AGP Executive Report

Film & Festivals: TIFF is set to premiere “Ancestors,” a genre-bending new drama/mystery from David Turpin starring Éanna Hardwicke, Jack Wolfe, Rupert Everett and Christina Hendricks, with a cinematic “séance” vibe teased in a fresh clip. Youth Safety & Media: Meta has agreed to a $17.1B settlement over Facebook/Instagram harm claims, and the fallout is already echoing in pop culture with Aaron Sorkin’s whistleblower thriller “The Social Reckoning” landing Oct. 9, 2026. Local Governance: Acting Gov. Karl R. King-Nabors has nominated Aniceto T. Ogumoro for CNMI Department of Public Safety commissioner, sending the pick to the Senate for confirmation steps. Sports (Tennis): Saipan’s Carol Lee says her US Open main-draw debut proved she can compete at Grand Slam level after a three-set push against Katie Boulter. Sports (Cycling): NMI Cycling Federation is building a first-ever Pacific Games squad for Tahiti 2027, using a three-stage trial process to select riders. Community Arts & Fundraising: Artspace Guåhan launches a “Be a Friend. Make Your Mark.” campaign to keep creative programs accessible, while KPRG’s Thrift Store Ball returns Sept. 12 with prizes and live music. CNMI Business: The CNMI Innovation Incubator Program is opening applications for its second cohort, aiming to help early startups survive and grow. Public Safety Remembrance (Guam): Tower for Humanity invites the community to a lighting and remembrance ceremony for its 9/11 Twin Towers project at Micronesia Mall. Sports (Football): Guam’s U20 team opened AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers with a 3-0 win over NMI.

Tennis Spotlight: Northern Marianas’ Carol Lee reflects on her historic 2026 U.S. Open main-draw debut, saying the key takeaway is that she can compete at Grand Slam level after a three-set battle with Katie Boulter. Sports Roundup: CNMI U20 men wrapped AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers with a 3–0 loss to Guam in Mongolia, while Guam’s U20 opened qualifiers with a dominant 3–0 win over NMI. Community & Arts: Artspace Guåhan launched its “Be a Friend. Make Your Mark.” campaign to keep creative opportunities affordable, and KPRG’s The Thrift Store Ball returns Sept. 12 with prizes, live music, and support for public radio. Local Events: Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan announced September dining specials and cultural shows, plus its 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Nov. 14 benefiting MINA and the Commonwealth Cancer Association. Guam 9/11 Remembrance: Tower for Humanity’s Aydlett twins’ 9/11 Twin Towers replica at Micronesia Mall is nearing completion ahead of a lighting and remembrance ceremony. Marianas Business: CNMI Innovation Incubator is seeking a second batch of startups, with applications due Sept. 11. Policy Watch: A House Rules Committee move blocks a bid to carve seabed mining out of FAST-41, keeping deep-sea mining eligible for expedited federal review.

Local Sports Spotlight: Saipan’s Carol Lee says her US Open main-draw debut proved she can compete at Grand Slam level after pushing No. 62 Katie Boulter to three sets. Community & Culture: Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan is back with September dining specials and cultural shows, plus a 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Nov. 14 at Laolao Bay to support MINA and the Commonwealth Cancer Association. Arts & Entertainment Picks: “Sent Off” opens in Hen’s Teeth with oil pastel works inspired by every red card Roy Keane has earned—11 pieces, running through Sept. 26. Sports Development: NMI U20 men closed AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers with a 3–0 loss to Guam, while Guam’s U20 men kicked off qualifiers with a 3–0 win over NMI. Marianas News Beyond the Islands: A multistate Meta settlement targets Instagram/Facebook youth safety, including the Northern Mariana Islands. Civic Remembrance: Tower for Humanity is hosting a lighting and remembrance ceremony for its 9/11 Twin Towers project at Micronesia Mall.

U.S.-Canada Trade: Canada’s counter-tariffs are now fully in effect, with surtaxes of 15%, 25% or 50% on hundreds of U.S. goods and an extension of U.S. surtax remission relief. CNMI Sports: Northern Marianas tennis star Carol Lee says her US Open debut proved she can compete at Grand Slam level after a three-set battle with Katie Boulter. Community & Arts: Artspace Guåhan launches a “Be a Friend. Make Your Mark.” campaign to keep creative programs affordable, while KPRG’s Thrift Store Ball invites islanders to dress up and raise funds for public radio. 9/11 Remembrance: Tower for Humanity is hosting a lighting and remembrance ceremony at Micronesia Mall for its 25th-anniversary Twin Towers project. Cycling: NMI cyclists are in the final stretch of trials to pick a Pacific Games squad for Tahiti. Youth Football: Guam’s U20s opened qualifiers with a 3-0 win over NMI, while NMI’s U20 boys later fell 7-0 to Mongolia. Local Business: CNMI Innovation Incubator is accepting applications for its second startup cohort. Immigration Watch: ICE confirmed the death of a 51-year-old Chinese national in Saipan custody, prompting calls for a full investigation.

CNMI Sports Spotlight: Saipan tennis standout Carol Lee says her US Open main-draw debut proved she can “compete at this level,” after pushing world No. 62 Katie Boulter to three sets. Community & Arts: KPRG’s Public Radio for Guam hosts The Thrift Store Ball on Sept. 12, plus Artspace Guåhan launches “Be a Friend. Make Your Mark.” to keep creative programs accessible. 9/11 Remembrance in the Marianas: Tower for Humanity’s lighting and remembrance ceremony marks the 25th anniversary, as the Aydlett twins’ Twin Towers project nears completion at Micronesia Mall. Local Business/Entrepreneurship: CNMI Innovation Incubator opens its second startup cohort applications, with a Sept. 11 deadline for early-stage businesses. Sports Development: NMI U20 men wrap AFC qualifiers with a 3–0 loss to Guam, while NMI U20 boys fell 7–0 to Mongolia. Power & Daily Life: CUC schedules a Tinian power interruption Sept. 3, 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m., for temporary generation setup.

Tennis Spotlight: Saipan’s Carol Lee reflected on her historic 2026 US Open main-draw debut after pushing No. 62 Katie Boulter to three sets, saying the biggest takeaway is knowing she can compete at Grand Slam level. Community Arts & Culture: KPRG’s “The Thrift Store Ball” returns Sept. 12 with wacky thrift outfits, prizes, and live music to support public radio in the Marianas; Artspace Guåhan also launched its “Be a Friend. Make Your Mark.” campaign to keep creative programs accessible. Remembering 9/11: Tower for Humanity is set to light up a 9/11 Twin Towers replica at Micronesia Mall with a lighting and remembrance ceremony Thursday for the 25th anniversary. Sports Pathways: CNMI cycling is running a three-stage trial process to pick riders for the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti, with time trials used to judge endurance and pacing. Local Business Growth: The CNMI Innovation Incubator Program is opening applications for its second cohort, offering hands-on support for early-stage startups across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

Community Events: Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan is kicking off September with new dining specials, cultural shows, and staycation deals, including “birthday celebrant dines free” and “kids eat FREE” buffet offers. Commemoration & Arts: Tower for Humanity is set to host a lighting and remembrance ceremony at Micronesia Mall Thursday for its 9/11 Twin Towers project marking the 25th anniversary, with the towers built from thousands of toy timber logs and lit by internal lights. Sports (Marianas): NMI’s U20 men wrapped AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers with a 3–0 loss to Guam in Mongolia, while the NMI U20 boys opened with a 7–0 defeat to host Mongolia—both results framed as development steps. Local Business & Culture: CNMI Innovation Incubator is seeking a second cohort of startups, with applications due Sept. 11, offering hands-on support for early-stage businesses. Youth Safety (Big News, Local Impact): A multistate Meta settlement over Instagram/Facebook youth harms includes the Northern Mariana Islands and requires new child safety limits and protections. Power Update: Tinian residents get a scheduled islandwide power interruption Thursday, Sept. 3, 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Pacific Games Cycling: The Northern Marianas Cycling Federation is running a three-stage trial to pick its 2027 Tahiti squad—three men, three women, plus two reserves—using individual time trials (uphill climb, flat speed test, then a Sept. 27 decider from Marianas Resort to Suicide Cliff). Youth Football: Guam’s U20 opened AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers with a 3-0 win over NMI, while the NMI U20 boys fell 7-0 to Mongolia—tough results, but the teams are treating the trip as development. Local Sports Calendar: The Sports Leigh-Out spotlights the 21st CNMI Labor Day Softball Tournament heading to Portland with 66 teams, plus a nod to Carol Lee’s U.S. Open debut as a big CNMI milestone. Startups & Arts/Culture: The CNMI Innovation Incubator is taking applications for its second cohort (deadline Sept. 11), backing early local businesses across arts and culture, tech, food, and more. Community Spotlight: Saipan businesses Marianas Creations and Everest Kitchen are fundraising for Nepal flood relief via the Nepal Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund. Online Safety Policy: A major multistate Meta settlement would require new child-safety limits on Instagram and Facebook, including daily time caps and nighttime blocks—covering the Northern Mariana Islands among participating jurisdictions.

Meta Settlement Reaches CNMI: Northern Mariana Islands is included in a sweeping $17.1B multistate Meta deal over Instagram/Facebook youth safety, with required daily usage limits, “productive pauses,” nighttime blocks, tighter age checks, and added protections around bullying and self-harm. Deep-Sea Mining Pushback: A Guam delegate’s bid to block seabed mining from fast-track federal permitting (FAST-41) failed in the House Rules Committee, keeping the Marianas region in the spotlight as lease plans move forward. CNMI Football Update: The NMI U20 men wrapped qualifiers with a 3–0 loss to Guam in Mongolia, while the boys’ earlier campaign ended with a 7–0 defeat to Mongolia—still framed as valuable development. Local Business & Culture: The CNMI Innovation Incubator is opening applications for its second cohort, aiming to help early startups across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Arts & Community Picks: “Sent Off” opens in Hen’s Teeth, featuring oil pastel works inspired by every red card in Roy Keane’s career. Sports Calendar: The Sports Leigh-Out highlights the 21st CNMI Labor Day Softball Tournament and local tennis star Carol Lee’s U.S. Open run.

Guam–CNMI Youth Football: Guam’s U20 men opened the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers with a 3–0 win over the Northern Mariana Islands in Mongolia, with Levi Berg scoring twice and Kian Rivera adding the third. Immigration & Accountability: ICE confirmed the death of 51-year-old Chinese national Lianyong Wei in Saipan custody less than 24 hours after transfer, while reporting and consular concerns keep mounting over how the case was handled. Deep-Sea Mining Fight: A House Rules Committee move blocked Delegate James Moylan’s bid to keep seabed mining off Guam and CNMI from FAST-41 expedited review, keeping the pressure on local waters and oversight. Local Business & Arts: The CNMI Innovation Incubator is taking applications for its second startup cohort (deadline Sept. 11), with support spanning arts and culture, food, tech, and more. Community Fitness: M2 Fitness marked its 6th anniversary on Saipan with “Level 6 Unlocked: Zumba for a Cause,” dedicating the event to families affected by recent typhoons. Power Alert (Tinian): CUC scheduled an islandwide Tinian power interruption Sept. 3, 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Community Recognition: The Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation honored Gloria Worswick Hunter with House Resolution 24-29, praising her decades of public service and legislative work. Startup Spotlight: The CNMI Innovation Incubator is opening applications for its second cohort, offering a year of hands-on support for early-stage local businesses across arts, culture, tech, food, and more. Sports—CNMI on the Pitch: Guam’s U20 team kicked off AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers with a 3-0 win over the Northern Mariana Islands, while the NMI U20 boys opened with a tough 7-0 loss to Mongolia. Local Sports Culture: The Sports Leigh-Out highlights CNMI athletics, including Carol Lee’s U.S. Open debut and the lead-up to the Labor Day softball tournament. Tech & Youth Safety: Attorneys general announced a landmark $17.1B Meta settlement requiring new protections for children on Instagram and Facebook, with the Northern Mariana Islands included among settling jurisdictions. Power & Daily Life: CUC scheduled an islandwide power interruption on Tinian Sept. 3 for distribution work tied to temporary power units. Arts & Entertainment: M2 Fitness marked its 6th anniversary on Saipan with a Zumba-for-a-cause night featuring international choreographer Mark “Kramer” Pastrana.

Meta Youth Safety Settlement: Attorneys general announced a landmark $17.1B deal with Meta, including the Northern Mariana Islands, requiring major Instagram/Facebook changes like daily time limits, “Productive Pauses,” nighttime blocks, and stronger teen protections. Local Sports Spotlight: Guam’s U20 men kicked off AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers with a 3-0 win over the Northern Mariana Islands, while the NMI U20 boys later fell 7-0 to Mongolia—tough starts, but a clear development focus. Community & Fitness: M2 Fitness marked its 6th anniversary on Saipan with “Level 6 Unlocked: Zumba for a Cause,” and the delayed Independence Day 2-mile race finally ran after typhoon postponements. Arts & Entertainment Pick: “Sent Off” opens in Saipan with oil pastel works inspired by every red card from Roy Keane—11 pieces, running through Sept. 26. Power & Planning: CUC scheduled a Tinian power interruption Sept. 3 (8 a.m.–3:30 p.m.) for temporary generator connections.

Youth Football: Guam’s U20 men opened the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers with a 3-0 win over the Northern Mariana Islands, led by Levi Berg’s two goals, with Kian Rivera adding the third. Sports Roundup: The Sports Leigh-Out highlights CNMI athletes and events, including the Labor Day weekend softball tournament in Portland and CNMI tennis standout Carol Lee’s U.S. Open debut. Local Arts Pick: “Sent Off” launches tonight at Hen’s Teeth—Saipan artist Seánie Harte’s solo show of oil pastel works inspired by each of Roy Keane’s 11 red cards. Tech & Kids Online: A multistate $17.1B Meta settlement targets Instagram/Facebook youth safety, with new limits and protections tied to the Northern Mariana Islands’ claims. Politics & Policy: House Rules Committee rejected Delegate James Moylan’s seabed mining amendment, even as FAST-41 fast-tracking for eligible projects moved forward. Community & Service: M2 Fitness marks its 6th anniversary on Saipan with a Zumba-for-a-cause night, while Marianas Creations and Everest Kitchen raise funds for Nepal flood relief.

Youth Football: Guam’s U20 side opened the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers with a 3-0 win over the Northern Mariana Islands, with captain Levi Berg scoring twice and Kian Rivera adding the third; Guam’s next match is Sept. 6 vs Mongolia. Local Sports Roundup: In this week’s Sports Leigh-Out, CNMI athletes and events get a spotlight, including the 21st Labor Day Softball Tournament gearing up for Sept. 4-6 in Portland and tennis ace Carol Lee’s U.S. Open run hailed as a historic CNMI moment. CNMI U20 Results: The NMI U20 boys began qualifiers with a tough 7-0 loss to host Mongolia, with the team saying development and adjustments are the priority. Tech & Youth Safety: CNMI is among states in a landmark $17.1B multistate Meta settlement over Instagram/Facebook youth harms, with required limits and safety features. Power & Community: CUC scheduled a Tinian islandwide power interruption Sept. 3, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., while water stays on. Arts & Culture Pick: A Saipan exhibition, “Sent Off,” opens tonight at Hen’s Teeth, featuring oil pastel works inspired by Roy Keane red cards.

Meta Youth Safety Settlement: CNMI Attorney General Edward Manibusan announced a landmark $17.1 billion multistate deal with Meta over Instagram and Facebook youth harms, with CNMI among the settling jurisdictions. Meta must add child-focused protections like a combined two-hour daily time cap with “productive pauses,” nighttime blocks from midnight to 6 a.m., and limits on school-time access, plus stronger age-assurance and content controls. Local Arts Picks: Saipan’s Hen’s Teeth hosts “Sent Off,” an oil-pastel solo exhibition by Seánie Harte inspired by 11 Roy Keane red cards, running through Sept. 26. Sports: The NMI U20 boys opened AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers with a tough 7-0 loss to host Mongolia, with next match vs. Guam on Sept. 3. Community Fitness: M2 Fitness marked its 6th anniversary on Saipan with “Level 6 Unlocked: Zumba for a Cause,” including a community giving focus for families hit by recent super typhoons. Power Update: CUC scheduled an islandwide power interruption on Tinian Sept. 3, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with water continuing.

Local Sports Spotlight: NMI U20 boys kicked off the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers with a tough 7-0 loss to host Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar, with the team calling it a valuable development experience ahead of a Sept. 3 matchup vs Guam. CNMI Arts & Culture: “Sent Off” opens tonight at Hen’s Teeth in Saipan—artist Seánie Harte’s oil pastel series inspired by 11 red cards from Roy Keane, running through Sept. 26. CNMI Entertainment & Community Fitness: M2 Fitness marked its 6th anniversary on Saipan with “Level 6 Unlocked: Zumba for a Cause,” dedicating the night to families affected by Super Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi. Youth & Media Safety: A multistate settlement over Meta’s Instagram and Facebook youth harms includes claims involving the Northern Mariana Islands, with Meta required to add new safety features and limits for children. Practical CNMI Info: CUC scheduled an islandwide power interruption on Tinian Sept. 3, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with water continuing uninterrupted.