Seabed Mining Pushback: CNMI Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds introduced PACMESA, calling for stronger environmental safeguards and a 50% revenue share for Pacific territories if seabed mining proceeds, while lawsuits and lawmakers elsewhere press the federal government to slow or stop lease sales tied to deep-sea mining. Local Governance & Infrastructure: Faipule Fagaima Larry Sanitoa asked the Governor to reallocate ARPA funds to finish the Tafuna High School gym enclosure and access/drainage upgrades after flooding made the facility unsafe and unusable. Culture & Education: ASVB launched “Our Paogo,” a children’s book to teach the Paogo’s cultural uses and growing care, with hands-on activities to build stewardship. Citizenship & Justice: A new Alaska court filing in a case involving American Samoans argues the state ignored the Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship ruling in Trump v. Barbara. Community Safety: Police charged a suspect in an alleged assault at a Puapua LDS chapel. Travel & Daily Life: Hawaiian Airlines/Alaska Air cut service to two weekly flights (Mondays and Thursdays) between Honolulu and Pago Pago. Youth & Sports: ASDOE kicked off the 2026 academic sports year, spotlighting community support for student athletes. Human Trafficking Case: Criminal allegations were filed in an alleged Vietnamese labor exploitation scheme, with a preliminary examination scheduled. Digital Safety: A major Meta settlement includes American Samoa and the CNMI, requiring new protections and usage limits for children on Instagram and Facebook. Regional Diplomacy: American Samoa’s delegation joined PIF-related roundtables on infrastructure, regional security, and federal support needs. Health & Awareness: Community and environmental groups protested NOAA’s mapping mission in Pago Pago Harbor, warning it could feed deep-sea mining plans.