By THE STAR STAFF The Municipality of Arecibo has completed 135 full home reconstructions for residents in need, Mayor Carlos Ramírez Irizarry announced late last week as he delivered a newly built residence to Rolando Ramos Mártir of the Hato Abajo community in sector Los Mora-Altamira. The project, funded through federal recovery resources, addressed structural deficiencies in Ramos Mártir’s former home and provided a safe, dignified two‑bedroom replacement. The municipalit

Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz By THE STAR STAFF Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz warned Tuesday that a proposal empowering the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) to expropriate land used by community aqueduct systems is unlikely to gain traction in the upper chamber. In written statements posted to his social media accounts, Rivera Schatz said the legislation — now under consideration in the island House of Representatives — has “little sympathy” in

The University of Puerto Rico Workers’ Union leadership announced on Tuesday that the current strike will continue indefinitely following the expiration of a weekend moratorium, as no new talks with the university administration materialized. By THE STAR STAFF David Muñoz, president of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) Workers’ Union, announced on Tuesday that the strike will continue indefinitely following the expiration of a weekend moratorium, as no new talks with the un

By THE STAR STAFF Citizens are invited to participate in a mass veterinary services fair to be held this Friday at the Cedro Arriba sports complex in Naranjito. Technical personnel, including veterinarians from the State Office for Animal Control, will be present to offer vaccination services against rabies, among other diseases, as well as the deworming process. The event is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and is part of the community impact platform, “Leaving Fo

A new Pediatric Surgery Unit was completed, representing an investment of $5,839,505. It will accommodate 24 beds across 16 rooms and include negative-pressure spaces for patients requiring special infection control measures. (Facebook via Jenniffer González Colón) By THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón announced on Tuesday the opening of new surgery and renal service units at the Puerto Rico Medical Center, while the Medical Services Administration (ASEM by its acro

Salinas Mayor Karilyn Bonilla Colón By THE STAR STAFF Salinas marked a new milestone in its industrial sector earlier this week with the opening of Recicladora del Norte, a fully Puerto Rican recycling and materials‑processing company expanding its footprint in the southern coastal municipality. Mayor Karilyn Bonilla Colón toured the newly inaugurated facilities, located in the PR‑701 Industrial Zone across from the La Margarita housing development and the Brisas del Mar resi

Former Puerto Rico Certified Public Accountants Association President David Rodríguez By THE STAR STAFF The Puerto Rico Certified Public Accountants Association (CCPA by its initials in Spanish) approved two major policy resolutions during its annual convention this past weekend, urging the government to adopt federal-style “Trump Accounts” locally and to pursue an overhaul of the tax system. In the first resolution, the organization called on the Legislature and Gov. Jenniff

Puerto Rican Independence Party Rep. Denis Márquez Lebrón By THE STAR STAFF Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) Rep. Denis Márquez Lebrón has filed a measure that would order the Municipality of San Juan to remove and relocate dozens of motor vehicles currently stored at one of the main entrances to the Río Piedras urban center. The proposal, House Joint Resolution 401, directs the municipality to clear the vehicles -- many of them damaged or inoperable -- from two lots loc

By THE STAR STAFF Sen. Ada Álvarez Conde called for immediate action on Monday, Labor Day, to address the salary inequities that public servants continue to face and pointed out three examples that, in her opinion, demonstrate the need to move from announcements and studies to implementation. “Standardizing salaries cannot mean erasing the career path of public servants,” the at-large senator said. “We can create new pay scales and conduct market research, but if we don’t ade

By THE STAR STAFF Energy firm Power Expectations LLC has filed a sworn criminal complaint against attorney Javier Vázquez Morales, legal counsel for Enchanted Rock LLC, and adviser to the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico. The complaint, submitted by Power Expectations associate Robert Fournier, was filed at the Puerto Rico Police Department’s Hato Rey station, with copies delivered to the Criminal Investigations Corps (CIC) and the Puerto Rico Departme