On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: CBP says multiple vessels have been seized in the Virgin Islands for allegedly failing to properly report their arrival, as the federal agency reminds boaters that violations can bring significant fines and vessel forfeiture.

 

WAPA customers will continue paying the current 22.2-cent LEAC through December while the Public Services Commission reviews whether the utility’s actual energy costs support a change in the rate.

 

Underground electrical work on St. Thomas will bring lane closures and traffic delays around Subbase Road and Nisky Lane beginning Thursday as WAPA continues its Feeder 9A project.

 

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Pictured: A vessel seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in St. Thomas after authorities say its operator submitted an arrival report through the CBP ROAM application but refused required video calls, resulting in the submission being denied. CBP says the vessel then failed to report to a designated Port of Entry as required and was subsequently seized and transported to Puerto Rico.

Source: CBP Office of Field Operations Facebook page

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: DLCA inspectors are checking local retailers for recalled Mistolin and Lestoil cleaners after millions of bottles sold in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were pulled over concerns they may contain potentially harmful bacteria.

 

Miguel Cotto, 45, is facing first-degree murder and other charges after police say he fatally stabbed his 53-year-old brother, Jose Antonio Cotto, on St. Croix while on pretrial release in a separate domestic violence case involving an alleged stabbing earlier this year.

 

DOH has partnered with Protocol Services Inc. to establish a dedicated 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center in the USVI, connecting residents with crisis counselors and resources specific to the territory.

 

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Pictured: 6.3 million bottles of scented Mistolin Dilutable Cleaners and Lestoil Heavy Duty Multi-Purpose Cleaners manufactured in Puerto Rico have been recalled over concerns they may contain potentially harmful bacteria. The recall applies to products with date codes beginning PR01, followed by a five-digit number ranging from 25091 through 26168, representing products manufactured between April 1, 2025, and June 17, 2026.

Source: WTJX/Glenroy Roberts

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: Mario Felix has been sentenced to five years in federal prison in a fentanyl trafficking case involving 800 pills concealed inside a book mailed to the Virgin Islands.

 

Amid the investigation into the shooting death of 21-year-old Gerrel Reed and the arrest of J’Vonte Mercer, VIPD is warning that people suspected of helping violent-crime suspects evade authorities could also face prosecution, with warrants potentially coming soon.

 

UVI has met a key deadline in its effort to address accreditation concerns by submitting its show-cause report to Middle States, while work continues to complete years of outstanding financial audits ahead of an upcoming evaluation.

 

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Pictured: The Kingshill Post Office on St. Croix, where federal authorities say the package containing 800 fentanyl pills connected to the Mario Felix trafficking case was shipped.

Source: WTJX/Glenroy Roberts

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: Senate Education Committee Chairman Kurt Vialet is questioning the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance’s heavy reliance on contractors, after a Senate hearing raised concerns about how the agency is spending its limited resources while significant repairs remain unfinished at public schools.

 

A federal jury has found 73-year-old James Lealand Johnston, known as “JJ Rocks,” guilty of possessing child pornography in a case stemming from a 2017 investigation on St. Croix.

 

Virgin Islands court officials are investigating the extent of a cybersecurity breach involving their C-Track case-management provider, while stressing that the intrusion did not originate from the Judicial Branch’s own computer networks or security systems.

 

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Pictured: Senator Kurt Vialet (left) and BSCM Director Craig Benjamin

Source: Legislature of the Virgin Islands

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: VIPD arrested brothers Deshawn and Shawn Henley as investigators work to determine whether they and other suspects are connected to a surge of roughly 40 burglaries reported across St. Croix over the past two months.

 

For the second time, Banco Popular is seeking to dismiss Brett “Mac” McClafferty and Social Hospitality Group’s lawsuit stemming from McClafferty’s February arrest. The bank is now challenging an amended complaint that includes a new federal civil-rights claim.

 

VITEMA will host its first in a series of hurricane preparedness town halls for St. John tomorrow, focused on shelters, curfew passes, generator safety, emergency alerts and other preparations for the height of hurricane season.

 

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Pictured: Brothers Deshawn and Shawn Henley have been arrested on burglary charges in connection to a string of burglaries over the past two months on St. Croix.

Source: VIPD

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: Senator Carla Joseph is pressing for more details on the emergency that prompted a $3 million transfer to the Waste Management Authority without prior legislative approval, pointing to a 2025 emergency allocation for SNAP benefits when authorization was sought prior to using $2.7 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund.

 

Horse Racing Commission chairman Hugo Hodge Jr. says lawmakers also bear responsibility for the impasse surrounding the canceled Labor Day races, while Senate Majority Leader Kurt Vialet maintains the Legislature’s decision to further review the Southland Gaming agreement should not have prevented the race day from moving forward.

 

A State of Emergency is now in effect on St. Croix as the government keeps additional resources in place while WAPA works to stabilize the island’s potable water system and restore service.

 

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Pictured: Senator Carla Joseph

Source: Legislature of the Virgin Islands

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: Public Works officials are exploring the possibility of constructing a new pedestrian bridge at the site of the now demolished Addelita Cancryn bridge on St. Thomas.

 

A boil-water advisory remains in effect as WAPA rebuilds depleted reserves and gradually restores pressure across St. Croix, despite potable water production resuming following a weekend of separate water and wastewater emergencies.

 

Former OMB Director Jenifer O’Neal has been transferred to FCI Marianna, in Marianna, Florida as she serves her seven-year public corruption sentence while her appeal remains pending.

 

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Pictured: A worker with DPW contractor, Rumina Construction, cuts through the steel framework of the former Addelita Cancryn Pedestrian Bridge on St. Thomas during demolition work Friday evening.

Source: WTJX/Roshan Sookram

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: Our contributing reporter Isabelle Teare was in a federal courtroom in Puerto Rico for the status conference for Carlton Dowe’s federal bank fraud case. Dowe is the former executive director of the Virgin Islands Port Authority.

 

Former Virgin Islands Police Commissioner Ray Martinez has been transferred from FCI Tallahassee to FCI Atlanta as he serves his 10-year prison sentence for his federal public corruption convictions.

 

Superior Court Judge Venetia Velazquez declined to hear the merits of Stephen “Smokey” Frett’s challenge to his gubernatorial disqualification after finding he had not provided proof that Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fawkes was properly served.

 

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Pictured: Former VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe testifies during a Senate Budget hearing on February 27.

Source: Legislature of the Virgin Islands

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: Southland Gaming says it will not promote the September 6 Labor Day races on St. Thomas, after Governor Albert Bryan Jr. said “I cannot reasonably consider moving forward with a temporary arrangement that would be inconsistent with the position the Legislature has now taken on the broader agreement,” after lawmakers voted to send a sweeping horse racing and gaming agreement to its Finance Committee for further review.

 

Police are investigating the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Gerell Reed on St. Thomas, marking the territory’s 33rd homicide of 2026 and the island’s 15th.

 

Demolition of the deteriorating Addelita Cancryn pedestrian bridge begins Friday after lawmakers unanimously approved $300,000 toward removing the St. Thomas structure, which officials have described as an ongoing public safety threat.

 

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Pictured: Jockeys race toward the finish during a previous horse racing event at the Clinton Phipps racetrack. Southland Gaming now says it will not promote the September 6 Labor Day races after lawmakers sent a proposed horse racing and gaming agreement to the Senate Finance Committee for further review.

Source: Roshan Sookram

On today’s WTJX Radio NewsFeed: OMB Director Julio Rhymer is setting the record straight, stating that he lawfully transferred $3 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund and cautions that allegations or insinuations of impropriety can have serious consequences for the reputation and integrity of public servants, particularly in today's environment, where public confidence in government institutions is already under significant strain.

 

Contributing reporter Isabelle Teare was in the courtroom today as a federal judge heard testimony in the complaint filed by Brett “Mac” McClafferty, seeking a preliminary injunction to place him on the ballot in the delegate to Congress race.

 

Certain Virgin Islands SNAP recipients have until tomorrow to provide documentation showing they meet or are exempt from new federal work requirements taking effect September 1 or risk losing benefits.

 

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Pictured: OMB Director Julio Rhymer testifies during a June 8 Legislature budget hearing.

Source: Legislature of the Virgin Islands