By THE STAR STAFF Representative José “Conny” Varela announced today the filing of a House Resolution to direct the Government Committee to conduct a thorough investigation into the Department of Health’s decision to cancel and not renew the security services contracts with Genesis Security Services, Inc. at the Ramón Ruiz Arnau University Hospital. The measure seeks to examine the economic and operational criteria justifying the transfer of these services to other companies

At-large Rep. Tatiana Pérez Ramírez introduced a package of bills aimed at strengthening Puerto Rico’s water infrastructure, addressing sediment buildup and declining reservoir capacity, according to legislative measures filed at the Capitol. By THE STAR STAFF At-large Rep. Tatiana Pérez Ramírez has introduced a package of legislative measures to address sediment buildup, declining water storage capacity, and structural deterioration affecting Puerto Rico’s major reservoirs.

By THE STAR STAFF Puerto Rico House Speaker Carlos “Johnny” Méndez announced the death of Juan Benabe Guzmán, the first New Progressive Party (NPP) mayor of Luquillo, elected in the historic 1968 general election. Benabe Guzmán served as mayor from 1969 to 1972 and again from 1977 to 1984. “We mourn the passing of a public servant whose legacy remains deeply felt in Luquillo decades after leaving office,” Méndez said. “He was an honorable leader, a devoted family man, and a p

By THE STAR STAFF The Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) has approved three Microsoft Caribbean, Inc. contracts and amendments while warning that government agencies need tighter budget controls to manage rising technology costs. The most significant action involved the Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Service (PRITS), whose cloud‑services contract with Microsoft has nearly tripled since its original approval in 2022. The latest amendment, its fifth, adds $3

After photos of a shark-like silhouette in the water were circulated, DNER Ranger Corps personnel were activated at Vacía Talega beach in Loíza, where they assessed the coastline, interviewed beachgoers and offered safety guidance. (Facebook via Puertoricogram) By THE STAR STAFF The Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) Secretary Waldemar Quiles Pérez said Thursday that he activated Ranger Corps personnel at Vacía Talega beach in Loíza after photos of a shark-like silhou

Verónica Ferraiuoli Hornedo By THE STAR STAFF The Puerto Rico Supreme Court has ordered the dismissal of a complaint filed against attorney Verónica Ferraiuoli Hornedo in connection with the case of Sally Priester v. Puerto Rico Department of Health, bringing the matter to a close. “Having examined the complaint, as well as the other filings subsequently submitted, the Court orders the complaint archived,” the island’s highest court said in its official resolution. Following

U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow By THE STAR STAFF U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow will step down as U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico next Tuesday, July 7, ending a Justice Department career that spans over 37 years. In announcing his resignation, Muldrow described the post as “the honor of my professional life,” saying he was grateful to have served both Puerto Rico and the United States. Muldrow thanked the attorneys and professional staff of the U.S. Attorney

Justice Secretary Lourdes Gómez Torres By THE STAR STAFF Justice Secretary Lourdes Gómez Torres announced Thursday that the agency’s Economic Crimes Division has filed criminal charges against 16 individuals involved in a scheme to misappropriate $30,000 in insurance checks belonging to apartment owners in Plaza del Palmar Condominium in Guaynabo. According to the investigation, the condominium administrators, Víctor Emanuel Vázquez Ortiz and Yessika Delimar Mártir Irizarry,

Dr. José Caraballo-Cueto is a professor in the Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. By THE STAR STAFF Research by a University of Puerto Rico professor has found that poverty sharply increases the risk of school dropout among students with specific learning disabilities, especially when economic hardship and disability overlap. The study, published in the Journal of Disability Policy Studies, analyzed more than 2.4 m

A study published by Medicina/Salud Publica challenges the traditional view of abandonment as an intentional act. Social worker and gerontologist Erika Colón Ortega, who led the study, said many families are willing to care for their older loved ones but lack the financial resources or suitable housing to support people discharged from hospitals with disabilities or long-term care needs. (www.arecibo.inter.edu) Study spotlights socioeconomic factors, challenges traditional vi