Every story you want to know about turned into short-format news.
The United States Virgin Islands (USVI) offers a unique blend of cultural norms and legal frameworks that often surprise visitors. While the territory is part of the United States, its legal drinking age is set at 18, unlike the standard 21 years in the mainland U.S. This distinction, along with other local laws, has led…
Seaborne Airlines, a key player in inter-island travel in the Virgin Islands, is under new ownership and leadership following a $1.425 million bankruptcy sale. The airline is now owned by the Leonite Fund, a New York-based private family office, and led by Darrell Richardson, a seasoned aviation executive known for restructuring Gulfstream into Silver Airways….
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a second round of chemical cleanup at the former Limetree Bay or Hess refinery on St. Croix. This phase focuses on removing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) left inside two process units and an ISO container, which were overlooked due to a clerical error in earlier reporting. The oversight…
On July 1st, Dr. Walter Gardiner made a decision that sent shockwaves through the island of St. Thomas: the abrupt closure of the Caribbean Kidney Center (CKC), the only private dialysis clinic in the USVI. With just hours’ notice, patients were left scrambling, and lawmakers accused him of abandoning care. Dr. Gardiner was called to…
Protesters took to the streets on both St. Croix and St. Thomas this week, raising alarms about what they describe as a collapsing healthcare system in the Virgin Islands. Demonstrations were held outside the territory’s main hospitals—Juan F. Luis Hospital (JFL) on St. Croix and Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas—where healthcare workers, patients,…
On July 1st, patients relying on life-saving dialysis on St. Thomas were given less than two hours’ notice before the Caribbean Kidney Center shut its doors. The closure occurred without a transition plan, patient records, or any arrangements for continued care. Dr. Walter Gardiner, the medical director of the clinic, emailed Schneider Regional Medical Center…
The Virgin Islands has successfully secured a critical revenue stream, avoiding a potential $40 million annual loss. However, this victory comes with significant challenges that could impact housing and healthcare support. The federal excise tax on rum, known as the “rum cover-over,” is now permanently set at $13.25 per proof gallon. This tax, collected by…
The Virgin Islands is experiencing a rapidly aging population, with over 20% of residents now over the age of 60. This demographic shift, coupled with a shrinking total population, has raised concerns about the future of elder care in the territory. On Monday, November 7th, the Senate’s Committee on Health, Hospitals, and Human Services convened…
Seaborne Virgin Islands, a critical carrier for inter-island travel, has officially been sold. On July 1st, a Florida bankruptcy court finalized the sale of Seaborne Airlines to the Leonite Fund, a Delaware-based limited partnership. The winning bid, totaling $1.4 million, includes $700,000 in cash and the assumption of up to $675,000 in liabilities. The court…
Congress has passed what it is calling the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping piece of legislation aimed at reforming federal immigration and border security policies. However, the bill explicitly excludes the Virgin Islands and other U.S. territories from its provisions, raising concerns about fairness and oversight. The bill introduces new funding and partnerships for…
