By THE STAR STAFF An adviser to the Financial Oversight and Management Board whose fees were challenged by Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) creditors is shutting down. Bloomberg, citing an unnamed source, reported earlier this month that BGC Partners plans to dissolve. The oversight board hired BGC Partners in February 2024 to replace Citigroup Global Markets after Citi closed its municipal finance division. BGC was founded by three former Citi executives: David B

By THE STAR STAFF With the return to school, LEAP Social Enterprise, the largest network of public alliance schools on the island, announced the opening of spaces for new students this month in its western schools, located in Isabela and Mayagüez. The organization continues to expand its efforts to transform public education through a free-access STEAM educational model, with schools featuring innovative curricula, a dual-language approach, socio-emotional support for familie

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón By THE STAR STAFF On the eve of the second semester, which is scheduled to begin today, Gov. Jenniffer González Colón, Education Secretary Eliezer Ramos Parés, Deputy Education Secretary Sheykirisabel Cucuta González, Public Buildings Authority Director Félix Lassalle Toro and Public Affairs Secretary Jean Peña Payano on Sunday outlined key achievements from their first year in office and unveiled new initiatives aimed at strengthening the island

Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez By THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón has announced plans to make foreign investors pay a 4% capital gains tax and to transfer the administration of tourist facilities to municipalities. Currently, Puerto Rico’s Incentives Code (Act 60-2019) exempts foreign investors from paying capital gains taxes, while local investors face rates between 15% and 22%, the governor said. To level the pl

By THE STAR STAFF A new assessment by the RAND Corporation reveals that eight-plus years after hurricanes Maria and Irma devastated Puerto Rico, the island’s recovery remains uneven and faces deep-rooted challenges. Commissioned by the Puerto Rican government in 2023, the study examined critical policy areas and offered recommendations to accelerate progress and build long-term resilience. The report highlights two overarching goals: speeding up reconstruction and leveraging

Solar and Energy Storage Association of Puerto Rico President PJ Wilson By THE STAR STAFF The Solar and Energy Storage Association of Puerto Rico (SESA) thanked Gov. Jenniffer González Colón and legislators from all parties for approving House Joint Resolution 193 (HJR 193), a measure that the organization says protects consumers while promoting modern, reasonable regulatory practices aligned with Puerto Rico’s public energy policy. By signing HJR 193, SESA said, the governor

As part of the security plan for the San Sebastián Street Festival, the San Juan Municipal Police have installed “Tower Cams” in strategic areas of the city center. The mobile surveillance units feature high-definition cameras, remote operation and solar power, allowing for continuous 24/7 monitoring, even in areas where there is normally no fixed surveillance infrastructure. The technology, the city says, will facilitate a faster response, support investigations and strength

Puerto Rico Energy Bureau Chairman Edison Avilés Deliz By THE STAR STAFF The Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) has commissioned a legal study to evaluate the feasibility of municipalities assisting in the process of repairing and replacing electric streetlights. The information was confirmed by PREB Chairman Edison Avilés Deliz in a letter sent to the promoters of the initiative, Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez, along with House