By THE STAR STAFF The municipality of Arecibo has begun installing Braille signage throughout its public offices as part of a broader effort to make local government facilities more accessible to residents who are blind or have low vision, Mayor Carlos R. Ramírez Irizarry announced Sunday. Ramírez Irizarry said the initiative reflects his administration’s commitment to building a more inclusive public service environment. The new signs will allow visually impaired residents t

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón By THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón has signed into law a new measure that strengthens the island’s anti‑corruption efforts by requiring mandatory restitution in cases of illicit enrichment involving the misuse of public information. The statute, now designated as Law 155‑2026, amends Article 250 of the Puerto Rico Penal Code and removes judicial discretion when a public official obtains a personal benefit through confidential informa

The water‑treatment facility requested by Genera PR would be built either at the San Juan Power Plant or the Palo Seco Power Plant (pictured). By THE STAR STAFF Genera PR, the private operator of Puerto Rico’s legacy power plants, has asked the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) to approve a major water‑treatment project aimed at protecting the island’s electrical system during ongoing droughts. The request was filed on Aug. 6 as part of the review process required before any F

University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus Interim Chancellor Mayra Charriez Cordero (Facebook via Recinto de Río Piedras de la UPR) By THE STAR STAFF Mayra Charriez Cordero, interim chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico’s (UPR) Río Piedras Campus, announced over the weekend the postponement of the start of the first semester of the 2026-2027 academic year to Monday, Aug. 17. “Furthermore, for the duration of the state of emergency, courses will be offered via alterna

Secretary of State Rosachely Rivera Santana is overseeing the logistics of coordination between agency heads and municipalities. By THE STAR STAFF In light of the persistent drought forecast for the island -- which has reached the “extreme drought” category in some regions -- Gov. Jenniffer González Colón announced on Sunday the launch of a large-scale government mobilization effort. Secretary of State Rosachely Rivera Santana is overseeing the logistics of coordination betwe

Financial Oversight and Management Board Executive Director Robert F. Mujica Jr. (YouTube Live via Financial Oversight and Management Board) By THE STAR STAFF Puerto Rico’s temporary generation project was at the center of a scandal last week after the Financial Oversight and Management Board disclosed that ERock, formerly known as Enchanted Rock, said its name and signature were used without authorization in the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s (PREPA) $5.8 billion eme

By THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón on Thursday sent a new round of appointments to the Senate, as part of her administration’s efforts to strengthen several government entities across areas such as economic development, health and public safety. The governor submitted five recess appointments, including the designation of attorney Julie O. Gómez Gómez as secretary of the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation. Gómez, whose appointment is now before the Senat

Green sea turtle (Wikipedia/Brocken Inaglory) By THE STAR STAFF As part of the “Quiero Mi Escuela” (I Love My School) initiative, Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) Secretary Waldemar Quiles Pérez, along with members of the non-profit organization Tortugueros del Sur, on Thursday offered children at María Libertad Gómez Elementary School in Utuado a detailed educational talk on the importance of protecting leatherback, hawksbill and green turtles and their nests. “Our

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón helped ring in the start of the school year Thursday morning at the Bonifacio Alvarado Second Unit School in Orocovis, a bilingual school that has achieved a high ranking based on its academic achievement and standardized exam results. (Facebook via Jenniffer González Colón) All island public schools open for a new semester By THE STAR STAFF As Puerto Rico’s public school students began a new academic year on Thursday, Gov. Jenniffer González Col

With a combined investment of $536,500, the Fundación Triple‑S and the Fundación para el Futuro de la Salud granted 37 scholarships to medical residents and students in the health professions preparing for specialties where Puerto Rico faces critical gaps. By THE STAR STAFF Two of the island’s leading philanthropic health organizations have joined forces to bolster Puerto Rico’s medical workforce, awarding more than half a million dollars in supplemental scholarships to stude