🌱 Bryan Lifts Many COVID Restrictions But Not All + Gas Going Up

Happy Fat Tuesday, folks. And I'm happy to bring you some good news this morning: the Bryan administration has lifted most of the COVID-19 restrictions., effective yesterday.

Feel like celebrating? Head to Navy Beach in Yacht Haven Grande. They are hosting live blues music and a special cajun-themed menu. It is all in honor of Mardi Gras, of course, but you can raise your glass to the new rules, or lack thereof. What else is going on this week? Check out the full events calendar on Patch USVI.

In the meantime, here's everything you need to know this morning:

• Governor Bryan used his Monday press briefing to announce that most Covid-19 restrictions would be lifted, effective Monday, February 28. He cleared the way for the territory to return to pre-pandemic life, removing the restrictions on events, social gatherings, outdoor dining, gyms, spas, and nursing homes. However, the indoor mask mandate remains in place, as does the travel portal. Read why in the VI Consortium.
• Virgin Islanders can expect gas prices to keep rising as sanctions stack up against Russia in retaliation for invading Ukraine. Russia is one of the largest oil and natural gas producers and the economic sanctions lobbied against it are already affecting the flow of resources out of the region. As a result, the price of crude oil is rising. Full story in the VI Consortium.
• The Division of Children and Family Services has a serious backlog of cases and Human Services Commissioner Kimberly Causey-Gomez is blaming lack of staff. On Friday, Causey-Gomez told the Youth, Sports, Parks and Recreation Committee that the Family Services division manages a caseload of more than 300 children and families. "With the exception of the St. Croix District Foster Care and Adoptions Unit, every other unit within DCFS has critical vacancies. Staff in these units are managing an excessive number of cases,” said Causey-Gomez. Full story in The Daily News.
• Another V.I. Human Services Department employee has been arrested for trying to defraud Medicaid. The announcement came from V.I. Attorney General Denise George. Edith Brathwaite of St. Thomas is the third employee to be arrested since the V.I. Justice Department has started their investigation into allegations of fraud inside HSD. According to the Justice Department, Brathwaite lied about her income on a hospital form, thereby qualifying her to receive Medicaid benefits. Full story in The Source.
• Golden Age Ranch is asking for donations as it moves forward with shipping rescued thoroughbreds off-island. Six horses were loaded onto a cargo plane and flown off-island last week. 14 more horses are scheduled to take the same trip later this year. Their destination: the Dark Horse Stables in Florida. The stable will take all of Golden Age's rescued horses. Golden Age has been struggling to pay for their upkeep since the sanctuary's primary source of income, paid horseback rides on Lindqvist Beach, came to a halt after the Magens Bay Authority shut off access to the beach. Golden Age Ranch needs to raise $51,000 to cover the cost of transporting the horses. Donations can be made through this link, via The Source.

Today's weather: Mostly sunny, a shower; humid. High: 81 Low: 74.

Today's Events:

• Downtown Walking Tour: St Thomas History (9:00 a.m.)
• Free After-School Youth Nutrition & Cooking Workshop at the Winston Raymo Recreation Center (3:30 p.m.)
• Head to Navy Beach in Yacht Haven Grande for a Fat Tuesday Special New Orleans Bluesy music performance by James Cobb (4:00 p.m.)
• VI Skateboarding Community session at Annas Retreat in St. Thomas (5:00 p.m.)
• Yin Yoga with Jane on the lawn at Yacht Haven Grande (5:30 p.m.)
• Steve Katz Live! at Six Nine Restaurant & Bar in Fredericksted (6:00 pm.)
• Gentle Yoga with Bethany on the lawn at Yacht Haven Grande (6:30 p.m.)

Weekly Events Calendar via Patch USVI.

Social Buzz:

• National Park Service will host additional Caneel Bay outreach sessions this week. The current public comment period on the future of Caneel Bay closes on Friday, March 4. Your opinion matters! Park staff will be present at the Virgin Islands National Park pavilion Feb. 28th– Mar. 3rd from 2pm-4pm daily to transcribe and/or accept written comments, via Friends of Virgin Islands National Park)
• Trail Crew volunteers! This week’s work locations and meeting times:
  Tuesday March 1: Lameshur Bay Trail. Meet at trailhead at 9:30AM.
  Thursday March 3: Bottom of L'Esperance. Meet at Fish Bay surf spot at 9:15AM
  via Friends of Virgin Islands National Park
• St. John School of the Arts Invites Public to a Free Outdoor Concert of the American Spiritual Ensemble on March 12 (VI Source Facebook)
• Cecile Douglas, who has been wanted by the VIPD for sexual assault, is now in police custody. Police say Douglas turned himself in on Feb. 27. He has been placed under arrest for Aggravated Rape 1st, Unlawful Sexual Contact 1st, and Aggravated Child Abuse and Neglect. (VIPD Facebook)
• Did you know March is Virgin Islands History Month? The Virgin Islands Council on the Arts is celebrating all month long. Check out this line-up of events, via Facebook:

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— Ashleigh Baldwin

About me: I'm the Patch Community News Editor for the U.S. Virgin Islands. I'm here to provide news you can use. Do you have a news tip, question or feedback? Please contact me at ashleigh.baldwin@patch.com.