AGP Executive Report

Tourism & Travel: Southwest Airlines is rolling out major Caribbean expansion next spring, adding Saturday-only nonstop routes from Nashville to Aruba, Montego Bay (Jamaica), and St. Thomas, plus Saturday service from Columbus, Ohio to Punta Cana. Public Health: FDA and CDC say they traced the Cyclospora outbreak affecting U.S. Virgin Islands consumers to a Central Mexico farm, prompting Taylor Farms to pull contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce from the U.S. market. Local Safety: A St. Thomas fisherman, Conrad E. Pondt, was rescued after his dinghy broke down and he was stranded on Savana Island; he was dehydrated but otherwise in good health. Community & Housing: A St. Thomas housing worker, Lameak Wilkins, was arrested on felony assault charges after an alleged machete attack during a dispute over a $40 debt at a senior living community. Weather & Infrastructure: DPNR flagged one St. Thomas beach as unsafe, while St. Croix results were left unavailable after a lab equipment failure. Lottery: Powerball’s Saturday jackpot is $526 million (numbers: 9, 14, 44, 50, 56; Powerball 3; Power Play 4x).

Travel Disruption at STT: With temperatures hitting a record-tying 91°F, passengers at Cyril E. King Airport say automated baggage belts failed, forcing travelers to move luggage manually and sparking complaints about VIPA and airline service. Health Alert Update: Federal investigators say the Cyclospora outbreak tied to U.S. Virgin Islands consumer warnings traces back to a Central Mexico farm; Taylor Farms is pulling contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce from the market. Local Safety & Environment: DPNR flagged one St. Thomas beach as unsafe, while St. Croix results were left unusable after a lab equipment failure, leaving some shoreline safety data unavailable. Violence in Housing Community: A St. Thomas Housing Authority maintenance worker was arrested on felony assault charges after an alleged machete attack during a dispute over a $40 debt. Rescue Off St. Thomas: Coast Guard and local partners rescued a fisherman stranded on Savana Island after his dinghy broke down; he was dehydrated but otherwise okay. Air Travel Boost: Southwest announced new Saturday-only Caribbean nonstop routes from Nashville to Aruba, Montego Bay, and St. Thomas starting March 13. Sports: The U.S. Virgin Islands beat the Bahamas 74-59 in Centrobasket qualifiers, but Bahamas’ Lashann Higgs left with a knee injury. Lottery Buzz: Powerball climbed to $526M and Mega Millions to $672M ahead of upcoming drawings.

Mega Millions: No one matched Friday’s Mega Millions numbers (22, 34, 45, 48, 55; Mega Ball 14), leaving the jackpot at $672 million ($293.3 million cash). Next drawing is Tuesday, July 21 at 11 p.m., with at least $707 million up for grabs. Public Safety: The VIPD Marine Unit and Coast Guard partners rescued 54-year-old Conrad E. Pondt after his dinghy broke down and he was stranded on Savana Island off St. Thomas; he was dehydrated but otherwise in good health. Beach Safety: DPNR flagged one St. Thomas shoreline as unsafe for swimming, but St. Croix results were left unusable after a lab equipment failure ruined Enterococci testing. Violence in Housing: A St. Thomas Housing worker, Lameak Wilkins, was arrested on felony assault charges after an alleged machete attack during a dispute tied to a $40 debt. Sports: The U.S. Virgin Islands beat the Bahamas 74-59 in Centrobasket qualifiers, but Bahamas’ Lashann Higgs left early with a knee injury. Travel/Flights: Southwest announced new Saturday-only routes from Nashville to Aruba, Montego Bay, and St. Thomas starting March 13, plus Columbus-to-Punta Cana service.

Lottery Buzz: Mega Millions climbed to a $672 million jackpot ahead of Friday’s drawing, with a cash value of $293.3 million and recent winners in Florida, New Jersey and Georgia. Public Health & Environment: DPNR flagged one St. Thomas beach as unsafe after weekly testing, but St. Croix results were left in limbo when lab equipment malfunction ruined samples. Violent Crime: A St. Thomas Housing Authority worker was arrested on felony assault charges after an alleged machete attack tied to a dispute over a $40 debt. Search & Rescue: The Coast Guard helped locate a missing St. Thomas fisherman stranded on Savana Island; he was found in good health but dehydrated. Tourism & Development: A new $55 million resort redevelopment has broken ground in the U.S. Virgin Islands, with a 15-month timeline. Federal Oversight: Billionaire Leon Black’s House Oversight interview ended early after subpoenas over nondisclosure agreements, as lawmakers press questions about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Regional Tech: Starlink updated roaming rules, grouping the U.S., Canada and the U.S. Virgin Islands into one region for travelers.

Tourism & Development: Club Med has started construction on a 150-room all-inclusive Club Med St. Croix, targeting a Q4 2027 opening and creating about 200 jobs, with roughly 80% expected to be filled locally. Education & Infrastructure: Senators grilled Education and Maintenance Bureau officials on school readiness for the Aug. 10 return, including progress on St. Croix’s new Arthur A. Richards Pre-K-8 campus and security plans. Cannabis Regulation: The Office of Cannabis Regulation opened applications for multiple cannabis license categories across the USVI, with submissions due Sept. 15, 2026. Shipping & Ports: Tropical Shipping ordered four Konecranes Gottwald Generation 6 mobile harbor cranes—first of their kind for St. Croix and St. Thomas—aimed at boosting quayside cargo handling. Courts & Public Safety: Governor Mike Kehoe signed public safety bills, including a law tied to the 2021 Byrnes Mill crash. Sports: The Bahamas women’s team lost to the USVI 74-59 in Centrobasket qualifiers after top scorer Lashann Higgs left early with an apparent leg injury. Business & Travel: Cruise arrivals in the USVI are surging in 2026, led by St. Thomas and St. Croix, with growth outpacing other regional destinations.

Cannabis Licensing: The U.S. Virgin Islands Office of Cannabis Regulation has opened applications for several cannabis license categories, with submissions due by Sept. 15, 2026, via the OCR online portal; St. Croix applicants can apply for cultivation, manufacturing and dispensary licenses, while St. Thomas and St. John can apply for cultivation and manufacturing, and micro-cultivation plus research and development are available territory-wide. Tourism & Shipping: Cruise passenger arrivals in the USVI hit 831,690 in Q1 2026, up 68% year-over-year, with St. Thomas and St. Croix driving faster growth than any other Caribbean destination. Education Watch: Senators grilled Education and Maintenance Bureau officials on school readiness, including whether campuses will be ready for the Aug. 10 return date. Ports & Cargo: Tropical Shipping ordered four Konecranes Gottwald Generation 6 mobile harbor cranes—one to St. Croix and two to St. Thomas—marking the first mobile harbor cranes deployed in the USVI. Health Alert: A Saharan dust and extreme heat forecast is raising fire danger and visibility concerns across the territory.

Tourism & Development: Club Med broke ground on Club Med St. Croix, its first U.S. property and return to the U.S., with an opening targeted for 2027. Education & Infrastructure: Senators grilled Education and Maintenance Bureau officials on whether school reconstruction and safety plans will be ready for students’ Aug. 10 return, including progress on major St. Croix campus work. Shipping & Jobs: Tropical Shipping ordered Konecranes Gottwald Generation 6 mobile harbour cranes—first of their kind for the U.S. Virgin Islands—with units headed to St. Croix and St. Thomas to boost cargo handling. Public Safety & Courts: St. Croix Superior Court featured a heavy docket, including a service-station homicide case and other serious charges. Weather Watch: The USVI forecast highlights Saharan dust, extreme heat, and early tropical activity, with local impacts expected over the next several days. Federal Legal Fight: The DOJ said it can’t provide unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files to New Mexico investigators, escalating a dispute with state officials. Consumer/Health: A multistate coalition announced a $29.6 million Glenmark settlement over alleged generic drug price-fixing, with possible compensation for eligible buyers. Lottery: Powerball climbed to $499M ahead of the next drawing.

USVI Weather: Saharan dust and extreme heat are shaping the U.S. Virgin Islands forecast, with hazy skies and elevated fire risk on St. Croix as tropical activity begins to stir. Local Courts: St. Croix Superior Court featured a heavy criminal docket, including a service-station homicide case and other high-profile charges. Drug Pricing Accountability: A coalition of attorneys general announced a $29.6 million Glenmark settlement over alleged generic drug price-fixing and reduced competition, with multiple states and territories pursuing compensation claims. Daylight Saving Push: The U.S. House passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent, sending the measure to the Senate—though clock changes may still happen this fall unless Congress acts in time. Travel & Tourism: Breeze Airways plans a new nonstop winter route from Tampa to St. Thomas, launching Dec. 16 with twice-weekly service. Business & Development: Advance Auto Parts is moving into a Beauclerc Village “market hub” space in Jacksonville, signaling continued retail expansion. Legal/Environment: Affiliates tied to a USVI refinery are reported to have reached a $35 million settlement in proposed class action claims over past water contamination.

Daylight Saving Time: The U.S. House voted 308-117 to make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, sending the Sunshine Protection Act to the Senate; supporters say it ends twice-yearly clock changes, while critics warn of impacts on sleep and daily routines, and the Senate’s next move is still unclear. Local Courts: In St. Thomas Superior Court, prosecutors filed serious felony charges in two separate cases, including assault with a deadly weapon and first-degree unlawful sexual contact. Public Health Alert: Territorial health advocates are urging extra caution with imported fresh produce as a Cyclospora outbreak continues to spread across the U.S., raising concerns for USVI’s largely imported supply chain. Energy & Weather Safety: The territory faces a converging crisis of extreme heat, Saharan dust, and wildfire risk alongside scheduled WAPA grid shutdowns, prompting urgent guidance for vulnerable residents. Aviation Funding: Antigua and Barbuda’s parliament approved a US$10 airport administration charge increase to help fund regional aviation obligations and infrastructure. Sports: Team Bahamas advanced in the Little League Caribbean Series, while Belize notched a win over the U.S. Virgin Islands in volleyball at the Pan American Cup. Crime/Community: A St. Croix beach-house viral clip involving Deion Sanders’ family and hookah smoking drew attention online. Tourism/Industry: WICO projected growth to about 1.2 million cruisers for fiscal 2027, with infrastructure upgrades also in the works.

Lottery Buzz: Mega Millions climbed to $637 million ahead of Tuesday’s July 14 drawing, with a cash value of $278 million and no jackpot winner reported since July 10. Public Health: USVI health advocates are warning residents to handle imported fresh produce with extra care as a Cyclospora outbreak expands across the mainland, with symptoms that can include severe watery diarrhea and fatigue. Courts Watch: In St. Thomas Superior Court, prosecutors filed felony charges in two separate cases, including assault with a deadly weapon and first-degree unlawful sexual contact. Territory Safety: A heat and fire danger alert is tied to a Saharan dust plume, with officials urging vulnerable residents to limit exposure as WAPA grid shutdowns are also scheduled. Cruise & Tourism: WICO is projecting growth to about 1.2 million cruisers for fiscal 2027, after reporting 302 calls and 946,199 passengers through May 31. Sports: Trinidad & Tobago earned Davis Cup promotion after beating the US Virgin Islands, while Antigua and Barbuda ended its campaign winless.

Court Watch: In St. Thomas Superior Court, prosecutors filed felony charges against Lameak Wilkins, including third-degree assault with a deadly weapon and carrying/using a dangerous weapon with intent to commit a crime, and separately charged Khalen Blyden with first-degree unlawful sexual contact. Territory Safety: A heat advisory and fire danger warning are tied to a Saharan dust plume over the U.S. Virgin Islands, raising health concerns for people with asthma and other respiratory sensitivities while also coinciding with scheduled WAPA grid shutdowns. Time Change: Congress is set to vote this week on the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, though the U.S. Virgin Islands do not currently observe it. National Guard: The Pentagon says National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C. will continue through Inauguration Day 2029 unless ended sooner, as D.C. leaders and some governors push back. Local Sports: The U.S. Virgin Islands men’s tennis team is referenced in Davis Cup promotion coverage, while regional basketball qualifiers note Guyana’s must-win matchup against the U.S. Virgin Islands. Lottery: Powerball’s Monday, July 13 drawing produced 5, 25, 36, 40, 48 with Powerball 3 (Power Play 2x); no jackpot winner, and the next drawing is set for Wednesday with a prize near $498 million.

Territory Grid & Health Alert: A territory-wide grid crisis is colliding with extreme weather as Saharan dust and a heat advisory raise wildfire and health risks, while WAPA schedules back-to-back blackouts for St. Thomas and St. John. Local Courts: In St. Thomas, a woman was arrested after an argument over a minor’s online summer school grades allegedly escalated into assault, and an earlier case saw a man charged after a dirt-bike theft tied to a separate “hooded heist” investigation. Federal Spotlight: V.I. Free Press coverage of federal prison sentences for a 70-kilo Cyril E. King Airport marijuana smuggling plot sparked sharp local debate over how the shipment got through. Crime & Safety: Police also reported a St. Thomas man facing additional charges after surveillance linked him and minors to a stolen pickup truck wedged against a business entrance. Sports: Team Trinidad & Tobago beat the U.S. Virgin Islands in Davis Cup Americas Group IV to earn promotion, with local player Yared Alfred in the losing side. Time Change Watch: Congress is set to vote this week on making daylight saving time permanent, though U.S. Virgin Islands residents don’t observe it. Lottery Buzz: Powerball climbed to $478 million for Monday’s drawing, with no jackpot winner reported from the weekend draw.

Davis Cup Spotlight: The U.S. Virgin Islands men’s tennis team was beaten by Trinidad & Tobago, which won promotion to Davis Cup Americas Group III after defeating the territory 2-0 in Paraguay. Local Crime: A St. Thomas man tied to a Sugar Estate work-truck theft is facing multiple charges after surveillance linked him and minors to the vehicle found wedged against a business entrance. Courtroom Fallout: Another St. Thomas case alleges a second, separate theft scheme involving a dirt bike and the same weekend of suspects, with a suspect already facing felony counts. Domestic Violence Arrest: A St. Thomas woman accused of using her car to strike her ex-boyfriend after a 911 call is now charged with assault and weapons-related offenses. Public Safety & Health: A pediatric health explainer warns that indoor air pollution can be worse than outdoor air for children, urging source control, ventilation, and smarter time spent indoors. Time Change Watch: U.S. lawmakers are set to vote on making daylight saving time permanent, while noting the U.S. Virgin Islands does not observe it. Lottery Buzz: Powerball results for July 11 showed no jackpot winner, with the next drawing set for July 13. Military Policy: The Army is consolidating official social media accounts, including allowing one National Guard account per state plus accounts for D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. National Guard Tension: The D.C. Council is urging governors, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, to withdraw National Guard troops after event-related missions end.

Davis Cup Tennis: Trinidad & Tobago beat the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday to earn promotion to Davis Cup Americas Group III, with Kamran McIntosh-Ross and Dillon Beckles sealing the 2-0 win. Local Crime: A St. Thomas man accused in a Sugar Estate vehicle theft ring involving minors faces a second wave of charges after court documents tied his SUV to another theft. Courtroom Fallout: V.I. Free Press coverage of federal prison sentences for a 70-kilo Cyril E. King Airport marijuana smuggling plot is sparking heavy local debate over how the shipment got through. Public Safety: A St. Thomas woman who called 911 over a broken windshield was arrested after authorities say she used her car to run down her ex-boyfriend. Community & Timekeeping: Residents are also weighing the upcoming daylight saving “fall back” date, with the U.S. Virgin Islands noted among places that don’t observe the change. Sports (Beach Volleyball): T&T’s NORCECA beach volleyball pair will play for positions 13th to 14th after results at Tabyana Beach in Honduras. Tourism Buzz: A Barbados campaign is pointing to strong “untapped demand” for Caribbean travel, especially from the U.S. diaspora.

Lottery Buzz: No one matched all six numbers in Saturday’s Powerball drawing (8, 10, 14, 45, 59; Powerball 5; Power Play 2x), pushing the next jackpot to an estimated $478 million for July 13. Territory Courts: A St. Thomas woman, Laysha Pegan, was arrested after surveillance footage allegedly showed she used her car to strike her ex-boyfriend following a 911 call about a “broken windshield.” Family Violence Case: Another St. Thomas woman, Shamaleen Caraballo, faces charges after an argument with her daughter over online summer school grades allegedly escalated into assault and reckless endangerment. Crime & Property: A St. Thomas man, Ra’Jahni Hendrickson, was arrested after surveillance linked him and two minors to a stolen work truck found wedged against a Sugar Estate business. Public Safety Policy: The U.S. Army issued a directive to consolidate official social media accounts, including authorizing one National Guard account per state and one each for D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Local Finance: Gov. Bryan announced a Financial Solutions Task Force aimed at reducing WAPA debt and addressing uncompensated health care costs, with OMB Director Julio Rhymer expected to help lead it.

Local Public Safety: A St. Thomas woman, Laysha Pegan, was arrested after police say she used her car to strike her ex-boyfriend at Bellows International, following a 911 call that later unraveled through surveillance footage. Local Courts & Violence: Another St. Thomas case landed a woman behind bars after an argument with her daughter over online summer school grades turned physical, with charges including child abuse and reckless endangerment. Territory Infrastructure: Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. is setting up a Financial Solutions Task Force to help reduce WAPA debt and address uncompensated health care costs, with proposed bond-financing options. Military Presence: The D.C. Council is urging the U.S. Virgin Islands and Michigan governors to withdraw National Guard troops from Washington, saying the July Fourth/America 250 mission is over. Crime & Enforcement: A St. Thomas man was arrested after a stolen work truck and scooter were found wedged against Sugar Estate business doors, according to investigators. Business & Consumer Protection: Louisiana AG Liz Murrill announced a multistate $45 million settlement with Cash App’s parent Block over fraud and promised protections. Environment & Travel: A Saharan dust plume is pushing hazy skies and heat toward 110°F across Florida and the Gulf Coast. Health Research: DNDi and Serum Institute of India are preparing phase 3 trials for a dengue antibody treatment in multiple countries. Community & Culture: The Caribbean POSH ICON Woman Awards honored 15 women across seven Caribbean territories, including U.S. Virgin Islands winners. Sports/Leisure: Mega Millions climbed to $604M for the July 10 drawing; Powerball is at $457M for July 11.