AGP Executive Report

Consumer Watch: A new St. Croix “Consumer Corner” spotlights Sabra hummus “shrinkflation,” saying the tub size is dropping from 10 ounces to 8 while shelf prices stay near the old premium. Gun Policy: A Virgin Islands gun rights group is urging lawmakers to pause a sweeping firearms bill, warning it could trigger costly legal fights. Tourism & Culture: CTO and TEMPO Networks announced a long-running partnership to boost Caribbean tourism storytelling, and St. John Celebration Village’s lineup was released, led by Ashanti, Kes the Band and Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons. Local Community: A St. Croix-based legal professionals meeting with Florida’s bar group highlighted continuing education and a clothing drive for UVI students. Regional Spotlight: The U.S. Virgin Islands’ ties to the Caribbean tourism calendar also show up with Barbados named host for Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2027. Public Safety: Coast Guard repatriated 32 people after an interdiction near Desecheo, Puerto Rico, tied to efforts against human smuggling. Sports/Business: CTO and TEMPO’s expanded media push and a 20-year St. John Celebration partnership add more momentum for Caribbean events.

Gun Laws Under Fire: A pro–Second Amendment group urged Virgin Islands lawmakers to pause a sweeping firearms bill, warning it could trigger costly legal battles and court challenges. Local Culture & Tourism: The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and Division of Festivals released the St. John Celebration Village lineup, led by Ashanti, Kes the Band, and Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons, with a strong roster of VI and Caribbean talent. Regional Partnerships: CTO and TEMPO Networks announced a new 20-year collaboration to boost Caribbean tourism storytelling across digital, social, and broadcast platforms, including a St. John Celebration partnership. Community & Service: The Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association held a St. Croix meeting combining continuing legal education with community service, including a clothing drive for UVI students. Mega Millions Watch: Mega Millions climbed to $413 million ahead of Friday’s drawing, with details on how winners can take the cash option or annual payments. Epstein Case Fallout: New reporting continues to circulate around Epstein’s finances and the Little St. James “temple” and island legacy, as well as fresh claims tied to congressional testimony involving Bill Gates.

Gun Rights Fight: The Second Amendment Foundation urged the U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature to pause a sweeping firearm bill, warning it could trigger costly legal battles that taxpayers would have to cover. Tourism & Culture: TEMPO Networks and the Caribbean Tourism Organization renewed a long-running partnership to boost Caribbean tourism storytelling, and TEMPO is also teaming up with the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism for expanded coverage of the 2026 St. John Celebration. St. John Celebration: The Village lineup for St. John Celebration is set for June 28–July 4, led by Ashanti, Kes the Band, and Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons, with major local talent also featured. Local Community & Service: The Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association held a quarterly meeting in St. Croix combining professional development with community service, including a clothing drive for UVI students. Regional Spotlight: Antigua and Barbuda’s Abigail Piper will miss the Miss Caribbean Universe pageant in St. Thomas due to visa issues, but will represent the country at a different regional pageant in August.

St. John Celebration Music Push: TEMPO Networks is teaming up with the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and the Division of Festivals for expanded coverage of the 2026 St. John Celebration, including a dedicated TEMPO Night in the Carnival Village during the June 14–July 4 run. St. John Celebration Lineup: The Village stage lineup is set for June 28–July 4 in Knight’s Ville, led by Ashanti, Kes the Band, and Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons, with Tarrus Riley, Baby Cham, Pressure, Pumpa, and more, plus Virgin Islands acts. Local Legal Community: Florida and U.S. Virgin Islands legal professionals met in St. Croix for professional development and community service, including a clothing drive for UVI students. Travel Savings for VI Visitors: Hotels.com reports hotel deals can be steep—up to nearly 40%—for last-minute bookings, with St. Croix hotel prices down about 15% year-over-year. Cruise Update: Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas adds an extra port call to La Romana on July 4, 2026, replacing a day at sea. Powerball Reminder: The Powerball jackpot climbed to $239M for the June 10 drawing, with no jackpot winner reported.

Congress & Epstein: Bill Gates told a House Oversight Committee he never saw signs of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes and said he never visited Epstein’s U.S. Virgin Islands islands, as lawmakers press deeper into Epstein’s network and alleged leverage. St. John Celebration: The VI Department of Tourism and Division of Festivals unveiled the St. John Celebration Village lineup for June 28–July 4, led by Ashanti, Kes the Band, and Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons, with VI and Caribbean acts also set to perform. Lottery Watch: Powerball climbed to $238 million for the June 10 drawing; the winning numbers for June 10 were listed as 12, 31, 38, 60, 66 with Powerball 14 and Power Play 2x. Public Safety at Sea: The Coast Guard repatriated 32 people after intercepting an overloaded makeshift vessel near Desecheo, Puerto Rico, as part of efforts to deter unlawful maritime migration. Community Health: St. Croix Relay for Life marked its 25th anniversary with survivors, volunteers, and fundraising aimed at cancer support and services.

Local Culture & Tourism: The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, with the Division of Festivals, announced the St. John Celebration Village lineup (June 28–July 4) in Knight’s Ville, led by Ashanti, Kes the Band, and Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons, with Tarrus Riley, Baby Cham, Pumpa, Pressure, and more, plus a strong roster of VI performers. Aviation & Travel: Southwest Airlines and Singapore Airlines launched an interline partnership that lets travelers book single-ticket trips connecting Singapore’s network with nearly 120 Southwest destinations via gateways including LAX, SEA, and SFO. Disaster Recovery Policy: A House Financial Services subcommittee hearing focused on how HUD’s CDBG-DR disaster recovery funds work in practice, calling out the program’s lack of statute and the burden it places on local governments. Community Health: St. Croix’s Relay for Life marked its 25th anniversary on June 6, with survivors and teams raising more than $200,000 toward a $300,000 goal. Weather & Safety: NOAA reported May 2026 as the world’s second-warmest May on record, while NWS Miami said a 6.1 quake west of Cuba brought no tsunami threat to Florida. Sports & Community: USS Iwo Jima returned to Norfolk after a 10-month deployment supporting operations in the U.S. Fourth Fleet area, including Caribbean counter-narcotics and humanitarian missions.

Local Community & Culture: A Coral Reef Elementary student in Miami is bringing Bahamian Junkanoo traditions to the next generation, turning into a “super moko jumbie” on stilts during Goombay Festival celebrations in Coconut Grove. Cancer Support: St. Croix’s Relay for Life marked its 25th anniversary on June 6, with survivors, volunteers and supporters rallying around a $300,000 goal after raising more than $200,000 heading into the weekend. U.S. Territories & Democracy: A bipartisan congressional briefing on “consent of the governed” highlighted why 3.6 million Americans in U.S. territories still lack full democratic rights, with U.S. Virgin Islands Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett participating. Regional Travel: Southwest announced an interline partnership with Singapore Airlines and Scoot, adding single-ticket connections through major U.S. gateways and noting new service that includes St. Thomas. Navy Update: USS Iwo Jima returned to Norfolk after a 10-month deployment supporting missions in the Caribbean, including counter-narcotics operations. Weather & Safety: NWS Miami dismissed any tsunami threat after a 6.1 earthquake west of Cuba, while Tropical Storm Cristina formed in the Eastern Pacific. Lottery Buzz: Mega Millions climbed to $392 million ahead of the June 9 drawing, with Powerball also topping $230 million in recent updates.

Local Cancer Care: St. Croix’s Relay for Life marked its 25th anniversary on June 6 at the St. Croix Educational Complex track, with 35 teams and more than $200,000 raised toward a $300,000 goal, featuring survivor stories and American Cancer Society support. Naval Update: The USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) returned to Norfolk, Va. on June 6 after a historic 10-month deployment in the U.S. Fourth Fleet area, including Caribbean missions with counter-narcotics and humanitarian assistance. Territories & Democracy: A bipartisan congressional briefing on “consent of the governed” highlighted that 3.6 million Americans in U.S. territories still lack full democratic rights, with U.S. Virgin Islands Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett participating. Travel Connections: Winair and Contour Airlines launched an interline partnership to let passengers book single-ticket itineraries through St. Maarten, improving access across the Caribbean. Powerball Watch: Powerball climbed to $230M+ after no jackpot winner Monday; next drawing is Wednesday, June 10.

Lottery Watch: Powerball kept rolling after no jackpot winner in Monday’s June 8 drawing; the jackpot climbed to $225 million (cash value $100.3 million) for the next Wednesday, June 10 draw, with Monday’s numbers 3-24-34-43-49 and Powerball 20. Cancer Community: St. Croix’s Relay for Life marked its 25th anniversary on June 6 at the St. Croix Educational Complex track, with 35 teams and more than $200,000 raised toward a $300,000 goal, as survivors shared stories of hope and survival. Territory Democracy: A bipartisan congressional briefing on “consent of the governed” highlighted that 3.6 million Americans in U.S. territories still lack full voting rights, with U.S. Virgin Islands Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett participating. Local Workforce: The University of the Virgin Islands Medical Simulation Center was added to the VI Eligible Training Provider List, opening WIOA funding for EMT training; 10 residents completed Cohort 2 and are eligible for NREMT certification. Travel Connections: United Airlines announced new routes including seasonal Newark–St. Croix service starting Oct. 31, 2026.

Territorial Democracy Push: A bipartisan congressional briefing in Washington examined what “consent of the governed” means for the 3.6 million Americans living in U.S. territories, with U.S. Virgin Islands Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett joining via video and advocates arguing colonial-era limits still deny full democratic rights. Hurricane Watch: The National Hurricane Center is tracking Tropical Storm Cristina and Tropical Storm Boris in the Eastern Pacific, warning that even weaker storms can bring dangerous inland flooding. Workforce & EMS Training: The University of the Virgin Islands Medical Simulation Center was added to the U.S. Virgin Islands Eligible Training Provider List, unlocking WIOA funding for EMT training; ten residents completed Cohort 2 and are eligible for NREMT certification. Travel Connectivity: Winair launched an interline partnership with Contour Airlines, aiming to make it easier to book through St. Maarten to destinations across the Caribbean. Local Aviation Reliability: Newark Liberty International Airport was ranked No. 1 in the Northeast for on-time performance so far in 2026, citing FAA upgrades and staffing changes. Medicare Fraud Reminder: Medicare Fraud Prevention Week highlights common scams and urges beneficiaries to review notices and report suspicious activity.

Air Travel for the U.S. Virgin Islands: United Airlines announced a new nonstop route from St. Croix (STX) to Newark (EWR) starting Oct. 31, 2026—once a week on Saturdays—giving VI travelers a direct link to the New York area. Local Workforce & Health Care: The University of the Virgin Islands Medical Simulation Center was added to the U.S. Virgin Islands Eligible Training Provider List, unlocking WIOA funding for EMT training; 10 residents completed Cohort 2 and are now eligible for NREMT certification. Public Safety: The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of two armed and dangerous escapees, Jose Almestica and John Burgos. Medicare Fraud Prevention: Medicare Fraud Prevention Week highlights new scam tactics, including phone fraud schemes that can use AI voice cloning to trick beneficiaries into sharing Medicare information. Territorial Democracy: A bipartisan congressional briefing renewed calls for full democratic rights for Americans in U.S. territories, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, who have no voting representation in Congress. Hurricane Outlook: NOAA is forecasting a below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, with 8 to 14 named storms expected.

Lottery Watch: Powerball climbed to $212 million for Saturday, June 6, with a $94.5 million cash option; tickets cost $2 and can be bought in 45 states, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Local Government: Acting Gov. Tregenza A. Roach marked the 36th Annual Employee of the Year ceremony on St. Croix, praising public workers for the day-to-day service that residents feel. Public Safety: The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of escaped prisoners Jose Almestica and John Burgos, described as armed and dangerous. Workforce & Health Care: The UVI Medical Simulation Center was added to the U.S. Virgin Islands Eligible Training Provider List, opening WIOA funding for EMT training; 10 residents completed Cohort 2 and are eligible for NREMT certification. Aviation & Travel: United announced a new nonstop route between St. Croix and Newark starting Oct. 31, 2026, aiming to make the NYC-area trip easier for Virgin Islands travelers. Hurricane Prep: NOAA forecasts a below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, with 8 to 14 named storms expected and 3 to 6 hurricanes.

Lottery Watch: Powerball climbed to $212 million for Saturday, June 6, with a $94.5 million cash option; tickets cost $2 and are sold in 45 states plus D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with drawings at 10:59 p.m. Travel & Connectivity: United Airlines announced a new nonstop between St. Croix and Newark starting Oct. 31, 2026 (Saturday-only), giving VI travelers a direct link to the New York area. Local Public Safety: The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of escaped prisoners Jose Almestica and John Burgos, both described as armed and dangerous. Workforce & Health: The University of the Virgin Islands Medical Simulation Center was added to the U.S. Virgin Islands Eligible Training Provider List, enabling WIOA funding for EMT training; cohort 2 has completed the program and graduates are eligible for NREMT certification. Hurricane Prep: NOAA is forecasting a below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, with 8 to 14 named storms and 3 to 6 hurricanes. Caribbean Spotlight: Caribbean Week in New York 2026 is underway, bringing tourism leaders and ministers together, including participation from the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Local Governance & Public Service: Acting Gov. Tregenza A. Roach honored top VI public employees at the 36th Annual Employee of the Year ceremony on St. Croix, spotlighting the people behind day-to-day government services. Workforce Development: The UVI Medical Simulation Center was added to the U.S. Virgin Islands Eligible Training Provider List, unlocking WIOA funding for EMT training; cohort 2 completed the program with 10 graduates on track for NREMT certification. Territorial Democracy: A bipartisan congressional briefing in Washington examined what “consent of the governed” means for U.S. territories, noting 3.6 million territorial residents still lack full voting representation. Military & Security: The USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group returned to Norfolk after a historic 10-month deployment, including Caribbean support tied to counter-narcotics and homeland protection. Travel & Connectivity: United Airlines announced a new nonstop between St. Croix and Newark starting Oct. 31, 2026, and Winair launched an interline partnership with Contour to improve one-itinerary Caribbean connections. Hurricane Outlook: NOAA is forecasting a below-normal 2026 Atlantic season, with 8–14 named storms and 3–6 hurricanes.

Territorial Democracy Push: A congressional briefing in Washington, D.C. renewed the fight over “consent of the governed,” arguing the Insular Cases still leave about 3.6 million Americans in U.S. territories—including the U.S. Virgin Islands—without full voting rights. Workforce & EMS Training: The UVI Medical Simulation Center was added to the Virgin Islands Eligible Training Provider List, unlocking WIOA funding for EMT training, as 10 graduates complete Cohort 2 and move toward national certification. Public Safety Alert: The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the capture of escaped fugitives Jose Almestica and John Burgos, both described as armed and dangerous. Hurricane Season Watch: NOAA is forecasting a below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, with 8 to 14 named storms and 3 to 6 hurricanes—still a reminder to prepare. Travel Update: United Airlines announced new nonstop service from Newark to St. Croix starting Oct. 31, 2026, a major boost for New York-area travelers.

Air Travel & Connectivity: Winair and Contour Airlines launched a new interline partnership linking San Juan, St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands), and Dominica via St. Maarten, letting passengers book through on one itinerary. Local Workforce & Health Care: The UVI Medical Simulation Center was added to the U.S. Virgin Islands Eligible Training Provider List, unlocking WIOA funding for EMT training; cohort 2 just finished with 10 graduates eligible for NREMT certification. Public Safety: The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the capture of escaped fugitives Jose Almestica and John Burgos, both described as armed and dangerous. Hurricane Readiness: With the Atlantic season underway, NOAA’s outlook still warns that even a below-normal year can bring a major storm—so residents are urged to prepare now. Community & Government: Acting Gov. Roach honored public employees at the 36th Annual Employee of the Year ceremony on St. Croix, spotlighting the territory’s frontline service workers. Culture & Media: Caribbean Week in New York continues to draw tourism leaders, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, as ministers push “One Caribbean: Infinite experiences.”