An agreement with the U.S. Department of Education committing the V.I. government to make needed improvements in school programs or face losing millions of dollars a year in federal funding should be finalized within two weeks and will take effect immediately, acting Education Commissioner Noreen Michael said Wednesday.

The interests of the residents of St. Croix are being shortchanged, charges candidate for governor John de Jongh, because there are vacancies on boards and commissions for St. Croix residents. A recent vote of the V.I. Port Authority board, which might have had a different outcome, is just one example.

The interests of the residents of St. Croix are being shortchanged, charges candidate for governor John de Jongh, because there are vacancies on boards and commissions for St. Croix residents. A recent vote of the V.I. Port Authority board, which might have had a different outcome, is just one example.

The interests of the residents of St. Croix are being shortchanged, charges candidate for governor John de Jongh, because there are vacancies on boards and commissions for St. Croix residents. A recent vote of the V.I. Port Authority board, which might have had a different outcome, is just one example.

Funeral services for Ariel Melchior Sr., 93, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3 on St. Thomas. He was co-founder with the late J. Antonio Jarvis of The Daily News of the Virgin Islands in 1930 and retired from the newspaper in 1978.

Alphonse Louis Powell, retired police captain, retired boat captain, of St. John, died on July 24, in Puerto Rico. Funeral services will be Saturday, Aug. 3, at Bethany Moravian Church, St. John.

Funeral services for Ariel Melchior Sr., 93, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3. He was co-founder with the late J. Antonio Jarvis of The Daily News of the Virgin Islands in 1930, and retired from the newspaper in 1978.

Women For Positive Change will continue the discussion of "The Value of Our Vote - How VI Women Will Vote in 2002" and "Numbered Seats" at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, at Gladys' Cafe in Royal Dane Mall.

Women for Positive Change will continue the discussion of "The Value of Our Vote - How VI Women Will Vote in 2002" and "Numbered Seats" at Gladys' Cafe in Royal Dane Mall.

The Water and Power Authority board voted at a special meeting on Wednesday to seek Public Services Commission approval of an increase in its base electric rate to customers that would yield a net gain of about 3.3 percent in revenues. It also plans to issue $50 million in bonds early next year.