Seabed Mining Push: The U.S. Marine Minerals Administration/BOEM advanced a proposed mineral lease sale off the Northern Mariana Islands, setting up a Dec. 16 oral auction for about 67 million acres near the Mariana Trench—despite 60,000+ public comments and local calls for more safeguards. Local Review & Protections: Gov. David Apatang’s office says the statutory review is underway and stresses “extreme caution,” with an emphasis on baseline studies, transparency, and explicit marine protections before any final decision. Legal Challenge (Broader Region): Environmental groups sued the U.S. to stop the first deep-sea mining lease sale in American waters, arguing the government’s endangered-species review was unlawful. Utilities & Budget Pressure: Commonwealth Utilities Corp. warned that a stalled $40M line of credit is slowing power restoration; about 3,000 customers still lack electricity, and CUC is considering a recovery surcharge while lawmakers negotiate. CNMI Government Costs: The administration is weighing furloughs for up to 400 workers as the FY2027 forecast drops by $4.6M amid ongoing disaster recovery needs. Court Watch (Tinian Gaming): CNMI Supreme Court heard arguments over whether Tinian’s internet-only casino law and digital “stable token” exceed local constitutional limits. Tax Refund Fix: Azarvand Tax Law says it’s working with CNMI’s Division of Revenue and Taxation to address delayed territorial income tax refunds and interest owed to taxpayers. Small Business Spotlight: PawPawPet opened the PawPaw Dog Cafe on Saipan, adding fresh-daily dog meals and drinks to its grooming, supplies, and boarding services.