Steps Beach in Rincón is home to the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve, known for its parrotfish populations and hawksbill turtles. (puertorico.com) By THE STAR STAFF Rincón Mayor Carlos D. López Bonilla announced a $1.1 million investment this week to upgrade and expand recreational infrastructure along the municipality’s coastline, a project timed with the start of the summer tourism season. “Rincón is the Surfing Capital of Puerto Rico and the most visited tourist destination in

Family Secretary Suzanne Roig Fuertes By THE STAR STAFF A mid confusion sparked by information circulating Wednesday about the recertification process for the Nutritional Assistance Program, known locally as PAN, the island Family Department reiterated that participants who continue to meet eligibility requirements will keep receiving their benefits without interruption. The agency said it has resumed the regular annual recertification process mandated by the federal governme

By THE STAR STAFF The School of Medicine at the University of Puerto Rico’s Medical Sciences Campus graduated 134 specialists and subspecialists across 35 programs, in addition to swearing in 96 new physicians and six scientists from the Class of 2026, it was reported on Wednesday. During the resident graduation ceremony, held at the Caribe Hilton Hotel, physicians were recognized for completing between three and five years of specialized training following the attainment of

A total of 1,612 students in the island public school system who graduated with a perfect 4.00 GPA throughout high school were recognized and received a $1,000 incentive in recognition of their academic achievements. By THE STAR STAFF Education Secretary Eliezer Ramos Parés and Secretary of State Rosachely Rivera Santana on Wednesday held the 2026 Academic Excellence Ceremony, an event that recognizes the effort, dedication and high academic performance of students in the pub

House Speaker Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez, center, met with Mayors Federation President Gabriel Hernández Rodríguez and the mayors of Aguas Buenas and Las Piedras regarding the island government’s budget for the coming fiscal year and the mayors’ needs and projections. By THE STAR STAFF Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez held a meeting earlier this week with Mayors Federation President Gabriel Hernández Rodríguez, as well as the

Ronald Hernández Maldonado, statistical project manager at the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (LinkedIn) By THE STAR STAFF Puerto Rico paid $919.7 million in tariffs during 2025, the highest amount recorded between 2010 and 2025, according to new data released Tuesday by the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics (PRSI). The figure represents a dramatic increase of $683.1 million compared with 2024, when tariff payments totaled $236.6 million. The year‑over‑year jump amounts t

U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) (Wikipedia) By THE STAR STAFF The state of New York is evaluating legislation to close a legal loophole that has long enabled hedge funds to profit from financially distressed governments, including Puerto Rico’s. The bill -- sponsored by Assembly member Jessica González‑Rojas and State Senator Liz Krueger -- would restore the state’s champerty doctrine, making it illegal to purchase debt solely to sue for repayment. U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázque

Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz In salty social media post, Senate president cites 2025 executive order giving La Fortaleza chief of staff broad powers By THE STAR STAFF Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz said Tuesday there is no rush to address an interim appointment of a new secretary at the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC by its acronym in Spanish) following the recent resignation of Sebastián Negrón Reichard. “After Sebastián Negrón Reichard

Bayamón Mayor Ramón Luis Rivera Cruz By THE STAR STAFF Bayamón Mayor Ramón Luis Rivera Cruz described on Tuesday how the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) has handled -- specifically as an emergency -- the issue involving the impaired Finca Rosso pump station, which supplies water to sectors of Bayamón and Guaynabo. The installation sustained major damage -- allegedly due to a voltage surge -- on Aug. 17, 2025, at 3:27 p.m. “I remember it clearly, because I imm

Rep. Edgar Robles Rivera By THE STAR STAFF District 14 (Arecibo and Hatillo) Rep. Edgar Robles Rivera requested on Monday that Transportation and Public Works (DTOP by its acronym in Spanish) Secretary Edwin González Montalvo consider “a 12-month administrative moratorium related to the processes of removal of vendors and street merchants located in areas belonging to the state right-of-way.” The lawmaker, who chairs the Committee on Consumer Affairs in the island House of R