Family Secretary Suzanne Roig Fuertes has visited numerous long‑term care homes across the island to hear directly from operators and residents and to reaffirm the government’s support for the sector. By THE STAR STAFF The Puerto Rico Family Department is moving forward with a comprehensive plan to strengthen oversight of elder‑care homes, an initiative aimed at modernizing licensing processes, expanding supervisory capacity, and improving response times to potential risks af

More than half of island still under abnormally dry conditions or worse By THE STAR STAFF Puerto Rico’s mid‑summer dry spell continued to intensify this week, with severe drought now affecting 14.3% of the island, according to the latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor, based on data valid as of Tuesday, July 14. The report shows that 59.3% of Puerto Rico is experiencing some level of drought, a slight decrease from 61.4% the previous week. But within that overall figure

From left, Puerto Rico Mayors Association President Jorge “Georgie” González Otero, Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera and Dartmouth College professor David A. Rezvani, author of “Surpassing the Sovereign State” (Oxford University Press, 2014). By THE STAR STAFF Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera asserted Thursday that Puerto Rico “is not a colony,” using a public event in Washington, D.C. to reinforce his position that the commonwealth remains a

Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas, which can carry up to 7,000 passengers and a crew of roughly 2,350, is expected to generate an estimated $1 million in economic activity during its two visits to the Port of Ponce next year. By THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón and Puerto Rico Tourism Company (CTPR by its initials in Spanish) Executive Director Willianette Robles Cancel announced Wednesday that Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas, the new Icon‑class vessel ent

By THE STAR STAFF The Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) announced this week that the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has approved the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026, a bipartisan measure that authorizes water‑related infrastructure projects led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The bill now moves to consideration by the full House of Representatives. WRDA, traditionally enacted every two years, provides con

Animal‑welfare group Vínculo Animal PR warned that the exhibition and sale of monkeys, birds and other wild animals in Puerto Rico are not isolated occurrences but rather part of a broader policy framework that requires urgent review. (annual-review.peta.org) By THE STAR STAFF The animal‑welfare group Vínculo Animal PR is urging the Puerto Rico government to take stronger biosecurity measures after images circulating on social media and in news outlets raised concerns about t

By THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón signed into law several measures modifying government policy in areas such as port security, civil rights, protection for victims of gender-based violence, and legal claims involving minors and incapacitated persons, it was announced on Wednesday. The new Law 126-2026 repeals the port security model in place since 2008 and establishes a new framework for coordinating the surveillance of port facilities with federal agencies, aim

Rep. Elinette González Aguayo By THE STAR STAFF At-large Rep. José Aponte Hernández, along with Rep. Elinette González Aguayo, who chairs the Natural Resources Committee in the lower chamber of the Puerto Rico Legislature, announced on Wednesday the start of an evaluation to update Law 430-2000, better known as the Navigation and Water Safety Law of Puerto Rico. “This week, the secretary of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources [DNER], Engineer Waldemar Quiles

The initiative in Aguas Buenas is part of a broader effort involving several municipalities in Puerto Rico’s central region, through the Caguas Judicial Region, to strengthen the interagency response to gender-based violence and ensure more agile and coordinated care. It also includes several non-profit organizations. By THE STAR STAFF As part of its commitment to the protection and well-being of victims of gender violence, the Municipality of Aguas Buenas has formalized a co

By THE STAR STAFF Nearly a month after the twin earthquakes that shook Venezuela on June 24 -- leaving behind destruction, loss of life, and entire communities in crisis -- Puerto Rico is preparing to respond with a gesture of faith and brotherhood. The organizations Puente de Esperanza, Casa Venezuela and Nueva Vida 97.7FM have joined forces to organize the “Unidos por Venezuela” (United for Venezuela) event, a day of music and prayer to be held this Sunday in front of the i