🌱 More Covid Boosters, Secret Harbor Tests Hot For Bacteria + Events

Good morning and welcome to the weekend edition of USVI Daily.

Before I kick off with the headlines, please note this is the last edition of this daily newsletter (for now). Although I'm take a break, I want to thank you, the readers, for the support you have provided just by following along.

And now, the stories you should be reading:

• The VI Department of Health will offer second COVID-19 boosters to immunocompromised individuals and people over 50 who received an initial booster dose at least four months ago. Find out more in The Source.
• DPNR released the latest results of the water quality monitoring program. Only one beach tested hot for Enterococci Bacteria: Secret Harbor on St. Thomas. See the full DPNR Beach Advisory.
• Viya will offer free mobile and discounted internet to households that qualify under the Affordable Connectivity Program. Find out more in the VI Consortium.
• Stephanie Barnes, former Casino Control Commission consultant who was convicted of stealing from the government, is seeking an acquittal or a new trial. Barnes claims she was a victim of her boss’s excessive spending. Barnes was found guilty in December and has been incarcerated since Dec. 27. She faces up to 10 years in prison, via The Source.

Weekend weather:

• Saturday: Sunshine with a stray shower. High: 82 Low: 75.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny. High: 83 Low: 75.

Weekend Events:

Saturday, April 2

• 5th Great Mangrove Cleanup! (9:00 a.m.)
• SCEC Community Paint at the St. Croix Educational Complex campus (9:00 a.m.)
• Antilles School Spring Gala Livestream Option (8:00 p.m.)

Sunday, April 3

• Sunday Gamers Unite at Leatherback Brewing, St. Thomas (12-6 p.m.)

Social Buzz:

• Congratulations to St. Thomas native Aliyah Boston who was named the Associated Press Women's Basketball Player of the Year. Aliyah and the South Carolina Gamecocks face off against the Louisville Cardinals tonight at 7pm on ESPN in the first game of the NCAA Women's Final Four. (Government House)
• CIB Investigating Man’s Fatal Fall from Hotel Balcony, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas: On Wednesday, March 30, 2022, Officers responded to a call from 911 at 9:07 p.m., about a male individual falling off a balcony at the Marriott Frenchman’s Cove, Estate Bakkeroe. Upon the officer's arrival, they met with the Emergency Medical Technicians who provided medical treatment to the male. The male was identified as 24-year-old Reshad F. Hoque, who had succumbed to his injuries. The cause of death is undetermined currently, pending the Medical Examiner’s findings. (Virgin Islands Police Department)
• The Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts (CMCArts) has received a very generous Anonymous Matching Grant of $10,000.00 as a gift to start 2022 of with a bang to support and encourage the wonderful programming that CMCArts provides to the US Virgin Islands and the Caribbean. (CMCArts, Inc)
• In recognition of Virgin Islands History month, Limetree Bay Terminals' employee engagement team were pleased to donate and deliver more than 400 V.I. History coloring books to fourth graders at St. Croix's public elementary schools. The books were created by local artist, Christa-Ann Davis-Molloy, and display beautiful hand-drawn designs that depict the history and culture of the V.I. with accompanying details. (Limetree Bay Energy)

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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.