The NMI Museum, under the Office of the Governor, proudly welcomed the historic return of more than 10,000 ancestral artifacts – including latte stones from Guam and the CNMI – to the Marianas. Their arrival was celebrated in a homecoming ceremony that honored the deep cultural significance of these treasures and the importance of returning them to their rightful resting place.

Governor Apatang and Lieutenant Governor Mendiola welcomed Jared Smith, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation & International Affairs, and Tricia Kurban, Negotiator with the U.S. Department of Transportation Negotiations Division, for a high-level meeting focused on strengthening transportation connectivity in the CNMI and the broader region.

 Opioid Proceeds Council, Saipan – In response to the nationwide opioid crisis and as a part of a collective legal effort, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands enacted Public Law 23-19 to officially establish the Opioid Proceeds Council (“OPC”). 

On Monday, Governor Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Governor David M. Apatang officially proclaimed July 16, 2025, as “CNMI Rural Transit Day.” Joining them for the occasion were Special Assistant for Transportation Alfreda Camacho Maratita, longtime rural transit advocate Ms. Ginger Porter, House Speaker Edmund Villagomez, and members from the CNMI Office of Transit Authority (COTA) and Run Saipan.

On Friday, Acting Governor David M. Apatang, accompanied by nurses from the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC), private clinics, and CHCC leadership, proclaimed the week of June 23 to 29, 2024, as CNMI Nurses Week. The proclamation recognizes the dedication, compassion, and resilience of nurses throughout the Commonwealth.

The Office of Governor Arnold I. Palacios is proud to announce a fifty-thousand-dollar contribution to support the 2025 Liberation Day Festivities.