The Financial Oversight and Management Board has certified its own Revised 2021 Fiscal Plan for the University of Puerto Rico after determining that the government’s fiscal plan failed to meet the requirements of PROMESA. By THE STAR STAFF The Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico has certified its own Revised 2021 Fiscal Plan for the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) after determining that the government’s fiscal plan failed to meet the requirements of the P

By THE STAR STAFF The Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico has approved, with observations, a $14 million loan agreement to help finance the construction of a new 10-story, 103‑room hotel in the Miramar sector of San Juan. The loan, to be issued under the Department of Housing’s Economic Development Investment Portfolio for Growth Program (IPG Program), will support a project led by Drift‑Wind Inc., IFJ Corp., and ORC Miramar Corporation. The total develop

Rep. Ramón Torres Cruz By THE STAR STAFF At-large Rep. Ramón Torres Cruz called on Sunday for a 90‑day suspension of Puerto Rico’s 7 percent sales and use tax (IVU by its acronym in Spanish) on prepared foods, arguing that the measure would provide immediate economic relief to families facing rising living costs. Torres Cruz said the proposal is supported by recently released data from Treasury Secretary Ángel Pantoja Rodríguez, who reported that net General Fund revenues col

Following a multi‑agency coordination meeting with the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, the Puerto Rico National Guard, and private‑sector representatives, government officials identified additional resources to be deployed immediately to bolster water delivery in affected northern island communities. (Facebook via Puerto Rico National Guard July 30/2025) By THE STAR STAFF The central government has intensified its emergency water distribution operation as thousands

Mayor William Miranda Torres, right, said Caguas’ latest international recognition, “this time with [the transportation app] Muévete Libre, reaffirms the municipality’s sustained leadership in social and urban innovation at the Latin American level.” By THE STAR STAFF The Autonomous Municipality of Caguas announced Sunday that the Muévete Libre application, which was developed by the team at the municipal Department of Citizen Mobility, obtained two important international r

The LGBTQ community turned out in force Sunday for the kickoff of Pride Month, which recognizes and encourages support for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual and queer people. (John McPhaul) By JOHN McPHAUL jpmcphaul@gmail.com The LGBTQ community turned out in force Sunday for the kickoff of Pride Month, which recognizes and encourages support for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and queer people. Hundreds of colorfully festooned marchers walked

The Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve in Río Grande has new ownership. (Facebook via Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico) By THE STAR STAFF Henderson Park, an international private equity real estate firm, announced that it has completed the acquisition of Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve in Río Grande, according to a statement issued Thursday. Pyramid Global Hospitality, a management company, has been selected to operate the hotel. The acquisition of the resort through a joint vent

By THE STAR STAFF Four pharmacies in Puerto Rico and their owners have agreed to pay a combined $4.6 million to settle federal allegations that they defrauded Medicare and Medicaid by dispensing diverted prescription drugs falsely represented as legitimately sourced. The conduct occurred between January 2021 and January 2024, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico. Federal authorities recovered more than $4.1 million between Feb. 26 and May 28

Belinda Hill, chair of the PR-502 Continuum of Care board of directors By THE STAR STAFF The 2026 Homeless Point-in-Time Count identified 930 homeless individuals across island 24 municipalities within the PR-502 Continuum of Care (CoC). While this represents a reduction compared to 2025, the data revealed that 57.8% of these individuals are experiencing homelessness for the first time. “The reduction observed in the 2026 Homeless Point-in-Time Count is an encouraging result

BY THE STAR STAFF The Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO by its acronym in Spanish) launched an enforcement operation on Thursday, targeting more than 400 businesses with the start of the 2026 hurricane season. “The purpose of this operation is to maintain active vigilance throughout Puerto Rico to ensure that consumers have access to clear and accurate information regarding the products they need to prepare for any emergency,” DACO Secretary Hiram Torres Montalvo said in a