Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. met with President Donald Trump and fellow governors at the White House to discuss key policy priorities, including economic development, regulatory reform, education funding, and public safety. The meeting provided an opportunity to address the Virgin Islands’ specific challenges and explore collaborative efforts between state and federal governments. A major topic of discussion was the restart of the oil refinery, a project Bryan described as a significant economic opportunity for the territory. He stressed the need for streamlined federal regulations to facilitate large-scale projects, ensuring they move forward efficiently while creating jobs and driving economic growth, according to the press release. Bryan and other governors also raised concerns about the federal regulatory process, arguing that excessive bureaucracy delays essential infrastructure and economic initiatives. They advocated for deregulating certain federal projects to reduce red tape and accelerate progress, the press release stated. On education, Bryan pushed for...

SOL PETROLEUM WHOLESALE RACK RATES Regular Fuel – $2.58 / Premium Fuel – $2.73 / Diesel Fuel – $2.91 ST. CROIX SELF-SERVICE Average Prices Regular Fuel: $3.996 per gallon Premium Fuel: $4.397 per gallon Diesel Fuel: $4.629 per gallon Lowest Prices Regular Fuel: $3.949 per gallon at Fill & Chill Service Station. Premium Fuel: $4.199 per gallon at Titan Service Station, Five Corners Service Station, G-Max Service Station, One Love Golden Rock, Budget Service Station, Island Petroleum, and Pit Stop Service Station. Diesel Fuel: $3.999 per gallon at Titan Service Station, Falcon Service Station, and G-Max Service Station. ST. THOMAS SELF-SERVICE Average Prices Regular Fuel: $4.794 per gallon Premium Fuel: $5.352 per gallon Diesel Fuel: $5.894 per gallon Lowest Prices Regular Fuel: $4.699 per gallon at 1st Stop, Giant Gas, Home Town, Ali Baba Service Station, Petrus Polyberg, Petrus Smith Bay, and RaceTrack. Premium Fuel: $5.199 per gallon at 1st Stop, 1st Stop Frydenhoj, Giant Gas Station, Home Town...

Attorneys for the federal government and former V.I. Housing Finance Authority executive Darin Richardson presented opening arguments to a jury Thursday at the federal courthouse on St. Croix. (Shutterstock image) A jury of Virgin Islanders heard opening arguments Thursday in the trial of Darin Richardson, the former V.I. Housing Finance Authority executive who, over the last year, has been charged with making a material false statement to a federal investigator, criminal conflict of interest, bank fraud, money laundering and making false statements on a loan application. “Greed and misconduct,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Cherrisse Woods said, are two words that come to mind when people think about high-ranking government employees who use their positions to enrich themselves. “The defendant in this case, Darin Richardson, is no different,” she told jurors. Richardson’s attorney, Darren John-Baptiste, naturally took a different view. If what the government argued was completely true, he said, his client would...

In celebration of Virgin Islands History Month, observed annually in March since 2006, the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands as the Humanities Council of the Virgin Islands is proud to present the third Virtual Humanities Showcase. This event highlights the rich history, heritage, and culture of the Virgin Islands through projects funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The showcase will take place on Wednesday, March 12 from 1-3 p.m. AST via Zoom. The event is free and open to the public. During the showcase, the nine CFVI humanities project grantees listed below will present their work, demonstrating the powerful impact of community-driven initiatives in preserving and promoting Virgin Islands culture. To explore these projects and others, visit cfvi.co/NEHprojects2024. American Ancestors – Using Genealogy to Teach Inclusive History: U.S. Virgin Islands Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts – Dance is a Universal Language Center for Educational Growth, Inc....

Jury selection concluded Wednesday for the trial of former V.I. Housing Finance Authority Executive Darin Richardson, who was first indicted last summer for his alleged part in a $4.3 million disaster recovery fraud. (Shutterstock image) A federal judge will hear opening arguments Thursday in the trial of a former V.I. Housing Finance Authority executive who was charged last summer in connection with an alleged multimillion-dollar disaster recovery fraud. Jury selection began Tuesday morning and concluded Wednesday afternoon with the empaneling of 12 jurors and three alternates. U.S. District Judge Wilma Lewis told the jurors that the trial is estimated to take 9-10 days. She directed them to refrain from discussing the case with anyone during recesses and avoid news coverage of the case and trial. Darin Richardson, former chief operating officer at VIHFA, was originally indicted alongside former V.I. Education Department Maintenance Director Davidson Charlemagne and his wife, Sasha Charlemagne, on...

Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Gov. Albert Bryan share a conversation at the close of the 2025 IGIA Meeting. (Photo courtesy V.I. Government House) Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. continued his administration’s advocacy for the U.S. Virgin Islands at the 2025 Interagency Group on Insular Areas (IGIA) meeting in Washington, D.C., calling for a permanent extension of the rum cover-over tax rate, the reopening of the St. Croix refinery, and a special visa waiver program to boost tourism and support the territory’s recovery, Government House announced. Speaking at the Department of the Interior in Washington, Bryan emphasized the need for stable federal policies that impact the Virgin Islands economy. He congratulated Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, a former North Dakota governor and his colleague at the National Governors Association on his leadership role and highlighted the importance of federal collaboration with the territories, according to the press release. “The IGIA...

The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority is notifying customers of a scheduled water outage in the Campo Rico area on St. Croix on Thursday, Feb. 20, beginning at 9 a.m. The outage is expected to last approximately two hours and will impact all customers adjacent to the red line on the outage map. This temporary service interruption is necessary to complete a tie-in for the Campo Waterline Rehabilitation Project, a critical infrastructure improvement aimed at enhancing water distribution and reliability for the community. As a reminder, after an extended water outage, please flush your water lines by running your tap for several minutes. To extend the life of your filter, remove it before flushing and reinstall it afterward. This process helps to clear sediment that may have accumulated in the lines and ensures the continued quality of your water. We apologize for any inconvenience and...

A 1973 story in Martin Marietta’s company magazine Today featured a photo of what appears to be bauxite stored in a large, open-air pile. Former employees claim they were regularly exposed to the respiratory irritant. (Photo courtesy Today) In October 2007, former employees of a St. Croix bauxite mining company claimed they’d been exposed to dangerous dust and may develop cancer or respiratory ailments. Earlier this month, a Superior Court judge set an Oct. 27 trial date for their suit — 18 years after it was first filed. More than 37 former employees of the company once known as Martin Marietta Alumina or its offshoots have filed suit over the years. At least 19 of these men and women are now dead, with a child or spouse carrying on the suits in their name. Plaintiffs have argued the plant lacked proper safety and oversight measures to ensure workers were not...

A powerful documentary screening of “Sugar Pathways” by award-winning film writer, producer, and director Johanna Bermúdez-Ruiz at J & W Latin Bodega (J & W) Sunday night sparked discussions about migration, identity, and the historical struggles of the Puerto Rican and Virgin Islands communities. Special guests in attendance included Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach, former Sen. Samuel Carrión, representatives from the Dominican Republic community, and members of the Taino nation. Johanna Bermúdez-Ruiz, principal of Cane Bay Films, LLC, speaks to an intimate group of attendees of a documentary screening, “Sugar Pathways,” on St. Croix on Sunday. (Photo by Daryl Wade) The documentary traced the historical struggles of Puerto Ricans, particularly those from Vieques, who were displaced during the U.S. Navy’s invasion of the island, only 42 miles (69 km) from mainland Puerto Rico. The film highlighted the 1999 protests in Vieques and the 2003 celebration marking the Navy’s expulsion. It also...

My Brother’s Workshop invites the community to attend our 8th Annual Mystery Event entitled A Knight’s Tale on Saturday March 1, 2025 at the new main campus. All are invited to attend in order to feast, bid, and solve a most interesting mystery! Tickets are now available to all those 18 and above. Ticket grants access to dinner from the MBW Café and Bakery, and the chance to win prizes for best-dressed, whodunnit, and more! Drinks will be available for purchase. ● $75 in advance until Thursday, Feb. 27. ● $100 at the door. The Silent Auction is live! No need to be present to partake in our online auction—simply register and begin bidding on treasures from local merchants and fine experiences. More items are added daily. As the evening unfolds, enjoy the music spun by the renowned DJ Kash, the allure of blackjack tables, and all the fun of a medieval mystery! Dress...