Press Releases

CNMI Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The CNMI Department of Labor (DOL) is reminding the general public that the last day to submit both online or paper Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) applications is Monday, October 4, 2021.

On September 27, 2021, Judge Joseph N. Camacho dismissed CS No. 21-0187 against Commissioner of Fire and Emergency Medical Services Dennis Mendiola in his official and personal capacity. Based on Judge Camacho’s stipulation, the court does not have jurisdiction over the matter. Judge Camacho further stated that the former firefighters must take proper steps and exhaust their administrative proceedings through the Civil Service Commission. Earlier this month, Judge Camacho dismissed the former firefighters’ preliminary injunction claim. In his 28-page court order, Judge Camacho wrote that the former firefighters did not have a high likelihood of success on this case based on the merits claimed.

Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Saipan, Tinian, and Rota

Due to the ongoing threat of Tropical Depression 20W, Governor Ralph DLG. Torres, in coordination with the CNMI Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM), the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force, and the CNMI Public School System (PSS), have activated the following locations as shelters on Saipan and Tinian effective 4:00 p.m. today:

Because of the ongoing threat of Tropical Depression 20W, we anticipate the declaration of Tropical Storm Condition II for the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota at 12:00 noon.

In consultation with officials from the National Weather Service (NWS) Guam Weather Forecast Office, Governor Ralph DLG. Torres and the CNMI Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) advise CNMI residents to take precautionary measures for a tropical disturbance (99W) developing north of Chuuk and is expected to pass near or through the CNMI between Thursday night or Friday morning.

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”) and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (“FPUC”) programs are intended to support workers whose employment was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department has received a total of 39,220 unique claims, inclusive of non-jurisdictional and fraudulent claims during the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act (CAA) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) pandemic assistance periods. Of these unique claims, 10,378 were deemed eligible and 26,243 were deemed ineligible for benefits based on the guidance and applicable laws provided to the Department by the US Department of Labor. As of September 15, 2021, there are a total of 2,599 pending claims.

Governor Ralph DLG. Torres and the CNMI Scholarship Office announce the reinstatement of all suspended programs and an increase in scholarship award amounts effective Fall 2021.