Local News

(Northern Marianas College) — Registration is open and ongoing for NMC’s Spring 2026 semester for anyone interested in earning a degree and advancing their careers, knowledge, and skills with NMC. The semester begins on Jan. 20, 2026.

Leaders from the Department of War and the Northern Mariana Islands government met in Garapan, Saipan, on Dec. 4–5 for the CNMI Stakeholders Meeting, continuing collaborative discussions and reaffirming the DoW’s commitment to the CNMI’s security and long-term development. DoW officials outlined on…

Grandvrio Hotel Saipan said its closure is temporary and is planning for major renovations for its reopening. In a statement issued to Variety, Grandvrio Resort Saipan said it is still “determining the appropriate timing for reopening.” The complete statement reads: Thank you very much for your con…

Governor warns delay threatens retiree healthcare as administration races to secure FY2026 funding by Dec. 15 Governor David M. Apatang is urging the Legislature to convene an emergency session no later than Dec. 15, 2025, to pass a revised fiscal year 2026 budget, following his successful executio…

Governor David M. Apatang and Lieutenant Governor Dennis C. Mendiola express their deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Senior U.S. District Court Judge Alex R. Munson, whose passing marks the close of an extraordinary chapter in the legal history of the Commonwealth of the…

Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI has taken under advisement a renewed motion for compassionate release filed by Chang Ru Meng Backman, who is serving a 19-year federal sentence for sex trafficking. Backman, 53, is incarcerated at FCI Waseca in Minnesota and is schedu…

Executive Order 24-2, which disbanded the Commonwealth Casino Commission earlier this year, will have to be rescinded if the Legislature passes the administration-sponsored bill proposing to amend the casino law to allow multiple licenses, Office of the Governor senior policy advisor Claudio Norita…

Governor David M. Apatang on Wednesday approved four local appropriation measures for Saipan. Co-authored by Rep. Angelo A. Camacho and Rep. Thomas John Manglona, House Local Bill 24-28 is now Saipan Local Law 24-12. It appropriates $221,649 from the developer infrastructure tax for the constructio…

Majuro — The Trump administration’s aggressive action on deportations has resulted in over 40 Marshallese being deported from the Northwest Arkansas area in 2025, a significant escalation compared to previous years, according to local residents. Many of the Marshallese families that have seen the f…