WTJX NEWSFEED

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: A federal judge has postponed David Whitaker's prison surrender date until July 2027 to accommodate medical treatment and surgery, while requiring periodic updates on his recovery before he begins serving his 22-month sentence.

 

Governor-elect Stacey Plaskett faces questions about whether individuals convicted of public corruption should be eligible for government employment as she announces plans to introduce ethics reforms upon taking office and announces plans to travel to mainland cities to encourage Virgin Islanders to return home.

 

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. projects that rotational power outages on St. Thomas and St. John could end within approximately two weeks as repairs progress, while maintaining that an emergency declaration would not speed up the process.

 

Listen to these stories and more.

 

Pictured: David Whitaker (right), accompanied by his attorney, David Cattie, arrives at the Ron De Lugo Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on St. Thomas on the day of his sentencing in June 2026.

Source: WTJX/Roshan Sookram

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: With all 52 inpatient beds occupied, the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital is working to reduce emergency room wait times while assuring residents that emergency medical services remain available around the clock and encouraging residents with non-emergency medical needs to consider alternative healthcare providers.

 

St. Croix is hosting the 55th International Sunfish Class Association World Championships for the first time, bringing sailors from approximately 20 countries to compete across four divisions, with opportunities to qualify for the 2027 Pan American Games.

 

Rotational power outages in the St. Thomas-St. John district are expected to continue into next week as WAPA addresses multiple mechanical problems at the Randolph Harley Power Plant, including a newly discovered fuel leak affecting one of its Wärtsilä generators.

 

Listen to these stories and more.

 

Pictured: An ambulance is parked outside the Emergency Department at the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix.

Source: WTJX/Tom Eader

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: In a new federal court filing today, the Virgin Islands Government Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation argues that a $6.3 million judgment involving leased medical equipment is legally invalid because the corporation was improperly served and the Michigan court lacked jurisdiction.

 

Virgin Islands Parole Board Chairman Denis Howell is encouraging victims and their families to participate in upcoming December parole hearings, as the board prepares to consider dozens of inmates for possible release.

 

Governor-elect Stacey Plaskett names her transition team while defending her decision to appoint her cousin, former DPNR Commissioner Dean Plaskett, as transition chief of staff despite his federal bribery conviction 18 years ago.

 

Listen to these stories and more.

 

Pictured:  Julie Beberman, legal counsel for the VI Government Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation

Source: Legislature of the Virgin Islands

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: Four young Virgin Islands athletes are representing the territory at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, gaining international competitive experience in swimming and track and field.

 

A man on St. Thomas faces new criminal charges after police allege he assaulted an officer and resisted arrest during an Election Day confrontation near Ivanna Eudora Kean High School on St. Thomas.

 

Approximately 1,023 WAPA customers on St. Croix are expected to experience a two-hour power outage on Feeder 1A early Thursday morning as construction continues on the Queen Street Underground Electrical Project.

 

Listen to these stories and more.

Pictured:  Virgin Islands swimmer Reagan Uszenski,15, prepares to compete from the starting block during a swimming event at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.

Source: Virgin Islands Olympic Committee Facebook page

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: The Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs says it is reviewing an incident involving one of its enforcement officers, after video of a confrontation at a Frenchtown business spread on social media.

 

Police have released new details about the weekend killing of an Ohio tourist, confirming he was one of four people in a vehicle that left a Subbase nightclub on St. Thomas that appears to have been followed by suspects attempting to rob them.

 

And police are investigating a shooting of a woman last night in the Hospital Ground area on St. Thomas.

 

Listen to these stories and more.

 

Pictured: Yes Chef To Go in Frenchtown, St. Thomas.

Photo Credit: WTJX/Dante Morón

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed:  More than 12,000 Virgin Islanders have cast their ballots during early voting for tomorrow’s general election, surpassing participation in the last gubernatorial election four years ago, despite having fewer days to vote early.

The Virgin Islands Police Department is investigating two fatal shootings that occurred hours apart from each other over the weekend on St. Thomas and St. Croix, claiming the lives of a 39-year-old tourist and a 31-year-old woman.

And two teenagers have been arrested on St. Croix in connection with a violent assault on a 14-year-old boy that was captured on video and circulated widely on social media, with police treating the incident as a hate crime and pursuing additional charges.

Listen to these stories and more.

 

Pictured: Elections System office on St. Thomas.

Source: WTJX/Dante Morón

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: During a Coastal Zone Management meeting on WAPA’s plans to install four emergency standby generators on St. John, CZM Commissioner Kurt Marsh raised concerns about significant “deficiencies” in the project’s plans and questioned why the Authority had not begun critical planning and permitting work months earlier.

Schneider Regional Medical Center is being sued by a healthcare staffing company that alleges the hospital failed to pay numerous invoices for temporary medical professionals.

A malfunctioning air-conditioning system at Central High School has prompted the Elections System to relocate an Election Day voting center on St. Croix, just days before voters head to the polls for Tuesday's general election.

Listen to these stories and more.

 

Pictured: Kurt Marsh during a Senate Committee of the Whole meeting on May 11.

Source: Legislature of the Virgin Islands

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: "This is like almost a wayward administration going on here...you know, it's terrible Marcellina, terrible" — Senator Ray Fonseca's expresses his disappointment in hospital leadership as he speaks with WTJX's radio news reporter Marcellina Ventura-Douglas. As the Senate Chair of Health, Hospitals, and Human Services Fonseca is demanding accountability after the Juan F. Luis Hospital failed to respond to a multimillion-dollar federal lawsuit, resulting in a $6.36 million default judgment, while hospital officials say they have already paid approximately $2.9 million toward the outstanding financial obligation.

A federal judge in Puerto Rico has postponed former VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe's next court appearance, giving his defense team additional time to review evidence in his pending bank fraud case.

A St. Thomas business operator is facing assault and obstruction-related charges following a confrontation with an enforcement officer, as newly circulated video captures portions of the disputed encounter.

Listen to these stories and more.

 

Pictured:  Senator Ray Fonseca chairs a Health Hospital, and Human Service Committee meeting on July 22.

Source: Legislature of the Virgin Islands

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: Two financing companies are seeking to seize funds from Juan F. Luis Hospital's bank accounts and other assets to collect more than $6.4 million following a federal court judgment over unpaid medical equipment lease obligations.

 

A video circulating on social media showing the violent assault of a young man has prompted a hate-crime investigation by Virgin Islands police and condemnation from Governor Albert Bryan Jr., who is calling for those responsible to be held accountable.

 

As concerns over violent crime persist across the Virgin Islands, the Bryan administration is inviting residents to participate in community discussions on St. Croix and St. Thomas aimed at identifying solutions and strengthening public safety efforts, register here.

 

Listen to these stories and more.

 

Pictured: The Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix

Source: WTJX/Tom Eader

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: The opening of the Dilsa Capdeville Head Start Center on St. Thomas marks the completion of a $42 million federally funded initiative to rebuild six early childhood education facilities across the Virgin Islands, while honoring Capdeville's more than six decades of advocacy for children and families.

 

Six women who accuse Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse are asking a federal appeals court to reinstate their lawsuit against the Virgin Islands government and several former officials, challenging the earlier dismissal of their federal lawsuit.

 

St. Croix is gaining a new direct connection to the New York metropolitan area as United Airlines prepares to begin weekly nonstop flights from Newark Liberty International Airport this Saturday.

 

Listen to these stories and more.

 

Pictured:  Dilsa Capdeville, left, joins Human Services Commissioner Averil George in displaying a commemorative plaque during Monday’s dedication of the Dilsa Capdeville Head Start Center on St. Thomas, as Governor Albert Bryan Jr. applauds from his seat.

Source: Government House of the Virgin Islands