Public Affairs Secretary Jean Peña Payano said Thursday that the government is not currently considering extending drought-related service interruptions to 72 hours or implementing a rationing plan for customers dependent on the La Plata reservoir. By THE STAR STAFF Public Affairs Secretary Jean Peña Payano said Thursday that the island government is not currently considering extending drought-related service interruptions to 72 hours or implementing a rationing plan for cust

Cataño Mayor Julio Alicea Vasallo By THE STAR STAFF Cataño Mayor Julio Alicea Vasallo died on Thursday after battling a diagnosis of myelofibrosis -- a rare type of bone marrow cancer -- over the past few months, municipal press spokesperson Elliot Rivera confirmed. “With deep sorrow, and at a time of grief for my family, I inform our fellow residents of the passing of the mayor of Cataño, Julio Alicea Vasallo, who led our beloved town since December 2021 with fortitude, comm

By THE STAR STAFF The Public‑Private Partnerships Authority (P3A) and the Office of the Energy Czar announced Thursday that they have referred allegations involving the Power Expectations temporary generation contract to the Puerto Rico Department of Justice and to federal authorities for independent review. According to the agencies, the referral concerns questions about the legitimacy of the signature used to execute the June 10, 2026 contract between the Puerto Rico Electr

By THE STAR STAFF Extreme drought continued to expand across Puerto Rico over the past week and now covers 17% of the territory -- primarily in the island’s southern and eastern sectors -- according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor update, with data valid as of Tuesday, Aug. 11. The new report reflects a further deterioration in drought conditions, with 72.2% of Puerto Rico falling into categories ranging from moderate to extreme drought. Of Puerto Rico’s territory, 36.9% i

Puerto Rico Planning Board President Héctor Morales Martínez (Facebook via Junta de Planificación) By THE STAR STAFF With the island facing one of the most severe droughts in recent decades, the Puerto Rico Planning Board (JP by its initials in Spanish) announced on Wednesday a comprehensive effort to measure the economic fallout across public and private sectors. The study aims to give the government a verified, data‑driven picture of losses, operational disruptions, and ris

Rep. Swanny Enit Vargas Laureano (Facebook via Swanny Enit Vargas Laureano) By THE STAR STAFF The Puerto Rico House of Representatives may investigate the controversial $5.8 billion contract awarded for 400 megawatts (MW) of temporary generation at the Aguirre power complex in Salinas, following a series of irregularities, missed deadlines and allegations of possible fraud surrounding the project, if legislation to that effect is approved. The resolution, filed by Rep. Swanny

By THE STAR STAFF Rangers Corps Commissioner Nelson Cruz said Wednesday that personnel from the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) launched an operation at Icacos Cay off Fajardo to attend to a dolphin that had a diving mask embedded in its body. “In light of this, we have coordinated with the Assistant Secretariat for Conservation and Research and its technical staff of biologists to address this situation urgently,” Cruz said in a written statement. Du

By THE STAR STAFF The tail end of a tropical wave that passed over part of Puerto Rico on Tuesday moved over the entire island on Wednesday and is expected to have left three inches of precipitation throughout the island. “It didn’t leave as much precipitation as Tuesday because it was passing across pretty fast,” National Weather Service meteorologist Ernesto Rodriguez said. Isolated thunderstorms impacted some parts of the island. For the next several days, conditions will

The Office of the Women’s Advocate’s “Path to Compliance” workplace nursing room initiative will be carried out in conjunction with the Department of Labor and Human Resources, the Puerto Rico Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Department of Health. (Facebook via Oficina de la Procuradora de las Mujeres) By THE STAR STAFF Women’s Advocate Astrid Piñeiro Vázquez announced a campaign on Wednesday involving outreach and inspections to monitor compliance regar

By THE STAR STAFF Health Secretary Víctor Ramos Otero announced on Wednesday that he has activated the agency’s Emergency Operations Center to coordinate service continuity with hospitals, diagnostic and treatment centers (CDTs), and “330” primary health centers during the drought emergency. “The Puerto Rico Department of Health’s Emergency Operations Plan serves as the guiding document for implementing actions in response to emergencies and disasters that impact public healt