NMI Gov. Arnold I. Palacios dies at 69 on Wednesday evening
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Northern Mariana Islands, has died at the age of 69 on Wednesday night, July 23.
Acting Gov. David M. Apatang’s office sent out the announcement at 11 p.m. and offered condolences and sympathy to first lady Wella Palacios and their children and families.
“I am deeply in sorrow and I join Wella and the families grief during this time of mourning as we pray and remember my friend, Governor Palacios, for his sacrifice and life of public service for all,” Apatang said.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios visited Guam in March 2025 to meet with Secretary of Defense Peter B. Hegseth. Photo by Skyler Obispo
Details regarding memorial services and public tributes will be announced in the coming days, according to the announcement.
The announcement noted Palacios’ service of over more than three decades, from the Legislature to his time as lieutenant governor, speaker of the House, president of the Senate, and as governor.
“He was a tireless advocate for good governance, fiscal responsibility, environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and the well-being of all who call the Marianas home,” according to the announcement. “Governor Palacios leaves behind a legacy defined by resilience, perseverance, humility, visionary leadership, and a deep love for the Commonwealth and its people. He will be remembered as a unifier, a steady hand during times of challenge, and a leader who never wavered in his belief in the strength and resilience of the people he served.”
Earlier that day, he was reportedly medically evacuated to the Guam Regional Medical City following a medical incident. mbj
The POWER-HDR JV of Hailey, Idaho, was awarded June 5 a $249 million “firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for architect-engineer services.”
West Virginia Attorney General John B. “JB” McCuskey is leading a coalition of 21 state AGs asking the Supreme Court of the United States to protect the right of states to manage their own environmental permitting.
The Guam Solid Waste Authority discontinued its bulky waste self-haul service at the Harmon, Agat, and Malojloj residential transfer stations effective June 1, officially reverting to an appointment-only curbside collection model.
The USS George Washington left its forward-deployed port of Yakuska in Japan on May 30 for its spring deployment on patrol in the Indo-Pacific, according to media reports.
