Territorial funding limits worsen Puerto Rico’s long-running energy crisis
In a press release last month, Puerto Rico’s Governor Jenniffer González-Colón (R) said the islands’ most urgent issue is energy security, stating, “This Administration clearly understands the urgency of the crisis and is utilizing available, existing emergency...
New bill proposes a waiver in license plate fees for Guam’s veterans
In light of the upcoming 80th anniversary of World War II, a new bill in Guam was proposed. Bill 149-38 focuses on waiving the annual license plate registration fees for veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The bill was introduced by Senator...
US military investment in the Northern Mariana Islands raises questions of cultural loss and political influence
The United States is investing nearly $800 million to expand military facilities on Tinian, one of the main islands in the Northern Mariana Islands. This is a specific strategy to strengthen its presence in the Indo-Pacific, especially amid rising tensions with China....
#TBT: July 31, 2025
#TBT: On July 31, 1969, Owen Aspinall ended his term as the 45th Governor of American Samoa. During his term, he signed a bill from the American Samoa Fono into law, against the wishes of the Department of the Interior, to send a Delegate to the US House of...
Northern Mariana Islands’ Tinian embraces digital currency and online gambling regulation
In May 2025, the island of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands made headlines by passing groundbreaking legislation that allows the local government to issue its own digital currency, called the “Tinian Stable Token.” This bold move aims to position Tinian as a...
US Virgin Islands students complete summer research program on cardiovascular health
On June 3, the United States Virgin Islands Department of Health, in partnership with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, hosted the second annual Cardiovascular Research Empowerment Workforce (CREW) Research Symposium on St. Thomas. The event marked...
New bipartisan bill proposes task force for voting rights in the US Territories
On July 3, 2025, a new bill, HR 4292, was proposed, which focuses on creating a task force for voting rights in the United States Territories. This bill was proposed by Delegate Stacey E. Plaskett (D) of the US Virgin Islands and Delegate James Moylan (R) of Guam. The...
#TBT: July 24, 2025
On July 24, 1944, the United States invaded Tinian Island in the Northern Mariana Islands as part of the larger Battle of the Marianas during World War II. The invasion was a key step in the island-hopping strategy to gain a base from which to launch attacks on Japan.
Northern Mariana Islands Governor Arnold Palacios dies at 69
Governor Arnold I. Palacios (R) of the Northern Mariana Islands passed away on July 23, 2025, at the age of 69, after suffering a medical incident in his Capitol Hill office on Saipan. He was airlifted to Guam for specialized care but was later pronounced dead at Guam...
Google Trends in the US territories: June 2025
Welcome back to our monthly series examining the top Google Trends in Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Trends data is an unbiased sample of Google search data. It’s anonymized (no one is...
