Former Permits Management Office Assistant Secretary Norberto Almodóvar Vélez By THE STAR STAFF The Office of the Special Independent Prosecutor Panel (OPFEI by its initials in Spanish) has appointed two independent prosecutors to investigate former Permits Management Office (OGPe) officials Norberto Almodóvar Vélez and Charlene Neuman Rivera, following a referral from the Department of Justice and the submission of additional information by a former Cabinet official. The inf

La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech Fernández By THE STAR STAFF A widening ethics controversy inside the administration of Gov. Jenniffer González Colón intensified this week after La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech Fernández filed two sworn complaints accusing former Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC by its acronym in Spanish) Secretary Sebastián Negrón Reichard of orchestrating a pattern of conflicts of interest that allegedly steered tens of mi

By THE STAR STAFF On June 29, the federal government will launch a third phase of the passport revocation process for individuals with child support debts of $50,000 or more, María del Mar Mateu Meléndez, head of the Child Support Administration (ASUME by its acronym in Spanish), announced on Thursday. The measure will also apply to obligors with two or more cases whose combined debt reaches that amount. “As the federal government previously indicated, the passport revocation

Anthonieska Avilés Cabrera By THE STAR STAFF The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico denied the requests to stay proceedings and the petitions for “certiorari” filed by the defense for Anthonieska Avilés Cabrera, Justice Secretary of Lourdes Gómez Torres announced on Thursday. “Consistent with the position of the prosecution, this decision upholds the ruling of the Court of First Instance,” Gómez Torres stated in a written release. The Justice secretary noted that the decision allow

Rep. José Aponte Hernández (www.camara.pr.gov) By THE STAR STAFF At-large Rep. José Aponte Hernández sent a letter this week to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani demanding that he “respect the will of the people” who have expressed their support for statehood for Puerto Rico. “The people of Puerto Rico want statehood, not independence, as you … erroneously stated in a recent comment about the political future of our island,” Aponte wrote. “Mr. Mamdani, you may wish for Puert

La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech Fernández By THE STAR STAFF The political crisis surrounding the administration of Gov. Jenniffer González Colón has deepened as Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz not only called for the resignation of La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech Fernández, but also initiated a formal legislative investigation into sweeping allegations of political interference and potential criminal conduct. On Tuesday, Rivera Schatz filed

“We’re starting from scratch, including integrating the computer components to obtain information like telemetry,” said Alondra Vélez Avilés, a student who has been collaborating for two years on the watercraft the RUM Solar Boat team will enter in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. By THE STAR STAFF A group of students from the Mayagüez University Campus (RUM by its acronym in Spanish) of the University of Puerto Rico who designed a solar-powered watercraft will compete for t

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón told U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Mike Lee that allegations that she or her office interfered in contracting investigations at the island Department of Economic Development and Commerce were “completely false.” By THE STAR STAFF Appearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Wednesday. Gov. Jenniffer González Colón forcefully denied allegations that she or her office interfered in c

Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority Executive President Luis González Delgado Mayors of San Juan, Bayamón provide depositions By THE STAR STAFF The Puerto Rico Senate, meeting as a Committee of the Whole, held a high‑stakes hearing Wednesday to investigate the persistent water service failures that have disrupted life across the metropolitan region for nearly a year. Testimony from the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) and the mayors of San Juan and Bayamó

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. secured two contracts to design and install liquefied natural gas supply systems on the island: one with P.R. Energy Partners and another with a global healthcare products supplier whose name was not disclosed. By THE STAR STAFF Two private projects in Puerto Rico will incorporate liquefied natural gas (LNG) systems to support power generation with a combined capacity of 10 megawatts, as companies seek greater energy security for manufacturing, reside