Local News

THE District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands will host the 2026 CNMI Mock Trial High School Championship on Feb. 5 and 6, unveiling a new case that spotlights the growing dangers of teen vaping.

THE creation of a separate Legislature Operations Fund by Public Law 24-20, or the Revised Appropriation and Budget Authority Act of 2026, comes with financial mandates that could cause suspension of payments, resulting in temporary disruptions to legislative expenditures, including payroll.

PROSECUTORS have expanded charges in a high-profile corruption case, increasing counts against Lt. Gov. Dennis Mendiola, Joey Vincent Dela Cruz, and Justin Paul Mizutani from six in the original filing to 17 in a First Amended Information submitted to Superior Court on Dec. 31.

GOVERNOR David M. Apatang has approved House Local Bill 24-75, appropriating $3.7 million in government lapsed funds for the Public School System and insurance coverage for retirees and active government employees.

A SETTLEMENT has been reached in the federal negligence lawsuit filed by Korean businessman Yoon Suk Chang against the United States over injuries he sustained at American Memorial Park.

THE District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands has permanently dismissed with prejudice the wage dispute between IT technician Christopher Lilles and J.C. Tenorio Enterprises Inc. following a settlement agreement finalized in December 2025.

(CUC) — The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation would like to inform the general public that there will be a scheduled power service interruption on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“IT has been a rough year for all of us here,” Gov. David M. Apatang said on Monday as he reflected on the past months, when economic challenges from previous years continued to confront the Commonwealth.

MISCONDUCT in public office defined much of 2025 in the Commonwealth. Assistant Attorney General Olga Kelley and the Office of the Attorney General pursued charges against officials across multiple agencies, highlighting systemic concerns over accountability and misuse of government resources.

2025 ended with Imperial Pacific International’s troubled casino assets under new ownership and Gov. David M. Apatang pushing legislation that could reshape the Commonwealth’s gaming industry by allowing multiple casino licenses.