- Normal business hours are Mon. thru Fri. 8am to 5pm. bing of a homeless man. Police say 57-year-old Nathaniel Glover, Permission to reproduce editorial and/or advertisements, in whole or in part, is required. Please also known as The Kidd Creole, was arrested Wednesday night, address such requests to the Publisher at the address provided above. Aug. 2, 2017, on murder charges. (AP Photo/Stuart Ramson, File) Please visit samoanews.com for weekend updates. samoa news, Thursday, August 3, 2017 Page 5 National Park of Amer- ican Samoa crew heads to Northern California to fight wildlands fires Pago Pago, American Samoa fire crews there are eager for — An 18-person National Park our crew to come join them in of American Samoa crew and their work.” crew leader will be departing The National Park of Amer- on Wednesday, August 2, from ican Samoa has been sending American Samoa to Northern fire crews to the mainland US California to fight wildland fires for the past 17 years. In partner- for 30 days. Once in California, ship with Hawai’i Volcanoes the national park’s fire crew will National Park, the National receive their field assignment Park of American Samoa trains and work side-by-side with fire staff and local government crews from across the nation. employees as well as local vil- “Our wildland firefighters lagers in the skills required to represent a talented mix of fight fires at home and within employees from the national other areas of the United States. park, the American Samoa To become wildland fire- Government, and local busi- fighters, this crew had to com- nesses from both Tutuila and the plete rigorous training and pass Manu’a islands,” said Acting a demanding written test. They FILE - In this Oct. 3, 2015 photo, South Korean director Kim Ki-duk speaks during an inter- Superintendent Daniel George. also had to pass a fitness test that view at the Busan International Film Festival in Busan, South Korea. South Korean prosecutors are “We are proud to send our crew required the firefighters to walk investigating award-winning film director Kim Ki-duk after an actress accused him of hitting her to help protect natural resources three miles wearing a 45-pound and trying to force her into shooting off-script sexual scenes while making a 2013 movie. and keep communities safe pack in less than 45-minutes. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File) during this severe fire season on the mainland. The skill and dedication of our Samoan crew is well known and very much respected on the mainland and Prosecutors: S. Korean director investigated in abuse case SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean prosecutors are investigating award-win- ning film director Kim Ki-duk after an actress accused him of hitting her and trying to force her into shooting off-script sexual scenes while making a 2013 movie. An official from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on Thursday said the director will be questioned but it hasn’t been determined when. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of office rules. Ahn Byung-ho of the Feder- ation of Korea Movie Workers’ Union said the actress dropped out from the filming of because of Kim’s alleged abuse and recently reported the case to the union after suffering from “psy- chological pain” for years. The movie, “Moebius,” a dark and violent story about an estranged family, was released in 2013 after Kim finished filming with a different actress. Kim and his produc- tion company did not answer repeated calls for comment. The Dong-A Ilbo newspaper reported that Kim told a reporter he had slapped the actress while instructing her acting, but he denied trying to force her into filming off-script scenes. Kim won the top prize in the Venice Film Festival with his 2012 film “Pieta,” a brutal mother- and-son tale of revenge and redemption. Page 6 samoa news, Thursday, August 3, 2017 ➧ Loma case dismissed… Continued from page 1 prosecution. warning signs inside the Hono- “The court does not want to lulu Airport, to warn foreigners hear any more “fagogo” from and travelers who are coming your office”, Kruse said. to American Samoa about how When asked by Kruse if he serious its laws are on drugs and had any objections to the gov- illegal substances. ernment’s motion, Loma, who Kruse took over the case represented himself in court for earlier this year in June. Prior the second time, said he didn’t. to that, Associate Justice Lyle He then made his way out- L. Richmond handled Loma’s side of the court room with a case, and the last hearing was smile on his face. July 2016 when the High Court Samoa News asked the Ass’t took under advisement a motion AG to elaborate on the reasons by the defendant to suppress why the government moved to evidence that the government dismiss Loma’s case. Murphy collected when he was taken replied that the government into custody. received letters from two psy- Marijuana was found in chiatrists at the LBJ Hospital, Loma’s luggage after a Customs confirming that Loma is a dog alerted to him as he was recovering crack cocaine addict, going through Customs clear- who suffers from chronic carpal ance. The two Customs agents tunnel and arthritis-like pain who discovered the prohibited in his wrists due to injuries he substance on the night of Sep- sustained in a 2014 bicycling tember 11, 2015 were witnesses accident. for the government. “After reviewing these let- Loma said his whole purpose ters from the two doctors at the for coming to the territory was LBJ Hospital, we believed that to work on problems of plastic it would be a good decision to pollution and beach mitigation dismiss our case against the on the island. defendant,” said Murphy. He said that plastic pollu- As a condition of the verbal tion in the Pacific Ocean region agreement between the govern- exceeds 78 tons of waste, and ment and Loma, Murphy told there are dozens of local and Samoa News that Loma will international entities throughout depart the territory and remain the South Pacific seeking to outside for the rest of his life develop remedies to this global — he will not re-enter the ter- catastrophe. ritory again; and if he does, the BACKGROUND government will immediately Three months after Loma re-file this case against him. was arrested and charged by the When Samoa News asked government, Kruse called on for a copy of the agreement the American Samoa Govern- with Loma, Murphy said, “it ment to consider warning for- was just a verbal agreement eigners and the traveling public with the defendant.” who enter the territory on how Murphy’s appearance in serious local law enforcement High Court last Friday was his takes certain crimes — namely last, as he did not renew his sexual assault and the unlawful contract with the AG’s Office. possession of the controlled He left island Monday night. substance: marijuana. LOMA’S REACTION His comments were made When asked how he felt during the sentencing of the about the case being dismissed, Don Bosco adult volunteer who Loma said that he was really was charged together with two happy about the decision and he Don Bosco students, who came has faith in God that one day the to the territory as part of the truth will be revealed. contingent from Samoa to par- Speaking to the media out- ticipate in the 2015 Flag Day side the court house, Loma festivities. explained that he is a registered Kruse noted that bringing medical marijuana patient in his marijuana into the territory is home state, and he traveled with punishable by five years in jail. his lawfully-prescribed, legally He suggested that the Tourism obtained medications from Office disseminate this infor- President Donald Trump, followed by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., arrives in the Roosevelt Room Denver, Colorado to American mation so foreigners would of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2017, to unveil legislation that would place Samoa. know how serious the territory new limits on legal immigration. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) He also noted the lack of takes these crimes.
➧ High court… Trump denies he called Continued from page 2 interview started, they intro- talk to his lawyer. duced themselves to the defen- Tauiliili-Langkilde asked dant, and notified him about Det. Moafanua how she got White House a ‘dump’ the purpose of the interview, her client’s cell phone number, WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump reportedly told the mem- dump - TOTALLY UNTRUE.” before reading him his consti- and she responded that another President Donald Trump denied bers he visits the property so Trump has spent nearly tutional rights. police officer, Maria Penitusi, Wednesday that he called the frequently because “That White every weekend of his presi- The defendant said he who worked together with the White House a “dump.” House is a real dump.” dency visiting various prop- Trump responded on Twitter Trump took to Twitter erties he owns and leases, understood his rights and he defendant on another case, to an article posted Tuesday Wednesday night to deny he including Bedminster. He is waived them before making a gave it to her. on the website golf.com. The made the remark. “I love the expected to leave Friday on his statement, and it was after he The government’s third wit- story recounts a scene in which White House, one of the most first extended vacation from made a verbal and a written ness Det. I’amanu confirmed Trump was chatting with some beautiful buildings (homes) I Washington since the inaugura- statement to police, that the what Det. Moafanua said in her club members at his golf course have ever seen,” he tweeted. tion — a 17-day getaway to the in Bedminster, New Jersey. “But Fake News said I called it a Bedminster club. defendant said he wanted to sworn testimony. samoa news, Thursday, August 3, 2017 Page 7 ➧ How far does AS… Continued from page 7 and such a good bank,” said Dakota deposits its tax revenues Chee, who formerly worked for in the bank, and those funds are Bank of Hawaii both on and off used to offer cheap agricultural, American Samoa. energy, and student loans to American Samoa pressured local businesses and consumers. Bank of Hawaii to remain on The bank is widely regarded the island for a few years until as a success, straddling the it could find a successor institu- line between offering banking tion, though the bank wouldn’t services while not seeking to stay indefinitely. compete directly with private Finding another bank to take institutions. The $7 billion- its place has been difficult. The asset Bank of North Dakota government sought out other works with 100 bank partners, institutions that might want to provides only limited checking have branches on the island, but accounts to customers and has any takers face logistical prob- no branches. lems that are hard to overcome. “We’re not really competing The chain of islands that with the private sector, but com- make up the territory have plementing them,” said Eric roughly the same geographic Hardmeyer, president of the footprint as Washington, D.C., Bank of North Dakota. but only a tenth of that city’s Though any resident of North population. The island is thou- Dakota can open a checking sands of miles away from the account at the bank, doing so is nearest other U.S. territory, with a no-frills experience. The bank only two flights a week in or out. doesn’t even offer debit cards. Just getting cash to fill up the “We’re not trying to be ATMs is challenging. Internet everything to everybody,” service has been billed “the Hardmeyer said. “We’re the most expensive in America.” financiers of economic devel- “We went to all the banks in opment for the state of North Hawaii — and also tried some Dakota. We are really here to banks in the states — but none make North Dakota better.” were interested,” said Iulo- The bank has been profit- gologo J. Pereira, executive able, earning record gains for assistant to American Samoa the past 13 years, according to Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga. Hardmeyer. The profits go back Eager to solve the problem, to the state budget. private investors in American American Samoa officials Samoa tried to create a de novo saw an opportunity in the Bank of their own. Though they raised of North Dakota’s model, a way capital and applied to regulators to sidestep the need for an FDIC for approval, that effort ulti- sign-off while still allowing for a mately failed. It’s been nearly full-fledged banking institution. become too intertwined with the impossible since the financial “We wanted to find a model government that’s supporting it. crisis to charter a de novo insti- that reflects our uniqueness. The To head off that worry, tution. Many industry observers only model that is out there is the American Samoa officials have say the Federal Deposit Insur- Bank of North Dakota,” Chee built a Chinese wall between ance Corp.’s standards are too said. “They are the epitome of the territory and the bank. high, though federal regulators what it’s like to be a community Though its board members are attribute the drought to a lack of bank at the state level.” nominated by the governor and demand. Public banks are more confirmed by the Fono, the ter- That left just the Australian common in the rest of the ritory’s legislature, the relation- bank ANZ willing to remain in world, particularly developing ship stops there. the territory. It serves American countries. “Once that is done, the gov- Samoa from its “local” head- “Quite often the public banks ernment has no say in the run- quarters in Guam, more than are the ones who are banking ning of the bank,” Pereira said. 3,500 miles away, and it was the poor, or bringing banking The bank cannot lend to unwilling to significantly step services outside of the major its board members or to the up its presence on the island, centers,” said Thomas Marois, government. though it recently expanded to senior lecturer of development “We built as many buffers 10 ATMs. studies at the University of as we could to keep the govern- “All the lending and every- London, who has studied public ment influence directly or indi- thing else goes out of Guam,” banks. rectly out of the bank,” Ware Pereira said. “It doesn’t give us But state-run banks are said. “We’ve been very careful a relationship to help develop anathema to the American char- to design it like that.” the economy.” acter. Despite renewed efforts (Samoa News is running With no bank willing to take in states like New Jersey to this story, How far does Amer- over for the departing Bank form one, the model is vigor- ican Samoa have to go to get a of Hawaii, and the regulatory ously opposed by the banking bank? in three parts throughout demands too high to form a pri- industry and conservatives, the week. See Part III: “Waiting vately owned institution, offi- who view state-run enterprises for the Fed” in tomorrow’s cials in American Samoa were as government intrusion in the edition.) struggling for an answer. market. They found one in an Even American Samoa offi- unlikely place: the rural, land- cials are reluctant supporters of locked state of North Dakota. the idea. A PUBLIC BANK “The government doesn’t The Bank of North Dakota like to get into the private-sector is unique in American history. business,” Pereira said. “There Formed in 1919 in response to was no other alternative.” an agricultural crisis, it is not There are two potential pit- ACCURACY backed by the FDIC, but instead falls to public banks. The first is We make an issue is run and supported by the opposition from private institu- of it every day. state itself. Though other states tions who fear competing with a If you want to comment formed public banks in the dis- government-backed institution, about our accuracy, call Vincent Rodriguez III, left, and Rachel Bloom participate in tant past, the Bank of North an issue that simply isn’t rel- Samoa News at 633-5599 the “Crazy Ex Girlfriend” panel during The CW portion of the Dakota is the only one still evant for American Samoa. 2017 Summer TCA’s at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Wednesday, operating. The second is more of a con- Aug. 2, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. By law, the state of North cern: that a public bank may (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Page 8 samoa news, Thursday, August 3, 2017 Oxford employee sought in slaying CHICAGO (AP) — Police are searching for a Northwestern University professor and a University of Oxford employee sus- pected in the stabbing death of a Chicago man and have alerted law enforcement agencies around the country that the pair should be considered armed and dangerous. Anthony Guglielmi, a Chicago police spokesman, said Wednesday that a Cook County judge issued first-degree murder warrants for Wyndham Lathem, 42, and Andrew Warren, 56, in the killing of Trenton Cornell-Duranleau. Cornell-Duranleau, 26, was stabbed to death last week in a 10th floor apartment believed to be Latham’s in the River North neighborhood. Police have not released a possible motive or said how they linked the suspects to the killing, but Guglielmi said security camera footage shows them leaving the building that night. Guglielmi said Lathem and Cornell-Duranleau knew each C M other, but he didn’t know any details about the relationship. Y K He said investigators determined that Warren, who lives in England, came to the U.S. recently for the first time, but he didn’t know if Warren knew the victim. Officers went to the apartment last Thursday night after the person working at the building’s front desk called to report that he’d received an anonymous call about a crime having been com- mitted in that unit. Cornell-Duranleau, who lived in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood on the city’s lower West Side, was pro- nounced dead at the scene. The medical examiner’s office said he died of multiple sharp force injuries. A Northwestern University spokesman, Alan Cubbage, said in a news release that the school is cooperating with the investi- gation and that Lathem has been placed on administrative leave and banned from entering school property. He said there is no indication that Lathem, an associate professor of microbiology- immunology who has been on the faculty since 2007, is a danger to anyone at the school. Warren is a senior treasury assistant at Somerville College in England, which is part of the Oxford University network, according to a university website.
C M Y K
Limited time offers Cannot be combined with other coupons or combo meals Price of single item posted on menu board ©2017 McDonald’s samoa news, Thursday, August 3, 2017 Page 9 Nebraska patrol accused of requiring vaginal exams for women OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The doctor hired by the patrol to Nebraska State Patrol has for remove her pants and lie on her years forced female recruits to back, then her stomach, to be submit to invasive, medically examined. unnecessary pelvic exams per- Splittgerber complained to formed by a male doctor before her superiors after being told by they can be hired, according her family doctor that there was to a new federal lawsuit that no legitimate medical purpose has prompted a criminal for the exam. She was told an investigation. investigation was underway, the State Trooper Brienne Splitt- lawsuit says, but was disturbed gerber filed the lawsuit Tuesday that female patrol candidates against the patrol, the state of from subsequent recruitment Nebraska, two former patrol classes continued to be sent to C M heads and various other people, the same doctor to submit to the Y K accusing them of creating a exams. hostile work environment for Dr. Karen Carlson, an women. OB-GYN with Nebraska Medi- “Immediately upon learning cine in Omaha, said it would of these allegations in June, the be highly unusual to conduct Governor instructed his Chief a pelvic exam for a possible Human Resources Officer to hernia. Pressing the abdomen review this matter, which has with a hand would be standard subsequently resulted in a for such a check, she said. criminal investigation by the “There would be no reason to State Patrol,” Taylor Gage, look in the genital or anal area,” a spokesman for Gov. Pete Carlson said. “We might have Ricketts, said in a written state- them loosen their pants, but I ment Wednesday. State Patrol wouldn’t think there would be spokesman Cody Thomas said any need to disrobe.” no NSP recruits have under- An attorney for the State gone the pelvic exams since Patrol declined to comment December 2016. Thomas did Wednesday, citing the pending not comment on who was under litigation, and referred ques- investigation. tions to the Nebraska Attorney The lawsuit seeks unspeci- General’s office, which will fied damages, saying women defend the patrol and state recruits for years have been against the lawsuit. A spokes- required to undress from the woman for the Attorney Gen- waist down for a vaginal and eral’s office would say only that rectal examination. The law- her office is currently reviewing suit says Splittgerber was told the lawsuit. the exam was required to check The lawsuit is the latest of for hernias, but male recruits several controversies that have were generally not required hounded the patrol in recent to undress or undergo such years. Earlier this year, Ricketts invasive exams. “Subjecting fired Col. Brad Rice, who was the plaintiff and other female the head of the Nebraska State trooper candidates to a medi- Patrol during most of Splitt- cally unnecessary and sexu- gerber’s tenure with the patrol. ally invasive procedure is out- His firing came amid an internal rageous conduct which goes review launched after officers beyond all possible bounds of were accused of changing their decency and is utterly intoler- story about a crash that killed a able in a civilized community,” South Dakota driver who was according to the lawsuit, filed fleeing from a trooper. by Omaha attorney Tom White. Rice’s firing followed a Splittgerber submitted to union survey of state troopers the exam in 2014 before she that found widespread dissat- was hired by the patrol in 2015, isfaction among rank-and-file saying in her lawsuit that she employees with the agency’s was required by a Lincoln management. C M Y K
A vehicle with the Nebraska State Patrol logo is parked in a state patrol facility in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2017. A federal lawsuit accuses the Nebraska State Patrol that it has for years forced female recruits to submit to invasive, medically unnecessary pelvic exams performed by a male doctor before they can be hired. (AP Photo/Nat Page 10 samoa news, Thursday, August 3, 2017 Pacific Island News in Brief compiled by Samoa News staff regulatory reforms, technology FRENCH NAVY INTER- and innovative financing CEPTS HUGE COCAINE to make electricity more HAUL OFF TONGA affordable. A yacht with 1.4 tons of Dame Meg Taylor who cocaine has been intercepted by leads the Pacific Islands Forum the French Navy off Tonga. Secretariat, stressed the vulner- New Caledonia’s newspaper ability of the region’s countries said the operation was launched to global oil price fluctuations. a week ago when a Navy vessel “Even with the recent was sent out in a joint mis- advances in the adoption of sion with police and customs renewable energy, the region officials. still relies on imported oil The report of Les Nouvelles to provide 76 percent of the Caledoniennes gave no details region’s generated electricity. of where the yacht was caught Hence plans to increase the but it said it happened several use and penetration of renew- days ago and four people were ables whether it is through large detained. scale solar projects or small The Navy vessel, Le Ven- community-based micro and démiaire, returned to its mini hydro schemes, all work to Noumea base on Tuesday, with move away from carbon-based dozens of masked military men economies.” French Navy vessel — Le Vendémiaire [photo: AFP via RNZI] guarding the off loading of the Close to 250 delegates rep- drugs which have been moved resenting electricity utilities, to an undisclosed destination Pacific island governments, for destruction. development partners and the The four detained people are private sector are attending the to be presented to a prosecutor conference being hosted for the shortly. second time by the Samoa Elec- (Source: RNZI) tric Power Corporation. ANOTHER ATM (Source: RNZI) SCAMMER FACES 40 JUNE JONES TAKES CRIMINAL CHARGES ASSISTANT COACHING The Samoa Observer reports JOB IN CANADA that another foreigner has been Hawaii News Now is accused of stealing from a local reporting that former Univer- A.T.M. and has pleaded not sity of Hawaii football coach guilty to 40 criminal charges. June Jones is taking an assistant Romanian businessman coaching job with the Canadian Catalin Razvan Veverita’s plea Football League’s Hamilton was entered through his lawyer, Tiger-Cats, according to the Lei’ataualesa Komisi Koria, team’s official Twitter page. during criminal mention in the Jones will be reunited with District Court yesterday. his former assistants, Jeff Prosecuting the case is Reinebold and Dennis McK- Vaisala Afoa of the Attorney night, in Hamilton. General’s Office. Although he will be coaching District Court Judge Talasa for the Tiger-Cats, he will also Lumepa Atoa Sa’aga is remain at his current job at presiding. St. Louis School in Honolulu Information pertaining to the where he accepted an adminis- charges was not discussed in trative job last year. Court. (Source: Hawaii News Now) But the defendant, who is out REVIVAL OF CNMI LAN- on bail, sought for the Court’s GUAGE COMMISSION approval to leave the country. PLANNED “He has a business in Van- In the Northern Marianas, uatu that he needs to attend to efforts are underway to pre- and that is the ground,” Leiatau- serve the indigenous Chamorro alesa said. and Carolinian languages by Judge Atoa-Saaga asked the reviving a special commission lawyer to file an application. focusing on the languages. (Source: Samoa Observer) Last week, the Chamorro/ PACIFIC ELECTRICITY Carolinian Language Policy COSTS UNDER Commission met with repre- SCRUTINY sentatives of the Indigenous Members of the Pacific Affairs Office, Carolinian Power Association opened Affairs Office, and the Public their annual conference in Apia School System to discuss their on Tuesday to discuss ways to nominees for the body. drive down the cost of elec- It has been almost seven tricity in the region. years since the commission had Pacific island countries have members. some of the highest electricity A language survey done in costs in the world, making the community last year illus- power beyond the reach of trated the urgency of the com- many. mission’s work, as the lan- This is mainly due to high guages are slowly dying. electricity tariffs, the high cost Commission members must of service connections and the be able to translate English into cost of wiring premises. written and spoken Chamorro The conference will explore or Carolinian. (Continued on page 12) samoa news, Thursday, August 3, 2017 Page 11
The Iuventa Ship of the German NGO Jugend Rettet is docked at Lampedusa’ harbor, Italy, early Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2017. The German NGO migrant rescue boat has been put under preventive seizure in a Sicilian island port as Italian authorities investigate what they suspected could be aiding ‚Äúclandestine immigration.‚Äù (Elio Desiderio/ANSA via AP) Italy seizes German group’s rescue boat in immigration probe ROME (AP) — Italian the Libyan coast” and that an suspected some non-govern- authorities ordered a German investigation opened in October mental organizations which group’s migrant rescue vessel has uncovered information to rescue migrants, were also seized Wednesday, alleging suggest the vessel was used essentially aiding traffickers. that its crew took on migrants “to aid and abet clandestine Jugend Rettet was one of directly from smugglers’ boats immigration.” several NGOs which declined near Libya’s coast. Jugend Rettet, a group based this week to sign on to new rules The vessel operated by in Berlin, is mainly made up of promoted by Italy’s interior Jugend Rettet was seized in young volunteers. minister and aimed at ensuring the port of Lampedusa, a tiny Its web site says its volun- rescue groups don’t end up fishing island off Sicily, where teers’ “motivation derives from effectively helping human many of the hundreds of thou- the will to rescue lives and to traffickers. sands of migrants rescued at sea improve the humanitarian situa- The smugglers crowd flimsy in the last few years are taken. tion on the Mediterranean.” rubber dinghies or aging fishing While investigators suspect The group said on its Face- boats with migrants, essentially “the crime of clandestine immi- book page Wednesday that it counting on European or Italian gration” was committed by went to Lampedusa on instruc- military patrol boats, NGO some of the Jugend Rettet boat’s tions from the Rome-based rescue vessels or passing cargo crew, prosecutor Ambrogio maritime rescue coordination ships to pluck the passengers to Cartosio told reporters that “my center after being asked to help safety and bring them to Italian personal conviction was that the in a search-and-rescue mission shores. motive is humanitarian, exclu- on Tuesday. Objections to the new rules sively humanitarian.” “As it happened during other included fears that armed Italian The preventive seizure of stops at this port, the crew was military or police personnel the Dutch-flagged Iuventa was questioned by the local police, would come aboard the NGO based on evidence that emerged which also entered the ship,” vessels, compromising the from three episodes in which Jugend Rettet said. groups’ humanitarian missions. crew members had contact with After a warrant-authorized With elections due in human smugglers operating search of the ship, authorities 2018, Premier Paolo Genti- boats crowded with migrants, seized the Iuventa, which will loni’s center-left government Cartosio said. eventually be taken to the main is becoming bolder in trying to One happened in September island of Sicily. hold back the tide of migrants 2016, two in June. Cartosio stressed that no entering Italy. “There were contacts, meet- individual members of the crew Many Italians have grown ings, understandings,” between had been charged and the inves- impatient with the number of the group’s boat and the smug- tigation was ongoing to see newcomers awaiting decisions glers, the prosecutor, who is which of them might have made on asylum requests in their based in the Sicilian port city of contact with smugglers at sea. communities. Trapani, said. “There is no indication (the Italy’s Parliament on The passengers on the human crew) was paid,” by smugglers, Wednesday approved having traffickers’ boats “weren’t “nor is there any element to Italian military vessels help saved” by the Iuventa, he make us think there is a stable Libya’s coast guard stop smug- alleged. Instead, migrants “were tie between the ship and Libyan gling boats from leaving Libya handed over” to the German traffickers,’ Cartosio said. for Europe. group’s 33-meter (about 110- Any allegation that con- Italy’s defense minister has foot) -long boat by smugglers tacts between Jugend Rettet’s insisted the mission won’t be a who escorted the migrants boat and the boats transporting naval blockade, although law- toward the Iuventa, the pros- migrants resulted from “coordi- makers from the anti-migrant ecutor said. nated planning” is tantamount Northern League, an opposition Later the migrants were to “science fiction,” Cartosio party, are demanding just that. transferred to Italian military said. A spokesman for the Libyan vessels or other nonprofit ves- A judge in Trapani ordered navy, Ayoub Gassim, told The sels to be taken to Italian ports, the preventive seizure upon Associated Press the Italians Cartosio said. prosecutors’ request. will provide “technical assis- Police in Trapani said the A few months ago, prosecu- tance” at Libya’s request and Iuventa “is regularly devoted tors in Trapani and in Catania, that a patrol boat arrived in to the rescue of migrants near another Sicilian city, said they Tripoli Wednesday. Page 12 samoa news, Thursday, August 3, 2017
The 2017 Summer Health Academy participants striking a pose during a visit last week to the ASCC nursing division. The program is being spearheaded by the American Samoa Area Health Education Center (AHEC), with the goal of exposing students to various health professions available on island, and to provide training to gain leadership and clinical skills. [photo: courtesy] Leon Black has a whole big book in him NEW YORK (AP) — Leon and the writing credit goes to always has so much to say, Black has so much on his mind. JB Smoove, the man who plays maybe he should just put it all Gallery Books told The Black on the comedy series. down in words. Associated Press on Wednesday According to the publisher, the “The Book of Leon” is that it is devoting a book to the book was inspired by a certain scheduled for Oct. 24, around trash-talker from “Curb Your balding man with glasses, per- the time the ninth season of Enthusiasm.” The release is haps Larry David, who alleg- “Curb Your Enthusiasm” called “The Book of Leon,” edly told Black that since he begins on HBO.
FILE - In this Wednesday, July 26, 2017, file photo, J.B. Smoove participates in the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” panel during the Book of Leon‚Äù and the writing credit goes to the man who plays Black on the comedy series, J.B. Smoove. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) ➧ Pacific brief… Continued from page 10 The list of nominees will be At least 200 people came out finalized at the next meeting. for the overnight protests over (Source: RNZI) construction of the new Daniel 6 ARRESTED IN PRO- K. Inouye Solar Telescope atop TESTS ATOP HALEAKALA the mountain, which Native Two women and four men Hawaiians consider sacred. were arrested early Wednesday Some 60 officers responded, during a protest over construc- according to the state Depart- tion of a new telescope atop ment of Land and Natural Haleakala. Hawaii News Now Resources. The protest comes reports the six were among hun- as tensions are also high over dreds of activists blocking the the controversial Thirty Meter road that leads to the summit, Telescope proposed for Mauna preventing a construction Kea. Earlier this month, a convoy from getting through. former Circuit Court judge rec- Around 3 a.m., officers ommended the telescope project pushed people out of the way be allowed to move forward. to allow the crews to pass and The recommendation now goes even carried out several people to the state Land Board. who were lying on the ground. (Source: Hawaii News Now) samoa news, Thursday, August 3, 2017 Page 13
In this July 31, 2017 photo provided by Oregon Health & Science University, Shoukhrat Mitalipov, left, talks with research assistant Hayley Darby in the Mitalipov Lab at OHSU in Portland, Ore. Mitalipov led a research team that, for the first time, used gene editing to repair a disease-causing mutation in human embryos, laboratory experiments that might one day help prevent inherited dis- eases from being passed to future generations. (Kristyna Wentz-Graff/Oregon Health & Science University via AP) First embryo gene-repair holds promise for inherited disease WASHINGTON (AP) — attempts at learning to edit mutation. Altering human heredity? embryos, in China, didn’t work Previous embryo-editing In a first, researchers safely well and, more importantly, attempts in China found not repaired a disease-causing gene raised safety concerns. every cell was repaired, a in human embryos, targeting In a series of laboratory safety concern called mosa- a heart defect best known for experiments reported in the icism. Beginning the process killing young athletes — a big journal Nature, the Oregon before fertilization avoided that step toward one day preventing researchers tried a different problem: Until now, “every- a list of inherited diseases. approach. body was injecting too late,” In a surprising discovery, a They targeted a gene muta- Mitalipov said. research team led by Oregon tion that causes a heart-weak- Nor did intense testing Health and & Science Univer- ening disease, hypertrophic car- uncover any “off-target” errors, sity reported Wednesday that diomyopathy, that affects about cuts to DNA in the wrong embryos can help fix them- 1 in 500 people. Inheriting just places, reported the team, which selves if scientists jump-start one copy of the bad gene can also included researchers from the process early enough. cause it. the Salk Institute for Biological It’s laboratory research only, The team programmed Studies in California and South nowhere near ready to be tried a gene-editing tool, named Korea’s Institute for Basic Sci- in a pregnancy. But it suggests CRISPR-Cas9, that acts like ence. The embryos weren’t that scientists might alter DNA a pair of molecular scissors to allowed to develop beyond eight in a way that protects not just find that mutation — a missing cells, a standard for laboratory one baby from a disease that piece of genetic material. research. The experiments were runs in the family, but his or Then came the test. privately funded; U.S. tax dol- her offspring as well. And that Researchers injected sperm lars aren’t allowed for embryo raises ethical questions. from a patient with the heart research. “I for one believe, and this condition along with those Genetics and ethics experts paper supports the view, that molecular scissors into healthy not involved in the work say ultimately gene editing of donated eggs at the same time. it’s a critical first step — but human embryos can be made The scissors cut the defective just one step — toward eventu- safe. Then the question truly DNA in the sperm. ally testing the process in preg- becomes, if we can do it, should Normally cells will repair a nancy, something currently pro- we do it?” said Dr. George CRISPR-induced cut in DNA hibited by U.S. policy. Daley, a stem cell scientist by essentially gluing the ends “This is very elegant lab and dean of Harvard Medical back together. Or scientists can work,” but it’s moving so fast School. He wasn’t involved in try delivering the missing DNA that society needs to catch up the new research and praised it in a repair package, like a com- and debate how far it should go, as “quite remarkable.” puter’s cut-and-paste program. said Johns Hopkins University “This is definitely a leap for- Instead, the newly forming bioethicist Jeffrey Kahn. ward,” agreed developmental embryos made their own per- And lots more research is geneticist Robin Lovell-Badge fect fix without that outside needed to tell if it’s really safe, of Britain’s Francis Crick help, reported Oregon Health added Britain’s Lovell-Badge. Institute. & Science University senior He and Kahn were part of a Today, couples seeking to researcher Shoukhrat Mitalipov. National Academy of Sciences avoid passing on a bad gene We all inherit two copies of report earlier this year that said sometimes have embryos cre- each gene, one from dad and if germline editing ever were ated in fertility clinics so they one from mom — and those allowed, it should be only for can discard those that inherit the embryos just copied the healthy serious diseases with no good disease and attempt pregnancy one from the donated egg. alternatives and done with strict only with healthy ones, if there “The embryos are really oversight. are any. looking for the blueprint,” Mit- “What we do not want is for Gene editing in theory could alipov, who directs OHSU’s rogue clinicians to start offering rescue diseased embryos. But Center for Embryonic Cell treatments” that are unproven, so-called “germline” changes and Gene Therapy, said in an as has happened with some — altering sperm, eggs or interview. other experimental technolo- embryos — are controversial “We’re finding embryos gies, he stressed. because they would be perma- will repair themselves if you Among key questions: nent, passed down to future have another healthy copy.” Would the technique work if generations. Critics worry about It worked 72 percent of the mom, not dad, harbored the attempts at “designer babies” time, in 42 out of 58 embryos. mutation? Is repair even pos- instead of just preventing Normally a sick parent has a sible if both parents pass on a disease, and a few previous 50-50 chance of passing on the bad gene? Page 14 samoa news, Thursday, August 3, 2017 HBO plays down threat of hacked internal documents NEW YORK (AP) — HBO, “documents, images, videos which acknowledged Monday and sound.” that hackers had broken into On Tuesday, a company its systems and stolen “propri- called IP-Echelon filed a report etary information,” now says with Google on behalf of HBO, the attackers likely haven’t noting that the named website breached the network’s entire “shares thousands of Home Box email system. Office (HBO) internal company In a Wednesday email to documents.” employees, CEO Richard IP-Echelon Pty Ltd. regu- Plepler wrote that “we do larly files such copyright- not believe that our email infringement notices on behalf system as a whole has been of large media entertainment compromised.” companies, including HBO. He added that a review Federal law requires internet continues, and said HBO is companies like Google to hiring an outside firm to help remove links to sites that employees monitor their finan- infringe copyright once they cial accounts. receive such notifications. Purported hackers said in Google routinely for- email that they’d accessed ward such notices to the long- HBO’s internal network and standing public-interest reposi- email system and then posted tory Lumen, formerly known stolen information online. An as Chilling Effects, once it has archived version of the named complied. website appeared to have links A Google spokeswoman to downloadable episodes for did not respond to requests for several HBO shows, including comment. “Insecure” and “Ballers,” An HBO spokesman and what it said was a link to declined to comment on the “script & film” to two “Game takedown notice. Messages of Thrones” episodes, including left with IP-Echelon were not an upcoming one. answered. ACCURACY AP did not test the links. Previous hacks have cre- We make an issue of it every day. The site was not loading ated significant repercussions in If you want to comment about our accuracy, Wednesday afternoon. Hollywood. Sony struggled in call Samoa News at 633-5599 But HBO appeared to indi- the aftermath of its huge hack rectly confirm that this web- in 2014, which leaked embar- site linked to potentially sensi- rassing employee emails as well tive internal material including as films.
It’s that time of year again, when school teachers across the territory return to campus to tackle workshops and training sessions. Pictured are some of the educators from the Home of the Flames who are currently preparing themselves for the new school year, which starts in less than 2 weeks. [photo: Blue Chen-Fruean] samoa news, Thursday, August 3, 2017 Page 15 Woman to be sentenced in teen texting suicide case TAUNTON, Mass. (AP) — to talk Roy out of it and urged A Massachusetts woman who him to get professional help, encouraged her boyfriend to but eventually went along with kill himself in dozens of text his plan. Cataldo also argued messages and told him to “get that Carter’s words amounted back in” a truck filled with to free speech protected by the toxic gas faces up to 20 years in First Amendment. prison when a judge sentences In convicting Carter, the her on a charge of involuntary judge focused his ruling on manslaughter. Carter telling Roy to “get back Michelle Carter was con- in” after he climbed out of victed in June by a judge who his truck as it was filling with said her final instruction to carbon monoxide and told her Conrad Roy III caused his he was afraid. death. Juvenile Court Judge The judge said those words Lawrence Moniz will sentence constituted “wanton and reck- Carter Thursday. Carter was 17 less conduct” under the man- when the 18-year-old Roy was slaughter statute. found dead of carbon monoxide Carter and Roy met in poisoning in July 2014. Florida in 2012 while both were In dozens of text messages, on vacation with their families. Carter urged Roy to follow After that, they only met in through on his talk of taking his person a handful of times. Their own life. “The time is right and relationship consisted mainly of you are ready ... just do it babe,” texting. Both teens struggled Carter wrote in a text the day he with depression. Carter had killed himself. The sensational been treated for anorexia, and trial was closely watched on Roy had made earlier suicide social media, in part because attempts. Roy’s aunt has asked of the insistent tone of Carter’s the judge to sentence Carter to text messages. the 20-year maximum. Carter’s “You can’t think about it. father said his daughter made “a You just have to do it. You tragic mistake,” and is asking said you were gonna do it. Like for probation and continued I don’t get why you aren’t,” counseling. Carter was tried Carter wrote in one text. Cart- as a youthful offender, so the er’s lawyer, Joseph Cataldo, judge has several options for argued that Roy was determined sentencing. He can commit her to kill himself and nothing to a Department of Youth Ser- Carter did could change that. vices facility until she turns 21 He said Carter initially tried on Aug. 11.
Diocese of Samoa Pago Pago Vicar General, Monsignor Viane Etuale (far left) with two residents of Hope House on Tuesday, following a brief ceremony where the Diocese of Samoa Pago Pago’s Mafutaga Tina made a $5,000 donation in support of the Hope House’s 30th Anniversary celebration this year. Pictured on the right side are Hope House board chairman Ta’afano Joe Tavale, Mafutaga Tina secretary Luana Tavale, treasurer Dr. Annie Fuavai, and a family member. [photo: Hope House] Page 16 samoa news, Thursday, August 3, 2017 Thousands show up for jobs at Amazon warehouses in US cities FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) people on the spot, and will hire level jobs for a lot of young — Thousands of people showed more in the coming days. That people, even those who are up Wednesday for a chance number represented fewer than still making their way through to pack and ship products to half of the 50,000 people it had school.” Amazon customers, as the said it planned to hire. The company is advertising e-commerce company held a Most of the jobs are full- starting wages that range from giant job fair at nearly a dozen time positions in packing, $11.50 an hour in Chattanooga, U.S. warehouses. sorting and shipping and will Tennessee, to $13.75 an hour in Although the wages offered count toward Amazon’s previ- Kent, Washington, near Ama- will make it hard for some to ously announced goal of adding zon’s Seattle headquarters. The make ends meet, many of the 100,000 full-time workers by $11.50 rate amounts to about candidates were excited by the the middle of next year. $23,920 a year. In Washington prospect of health insurance The bad news is that more state, the current minimum and other benefits, as well as people are likely to lose jobs wage is $11.50 but by 2020 will advancement opportunities. in stores than get jobs in ware- increase to $13.50. By compar- It’s common for Amazon to houses, said Anthony Car- ison, the warehouse store oper- ramp up its shipping center staff nevale, director of Georgetown ator Costco raised its minimum C M in August to prepare for holiday University’s Center on Educa- wage for entry-level workers Y K shopping. But the magnitude of tion and the Workforce. last year from $13 to $13.50 its current hiring spree under- On the flip side, Amazon’s an hour. Some job candidates scores Amazon’s growth when warehouse jobs provide “decent Wednesday were looking to traditional retailers are closing and competitive” wages and supplement other income. stores — and blaming Amazon could help build skills. Rodney Huffman, a 27-year- for a shift to buying goods “Interpersonal team work, old personal trainer, said the online. problem solving, critical $13-an-hour job in Baltimore Amazon said it received “a thinking, all that stuff goes on in would pay enough to help cover record-breaking 20,000 appli- these warehouses,” Carnevale bills while he starts his own cations” and hired thousands of said. “They’re serious entry- company. “I’m looking to do the night shifts and then run my own company during the day,” he said. At one warehouse — Amazon calls them “fulfill- ment centers” — in Fall River, Massachusetts, Amazon was looking to hire more than 200 people Wednesday, adding to a workforce of about 1,500. Employees there focus on sorting, labeling and shipping what the company calls “non- sortable” items — big products such as shovels, kayaks, surf- boards, grills, car seats — and lots of giant diaper boxes. Other warehouses are focused on smaller products. While Amazon has attracted attention for deploying robots at some of its warehouses, experts said it could take a while before automation begins to seriously bite into its growing labor force. “When it comes to dex- terity, machines aren’t really great at it,” said Jason Roberts, head of technology and ana- lytics for mass recruiter Rand- stad Sourceright, which is not working with Amazon on its jobs fair. “The picker-packer role is something humans do way better than machines right now.” Steve King, 47, a job candi- C M date in Fall River with experi- Y K ence running his own business, agreed: “I don’t think robots are up to snuff yet. I think they will be. Hopefully I can get in before the robots get that good and get above the robots in administra- tion or something.” In recent years, reports have emerged about difficult working conditions at Amazon’s ware- houses, including deaths at two Amazon warehouses in 2014. The company also came under fire in 2011 for extreme heat at its warehouses that caused “heat-related injuries” among workers. Amazon said at the time that it took emergency actions during heat waves and subsequently installed cooling systems in its warehouses.