Budget Pressure & Priorities: CNMI gubernatorial bets say they’ll protect education, health care, public safety and retirees while cutting spending and shifting workers to private-sector jobs. School Infrastructure Overhaul: Jordan’s Ministry of Education says it phased out 170 rented schools (down to 606) and opened 86 new schools, alongside major maintenance and five new technical schools. Public Health Closures: Guam’s Tiyan and Simon Sanchez high schools closed for seven days after inspections flagged sanitation issues, with meal and homework pickup plans in place. Learning Access in Crisis: Zambia’s EAA Foundation reports its 3-year EVE project reached 10,193 vulnerable children across 37 schools, re-enrolling 1,780 out-of-school learners and running SAFE Clubs. Safety & Security: University of Illinois police arrested a teen after armed threats; Sweden’s Brinell High School faced a sword attack with a teen charged. Community Support: US districts and groups backed back-to-school needs—from playground upgrades in Long Beach to free haircuts and school supplies in Hampton.