In the last 12 hours, Road Town Times coverage is dominated by two themes: (1) aviation reshuffling in the wake of Spirit Airlines’ shutdown, and (2) renewed attention on Jeffrey Epstein-linked investigations involving U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. On flights, multiple reports say Breeze Airways is stepping into routes previously served by Spirit, including new or expanded Florida-to-Caribbean and Florida-to-Atlantic City connections, with fares advertised from as low as $89 and additional nonstop service planned for St. Thomas (including a Tampa–St. Thomas route beginning Dec. 16, 2026). Separately, Southwest is also expanding at Orlando after Spirit’s closure, adding new routes and increasing service on existing ones—suggesting a broader, competitive “fill the gap” pattern rather than a single-carrier recovery.
Also in the last 12 hours, the Epstein/Lutnick thread intensifies. Coverage says Lutnick is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee in a closed-door, voluntary appearance, with Democrats criticizing him for allegedly changing his story as new details emerge from Epstein-related records. One report adds that Lutnick was “unsettled” by a lunch invitation connected to Epstein’s island, and another notes that lawyers for Leon Black reached out to a federal judge in 2024 to challenge an alleged victim’s claims—continuing the broader legal fallout around Epstein-linked figures.
Beyond those headline threads, there are several local/regional items with concrete policy or community impact. The Virgin Islands Cabinet is considering removing a “blanket” prohibition on spearguns, alongside a licensing regime for spearfishing that would require House of Assembly legislation. The Planning Authority also issued a compliance notice over unauthorised building works at Smugglers Cove Beach. Meanwhile, community-focused coverage highlights the “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive returning on May 9, with letters and local guidance urging residents to leave non-perishable donations by the mailbox for pickup by letter carriers.
Looking across the broader 7-day window, the aviation story shows continuity: earlier reports similarly describe Breeze’s expansion plans and the broader post–Spirit market response, reinforcing that the latest developments are part of an ongoing route-reallocation process rather than a one-off announcement. The Epstein-related coverage also shows continuity, with multiple articles across the week referencing Epstein files, island visits, and related court proceedings—though the most recent evidence is specifically concentrated on Lutnick’s upcoming testimony and immediate reactions to it.