Storm Watch for CNMI: Invest 95W has been upgraded to Tropical Depression 09W and could pass the Marianas as a Category 3 typhoon as early as Sunday night or Monday, with forecasters urging residents of Saipan, Tinian and Rota to prepare now and keep up with NWS and Homeland Security updates. Liberation Day & America 250: Saipan will hold a two-day Liberation Day celebration this weekend, with organizers saying it’s also about rebuilding community after Super Typhoon Sinlaku and marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. Disaster Recovery Dollars: FEMA says more than $52 million in federal disaster assistance and loan offers have been committed to CNMI households after Sinlaku, as recovery shifts from emergency response to rebuilding. Local Utilities: Guam’s Public Utilities Commission approved a fuel surcharge increase for GPA, raising the average residential power bill by about $58 starting July 1. Tourism Spotlight: Marianas Visitor Authority deputy managing director Judy Torres received a Pacific Asia Travel Association Award of Merit, as MVA also unveiled a conceptual plan for a visitor and cultural experience center at the Japanese Lighthouse property in Navy Hill. Regional Readiness: U.S. Pacific Command wrapped up Valiant Shield 2026, a major multi-domain exercise that took place across Guam, CNMI, Japan and at sea around the Mariana Islands. Birthright Citizenship Fight: After the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship, Republicans renewed push for a constitutional amendment and new bills, while the DOJ vowed to prioritize prosecutions of alleged “birth tourism” schemes.