CNMI Elections & Federal Relations: Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds and challenger Galvin Deleon Guerrero closed out their delegate debate with sharp contrasts on disaster recovery, federal contracting, birthright citizenship, Medicaid, and tourism, after earlier questions focused on record and results. Attorney General Race: Three AG candidates—Joaquin DLG Torres, Michael N. Evangelista, and J. Robert Glass Jr.—took questions on prosecutorial independence, deep-sea mining, government contracts, and restoring public trust in the Office of the Attorney General. Deep-Sea Mining Fight: Environmental groups sued the federal government to block Marianas deep-sea mining, challenging NMFS’s “not likely to adversely affect” finding; meanwhile, Pacific groups urged Gov. Apatang to formally oppose the Dec. 16 lease sale, and King-Hinds pushed PACMESA to require 50% revenue sharing for affected territories. Public Safety & Appointments: Acting Gov. Karl King-Nabors nominated Aniceto Ogumoro for DPS commissioner; separately, federal authorities announced Guam-area arrests tied to an online sting targeting attempted enticement of a minor, with HSI Saipan support. Rota Recovery: FEMA and USACE updates continue for Super Typhoon Bavi survivors, with a same-day deadline for the Rota Temporary Roofing Program. Government Operations: Apatang transferred the Invasive Species Program to the Finance Department’s Customs and Biosecurity division to streamline command and response. Defense/Regional Posture: A report highlights U.S. plans to disperse aircraft and upgrade Pacific airfields, including Saipan’s role in supporting tanker operations. Local Costs: Diesel prices rose again in the Marianas amid higher global oil prices, adding pressure to household and business costs.