Rep. Swanny Enit Vargas Laureano By THE STAR STAFF Popular Democratic Party at-large Rep. Swanny Enit Vargas Laureano announced that the Office of Legislative Budget and Analysis (OPAL by its acronym in Spanish) has determined that exempting Christmas bonuses for public and private-sector employees from income tax withholdings would not negatively impact government revenues. Vargas Laureano said OPAL completed a technical and fiscal evaluation of her proposed legislation, whi

Flooding in Las Piedras on Thursday. Variable to unstable weather conditions are forecast to persist in Puerto Rico through Friday, bringing periods of showers and some thunderstorms -- particularly in the afternoon -- along with a localized risk of flooding. (Facebook via Oficina Municipal para el Manejo de Emergencias de Las Piedras) By THE STAR STAFF Variable to unstable weather conditions will persist through Friday, bringing periods of showers and some thunderstorms -- p

Energy Czar Josué Colón Ortiz By THE STAR STAFF Josué Colón Ortiz, the island’s energy czar, is rejecting claims that a decision this week by the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) amounts to a hidden electricity rate increase, insisting instead that the measure represents a redistribution of costs intended to ensure fairness across the system. Responding to questions from the press about whether the PREB’s Resolution and Order was effectively a rate hike, the energy czar said

Robert Mujica, executive director of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico By THE STAR STAFF Robert Mujica, the executive director of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico, said Wednesday that the fiscal control entity expects to decide on a tax relief proposal from the island government in less than two weeks. Speaking in an aside to reporters during a budget forum on the last day for filing a tax return, Mujica told reporters th

U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain By THE STAR STAFF In a significant development in the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s (PREPA) bankruptcy process, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain has partially lifted the litigation stay in the Title III proceeding, allowing a narrow but critical phase of litigation to move forward. The ruling this week clears the way for the bondholders’ long‑pending accounting counterclaim to proceed, along with limited discovery focused

Rep. Víctor Parés Otero By THE STAR STAFF Rep. Víctor Parés Otero, who chairs the House Government Committee, announced Wednesday the filing of legislation that would increase the mandatory automobile accident coverage provided by Puerto Rico’s Joint Underwriting Association from $4,500 to $6,000, without raising insurance premiums for drivers. In a written statement, Parés said the proposal responds to the growing gap between repair costs and the current limits of the compul

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón By THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón signed into law three legislative measures on Wednesday, strengthening Puerto Rico’s anticorruption framework, expanding the prosecution window for major financial crimes, and honoring the life of a police officer who died in the line of duty. One of the measures, Law 54-2026 (Senate Bill 921 / Administration Bill 096), is an administration-backed proposal authored by the governor to bolster the gov

Police reported that the pilot attempted to maneuver the small plane to return to his point of departure after experiencing engine trouble over Levittown, but the aircraft crashed along the shoreline. The pilot was reported to be in stable condition following the crash. By THE STAR STAFF Police reported on Wednesday an incident involving a small aircraft, reported at 10:30 a.m. off the coast of Levittown Beach in Toa Baja, where the pilot was forced to maneuver due to mechani

Renovations at the old town hall in Cidra will focus on renewing the electrical system, sealing the roof to prevent leaks, restoring the staircases, and rehabilitating the wooden ceiling with its central skylight, seen here. By THE STAR STAFF Cidra has begun the rehabilitation of the old town hall in the eastern-central mountain municipality’s urban center, a historic structure that has remained unused since 2007 and will now be transformed into a museum, tourist center and s

A measure filed in the island Legislature proposes ordering the Puerto Rico Tourism Company to develop a strategic plan for the development, marketing and promotion of the southwestern fishing village of Joyuda and the surrounding area. (Wikipedia/Jerjes Medina Albino) By THE STAR STAFF District IV (Mayagüez-Aguadilla) Sen. Jeison Rosa Ramos filed Senate Bill 1177 earlier this week, a measure aimed at creating and officially establishing the “Joyuda, Sabor Costero” tourist an