11/17/2025 - The CNMI Board of Education’s scheduled special meeting on Nov. 14 was cancelled after only three voting members—Maisie Tenorio, Andrew Orsini, and Antonio L. Borja—were present, falling short of a quorum. The meeting, held via Zoom, had Tenorio attending from the BOE office on Capitol Hill, while Orsini and Borja joined remotely. Non-voting members John Blanco and Dora Miura were also present online.

11/17/2025 - A bill that would conditionally authorize the Marianas Public Land Trust to open a margin account solely to facilitate the $29-million loan approved under Public Law 24-13 is now on its way to Gov. David M. Apatang. This follows the Senate’s passage of House Bill 24-68, HD1, during its Nov. 14 session at the Tinian Public Library in San Jose, Tinian.

11/17/2025 - Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-Northern Mariana Islands) joined Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (D-U.S. Virgin Islands), Congresswoman Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa), and Congressman James Moylan (R-Guam) in introducing H.R. 5960, a bipartisan bill to restore duty-free treatment for low-value shipments from the U.S. territories following the recent suspension of de minimis privileges under Executive Order 14324. (PR)

11/14/2025 - The House of Representatives' Standing Committee on Gaming will review all laws that preceded Public Law 18-56, the act that legalized casino gaming on Saipan and established the Commonwealth Casino Commission.

11/14/2025 - (PR) The Republican Party of the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) confirms receipt of a Letter of Intent from Vinnie Vinson Flores Sablan, formally declaring his intention to seek the Republican nomination for Governor of the CNMI in the upcoming 2026 General Election.

11/14/2025 - Saipan Humane Society clinic director Ruby Ma talks about the organization's recent visit to Tinian and upcoming services for pets in Saipan. Thomas Manglona II reports. 

11/13/2025 - The CNMI gubernatorial race is starting to take shape with former Senator Vinnie Sablan, who is currently the Chief of Staff for Lt. Gov. Dennis Mendiola, writing to the CNMI Republican Party seeking their nomination to be their candidate for governor.

11/13/2025 - Retired government worker Rosa A. Camacho has asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision denying cost-of-living allowance protections for members of the former Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Fund, arguing that the 2% annual adjustment was a vested benefit that cannot be diminished under the CNMI Constitution.

11/13/2025 - At the 2025 Moruroa e Tātou Nuclear Justice and Climate Justice Week conference in Moorea, Māòhi Nui, (French Polynesia), Marshallese Educational Initiative Executive Director Benetick Kabua Maddison called for the full, unredacted release of millions of documents related to American nuclear testing in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

11/13/2025 - Former lieutenant governor Diego T. Benavente has resigned as director emeritus of the Pacific Islands Development Bank.

11/12/2025 - On the eve of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s release of a Request for Information and Interest for offshore critical minerals planning in the CNMI, the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality outlined the potential benefits and risks of deep-sea mining in the U.S. territory.

11/12/2025 - Rep. Joel Camacho joins the Marianas Press Election Desk to discuss why he wants to be Saipan's next mayor, what he hopes to achieve if elected, and his priorities as a candidate. Thomas Manglona II reports.

11/12/2025 - After a few years’ break, the Chamorro Carolinian Language Policy Commission under the Department of Community & Cultural Affairs brought back the CNMI Chamorro & Carolinian Language Symposium on Nov. 5–6 at the Royal Taga Hall, Saipan World Resort.

11/12/2025 - Marianas Press sits down with representatives from the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation and Community Guidance Center to discuss what mental health resources are available in the CNMI and how to support loved ones who may be struggling. Thomas Manglona II reports.

11/11/2025 - The CNMI Department of Public Safety recorded a sharp rise in public disturbance and assault cases in fiscal year 2025, according to its Citizen-Centric Report submitted to the Office of the Public Auditor.

11/11/2025 - Attorney and former CNMI Attorney General Robert Torres sits down with Marianas Press to discuss concerns over the CNMI Office of the Attorney General's proposed regulation regarding investigative subpoenas to compel documents, records, and testimony from any person. Thomas Manglona II reports. 

11/11/2025 - Saipan native Ashley Salas is visiting home after 7 years and joins Marianas Press in-studio to discuss her North Carolina-based business, Trench Nutrition. She talks about bringing the Hafa Adai spirit to the states as she helps people live healthier lives and plans to bring the mission closer to home. 

11/11/2025 - The Republican Party of the Northern Mariana Islands Association (RPNMIA) has recently announced a transition in leadership after President Joseph “Lee Pan” T. Guerrero resigned. 

11/11/2025 - Island Training Solutions has partnered with the CNMI Small Business Development Center Network to support the business needs of entrepreneurs and businesses in the CNMI. They will provide professional business advising and counseling services, including how to craft a business plan and sustain a business. It comes as ITS marks its 20th anniversary in the CNMI next year. 

11/10/2025 – Rep. Joel Castro Camacho wants to be Saipan’s next mayor. The four-term Precinct 4 lawmaker officially launched his campaign last Nov. 7 at his family home in Tanapag.  “Our people deserve honest leadership that works for them day in and day out and leadership that puts the interest of the people first,” he told his family and supporters. 

11/10/2025 - Rep. Blas Jonathan T. Attao and House Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez have yet to officially launch their independent gubernatorial campaign because of the laundry list of current issues. 

11/10/2025 - The Marianas Visitors Authority has unveiled a bold new global tourism brand built around the slogan “Far From Ordinary” and introduced a friendly new mascot named Mira, a Dumbo octopus inspired by the mysterious depths of the Mariana Trench.

11/07/2025 - The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would conditionally authorize the Marianas Public Land Trust to establish a margin account solely to facilitate the $29-million loan authorized under Public Law 24-13. In a vote of 18-1, the House approved House Bill 24-68, HD1, with the lone “no” vote coming from Rep. Vincent S. Aldan.

11/07/2025 - CNMI Nutrition Assistance Program administrator Margaret Aldan said the U.S. Department of Agriculture has officially communicated that partial benefits will be issued to food stamp recipients for this month. Aldan shared the update with lawmakers during a House session last Nov. 6, where they began talks on providing $1 million in local funds to help fill federal funding gaps. 

11/07/2025 - Clarissa Adlawan has followed in her daughter’s footsteps and agreed to a plea deal after both were accused in a wide-ranging federal fraud scheme involving the Public School System.

11/07/2025 - The NMI’s only hospital provides an update about ongoing negotiations with the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., whose board recently voted to postpone a disconnection of service notice. Both agencies will be meeting with CNMI Governor David Apatang today to address $30.6-million in CHCC’s arrears. Marianas Press sat down with CHCC CEO Dr. Esther L. Muna and Chief Strategy Officer Eleanor Cabrera to talk about the latest developments and what they hope can be done to keep the lights on. 

11/06/2025 – The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board of directors voted to postpone a Nov. 10, 2025, disconnection of service notice to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. to allow further discussions on CHCC’s $30.6-million arrears.

11/06/2025 - After more than two decades of service, John Hirsh has departed the CNMI Chapter of the American Red Cross. In a message sent to staff across the CNMI, Guam, and Hawai’i, Molly Schmidt, a new Chief Executive for the Pacific Islands, thanked Hirsh for his impact on the communities he served and announced his exit on October 8, 2025. 

11/06/2025 - Marianas Press sat down with Karidat to discuss their efforts to assist people in need. From their food drive to their rental assistance program, the organization discusses their recent efforts and how challenges at the local and national levels are impacting critical services. Thomas Manglona II reports. 

11/06/2025 - In a campus-wide email yesterday, Northern Marianas College President Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero outlined a plan based on different revised government budget scenarios.

11/05/2025 -  Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality administrator Floyd Masga said the agency has denied one request and asked for more information on another after two private companies sought to dispose of off-island waste in CNMI landfills. In an interview last Nov. 3 at the BECQ office in Gualo Rai, Masga said the bureau outright denied Landscape Management Systems’ request to dispose of pharmaceutical waste from U.S. Naval Hospital Guam in local landfills.

11/05/2025 - At Marianas Business Plaza’s Sabalu Market last Nov. 1, the mood was thick with apprehension as residents shopped for bargains amid the Commonwealth’s deepening financial troubles. With her monthly budget squeezed by rising grocery prices, a mother of three said she recently sat her children down to talk about being more financially astute.

11/05/2025 - Food drives are being organized across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota to support people in need amid local austerity measures and as food stamp benefits are cut this month due to the federal government shutdown.

11/03/2025 - In a special meeting on Saturday, the CNMI Board of Education voted to approve the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget and implementation plan presented by Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence Camacho. Board member Andrew Orsini was the lone “no” vote, citing concerns that the worst-case scenario includes furloughs. CNMI PSS would likely have to furlough 76 employees if the budget falls below $37 million. 

11/03/025 - The last customers checked out as Triple J Saipan, Inc. officially closed Payless SuperFresh & Truckload retail store in Saipan last Friday at 3 p.m.

11/03/2025 - Four individuals and one group were honored during the Governor’s Humanities Awards 2025 held last Oct. 30 at the Grandvrio Resort Saipan.

Leading the winners of the Northern Marianas Humanities Council’s annual awards that recognize outstanding contributions to the humanities by individuals and organizations in the CNMI was Marianas High School physical education teacher and CNMI indigenous sport of Rocball founder James W. Feger, who was bestowed the Lifetime Achievement in the Humanities Award.

10/31//2025 - Joint Task Force Micronesia Commander Rear Adm. Joshua Lasky said the U.S. military could’ve done a better job in giving more contracts to local companies for their ongoing military projects in Micronesia. Answering a question from Yap Sen. John Mafel during the second day of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures General Assembly at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan last Oct. 27, Lasky said it was not only in Yap that the military had shortcomings in giving preference to local companies, but also in the CNMI.

10/31/2025 - In our final segment featuring the top five CNMI Teacher of the Year finalists, MP sits down with Koblerville Elementary School's Dorothy Deleon Guerrero. Deleon Guerrero shares her journey in education and her message to fellow educators. 

10/31/2025 - After announcing the effort in April 2023, Rota Mayor Aubry Hocog and community members gathered yesterday to complete the 1,000 Fruit Trees Initiative.