Tourism & Travel Policy: Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds introduced the Marianas Tourism Advancement Act of 2026 to add the Philippines and expand the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program to more countries, aiming to boost tourism, air service, and family travel links. Military & Local Economy: The CNMI Stakeholders Meeting with U.S. Pacific Command and Joint Task Force-Micronesia covered disaster recovery, biosecurity, business development, and future stakeholder planning. Health Funding Watch: A federal stopgap pushed health agency funding to Dec. 11, but community health center payments still face a separate Dec. 31, 2026 deadline—creating a tight funding gap after the midterms. Energy Costs Hitting Businesses: A Saipan restaurant owner says rising electricity costs are “killing” CNMI businesses, while a CUC emergency financing measure stalled over constitutional and security-deposit concerns. Aquaculture Progress: An open-ocean aquaculture project advanced on Saipan, using current-mapping data to support safer ocean net-pen sites for local seafood entrepreneurs. Tinian Gaming Revenue: Tinian received $42,000 from poker machine fees, earmarked for municipal operations, public safety training, and the casino gaming regulator. Workforce & Visas: A GAO report warns CNMI’s shrinking workforce still relies heavily on foreign workers (about one in three), raising risks when the CW-1 program ends after 2029. Diesel Prices: Diesel prices rose again in the Marianas, adding pressure to operating costs for local businesses. Deep-Sea Mining Fight: Groups and Earthjustice filed new lawsuits challenging deep-sea mining plans, while King-Hinds pushed for revenue sharing for Pacific territories affected by seabed mining. Logistics Tech: Textron and Merlin Labs unveiled an unmanned Cessna Skycourier concept aimed at Pacific resupply from short, austere airstrips. Disaster Recovery Jobs: FEMA hired 22 CNMI residents through a local hire initiative tied to Super Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi recovery.