By THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón joined forces with other governors in Dallas earlier this week as part of an invitation extended by former President George W. Bush to the Governors’ Forum on Reading. “For Puerto Rico, improving reading and literacy is not simply an educational aspiration; it is essential for workforce readiness, economic growth, and a competitive future,” the governor said in a written statement. “Literacy is the gateway to opportunity. Since

Carlos J. Ríos Pierluisi, back row center, has extensive experience in leadership positions within the public sector. By THE STAR STAFF Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC by its acronym in Spanish) Secretary Sebastián Negrón Reichard, who is also chairman of Roosevelt Roads Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) board of directors, announced on Tuesday the appointment of Carlos J. Ríos Pierluisi as the LRA’s new executive director. Negrón Reichard emphasized that the appoin

Civil Rights Commission Director Ever Padilla Ruiz (Instagram via ever.padillaruiz) By THE STAR STAFF Arguing that it raises constitutional deficiencies, limits women’s rights and capacity over their own bodies, and has serious implications for Puerto Rican law by granting legal personhood to the unborn, the Civil Rights Commission (CDC) requested on Tuesday that Gov. Jenniffer González Colón veto Senate Bill (SB) 504. The bill proposes amending Articles 67, 69, and 70 of the

By THE STAR STAFF Rep. Estrella Martínez Soto (District 27 of Coamo, Santa Isabel, Aibonito, Juana Díaz and Salinas) urged all residents of her district to support non-profit organizations (NGOs) in the district during this holiday season. “There are numerous non-profit organizations dedicated to providing support and services to the community,” the legislator said. “Their main objective is to help the most vulnerable sectors and foster social, educational, athletic, and econ

Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera (Facebook via REP. PABLO JOSE HERNÁNDEZ RIVERA) By THE STAR STAFF Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera announced on Tuesday the allocation of $5,514,978 to the Puerto Rico Department of Health to strengthen maternal and child health services through funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “This allocation is not simply a number; it is a statement of priorities,” Hernández Rivera said i

Playa Campamento Erizo is a section of beach in Río Grande traditionally used by locals for weekend camping and beach activities. (Facebook via Campamento Erizo) By THE STAR STAFF Fishermen and residents of the coastal community of Las Picúas in Río Grande have filed an ethics complaint against Nelson Cruz, the assistant secretary of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER), alleging that he ordered the placement of concrete barriers to block public access

Puerto Rican Independence Party Sen. María de Lourdes Santiago Negrón By THE STAR STAFF Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) Sen. María de Lourdes Santiago Negrón sharply criticized U.S. Rep. Darren Soto’s (D-Fla.) plan to promote a status vote that would include the island’s current territorial arrangement as an option, calling it “a dangerous step backwards” for those committed to decolonization. “Puerto Ricans already rejected the colonial commonwealth in 2012,” Santiago

The island Supreme Court has upheld the 15-year prison sentence issued to Mayra Nevárez Torres for the death of Justin Santos Delanda and for causing serious bodily harm to Keven Monserrate Gandía in a November 2021 drunk-driving crash on the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge in San Juan. (X via TUBARCO) By THE STAR STAFF Justice Secretary Lourdes Gómez Torres expressed satisfaction on Monday with the decision of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court to deny the second request for reconsiderati