By THE STAR STAFF Popular Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers Héctor Ferrer Santiago and Ángel “Tito” Fourquet Cordero are questioning what they said was New Progressive Party Rep. Víctor Parés Otero’s decision to replace a previously announced public hearing on the failed temporary generation agreement with a private meeting involving Energy Czar Josué Colón Ortiz, a key figure in the controversial procurement process. The lawmakers said Parés had publicly promoted an investiga

Engineer Carlos Pesquera Morales, fourth from left, stressed that “[f]or the public, the important thing is that there are no changes in the operational adjustment patterns, both at La Plata and Sergio Cuevas.” (Facebook via Jenniffer González Colón) By THE STAR STAFF The central government will keep current water‑rationing schedules in place for customers served by the Carraízo reservoir and maintain existing operational adjustments at La Plata, despite weekend rains that br

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón signed Executive Order OE-2026-043 on Monday to implement the Workforce Pell Grant Program in Puerto Rico, aimed at expanding access to federal funds for education and short-term training in occupations with high labor demand. The measure establishes the commonwealth’s structure for evaluating postsecondary programs that may be considered for federal financial assistance. Under the framework in force s

Consumer Affairs Secretary Hiram Torres Montalvo (Facebook via Hiram J. Torres Montalvo) By THE STAR STAFF Consumer Affairs Secretary Hiram Torres Montalvo, formally announced his candidacy for mayor of Cataño on Monday, following the recent death of Mayor Julio Alicea Vasallo. According to filings submitted last week to the Office of the Electoral Comptroller, Torres Montalvo registered a campaign committee under the name “Comité Amigos Hiram Torres y el Nuevo Cataño.” His e

The 5,785‑square‑foot facility, located in the Rayo Guaras sector of Sabana Grande, was transferred by the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company, whose executive director, Roberto Lefranc, center left, said the site adds to other PRIDCO properties already occupied by Pentaq, which has been a tenant since 2004. (Facebook via Compañía de Fomento Industrial de Puerto Rico) By THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón announced Sunday the expansion of Pentaq Manufacturing

The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, June 16, 2025. The dispute over President Donald Trump’s attempt to remove three members of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico returns this week to federal district court, where a judge will reconsider the case under a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential removal authority. (Eric Lee/The New York Times) By THE STAR STAFF The dispute over President Donald Trump’s attempt to remove three members of Puerto Ri

By THE STAR STAFF Who assumes responsibility and under what procedure is a crime committed within a correctional institution in Puerto Rico investigated? That is one of the questions that Arecibo District Sen. Brenda Pérez Soto seeks to address through a measure that requires the Puerto Rico Police Bureau and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) to comply with a mandate established 15 years ago. The senator introduced Senate Joint Resolution 206, which direc

By THE STAR STAFF Some 175,352 LUMA Energy customers were without electrical service as of 3 p.m. Sunday, according to data published by the company. Meanwhile, spokespersons for Genera PR reported that Units 5 and 6 at the Costa Sur Power Plant went offline unexpectedly. “Our technical staff is conducting the necessary assessment to determine the cause and the plan of action moving forward,” a Genera spokesperson stated. “We will continue to provide updates as additional inf

Rep. Víctor Parés Otero, right, seen here meeting with Puerto Rico Energy Bureau Chairman Edison Avilés Deliz earlier this month, said the Legislature is reviewing amendments to Regulation 8815, the rule that governs energy procurement, to allow the Energy Bureau to directly adjudicate contracts for the 800 megawatts of temporary generation the system urgently needs. (Facebook via Víctor L. Parés Otero) By THE STAR STAFF Puerto Rico lawmakers are weighing a major change in ho

By THE STAR STAFF Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera presented a five-point agenda on Sunday to address Puerto Rico’s water and energy crises, upon his return to the U.S. capital following a month of work on the island and the House of Representatives’ August recess. “I am returning to Washington with a clear agenda: I am going to prioritize the basics -- water and energy,” Hernández Rivera said at a press conference. “Before talking about economic development,