St. John TW

Financial officials in the U.S. Virgin Islands are proposing a $958.2 million General Fund budget for fiscal year 2027 while reporting tight short‑term liquidity, tens of millions of dollars in unpaid bills and continued reliance on federal disaster recovery funding.

The 2026 Atlantic Hurricane season began last week, and officials Monday urged Virgin Islanders to make preparations ahead of what is forecast to be a summer with less-than-average storm activity. 

The Virgin Islands Board of Elections debated candidate qualifications, residency requirements, and nomination petition procedures during a Monday emergency meeting that highlighted ongoing disputes surrounding the 2026 election cycle. The meeting was a continuation of Friday's board meeting, which was recessed for lack of a quorum. 

Young adults interested in conservation, agriculture and workforce development have until June 11 to apply for a paid training program on St. Thomas and St. John, according to a press release from CHANT.

As St. Thomas and St. John recover from last weekend’s blackout, work crews across the territory were scrambling to avert another infrastructure disaster. The Virgin Islands’ sewer pipes are in dire condition, officials said Friday.

The driver of a water truck that overturned in January, killing his 6-year-old daughter, was charged with vehicular homicide and child abuse Thursday, according to court records.

U.S. Marshals arrested the owner of the St. John Ink tattoo parlor for allegedly fleeing assaulting-an-officer charges in Florida, officials said Thursday.

Sargassum continued to rise across much of the Atlantic basin during May, and the latest regional outlook from the University of South Florida’s Optical Oceanography Lab indicates that beaching events around the Caribbean and Florida may continue to increase in June.

Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach delivered news Monday that, on almost any other day, might have been met with applause. But even new direct flights to St. Croix and a potential $400 million luxury resort — with a public land clawback – on Water Island couldn’t outshine the districtwide power outage darkening St. Thomas and St. John since Saturday.

Maintenance issues first triggered by one of the Randolph Harley power plant’s aging “legacy” units have stymied attempts to restore power to large swathes of St. Thomas and St. John and end the latest episode of persistent outages, V.I. Water and Power Authority Chief Executive Officer Karl Knight said during a press conference Monday morning. 

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on Monday, with many forecasters calling for a slightly below-average season due in large part to an expected El Niño weather pattern. However, experts are encouraging residents to prepare and not let their guard down.

After my recent report on seabirds coming to nest on cays around St. John, I got a message from Steve Prosterman, from the Center for Marine and Environmental Studies at the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas. He was kind enough to invite me on a boat trip to see the nesting colony of Sooty Terns out on Saba Island, which is about three miles south of the St. Thomas airport.

The primary ballot order is set for incumbents, first-time candidates and returning aspirants hoping to be the Virgin Islands’ next delegate to Congress, governor, senator or board member overseeing the territory’s elections or schools. The primary election is scheduled for Aug. 1. 

Watch now: Senators hold an economic development summit that explores everything from disaster recovery management to the opening of the St. Croix refinery, while Elections officials manage final filings and disqualifications. Host Adisha Penn recaps these headlines and more on this episode of Consider the Source.

A federal judge has dismissed two legal challenges brought by a trio of candidates who claimed that local political parties have flouted campaign finance laws and that the rules governing ballot access and candidate certification unfairly burdened people running for office as independents. 

Members of American Legion Post 131 on St. John gathered with public officials and supporters to honor members of the armed forces who lost their lives in service to the nation. Memorial Day in Franklin Powell Sr. Park provided the setting for a brief but memorable ceremony.

Virgin Islands artist La Vaughn Belle has been selected as a finalist to design a new public monument honoring Billie Holiday in Queens, New York.

On Saturday, May 30, Rhyme and Lime STJ and the Gri Gri Project will host the next Rhyme and Lime at Bajo El Sol Gallery on St. John. Starting at 7 p.m., attendees can share their original works, works by a poet they admire, or they can sit and enjoy the poetry.

Two swimmers from Fairhope, Alabama, led the field Sunday at Joe Kessler’s Beach 2 Beach Power Swim on St. John, with 16-year-old David Rainer winning the one-mile short course men’s division and 19-year-old Suzanne Rainer topping female competitors in the same race from Maho Bay to Cinnamon Bay.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting a below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, citing the likely development of El Niño, which can help to suppress tropical activity across the Atlantic basin. Still, officials warned that residents should not let a potentially quieter seasonal outlook change how they prepare.