On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: Roughly 5,000 Virgin Islanders could lose food assistance under new federal SNAP work requirements, as the department of Human Services asks lawmakers for more local funding to keep up with administrative demands.

 

 More than 5,500 customers on the western side of St. Croix on Feeder 8B will be without electricity from 10 p.m. until midnight as WAPA shuts off power to safely repair a leaking water main and restore full water service to the area.

 

The government of the Virgin Islands is disputing claims that officials ignored warning signs about former Charlotte Amalie High School coach Alfredo Bruce Smith, filing a response to a federal lawsuit brought by one of his alleged victims.

 

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Pictured: Department of Human Services Commissioner Averil George, second from left, appears before lawmakers during a budget hearing, warning that new federal SNAP work requirements could cause thousands of Virgin Islanders to lose food assistance while increasing the territory’s financial responsibility for administering the program.

Source: Legislature of the Virgin Islands

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: Lawmakers approve a 99-year lease for a proposed $400 million resort on Water Island, despite public concerns and protest over public land, affordable housing, and protections for veterans.

 

A Florida man has been charged by federal authorities after investigators say he arrived on St. Croix with more than 10 kilograms of marijuana concealed in his luggage along with two AK-47 magazines.

 

Forbes ranks the University of the Virgin Islands among the nation's top 20 Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the fifth-best public HBCU in its inaugural rankings.

 

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Pictured: Water Island residents and supporters gather outside the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas on Tuesday, urging senators to reject a proposed 99-year lease for a $400 million resort development. Despite opposition, lawmakers approved the amended lease in an 11-3 vote.

Source: WTJX/Dante Morón

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: Federal prosecutors are urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to deny former OMB Director Jenifer O'Neal's latest request for release from prison while she appeals her federal public corruption convictions.

 

U.S. District Judge Mark Kearney granted the government's motion for forfeiture, requiring former Police Commissioner Ray Martinez to forfeit nearly $128,000 as part of his public corruption sentence.

 

More than 1,400 St. Croix customers will experience a planned overnight power outage on Thursday as WAPA replaces damaged electrical equipment.  

 

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Pictured: Former OMB Director Jenifer O’Neal leaves the Ron de Lugo Federal Building December 5, 2025 on day 3 of her federal corruption trial.

Source: WTJX/Roshan Sookram

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: VIPD is asking residents and business owners to become partners in fighting crime by registering their security cameras with a new Community Connect program.

     

Virgin Islands university athletes earn international honors with a basketball silver medal, a track and field bronze medal, and qualification for the 2027 World University Games. 

 

The U.S. Virgin Islands posted a net gain of 445 private-sector jobs during the fourth quarter of 2025, reversing losses from the previous quarter.  Listen to these stories and more. 

 

Pictured: The Virgin Islands Police Department is encouraging residents and businesses to register privately owned security cameras through its new Community Connect program, giving investigators a way to quickly identify available video footage during criminal investigations.

Source: WTJX/Roshan Sookram

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: St. Croix Police Chief Uston Cornelius is addressing public concerns, saying the swift progress in the investigation into Officer Eustace Charles' killing was driven by evidence and community cooperation, not preferential treatment.

 

Election officials have relocated the voting center at the Central High School Modular Gymnasium, to the St. Joseph Church Hospitality Lounge as voters prepare to cast ballots in Saturday's Democratic Primary Election.

 

A St. Thomas couple faces domestic violence charges after police arrested both following a violent dispute in which each claimed to be the victim.  

 

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Pictured: St. Croix Police Chief Uston Cornelius testifies during a February 13 Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety Senate hearing

Source: Legislature of the Virgin Islands

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: Banco Popular asks a federal judge to dismiss Brett "Mac" McClafferty's lawsuit against them, arguing independent decisions by police, prosecutors and the courts—not the bank—led to his February arrest on felony fraud charges.

 

We speak with Attorney General Gordon Rhea, who says the Department of Justice will aggressively prosecute gun crimes under the territory's new firearms law.

 

Early voting for the 2026 Democratic Primary concluded with more than 7,100 ballots cast as election officials prepare for Primary Election Day on Saturday.

 

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Pictured: Banco Popular's Altona branch on St. Thomas

Source: Dante Morón

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: Yesterday, 30 acres were lost to a brush fire on St. Croix's South Shore Road. We speak with Fire and Emergency Medical Services Director Antonio Stevens for details.

 

ICE says it is not currently seeking proposals to build a secure housing facility on St. Thomas, after a federal procurement document sparked news reports of a possible new immigration detention center on the island.

 

And Fly The Whale is now offering daily flights between St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

 

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Pictured: A brush fire caused land to be burned alongside St. Croix’s South Shore Road.

Photo Credit: WTJX/Glenroy Roberts, Sr.

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: A new court filing alleges the Virgin Islands prison remains out of compliance with a federal consent decree, citing continued deficiencies in inmate safety, staffing, supervision, and access to legal resources.

 

The Virgin Islands has entered extreme drought conditions as emergency officials warn that prolonged dry weather is threatening farmers, increasing wildfire risk, and heightening concerns ahead of the peak of hurricane season.

 

Attorney General Gordon Rhea has joined a bipartisan coalition urging the FCC to strengthen customer verification requirements aimed at preventing illegal robocalls.

 

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Source: WTJX file photo

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: Police have identified the man fatally shot at Moe’s Service Station on Friday as 23-year-old Joshawn Ayala, who was one of two cousins charged in 2022 with the murders of Stacie Schjang and Arnold Jarvis Jr.

          Public hearings are underway this week as the Virgin Islands Port Authority considers a new FAA-compliant methodology for airport rates and charges. Residents who wish to participate virtually can access the Zoom meeting here.

          Governor Albert Bryan Jr. is calling for community cooperation following the fatal ambush of executive security Officer Eustace Charles, as investigators make an arrest while investigating the case.

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Pictured: A January 2026 mugshot of Joshawn Ayala who was fatally shot Friday at a St. Croix Service Station.

Source: VIPD

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: Police are investigating a daytime shooting that left a man in critical condition, and a woman with non-life-threatening injuries this afternoon at Moe's Service Station on St. Croix.

          The Florence Williams Public Library in Christiansted will reopen tomorrow after a temporary closure this week to address operational issues.

          Governor Albert Bryan Jr. says existing disaster recovery programs remain operational while the administration works to overturn HUD's suspension of the Housing Finance Authority from future federal housing programs.

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Pictured: VIPD investigates a shooting Friday afternoon along Northside Road near the Midland Road intersection in front of Moe’s Service Station. Police said responding officers found a man and woman with gunshot wounds inside the black Acura RDX. Both victims were transported to the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center.

Source: WTJX/Tom Eader