Skies clear up for solar eclipse on Saipan

Clear blue skies treated solar eclipse watchers to a more vivid look at the phenomenon on Saipan yesterday. Residents saw the crescent shape of the sun either through a pinhole or the shadows of leaves under the trees. Other people used welder's masks to witness the eclipse. As earlier predicted, the sun's maximum eclipse came at around 11:45pm and it lasted for about six minutes. full story here..

2 swine flu cases confirmed

Boy, 16, and tourist have already recovered

The Department of Public Health announced yesterday two confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza on Saipan-a 16-year-old local boy and a recent visitor from Japan. DPH said the boy is doing fine while the 26-year-old Japanese already flew back to Japan. DPH said the two have completely recovered from their illnesses. Both patients were seen last week at two local clinics for flu-like symptoms. DPH said there was no identified epidemiologic link for these cases, saying that neither individuals required hospitalization and both are doing well at home. full story here..

Facebook, Twitter can help curb crime, says Demapan

Social networking on the Internet may not only be used purely to connect with friends and loved ones but it could also be used as a tool to curb crime in the community, according to Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan. Rephrasing the adage “You cannot outrun a radio,” Demapan said these days criminals are learning they cannot outrun e-mails, Facebook, or Twitter either. full story here..

CNMI to see solar eclipse next week

Next week, July 22, a total eclipse of the Sun will be visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses half of Earth. Although it won't be seen in its entirety in the CNMI, sun watchers in the Marianas will still see a partial eclipse, with the shadow of the moon obscuring part of the sun's disc. The path of the total eclipse will traverse across the North Pacific Ocean and will include the 14 islands of the CNMI. see full story here..

Hickeys lead to capture of female escapee

A policeman's instinct made possible the recapture of a female juvenile detainee during entrapment operations at her boyfriend's house in Kagman at dawn yesterday. Police spokesman Jason T. Tarkong said that officer Jesse Concepcion found the 15-year-old female suspect hiding under a small table covered with a tablecloth inside her boyfriend's bedroom. full story here..

Labor employee wins dirt buggy in Bud promo

John I. Tagabuel grinned as he climbed into the driver's seat of his newest truck-a customized tube-frame dirt buggy that he won in the Budweiser King Off the Road promotion. “I will bring this home first, show it to my family and drive around for a while,” said Tagabuel during a simple turnover ceremony yesterday at the MARPAC office in Gualo Rai. full story here..

'Most guest workers would prefer to stay'

IF GIVEN GREEN CARDS

Visiting law professor Rose Cuison Villazor believes that, if given immigrant visas, most guest workers in the CNMI will prefer to stay rather than leave the islands. This is because Saipan is closer to home for most alien workers than the U.S. mainland or Hawaii, Villazor said. At the same time, the lower cost of living on the islands is an added incentive, she said. full story here..