News Briefs – February 27, 2020

Lane closure for Triple J Color Run

Triple J announced yesterday that the southbound lane along Beach Road will be closed on Saturday, March 7, from 4am to 8am for the Triple J 5K Saipan Bubble Color Run. The closure is necessary for the runners’ safety. The start point of the lane closure is Garapan Farmer’s Market proceeding south 2.5 kilometers past the Quartermaster intersection to the Blue Beach House Hotel. (PR)

‘Walk for Parents’ on Feb. 29

The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs’ Division of Youth Services is inviting the public to a “Walk for Parents” event this Saturday, Feb. 29. Registration for the walk is free and will begin at 6am at the Oleai Beach Pavilion. The route will be from the Oleai Beach Pavilion to Quartermaster Road and back.
Walk for Parents is a morning walk to recognize and show appreciation for all parents in the CNMI and is the closing event for the CNMI’s Parent Leadership Month.
For more information, call the DCCA-DYS Parent Education Program at 237-1015/1017. (PR)

SHEFA supporting documents deadline

The deadline to submit all supporting documents for those applying for the Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance is Feb. 28, 2020, a Friday. Office hours is from 7:30am to 4:30pm. If you have any questions, contact the SHEFA office at 233-5995, 235-1020/21. (PR)

Water service interruption tomorrow

There will be a scheduled water service interruption for the areas of Chalan Pale Arnold Road (Middle Road) from 99 Cents Store to the Garapan Road traffic light tomorrow, Feb. 28, 2020, from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Commonwealth Utilities Corp. customers in the affected areas should expect restoration of water services soon after.
The purpose of the scheduled water service interruption is to allow CUC’s water operations personnel to continue repairs on a damaged 6-inch hydrant waterline located near the Tun Kiku Building in Garapan.
For the safety of our men and women working at the site, motorists are advised to proceed with caution when driving through the area.
For more information, contact the CUC Customer Call Center (664-4282) or monitor its Facebook page for the latest updates (https://www.facebook.comlCommonwealthUtilitiesCorporationl). (PR)

NMHC offers loan deferment assistance

Due to the impending austerity measures and the anticipated economic hardships as a result of the decline in the tourism industry as affected by the suspension of visitor arrivals from China and reduced flights from Korea, most, if not all Northern Marianas Housing Corp. clients will somehow be affected.
Therefore, NMHC will place a blanket deferment assistance of all of its loans for a period of three months, which will begin March 1, 2020, and will end on May 31, 2020. Interest shall not accrue during the three-month period. Beginning June 1, 2020, all loans will be reinstated to their regular monthly payments and an additional three months will be added on to the loan maturity.
If you do not wish to avail of this assistance, you must provide NMHC an official cancelation notice of the deferment assistance being offered.
Should you have any further questions, contact the Mortgage & Credit Division at telephone numbers 234-6866/9447/7689/7670. (PR)

Ask USCIS: Implementation of public charge inadmissibility final rule

Do you have questions about the implementation of the inadmissibility on public charge grounds final rule? We want to hear from you. 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will implement the final rule beginning with applications and petitions postmarked (or, if applicable, submitted electronically) on or after Feb. 24, 2020. USCIS updated the policy manual and posted information to USCIS.gov.
If you have general questions or need more clarification on how USCIS will implement the final rule, submit questions by emailing public.engagement@uscis.dhs.gov by Feb. 28 at noon Eastern. Put “Public Charge” in the subject line. USCIS will not address case-specific questions.
Responses to frequently asked questions will be posted to the USCIS Electronic Reading Room. (PR)

SHRM membership meeting today

The Society for Human Resource Management- NMI Chapter will have a general membership meeting today, Feb. 27, 2020, at the Hyatt Regency Saipan ballroom beginning at 11:30am.
At the meeting, representatives of the Northern Marianas Business Alliance and SHRM NMI will provide information about the federal issues concerning the NMI’s labor and immigration updates. The presenters will also discuss other provisions and requirements of the NMI U.S. Workforce Act of 2018, U.S. Public Law 115-218 such as the three-fourths guarantee.
This meeting is open to the public. The meeting includes a lunch buffet at the cost of $25 for SHRM members and $35 for non-members.  Seats are limited, so reserve your seat by contacting Roman Tudela by email at roman.tudela@gmail.com or Denise Montenegro at denise.montenegro@hyatt.com or by telephone at (670) 323-5867/68. (PR)