Food Security & Healthy Eating: A new commentary from Dr. Craig Stoutt highlights how food insecurity can push people into “survival mode,” raising stress and undermining health, while calling for consistent access to safe, nutritious meals in the U.S. Virgin Islands and beyond. Local Health Policy (Waste & Air Quality): On St. Thomas, the Senate advanced Bill No. 36-0232 to manage green waste through controlled incineration, but lawmakers added limits—incineration only when safer options like shredding, mulching, composting, and reuse aren’t available—plus sorting rules and steps aimed at reducing smoke and particulates near homes. Child Nutrition Support: SUN Bucks/Summer EBT is set to begin in June, with the U.S. Virgin Islands included among participating territories, offering $120 per eligible school-age child for SNAP-approved groceries during summer break. Dengue Watch: A new report says U.S. dengue cases in 2024 jumped 359%, driven mostly by travel-linked infections, with a large share tied to the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Coral Reef Research Hub: NOAA named Nova Southeastern University’s National Coral Reef Institute as the Atlantic Reef Research Coordination Institute, with work supporting Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Online Child Safety Push: AGs including New York and Connecticut urged Congress to reject the KIDS Act, arguing it would weaken state protections for children online. Grocery Recall Alerts: V.I. Free Press reports major nationwide grocery pullbacks tied to FDA/USDA recall alerts, warning that mainland supply lines could bring affected products into local kitchens.