In case you missed it, here are OBSERVER ONLINE’s top 10 stories for today:

1. J’can named among 63 scholars for White House Initiative on HBCUs

A 19-year-old Jamaican girl has been selected among 63 students for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in the United States, for the 2018/19 academic year.

2. Storm watches, warnings discontinued for Isaac

The Meteorological (Met) Service of Jamaica says all storm watches and warnings for Tropical Storm Isaac have been ended. However, it warned that the threat of heavy rain remains.

3. NIA concerned about $60-m ‘verbal contract’ issued by NESOL

The National Integrity Action (NIA) says it is concerned about the ‘blatant’ breaches of basic good governance procedures that were designed to safeguard public money.

4. J’can born customs officer dies suddenly in Antigua

The police in Antigua have announced plans to probe circumstances that may have led to the sudden death of a 51-year-old customs officer earlier this week.

5. Three gang members jailed in shooting death of Jamaican aide to NY Governor

A judge in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Wednesday sentenced to jail three gang members in connection with the shooting death of the Jamaican legal aide to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo during the 2015 Caribbean J’Ouvert celebration in Brooklyn.

6. Gov’t signs MoU to combat illicit maritime trafficking

The Ministry of National Security this morning signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Delegation to Jamaica and the Jamaica Customs Agency on the Seaport Cooperation Project (SEACOP).

7. Data protection key to crime fighting, says security minister

National Security Minister, Dr Horace Chang, says Government’s move to protect personal data, through the passage of robust legislation, will play a key role in crime fighting.

8. UK deploys experts to overseas territories to help with storm threats

The United Kingdom has deployed a team of specialists to the Caribbean to help mitigate the impact of impending storms threatening British Overseas territories.

9. Jamaican charities exempt from some customs duties

Local charity organisations that carry out activities for the social well-being of Jamaicans can benefit from exemption from import duties and other statutory relief for particular items.

10. September 16-21 declared ‘Anti-Gang Week’

The Ministry of National Security in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has declared September 16-21 “Anti-Gang Week” in an effort to steer youth away from criminality.