🌱 Juneteenth, The Biggest Cruise Ship + Funding From Congress

Good morning and welcome to the Saturday edition of the USVI Daily. Let's kick off with the headlines, but don't miss the events section!

• The V.I. Economic Development Commission governing board may require companies to observe the Juneteenth holiday by giving employees the day off. Full story in The Daily News.
• Senators are not in agreement regarding new legislation that would make it mandatory for victims of some criminal offenses to be notified when the perpetrator is released. Find out who voted against the measure in the VI Consortium.
• The largest cruise ship in the world is scheduled to dock in Crown Bay in St. Thomas on Tuesday, March 22. Man your stations! Read more in the VI Consortium.
• Congress passed a major funding bill on Thursday. The biggest impact on the USVI is extending increased federal funding (83%) for Medicaid through December 13, 2022. Full story in The Source. Additional benefits to the USVI include:
  • $659,000 to purchase forensic equipment for use by the Virgin Islands Department of Justice Medical Examiner’s Office on St. Croix.
  • $960,000 for the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority to improve residential wastewater collection sewers across the territory.
  • $750,000 for improvements to the DPNR marine enforcement pier at Krum Bay on St. Thomas.
  • $750,000 for improvements to the DPNR marine enforcement pier at Gallows Bay on St. Croix.
  • $1,120,000 for the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority to improve wastewater treatment facilities across the territory.
  • $1,200,000 for the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority to improve municipal water security infrastructure across the territory.

Weekend weather forecast on Patch USVI.

Saturday Events:

• Bootcamp at Windmill Bar in St. John. $20 (8:00 a.m.)
• Free Workshop on Primitive Toolmaking at the Mount Victory Eco-Lodge in St. Croix (8:00 a.m.)
• Session 1 of the BreakBeatCode Hackathon - an online event -hosted by the VI Children's Museum (9:00 a.m.)
• Science Saturday - an online event. Explore Earth & Space Science! (10:00 a.m.)
• Daddy's Day Out at the V.I. Dept. of Agriculture Fair Grounds in St. Croix (12:00 p.m.)
• VI Skateboarding Community Session at the Frederiksted Clock Tower (4:00 p.m.)
• Live Music at Leatherback Brewing STT (6:00 p.m.)

Sunday Events:

• Vinyasa Yoga Class at Love City Fitness in St. John (8:30 a.m.)
• Tune in for the BreakBeatCode Hackathon - an online event -hosted by the VI Children's Museum (9:00 a.m.)

Social Painkiller:

• St. John School of the Arts Invites Public to a Free Outdoor Concert of the American Spiritual Ensemble on March 12. (St. John School of the Arts)
• Happy Girl Scouts Week to all of the brave and bold Virgin Islands girls who have taken the pledge to serve our community, to be kind to others, and to lead... Girl Scouts leader Jamillia Williams was chosen to be "Governor for a Day," as part of the weeklong celebration. As governor, she held a press briefing, met with staff, and signed a proclamation. Thank you Jamilia for joining us. (Government House - US Virgin Islands)
• Did you miss this week's AARP-VI Yoga Class? The class is now on Zoom. Click to register for the next one: .https://aarp.cventevents.com/d/l8qv35/. (AARP Virgin Islands)

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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.