A Look Back at 2018: Milestones of The Year

2018 was an eventful year with ups and downs, good news and bad, new beginnings and inglorious endings. It was the year the territory began climbing back from 2017’s disastrous twin hurricanes, and in which the voters decided to replace the governor and 60 percent of the V.I. Senate.

Here are links to some of the big stories from 2018:

January

Secret $90,000 Payout Deal Not About Sexual Harassment, WAPA Board Member Tells Senators

Cost of Electrical Restoration: $400 Million

Public Schools Struggling to Get Back to Full Schedule

Where’s Territory’s Debris Plan? WMA Mum on Details

February

Tax Revenues Higher Than Projected as Senate Punts on This Year’s Budget

A storm-ravaged Government House as photographed by St. Thomas visitor Eddie Eitches, who posted the photo to social media after entering the building in January.
A storm-ravaged Government House as photographed by St. Thomas visitor Eddie Eitches, who posted the photo to social media after entering the building in January.

Government House Says Art and Antiquities Are Safe, But Press Can’t View Them

Moody’s Says It’s ‘Highly Likely’ V.I. Will Have to Restructure Debt

Fort Christian Reopens to Public

March

Anonymous Allegations Lead to Audit of V.I. Public TV

Veolia's wastewater treatment plant on St. Thomas. (Image from Veolia's website)
Veolia’s wastewater treatment plant on St. Thomas. (Image from Veolia’s website)

USVI May Stop Treating Wastewater Without an Immediate $4.7 Million

Medicaid Registrations Way Up in Territory

Genetic Study Finds Taino Live on in Modern Caribbeans

Congressional Hearing: Official Admits Poor Handling of Medical Evacuees

Staffer Who Leaked Private Plaskett Photos Gets Year in Prison

Court Hearing Reveals VIWMA Leadership in Disarray

April

St. Croix Icon John Tranberg Turns 102

USVI Made Down Payment on Wastewater Treatment: It’s Safe to Flush – For Now

Plaskett’s Caneel Bay Resort Bill Sparks Community Questions

May

Running a booth at Agrifest

St. Croix Community Shows Love For Agrifest

Court Makes Way for Legal Elections Meeting

St. Croix’s Leatherback Brewing Co. Opens May 12 With Public Party

Hurricane Insurance Payouts Top $1.2 Billion – So Far

June

Pride Faces Down Hate in STX Parade

Police Arrest Suspect in Flag Tampering

Feds Give Positive a Negative on TRO, Leave Candidacy to Local Courts

Unified Elections Board Names Officers, then Divides into District Committees

July

The first 80 modular units for the USVI schools arrive at St. Thomas Sunday. (Department of Education photo)
The first 80 modular units for the USVI schools arrive at St. Thomas Sunday. (Department of Education photo)

Mapp Signs Legislation That Might Lead to STX Refinery Restart

First Shipment of Modulars Arrives

UN Sulfur Regs May Briefly Boost STX Refinery Profitability

JFL Operating Room Reopens After Six-Day Closure

Air Arrivals Down 70 Percent for STT, 11 Percent for STX in First Quarter of 2018

August

Mapp Admin Says Pre-Election Raises ‘Sustainable,’ Although Deficit Is ‘Around $200 Million’

Elections Certifies Primary Results; Bryan Officially Gets Democratic Nod

Despite Much Progress, More Than A Dozen V.I. Traffic Lights Still Out

Half of V.I. Hotels Still Offline, But St. Croix Seeing Boom in Cruise Visitors, Airlift

Senators Appropriating Arbitrary Amount For Unplanned Project of Unknown Cost

Jury Finds Former Sen. Wayne James Guilty of Wire Fraud, Embezzlement

Still Waiting For Proof: Are Any V.I. Art Treasures Missing or Damaged?

Energy Company Tied to Virgin Group Buying STX Solar Farm

Mapp Extends State of Emergency Again

The Consent of the Governed: Territory Involved in Nine Consent Decree Cases

September

Landfill Fire Leads to More Questions at WMA Court Hearing

Final Budget: Cuts Hit Police, Hospitals, Increases at Education, Waste Management

Carson Delledonne mixes up a cocktail with Mutiny Island Vodka behind the bar at 40 Stand Eatery.
Carson Delledonne mixes up a cocktail with Mutiny Island Vodka behind the bar at 40 Stand Eatery.

VI Getting The Most Rum Funds Since 2013

Justice Asks Court to Subpoena Casino Commission Chief

Crucians Come Together to Recycle Plastics

Mutiny Island Vodka Has the Taste of the Tropics

Senate Passes Pre-Election Tax Cuts, Pay Raises

As Governor Re-Extends Emergency Again, Senate Votes to Limit Extensions

October

Record Early Voting Numbers Not a Surprise

Chef Stridiron Opens Braata Restaurant in Frederiksted

Ruling Imperils Millions in V.I. Excise Tax Revenues

In Closing Days Before Election, Mapp Doles More Government Pay Increases

USVI Republicans Get Unwanted Spotlight Again

Initiative to Reapportion Senate to Go to Voters

November

Albert Bryan
Albert Bryan

Bryan Defeats Mapp for Governor

Court Chastises V.I. for Violating Excise Tax Order – Millions in Revenue at Risk

ICMC Downsizes Staff, But Says It Isn’t Closing Its Doors

Central High Teen Wins World Pool Championship

UConn, Kentucky Women Win Paradise Jam Division Championships

December

Sen. Positive Nelson (File photo)
Sen. Positive Nelson (File photo)

Senate Greenlights Nelson’s Medical Cannabis Act

VIPD in ‘Substantial Compliance’ with Consent Decree

UVI Free-Tuition Policy Gets Final Senate OK

Refinery Deal Done, Smaller-than-Contracted Immediate Payout Completed

‘Creative’ Double Dippers Contribute to GERS Decline

Brothers Brewing a Plan for a Mass-Produced V.I. Lager

Mapp Says Government’s Pissarro Artworks On Display on St. Croix