University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus Interim Chancellor Mayra Charriez Cordero (Facebook via Recinto de Río Piedras de la UPR) By THE STAR STAFF Mayra Charriez Cordero, interim chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico’s (UPR) Río Piedras Campus, announced over the weekend the postponement of the start of the first semester of the 2026-2027 academic year to Monday, Aug. 17. “Furthermore, for the duration of the state of emergency, courses will be offered via alterna

Secretary of State Rosachely Rivera Santana is overseeing the logistics of coordination between agency heads and municipalities. By THE STAR STAFF In light of the persistent drought forecast for the island -- which has reached the “extreme drought” category in some regions -- Gov. Jenniffer González Colón announced on Sunday the launch of a large-scale government mobilization effort. Secretary of State Rosachely Rivera Santana is overseeing the logistics of coordination betwe

Financial Oversight and Management Board Executive Director Robert F. Mujica Jr. (YouTube Live via Financial Oversight and Management Board) By THE STAR STAFF Puerto Rico’s temporary generation project was at the center of a scandal last week after the Financial Oversight and Management Board disclosed that ERock, formerly known as Enchanted Rock, said its name and signature were used without authorization in the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s (PREPA) $5.8 billion eme

By THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón on Thursday sent a new round of appointments to the Senate, as part of her administration’s efforts to strengthen several government entities across areas such as economic development, health and public safety. The governor submitted five recess appointments, including the designation of attorney Julie O. Gómez Gómez as secretary of the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation. Gómez, whose appointment is now before the Senat

Green sea turtle (Wikipedia/Brocken Inaglory) By THE STAR STAFF As part of the “Quiero Mi Escuela” (I Love My School) initiative, Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) Secretary Waldemar Quiles Pérez, along with members of the non-profit organization Tortugueros del Sur, on Thursday offered children at María Libertad Gómez Elementary School in Utuado a detailed educational talk on the importance of protecting leatherback, hawksbill and green turtles and their nests. “Our

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón helped ring in the start of the school year Thursday morning at the Bonifacio Alvarado Second Unit School in Orocovis, a bilingual school that has achieved a high ranking based on its academic achievement and standardized exam results. (Facebook via Jenniffer González Colón) All island public schools open for a new semester By THE STAR STAFF As Puerto Rico’s public school students began a new academic year on Thursday, Gov. Jenniffer González Col

With a combined investment of $536,500, the Fundación Triple‑S and the Fundación para el Futuro de la Salud granted 37 scholarships to medical residents and students in the health professions preparing for specialties where Puerto Rico faces critical gaps. By THE STAR STAFF Two of the island’s leading philanthropic health organizations have joined forces to bolster Puerto Rico’s medical workforce, awarding more than half a million dollars in supplemental scholarships to stude

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Eusebio Ramos Morales of Caguas as the new archbishop of San Juan, having accepted the resignation of Archbishop Roberto O. González Nieves, O.F.M., who had led the Archdiocese of San Juan since 1999. (Facebook via El Visitante PR) Pope names Bishop Ramos Morales of Caguas as his successor By THE STAR STAFF In a significant moment for the Catholic Church in Puerto Rico, Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Roberto O. Gonzál

Héctor del Río Jiménez, ex-chairman of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority board of governors (Facebook via Acueductos PR) By THE STAR STAFF The abrupt resignation of Héctor del Río Jiménez as chairman of the board of governors of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) intensified public scrutiny Thursday over how the public corporation has managed the ongoing drought and the newly implemented water‑rationing plan. Del Río stepped down immediately, alle

A battery energy storage system plant, interior view. A $489.4 million loan awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing will fund 220 megawatts of battery energy storage systems in Arecibo and Santa Isabel. (Wikipedia/Enyavar) By THE STAR STAFF The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Dominance Financing has closed a $489.4 million loan to support new battery storage projects in Puerto Rico, an investment federal officials say