Col. Brandon L. Bowman, Jacksonville District commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Facebook via Everglades news and information) By THE STAR STAFF The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has issued a “cease and desist” order to the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) and its secretary, Waldemar Quiles Pérez, for depositing fill and dredging at the mouth of the Río Grande de Loíza without federal authorization. A July 8 letter from USACE states that t

Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company Executive Director Roberto Lefranc Fortuño By THE STAR STAFF Carmen Julia Vallés, president of the Independent Union of Employees of the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO), accused PRIDCO Executive Director Roberto Lefranc Fortuño on Tuesday of refusing to address a series of labor concerns that she says are adversely affecting operations at the public corporation. Vallés said the union has repeatedly requested a mee

Rep. José Hernández Concepción By THE STAR STAFF As a measure to help quickly resolve interruptions in drinking water service, Rep. José “Cheito” Hernández Concepción has filed House Bill 1334, which obliges the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) to inspect, within a maximum term of 24 hours, any breakdown that interrupts the service. The legislation also states that repair work must begin within 48 hours of the reported failure, and enables the creation of coll

The Financial Oversight and Management Board says the idea of significantly lengthening the island’s back‑to‑school tax‑free periods may be popular with parents but comes with a price the government has not budgeted for. By THE STAR STAFF The Financial Oversight and Management Board is asking Gov. Jenniffer González Colón to halt a bill that would significantly lengthen the island’s back‑to‑school tax‑free periods, warning that the proposal would strain government finances an