10/07/2025 - The Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers will prioritize “low-hanging fruit” such as streamlining the government and cutting through bureaucratic red tape to make it more efficient, as well as diversifying the economy, officials said after the council’s first meeting last Oct. 6 at the Governor’s Office conference room.

10/07/2025 - The Japan Association for Recovery and Repatriation of War Casualties was established in 2016 to facilitate the repatriation of the remains of Japanese servicemen and civilians. MP recently spoke with Arisa Nakayama from JARRWC, Hideki Fukazawa with the Japan War Bereaved Family Association, and Raku Taniguchi with the Japan Youth Memorial Association, about their recent efforts in the CNMI, specifically Tinian. 

10/07/2025 - This is to inform the general public that the Bureau of Biosecurity of the Division of Customs Biosecurity had intercepted Polyrhachis dives (invasive ant species) while conducting routine vessel inspections aboard the MV Galaide at the Port of Saipan on October 2nd, 2025. The biosecurity inspection, identification, containment, specimen collection, and eventual eradication or suppression began at around 6:30 a.m. and lasted until around 3:30 p.m., that same afternoon.

10/07/2025 - Senator Manny Gregory Tenorio Castro is proud to announce the formal introduction and passage of Senate Legislative Initiative 24-03, a major constitutional amendment proposal designed to balance indigenous land protection with sustainable economic investment. The measure seeks to increase the maximum term of private land leases from 55 to 99 years, while mandating financial protections for persons of Northern Marianas Descent (NMD) to prevent exploitation and promote long-term benefits for local landowners.

10/06/2025 - At the Sabalu Market at Marianas Business Plaza last Oct. 4, residents and vendors had a clear message for elected officials—cut back on government spending, support small businesses, and bring tourists back to the Northern Marianas.

10/06/2025- Pacific Island fishers are being urged to make their voices heard as representatives from the Pacific Islands Fisheries Group (PIFG), in partnership with the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC), continue their community meetings across the region—this time, in the CNMI. 

10/03/2025 - Senior Policy Advisor to CNMI Governor David Apatang, Clyde Norita, sat down with Marianas Press yesterday moments after the administration informed cabinet officials about austerity measures that will go into effect next week amid the Commonwealth's revised budget forecast. Watch the full interview now with MP's Thomas Manglona II. 

10/03/2025 - The new requirements under Public Law 24-02, which amends the 2016 Betel Nut Control Act took effect on October 01, 2025. PL 24-02 introduces mandatory health warning labels, stricter storage and display rules, and monthly sales reporting requirements for betel nut. 

10/03/2025 - For more than two decades, Martin Jambor was known as a successful hotelier, running some of Saipan’s most prominent resorts. Today, instead of welcoming guests at check-in counters, he is greeting students at morning assembly as the new headmaster of Saipan International School.

10/02/2025 - CNMI Governor David Apatang issued a directive outlining austerity measures for executive branch departments and agencies for fiscal year 2026. He is expected to meet with cabinet officials this morning to discuss implementing the measures, with some taking effect on October 05, 2025. 

10/02/2025 - Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Joe C. Guerrero said the Commonwealth is facing an “all-hands-on-deck moment” as government austerity measures threaten to squeeze not only public employees but also the private sector that depends on their spending power.

10/02/2025 - Marianas Press sits down with Vega Environmental's Evert Van Der Maas to discuss his business's efforts in hazardous waste management and the challenges islands face in the industry. The 30-year-old shares the mission behind the company.

Being self-employed in Guam or the CNMI brings unique opportunities and challenges, and one aspect that can often be overlooked is managing taxes. Whether you're a sole proprietor, independent contractor, or freelancer, understanding and meeting your estimated tax obligations is crucial to staying on the right side of both federal and local tax authorities. The guidance below breaks down the basics of estimated tax payments to help you navigate this often-confusing terrain and keep your financial affairs in order.

10/02/2025 - October is proclaimed Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

10/02/2025 - The CNMI government proclaims October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

10/01/2025 - The Commonwealth Ports Authority board of directors has given its “approval in principle” to a proposed U.S. Air Force lease at the Benjamin Taisacan Manglona International Airport on Rota, clearing the way for the military to advance planning for warehouse facilities at the island’s lone airport.

10/01/2025 - CNMI Gov. David Apatang signed a $179 million budget into law on Tuesday, averting a government shutdown. However, he has urged the legislature to immediately revise the budget to account for decreased revenues forecasted at $156,782,740 in the coming days. The Apatang-Mendiola administration is also expected to meet with cabinet officials on Thursday to discuss potential cuts and austerity measures under the revised budget plans. 

10/01/2025 - CNMI Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds speaks with Thomas Manglona II this morning about what a potential federal government shutdown would mean for the Commonwealth.

10/01/2025 - Almost seven years after Super Typhoon Yutu ravaged the CNMI and left much of Hopwood Middle School unusable, its demolition is set to begin on Saturday, Oct. 4, and is expected to conclude around Oct. 15, marking the start of a new chapter for the campus.

10/01/2025 - When typhoons batter the Northern Marianas, recovery often stretches years beyond the headlines. Families patch roofs with tarps, neighbors share generators, island leaders navigate a maze of federal aid, and high school and college students still go to class in temporary fabric structures. 

09/30/2025 - With four in favor and one recusal, members of the Marianas Public Land Trust passed a resolution that outlined the terms of a $29-million proposed loan agreement with the CNMI government yesterday. MPLT members were overwhelmingly in support of a margin transaction over portfolio liquidation as they presented an analysis for both options. It is now in the hands of the legislature and administration before tomorrow's budget deadline. Watch the full meeting only on Marianas Press.

09/30/2025 - On September 25, 2025, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally approved the CNMI's Comprehensive Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (CISWMP), unlocking access to nearly $34 million in federal funds through the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (ASADRA) for priority solid waste and recycling infrastructure projects.

09/30/2025 - The CNMI Small Business Development Center Network at Northern Marianas College hosted its “Fire Power: Veteran’s Guide to Capital” last Sept. 25 at the SBDC Innovation Incubator Office, with the program’s highlight focused on helping veterans transition from service to entrepreneurship.

09/30/2025 – The Northern Marianas College’s Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services, together with its Agroforestry Team, launched its newest publication, Regenerative Agroforestry in Action in the Northern Marianas: A Guide to Creating Abundant Food Forests, last Thursday at the NMC campus in As Terlaje.

09/29/2025 - The House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2026 budget last Sept. 27, adopting the Senate’s amended version passed the day before to maintain $179 million in government spending despite administration warnings of shrinking revenues. The bill, House Bill 24-46 HD1 SS1, cleared the House with unanimous support from all 18 members present, ensuring that government operations continue beyond the Oct. 1 deadline and averting a shutdown.