Part 1 - Neville James opens with a monthly Department of Health update from Dr. Brett Ellis, Territorial Laboratory Director, and Dr. Marlon Lawrence. They speak on the community spread occurring on St. Thomas and how they’ve been handling each district, their relationship with the CDC, and the challenges they’ve faced in meeting testing demands. They announce developments in the future of COVID-19 testing in the United States and discuss how things will change as we move into peak hurricane season and an open door policy.

Part 2 - Neville James addresses the damage that Hurricane Laura has caused since leaving Caribbean with input from Meteorologist, Jose Aleman of the National Weather Service, San Juan office. Mr. Aleman advises the public of new activity coming off the coast of Africa, breaking down the NWS’s methods and means of prediction and candidly noting the limitations in their model guidance, especially as a system transitions from tropical wave to tropical cyclone. Neville pivots to the topic of the Republic National Convention, the uncertainty surrounding leadership in the VIGOP, and other issues affecting the Territory, ending with today’s COVID-19 data.

Part 2 - Neville James addresses the damage that Hurricane Laura has caused since leaving Caribbean with input from Meteorologist, Jose Aleman of the National Weather Service, San Juan office. Mr. Aleman advises the public of new activity coming off the coast of Africa, breaking down the NWS’s methods and means of prediction and candidly noting the limitations in their model guidance, especially as a system transitions from tropical wave to tropical cyclone. Neville pivots to the topic of the Republic National Convention, the uncertainty surrounding leadership in the VIGOP, and other issues affecting the Territory, ending with today’s COVID-19 data.

Part 1 - Neville James deems 2020 as the “year of infamy”, touching on the shooting of Jacob Blake and how professional athletes utilized their platforms last night in protest of the plague of police brutality. Natalie Victoria announces that Street Level VI and the G-Clef Academy are partnering to issue four music scholarships to one adult and one child on St. Thomas and two children on St. Croix. Neville finishes with a comprehensive breakdown of the federal alcohol excise tax in its current structure and as it relates to the proposed legislation ahead of today’s special session.

Part 1 - Neville James deems 2020 as the “year of infamy”, touching on the shooting of Jacob Blake and how professional athletes utilized their platforms last night in protest of the plague of police brutality. Natalie Victoria announces that Street Level VI and the G-Clef Academy are partnering to issue four music scholarships to one adult and one child on St. Thomas and two children on St. Croix. Neville finishes with a comprehensive breakdown of the federal alcohol excise tax in its current structure and as it relates to the proposed legislation ahead of today’s special session.

Part 2 - Dr. Tai C. Hunte-Ceasar continues her discussion with Neville James, condemning the pervasive mindset that we are “safe” when we are with family, friends and neighbors. She identifies this kind of close, clustering contact as the reason for the high rate of transmission, stating that we must reform this behavior to mitigate community spread and protect our vulnerable population. The conversation shifts to address the state of hospitals in the Territory, the various benchmarks being used around the country, and the baseline health conditions that make the USVI more vulnerable to such infectious diseases. Dr. Tai C. Hunte-Ceasar ends with a call for the community to step up as “COVID-19 ambassadors” to monitor themselves and to help educate and regulate those around them.

Part 2 - Dr. Tai C. Hunte-Ceasar continues her discussion with Neville James, condemning the pervasive mindset that we are “safe” when we are with family, friends and neighbors. She identifies this kind of close, clustering contact as the reason for the high rate of transmission, stating that we must reform this behavior to mitigate community spread and protect our vulnerable population. The conversation shifts to address the state of hospitals in the Territory, the various benchmarks being used around the country, and the baseline health conditions that make the USVI more vulnerable to such infectious diseases. Dr. Tai C. Hunte-Ceasar ends with a call for the community to step up as “COVID-19 ambassadors” to monitor themselves and to help educate and regulate those around them.

Part 1 - Neville James discusses the Dow Jones’ decision to drop its longest tenured member, Exxon Mobil, in light of Apple’s institution of a stock split, touching next on the apparent skepticism coming out of yesterday’s special session. Supervisor of Elections, Caroline Fawkes, calls in the results from the Casting of Lots, and Dr. Tai C. Hunte-Ceasar joins Neville for an in-depth analysis of the recent COVID-19 spike in the Territory.

Part 1 - Neville James discusses the Dow Jones’ decision to drop its longest tenured member, Exxon Mobil, in light of Apple’s institution of a stock split, touching next on the apparent skepticism coming out of yesterday’s special session. Supervisor of Elections, Caroline Fawkes, calls in the results from the Casting of Lots, and Dr. Tai C. Hunte-Ceasar joins Neville for an in-depth analysis of the recent COVID-19 spike in the Territory.

Part 2 - Esteemed musician, Rashawn Ross, joins Neville James to discuss his passion for brass and his trumpeting career, from growing up in the USVI with ties to all three islands, to his influences and mentor, Sergio “Bolo” Feliciano. Mr. Ross details his time at the Berklee College of Music and his early days in New York City, as well as his memories of touring with the Dave Matthews Band. Mr. Ross’ mother joins the conversation to share her perspective as the mother of a local icon, and the conversation ends with what’s next for Rashawn Ross and live music in this new normal.