News

With the Northern Mariana Islands facing a shrinking private sector, workforce shortages, declining government revenues, and the prospect of hundreds of public-sector furloughs, the three candidates for governor are offering competing plans to rebuild an economy still struggling to regain its footing.

Faʻasao Amerika Samoa and the Conservation Council for Hawaii, represented by the environmental law organization Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit Aug. 18 challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to launch deep-sea mining off the coast of American Samoa.

The Joint Venture of Core Tech International, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. Inc. and Kajima LLC was awarded Aug. 20 CHamoru Standard time a $61.58 million “firm-fixed-price, unilateral modification” to a previously awarded contract for the construction of P-649, a joint communications upgrade, at Naval Base Guam and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz.

The Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association kicked off the Pacific Hotel and Restaurant Expo 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Guam, convening more than 60 vendors, local business leaders, and international trade partners to showcase hospitality innovations and forge commercial connections.

The Society for Human Resources Management Guam Chapter hosted the 2026 SHRM Guam Annual Conference on Aug. 14. During the conference, changes in the priorities of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission were highlighted.

The U.S. Army confirmed it will stand up the new battalion in Guam, equipped with the Patriot surface to air missile system in October.

On Aug. 17 (Aug. 18 CHamoru Standard Time) the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced the availability of the Proposed Leasing Notice for a proposed Northern Mariana Islands Outer Continental Shelf Mineral Lease Sale later this year.

Cost.U.Less will officially open its new flagship store in Hagåtña on August 28, expanding its retail presence on the island while closing its location in Tamuning on August 27.

Two of Saipan’s longtime restaurants have permanently closed in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, adding J’s Restaurant’s longtime San Jose location and Oleai Beach Bar & Grill to a growing list of familiar businesses that have disappeared from the island’s economic landscape.