CNMI Budget & Shutdown Fallout: Gov. David M. Apatang signed the FY 2027 budget into law (Public Law 24-40), ending the Oct. 1 partial shutdown, but he also vetoed more than a dozen provisions and ordered most workers onto a 26.5-hour workweek; he warned CUC’s proposed rate increases would be a “drastic hike” for ratepayers. Utilities & Cost Pressures: CUC is seeking CPUC approval for a three-year rate plan that would more than double some electric base rates by Year 3 and raise water and wastewater charges. Labor & Immigration: Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds urged HR leaders to back federal action to eliminate the CW touchback requirement, while immigration attorney Bruce Mailman warned employers to “upgrade” admissions planning as CW and H-1B/H-2B cap exemptions face tighter pressure. Federal Power/Indigenous Rights: A symposium at Fordham Law will examine federal authority over U.S. territories and Native nations after the U.S. Supreme Court hears a Guam case tied to Air Force detonation operations. Saipan Airspace Security: FAA review is underway for a new Mount Petosukara radar to restore long-range surveillance in CNMI’s northern airspace, tied to broader Indo-Pacific defense buildout. Elections Admin: The CEC set Oct. 9 as the deadline to apply for absentee ballots for the Nov. 3 general election. After the Storm: Authorities declared Saipan and Tinian “all-clear” as Typhoon Choi-wan moved away, though hazardous seas and lingering weather remain.