Suzanne Carlson

British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands

Reporter at The Virgin Islands Daily News

Reporter at @VIDailyNews covering the U.S. Virgin Islands. Former reporter for @HartfordCourant and @JournalInquirer.

Articles

Panel investigating ethics complaint against At-large Sen. Bolques

1 week ago | virginislandsdailynews.com | Suzanne Carlson

The Virgin Islands Legislature has established a Committee on Ethical Conduct to review a complaint filed against At-Large Sen. Angel Bolques Jr., “alleging misconduct within his office,” according to a statement issued Tuesday by Senate Vice President Kenneth Gittens. The complaint was filed with the Senate President’s office on March 26, and referred to the newly formed committee on March 28, according to Gittens, who is serving as committee chairman.
WAPA facing new lawsuit amid unexplained power failures

2 weeks ago | virginislandsdailynews.com | Suzanne Carlson

The V.I. Water and Power Authority is facing a new lawsuit from Sunshine Mall on St. Croix, while customers on St. Thomas and St. John continue to suffer through lengthy, unpredictable rolling blackouts. The lawsuit was filed Monday in V.I. Superior Court by attorney Edward Barry on behalf of Sunshine Shopping Center in Frederiksted.
Trump executive order cuts grant funding to UVI

2 weeks ago | virginislandsdailynews.com | Suzanne Carlson

The University of the Virgin Islands has confirmed the loss of two federal grants due to executive orders by President Donald Trump, but a spokeswoman said Wednesday that the university has not implemented a hiring freeze. The university issued a press release late Wednesday night, following requests for information from The Daily News about a published report that UVI’s Chief Financial Officer Leah Vanterpool had announced a hiring freeze and other financial controls.
Ex-RTPark director files new lawsuit, cites ADA and civil rights violations

2 weeks ago | virginislandsdailynews.com | Suzanne Carlson

The former executive director of the University of the Virgin Islands Research and Technology Park, Peter Chapman, has filed a new lawsuit against the RTPark Corporation, claiming the Board of Directors did not renew his employment contract after he disclosed his cancer diagnosis.
Judge dismisses Moravian Church's lawsuit against STJ marina developer

3 weeks ago | virginislandsdailynews.com | Suzanne Carlson

A judge has dismissed the 2022 lawsuit filed by the Moravian Church, which sought to block construction of the planned Summer’s End marina in Coral Bay on St. John. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Robert Molloy filed the 21-page opinion Friday, concluding that the church’s claims are insufficient to allow the case to proceed. The project has been hotly debated since the Summer’s End Group first applied for a Coastal Zone Management permit in 2014, and Save Coral Bay Inc.
Prosecutors move to dismiss gun case

3 weeks ago | virginislandsdailynews.com | Suzanne Carlson

Federal prosecutors have moved to dismiss charges against Brian Liz, who was jailed for more than two years while awaiting trial in a gun possession case. Liz was arrested in October 2022 after V.I. Police conducted a stakeout at Gasworks in Bovoni after receiving information from a confidential informant, who gave a description of a man carrying a rifle and a handgun in a black Dodge Ram truck. Officers responded to the gas station and confronted Liz, who was standing outside his vehicle.
Rules committee approves nominations, leases

3 weeks ago | virginislandsdailynews.com | Suzanne Carlson

Rules committee approves nominations, leasesSenators in the Committee on Rules and Judiciary approved several pieces of legislation Thursday, including leases, nominations, and a bill to increase the V.I. Port Authority’s limit for outstanding bonds. The measure, Bill No. 36-0038, would increase the limit from $100 million to $500 million. Sen.
DOH says federal budget cuts cause loss of $3.3M in funds

3 weeks ago | virginislandsdailynews.com | Suzanne Carlson

President Donald Trump’s federal budget cuts have hit the V.I. Health Department, slashing more than $3.3 million in funding for infectious disease response and mental health treatment. Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion confirmed Thursday that the department has received notification from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that federal funding associated with the COVID-19 response and the American Rescue Plan Act is being withdrawn.
Rules committee approves nominations, leases

3 weeks ago | virginislandsdailynews.com | Suzanne Carlson

Senators in the Committee on Rules and Judiciary approved several pieces of legislation Thursday, including leases, nominations, and a bill to increase the V.I. Port Authority’s limit for outstanding bonds. The measure, Bill No. 36-0038, would increase the limit from $100 million to $500 million. Sen.
Murder suspect pleads guilty to manslaughter

4 weeks ago | virginislandsdailynews.com | Suzanne Carlson

The suspect in the 2023 murder of 57-year-old Kathryn Almony on St. Croix has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, according to V.I. Superior Court records. Randall Yates was arrested and charged with first-degree murder after he called 911 on March 10, 2023, and reported that he had discovered Almony unresponsive on the bathroom floor. An autopsy determined that Almony’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, and the manner of death was homicide.