Gov. Jenniffer González Colón By THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón has signed two administration-backed measures aimed at strengthening the island’s public education system and commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. The first, Senate Bill 772 -- now Law 125‑2026 -- is part of the governor’s government program and seeks to overhaul the Department of Education’s organizational, administrative, academic and technological structure. The legislation e

By THE STAR STAFF José Rivera Ortiz, executive director of the Metropolitan Region of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA), said Wednesday that repair work at the Sergio Cuevas Water Treatment Plant in Trujillo Alto is still ongoing. Crews are currently addressing a leak in a 48-inch pipeline. “Our priority at all times has been to handle this repair responsibly and safely, but above all, to restore potable water service to our people as soon as possible,” Riv

Coamo Mayor Juan Carlos García Padilla (Asociación de Alcaldes de PR) By THE STAR STAFF Coamo Mayor Juan Carlos García Padilla said Wednesday that the latest assessment from the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA), which placed the Toa Vaca, Carraízo and Cidra reservoirs under close observation due to declining water levels, validates months of warnings about the risks of unchecked development in the region. PRASA’s update noted that prolonged dry conditions coul

Fortaleza Public Affairs Secretary Jean Peña Payano. By THE STAR STAFF La Fortaleza Public Affairs Secretary Jean Peña Payano on Tuesday declined to identify who in the Governor’s Office authorized the transfer of former Permits Management Office (OGPe) assistant secretary Norberto Almodóvar to the Department of Housing, a move made while Almodóvar remains under investigation for his conduct at OGPe. Peña Payano, pressed repeatedly during a press conference, said he does not

Iván Báez, vice president of Government and Public Affairs at Genera PR (center), addressed the company’s efforts to restore generation capacity after LUMA Energy warned of potential rotating outages. By THE STAR STAFF Genera PR restored enough generation capacity to stabilize Puerto Rico’s electric system and avoid load‑shedding on Monday, after bringing several units back online that had been out of service for repairs, the company said. Iván Báez, vice president of Governm

By THE STAR STAFF Governor Jenniffer González Colón and the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety (DSP), Arturo Garffer, announced the acquisition of 74 systems FirstNet miniCRD (Compact Rapid Deployables) to strengthen public safety communications during emergencies and disasters in Puerto Rico. The initiative represents an investment of $3.0 million and seeks to guarantee the continuity of communications when the traditional telecommunications infrastructure is affec

By THE STAR STAFF The Puerto Rico government will be amending its water emergency executive order to include the municipalities of Loíza, Canóvanas, and Río Grande, according to Public Affairs Secretary Jean Peña Payano. Peña Payano said the government has maintained drought and water-rationing protocols for Loíza and Canóvanas since June 24, even before the latest emergency expansion. He explained that authorities chose to keep the protocols in place because water conditions

Health Secretary Víctor Ramos Otero, who warned that extreme heat-related illnesses and deaths may be underreported and urged greater recognition of heat stroke cases. By THE STAR STAFF Health Secretary Víctor Ramos Otero warned Tuesday that extreme heat-related illnesses and deaths may be underdiagnosed in Puerto Rico, where 742 emergency room visits linked to heat exposure were reported between January 2025 and June 2026. “It is important that these cases be reported to the

President of the Corporation for the Defense of the Holder of a Gun License of Puerto Rico Ariel Torres Meléndez. By THE STAR STAFF The head of Puerto Rico’s main gun‑rights advocacy group is urging the Police Bureau to move quickly to comply with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limits the government’s ability to disarm people who use controlled substances, including licensed medical cannabis patients. The Police Bureau has said it will not enforce the Supreme Court r

By THE STAR STAFF Seeking to expand educational offerings in the public school system, Rep. Víctor Parés, chair of the House Government Committee, has announced a new initiative to develop a workshop on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones. Parés noted that drone use has surged in recent years, driven by advances in technology, design, and automated controls incorporating artificial‑intelligence algorithms. While drones were once used mainly for photo