WTJX Local News

Vernice Gumbs testifies during a Senate Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance meeting on March 19, 2024 in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room on St. Croix.

Taxicab Commission terminates Executive Director Gumbs, who plans to challenge insubordination claim

Tom Eader

VI Taxicab Commission fires Vernice Gumbs as executive director and appoints Melissa Smith to lead agency in acting capacity; Gumbs to challenge claim of insubordination.

Darin Richardson, former chief operating officer at the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, right, exits District Court today on St. Croix as his fraud trial continued with opening statements and witness testimony after two days of jury selection.

Prosecution begins calling witnesses in fraud trial against former VIHFA executive Darin Richardson

Tom Eader

Prosecution describes Richardson’s case as being about “greed and misconduct” during opening statement and begins calling witnesses after two days of jury selection.

Wilbert Coakley, co-owner of One Love Beach Rentals LLC, prepares to enter his eviction hearing at the Virgin Islands Superior Court’s Magistrate Division on St. Thomas on Thursday morning.

DOJ’s eviction case against One Love Beach Rentals encounters setback; today’s win energizes owner

Isabelle Teare

Government continues to collect rent from One Love Beach Rentals during eviction proceedings, prompting judge to dismiss case without prejudice

Walton Jack Jr., a retired Virgin Islands Police Department lieutenant, is now assistant sergeant at arms for the Legislature of the Virgin Islands.

DUI trial set in April for Walton Jack Jr., assistant sergeant at arms and retired police lieutenant

Tom Eader

Walton Jack Jr., assistant sergeant at arms for the VI Legislature and retired VIPD lieutenant, to face DUI and negligent driving charges at trial set for April 4

Senator Ray Fonseca speaks during a Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance meeting Tuesday in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas.

Fonseca skeptical of request for hospital state of emergency; Bryan committed to addressing issues

Tom Eader

Senator Ray Fonseca skeptical about his request for a hospital state of emergency; Governor Bryan committed to addressing issues without declaration.

Stolen items were reportedly stored at this house on the corner of Market and Hospital streets in downtown Frederiksted that is owned by Ten Thousand Helpers of St. Croix, but the Virgin Islands Police Department did not find anything on the premises by the time police officers acted on the tip.

Stash house tip fails to reveal stolen items in Frederiksted after police delay search

Tom Eader

Virgin Islands Police Department fails to find stolen items following slow response to tip that they were stored in shuttered downtown Frederiksted house.

The Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center declined to provide the medical records of a deceased patient to his sister, who filed a lawsuit to subpoena those records in search for answers to her brother’s mysterious death after his body was discovered behind the hospital the day after he arrived via ambulance for treatment.

Sister of man found dead behind JFL files lawsuit to obtain medical records in search for answers

Tom Eader

Krystal Ruiz files lawsuit to get medical records in search for answers to death of her brother, Samuel Ruiz Jr., who was found dead behind hospital after being admitted.

VIGL Operations is considering its options to resume offtrack betting since the simulcast is no longer available at X the Spot Restaurant and Lounge, which closed its doors last month in Estate St. John.

VIGL Operations considering options to resume offtrack betting following closure of X the Spot

Tom Eader

VIGL Operations weighing options to resume its offtrack betting simulcast following closure of X the Spot; St. Croix Horse Racing Commission must approve new venue.

Palestinians salvage what they could from the destruction left by Israeli troops in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, April 8, 2024.

VI-Palestinian Friendship Association president criticizes Trump’s plan to ‘take over’ Gaza Strip

Tom Eader

Ahmad Hussein, VI-Palestinian Friendship Association president, criticizes Trump’s plan to “take over” Gaza Strip, suggesting it represents a colonial settler ideology.

A parking lot, storage facilities, and an administration building will be constructed on a 5-acre lot north of the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center modular hospital, known as JFL North. This water tank behind JFL North sits on the 5-acre lot.

Hospital board approves contract extension for architect to monitor JFL parking lot construction

Tom Eader

Territorial hospital board approves Flad Architects contract extension and cost increase to monitor construction of JFL parking lot and storage facilities on 5-acre lot