AGP Executive Report

Community & Culture: Mangilao Donne’ Festival is back at the Mangilao Night Market grounds beside Santa Teresita Church, running Friday through Sunday with 90 vendors, carnival rides, and big pepper competitions—vendors say they still made it happen after crop losses from typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi. Public Safety: A Dededo woman, Maria Dolores Cruz Lorenzo, was found guilty of meth possession with intent to distribute, with the Attorney General saying it will seek up to 20 years. Child Safety & Justice: Federal prosecutors indicted five men in Operation Protektot Y Famagu’on for attempted enticement of minors after coordinated online undercover efforts. Education: GDOE is awaiting the Tiyan High School environmental health inspection report and plans a double-session schedule to keep students on track for the 180-day requirement. Health & Workforce: Guam Community College’s first ADN-RN class achieved a 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate, adding 20 new registered nurses. Local Politics: Four attorney general candidates will debate next week at the Central Community Arts Hall in Sinajana. Religion & Heritage: The Archdiocese of Agana continues efforts to promote devotion toward canonizing Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores. Arts & Entertainment: Registration is open for the 2026 Guam International Dance Festival (Dec. 4–6).

Education & Pay: Teachers testified again on Bill 351-38, saying Guam’s educator pay and crediting practices are pushing experienced staff out and shrinking interest in the profession. Babies & Travel: A growing “babymoon” trend is sending expectant parents from Korea to Japan for baby product shopping, with travelers sharing tips for safely transporting purchases. Culture & Community Events: Registration is open for the 2026 Guam International Dance Festival (Dec. 4–6), and the Guam Visitors Bureau also wrapped its MegaFAM tour, bringing 240+ travel pros and media for 700+ B2B connections. Public Safety: Federal agents arrested five men in an online undercover operation targeting attempted enticement of a minor. Health Planning: DPHSS is inviting the public to help shape Guam’s new five-year diabetes strategic plan. Faith & Heritage: The Archdiocese of Agana continues efforts toward canonizing Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, with new educational and devotional initiatives planned. 9/11 Remembrance: Guam marked the 25th anniversary with Tower for Humanity lighting and remembrance events.

9/11 Remembrance & Resilience: A new Tower for Humanity replica of the Twin Towers lit up at Micronesia Mall, built in 12 days by the Aydlett twins and volunteers, standing through Sept. 20 as a community tribute. Crisis Preparedness: Retired Army Lt. Col. David Okada, whose office was near the Pentagon impact, urged Guam residents to mentally plan for disasters so people don’t freeze when the next crisis hits. Local Culture & Events: Registration is open for the 2026 Guam International Dance Festival (Dec. 4–6), and Tribal Theory returns to Guam Saturday for “ROOTED: Tribal Theory featuring Wavvy” at LeoPalace Resort. Community Service & Youth: Serve Guam Commission awarded $3.65M in AmeriCorps grants for education, health, disaster preparedness, and community capacity—nearly 300 service roles. Public Health: DPHSS is seeking input for a new five-year diabetes strategic plan at a Sept. 22 meeting at the Westin Resort Guam. Safety & Justice: Federal authorities announced arrests of five men in an undercover online operation targeting attempted enticement of a minor.

Deep-Sea Mining Fight: Conservation groups and Earthjustice filed a new lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s plan to kickstart deep-sea mining off the Marianas and CNMI, arguing endangered species protections were improperly dismissed; CNMI Del. Kimberlyn King-Hinds also pushed for a 50% revenue cut for territories. Local Courts & Justice: A federal judge dismissed former garment worker Amalia Abo Guanlao’s complaint against seven former attorneys without prejudice, citing her failure to prosecute and missed service deadlines. Diabetes Planning: Guam DPHSS is inviting the public and health professionals to help shape a new five-year diabetes strategic plan at a Sept. 22 meeting at the Westin Resort Guam. AmeriCorps Boost: Serve Guam Commission awarded $3.65M in AmeriCorps grants to Guahan Academy, UOG Volunteer Center, and GMHA, creating about 290 service roles. Culture & Community: Tribal Theory returns to Guam this Saturday for Jam Sessions’ “ROOTED,” and the Archdiocese continues efforts to promote devotion to Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores. Health & Youth: GOPEACE 2026 highlighted substance-use risk factors for minors, including vaping marketing and easy access. Sports for Everyone: Guam Football Association launches its inaugural Men’s Recreational Mañe’lu League starting Oct. 4. Public Safety Remembrance: Jamaican Grill’s 25th annual 9.11 commemorative luncheon will feed first responders across Guam.

Diabetes Planning: Guam DPHSS is inviting residents and health professionals to help shape a new five-year diabetes strategic plan at a Sept. 22 meeting at the Westin Resort Guam, with registration due Sept. 18. AmeriCorps Funding: Serve Guam Commission announced $3.65 million in AmeriCorps grants for Guahan Academy Charter School, UOG Volunteer Center, and Guam Memorial Hospital Authority—creating about 290 part-time service roles focused on education, health, disaster readiness, and community capacity. Community Music & Culture: Tribal Theory returns to Guam this Saturday for Jam Sessions’ “ROOTED” at LeoPalace Resort Guam, featuring Wavvy’s first visit and local opener Malak Mo’na. Faith & Heritage: The Archdiocese of Agana says efforts to promote devotion to Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores will continue as Guam moves toward canonization, with educational and devotional initiatives planned. Local Food & Skills: UOG Land Grant’s “Tilapia to Table” workshop teaches saltwater tilapia raising plus salting, smoking, and curing techniques for shelf-stable fish products. Sports for Everyone: Guam Football Association launches its inaugural Men’s Recreational Mañe’lu League starting Oct. 4, welcoming novice and intermediate adult players. Deep-Sea Mining Pushback: CNMI advocacy groups urged Gov. David Apatang to ask the U.S. to halt or suspend Marianas deep-sea mining leasing. Education Update: Tiyan and Simon Sanchez students may not return for full-time face-to-face instruction until 2027 as repairs and scheduling work continues. Community Grants: GEDA awarded $285,000 to 19 village mayor’s offices and municipal planning councils for projects spanning healthcare, public safety, economic development, higher education, and cultural preservation. Food Scene: New Guam dining spots include Pressure Specialty Coffee, Shogun Teppanyaki, and Egu Cafe.

Education Update: Tiyan and Simon Sanchez students may not fully return to full-time face-to-face classes until 2027, with a Friday inspection tied to repairs and a possible double-session setup. Local Funding & Community: GEDA awarded $285,000 to 19 village mayors’ offices and municipal planning councils for projects spanning healthcare, public safety, economic development, higher education, and cultural preservation. Youth & Money Skills: Bank of Guam and Guam Girl Scouts launched a Money Master Patch Program, giving cadettes, seniors, and ambassadors hands-on financial lessons. Suicide Prevention Milestone: LifeWorks Guam marked 25 years since launching grief support and ASIST suicide-intervention training for the community. Culture & Tourism: Tumon Night Market celebrated its first anniversary, highlighting local performers and international cultural exchange. Maritime Workforce: MARAD designated 16 maritime training institutions as 2026 Centers of Excellence, including Western Pacific Maritime Academy in Guam. Food & Lifestyle: New Guam dining spots spotlight specialty coffee, teppanyaki, and local comfort-food concepts. Sports: Guam’s volleyball season opened with a losing record, while local baseball action featured Utuado and Guayama sweeping twin bills. Policy Debate: A GDOE educator compensation authority bill drew both support and concerns over how quickly pay changes could roll out. Deep-Sea Mining Fight: Conservation and community groups sued to challenge federal approval steps for Mariana deep-sea mining, arguing the impacts weren’t properly assessed.

GDOE Pay Bill: Guam’s educators compensation authority bill (Bill 351-38) drew both support and worries at a public hearing, as lawmakers weigh teacher retention against how fast and how far the new pay plan could reshape salaries. Deep-Sea Mining Fight: Mariana groups and allies sued the U.S. to block the Trump administration’s deep-sea mining lease sale, arguing federal reviews didn’t properly account for impacts beyond the initial ocean-floor disturbance. Tumon Night Market: The Tumon Night Market marks its first anniversary, growing from a 10-Sunday pilot into a weekly hub for food, culture, local vendors, and international performances. Made in Guam Abroad: Guam Economic Development Authority launched the inaugural Håfa Adai Guam Festival in Japan, spotlighting local companies and products to Japanese consumers. Guam Food Scene: New openings and fresh spots around the island include a specialty coffee bar, a Tumon teppanyaki show-at-your-table experience, and a new Tamuning food truck. Local Sports: Utuado and Guayama swept women’s baseball twin bills, setting early momentum in the 2026 season. Community & Culture: KPRG’s Thrift Store Ball and Artspace Guåhan’s “Be a Friend. Make Your Mark.” campaign highlight how Guam is keeping creativity and community fundraising front and center. Education Updates: Okkodo High School’s MCJROTC earned back-to-back Naval Honor School designation, while iLearn eyes the long-vacant Tumon Bay Mall for a future educational facility.

Deep-Sea Mining Fight: Conservation groups and community advocates filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s plan to kick-start deep-sea mining off the CNMI and Guam, arguing it could harm humpback whales, manta rays, sea turtles, and the ocean-based culture and livelihoods of the Marianas. Local Economy Check-In: Guam’s unemployment ticked up 0.2 points in June to 3.6%, while private and “contracted” government work showed growth signals. Election Focus: Letters to voters zero in on cost of living, trust in government, and jobs—urging residents to vote with clear expectations for affordable groceries, utilities, and housing. Community & Culture: Tumon Night Market marks its first anniversary, growing from a pilot into a weekly hub for local food, performers, and international culture. Education & Youth: iLearn eyes the long-vacant Tumon Bay Mall as a future educational facility, while Okkodo High’s MCJROTC earns back-to-back Naval Honor School designation. Guam in the Region: Guam’s tourism push drew 200+ international partners at the MegaFAM trade show, spotlighting local makers like the Barcinas Sisters.

Forensic Services: Guam may get help with autopsies as the vacant chief medical examiner role is addressed, with a Hawaii-based forensic pathologist reportedly able to travel “on rotation” starting as soon as Sept. 1. 9/11 Remembrance & Community: Tower for Humanity is building and lighting Twin Towers made of toy logs at Micronesia Mall for the 25th anniversary of 9/11, with a Thursday lighting and remembrance ceremony. Local Governance & Oversight: Speaker Frank Blas Jr. says a military briefing for lawmakers was “closed by design,” not oversight, after questions about which committee chairs were invited. Citizenship Watch: A federal judge blocked Trump’s latest birthright citizenship narrowing order, but Guam leaders warn the territory’s legal footing is different and could be vulnerable. Education & Campus Safety: Tiyan High School repairs are largely done, but students still await a new sanitation inspection after the campus was closed in August. UOG Community Building: UOG Land Grant launched a 15-minute community needs assessment survey, and EPSCoR E-RISE/E-CORE welcomed new graduate research assistants. Culture & Tourism: The Barcinas Sisters showcased traditional weaving with modern twists at the Guam MegaFAM Trade Show, putting local craft in front of 200+ travel partners and media. Youth & Service: Okkodo High School’s MCJROTC earned back-to-back Naval Honor School designation, while a small group of women cleaned up Tiyan fields and roads.

Education & Community Space: The long-vacant Tumon Bay Mall is being pitched as a new 40-classroom site for iLearn Academy Charter School, with public meetings planned and zoning variances needed to target a 2027 school year. Tourism & Culture: The Barcinas Sisters are turning traditional weaving into a modern Guam experience at the Guam MegaFAM Trade Show, showing how local craft can meet international visitors head-on. School Safety Updates: Repairs at the Tiyan High School campus are progressing after a sanitation shutdown, with a new DPHSS inspection set for Friday and students learning off-campus in the meantime. Hunger Action Month: Be Heartfelt and Tower for Humanity kicked off Hunger Action Month with a rally at Micronesia Mall, highlighting weekend meal packs for 350+ children and a can-structure competition in October. Local Governance & Accountability: A fresh opinion column argues Guam voters should push past familiar names and demand real improvements and accountability as families feel cost-of-living pressure. Regional Defense & Guam Ties: USS Abraham Lincoln’s carrier strike group departed Thailand after a port call, while Guam’s own connections to U.S. military deployments remain a recurring lifestyle topic. Deep-Sea Mining Debate: Guam lawmakers and senators are renewing pressure as federal seabed mining timelines move forward, including concerns about fast-tracked reviews and limited local say.

Navy Leadership & Guam Ties: President Trump nominated Vietnam refugee Hung Cao to lead the U.S. Navy, with Senate confirmation needed—an unexpected Guam-to-mainland journey now heading to the top of the fleet. Beauty & Lifestyle: P-beauty and next-gen anti-aging skincare are trending in the Philippines, with new tech aimed at firmer, denser skin. Community Spotlight: The Aydlett twins’ “Tower of Humanity” keeps growing on Guam—now a Guinness-style community movement—while Be Heartfelt and student volunteers kick off Hunger Action Month with rally activities and donation drives. Tourism Momentum: Guam’s MegaFAM Trade Show brought 200+ international partners and influencers to LeoPalace, with local businesses—from woven crafts by the Barcinas Sisters to hotels and attractions—showcasing Guam’s culture and experiences. Local Education Update: Tiyan High School repairs are largely done, but a Sept. 11 inspection could shape whether students return on a possible double-session schedule. Marianas Deep-Sea Mining: Guam and lawmakers are pushing back as federal seabed mining timelines and FAST-41 fast-tracking move forward, with senators demanding a pause and more local say. Food & Skills: UOG Land Grant is hosting “Tilapia to Table” to teach raising, salting/smoking, and turning fish waste into fertilizer.

Marianas Mining Debate: Guam and CNMI voices are clashing over deep-sea mining, with a Marianas Agupa Show discussion weighing promised funding and safeguards against fears of permanent ocean damage. Tourism & Culture: Guam’s MegaFAM Trade Show brought 200+ international partners, media, and influencers to LeoPalace, spotlighting local makers like the Barcinas Sisters and pushing new visitor experiences; GVB also launched a new online portal for its Tourism Works Micro-Grant. Local Governance & Schools: Tiyan High School repairs are largely done, but remaining work and a Sept. 11 health inspection could keep students on a double-session schedule with Simon Sanchez. Community & Food Skills: UOG Land Grant is hosting a “Tilapia to Table” workshop on Sept. 12, teaching raising, salting/smoking, and turning fish waste into fertilizer. Policy Watch: Guam senators are competing to steer extra Section 30 money toward power bill credits and major school repairs, including a new Simon Sanchez High School. Airport Business: Avolta is provisionally set to take over Guam Airport specialty retail and food & beverage contracts.

Guam Tourism & Culture: The Barcinas Sisters turned tradition into a front-row moment at the Guam MegaFAM Trade Show, weaving fish, hats, and coconut-leaf creations alongside newer takes like jewelry and coasters for 200+ international travel partners. Local Education: UOG is hosting a first-time “Tilapia to Table” workshop (Sept. 12) to teach raising tilapia, salting/smoking fish, and using fish waste as fertilizer—linking aquaculture to local food security. School Updates: Tiyan High School repairs are largely done, but remaining roof and safety work could keep students on a proposed double-session schedule until a Sept. 11 inspection. Government & Community: GovGuam expects $95.9M more than projected in FY2026 revenues, but the extra is already earmarked. Legislative Watch: With an expected Sept. 15 Section 30 advance, senators are filing bills for power bill credits, public school repairs, and a new Simon Sanchez High School. Airport Business: Avolta is provisionally set to take over A.B. Won Pat airport speciality retail and food & beverage contracts. Regional Lifestyle: The Philippine Consulate in Guam is running online financial literacy sessions for overseas Filipinos on Retail Treasury Bonds.

Seabed Mining Fight: Guam Delegate James Moylan says the House Rules Committee blocked his amendment to keep Marianas seabed mining off FAST-41’s expedited permitting track, even as the Protecting Domestic Mining Act passed the House. Local Education & Community: Tiyan High School repairs are largely done, but remaining roof and safety work could keep students on a proposed double-session schedule through the semester if a Sept. 11 inspection goes well. Aquaculture & Food Skills: UOG Land Grant is hosting “Tilapia to Table” on Sept. 12, teaching saltwater tilapia raising, salting/smoking, and turning fish waste into fertilizer. Tourism & Grants: GVB launched a new online portal for the Tourism Works Micro-Grant, making applications easier to submit and track. Culture & Faith: Relics of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores are on display at the Tumon church for weekday veneration. Sports & Youth: The AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers are underway with India’s new U17 coach setting early targets, while Guam’s Rovers FC is noted in the AFC Women’s Champions League build-up. Women’s Wellness: Go Peace 26 at Hyatt Regency Guam is bringing generations together on prevention and mental health.

Seabed Mining Fight: House Rules Committee blocked Del. James Moylan’s bid to keep Guam and CNMI seabed mining out of FAST-41 fast-track review, raising fresh concerns about oversight of deep-sea projects. Aquaculture & Food Skills: UOG Land Grant is hosting “Tilapia to Table” on Sept. 12, teaching saltwater tilapia raising, fish salting/smoking, and how to turn fish waste into fertilizer. School Update: Tiyan High School repairs are largely done, but roof and remaining work could keep students on a proposed double-session schedule through the semester if a Sept. 11 inspection goes well. Local Funding Plans: Senators introduced bills to use expected excess Section 30 money for power bill credits, public school repairs, and rebuilding Simon Sanchez High School. Tourism Grants: GVB launched a new online portal for the Tourism Works Micro-Grant to make applications easier and more transparent. Culture & Faith: Relics of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores are on display in Tumon for weekday veneration. Community Wellness: Go Peace 26 Conference at Hyatt Regency Guam brings together prevention and mental health stakeholders with an intergenerational focus. Sports: AFC Women’s Champions League draw placed East Bengal in Group B with Hwacheon KSPO, Ho Chi Minh City, and 4.25 SC, with Kolkata hosting.

Education Update: Tiyan High School repairs are largely done, but roof work and remaining safety upgrades could keep students on a proposed double-session schedule through a Sept. 11 inspection. Local Food & Skills: UOG Land Grant’s “Tilapia to Table” workshop teaches raising tilapia in saltwater, plus salting, smoking, and turning fish parts into fertilizer—set for Sept. 12. Tourism & Business: GVB is rolling out a new online grants portal for the Tourism Works Micro-Grant to make applications faster and more transparent. Airport Contracts: Avolta has been provisionally set to take over A.B. Won Pat Airport specialty retail (including duty free) and related food & beverage contracts. Culture & Faith: Relics of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores are on display at the Tumon church tied to his martyrdom, with weekday viewing and prayer. Community Wellness: Go Peace 26 brings together Guam groups to focus on prevention and mental health across generations. Sports: CNMI’s Sports Leigh-Out spotlights off-island competition and the CNMI Labor Day Softball Tournament kickoff.