Agriculture Secretary Josué E. Rivera Castro received unanimous board approval to become the new president of the Economic Development Bank for Puerto Rico. (Facebook via Dept. de Agricultura) By THE STAR STAFF The Economic Development Bank for Puerto Rico (EDB) board of directors accepted the recommendation of Gov. Jenniffer González Colón and unanimously approved the appointment of Josué E. Rivera Castro as the institution’s new president. The decision, announced Monday, wa

Ponce Mayor Marlese Sifre Rodríguez (Facebook via Ciudad de Ponce) By THE STAR STAFF Ponce Mayor Marlese Sifre Rodríguez announced Monday the approval of a new municipal ordinance that will allow the expropriation of properties deemed public nuisances, with the goal of rehabilitating them and repurposing them for affordable housing and community development. The measure, known as Ordinance No. 16, Series 2025–2026, establishes a modern legal framework for intervening in, acqu

Mabel Jiménez Miranda, the executive president of the Public Corporation for the Supervision and Insurance of Cooperatives of Puerto Rico By THE STAR STAFF Mabel Jiménez Miranda, the executive president of the Public Corporation for the Supervision and Insurance of Cooperatives of Puerto Rico (COSSEC by its acronym in Spanish) announced Monday the distribution of $3,200,634 in dividends to insured savings and credit cooperatives as part of the 2025 fiscal year financial resul

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the availability of approximately $150 million to cover PAN expenses,” Gov. Jenniffer González Colón, left, stated in a video posted on her social media accounts. By THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón announced Monday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has made some $150 million available to cover expenses for the Nutritional Assistance Program (PAN by its acronym in Spanish) on the island. “The U.S. Department of A

Designated Insurance Commissioner Suzette M. Del Valle Lecároz By THE STAR STAFF The Senate Committee on Innovation, Reform and Appointments, chaired by Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, held a public hearing Monday to evaluate the nomination of attorney Suzette M. Del Valle Lecároz as Puerto Rico’s insurance commissioner. During her testimony, Del Valle Lecároz presented her Strategic Plan for 2025–2028, aimed at reinforcing the solvency of the insurance sector, ensurin

By THE STAR STAFF The Financial Oversight and Management Board has formally rejected a proposed regulation from the island Treasury Department that sought to adjust the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for inflation in taxable year 2025. The decision, issued under the oversight board’s Rules, Regulations and Orders Review Policy pursuant to the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act, commonly known as PROMESA, cites significant fiscal inconsistencies with

By THE STAR STAFF LUMA Energy is appealing a recent ruling denying a request to halt a lawsuit filed by the island Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO) that would force the private grid operator to pay for damaged consumer appliances. Through its counsel, DLA Piper, the operator of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s (PREPA) transmission and distribution system filed a notice of the appeal last week. Last month, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain denied LUMA’s req

Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration Executive Director Gabriella Boffelli, at lectern By THE STAR STAFF Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) Executive Director Gabriella Boffelli warned over the weekend that federal reserve funds are insufficient to fully cover nutritional assistance programs in Puerto Rico, despite recent court rulings aimed at unlocking contingency resources. The concern centers on the Nutritional Assistance Program (known locally as PA