By THE STAR STAFF The Puerto Rico Legislature has approved House Bill 505, a major update to the island’s Resident Investor Incentive Program, setting new rules for tax benefits and extending the program’s lifespan. Under the revised law, individuals applying after Dec. 31, 2026, will face a 4% income tax rate on interest, dividends and capital gains -- up from the current 0% -- but will gain access to a significantly extended sunset date of 2055, up from 2035. Existing benef

Former Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Zaida “Cucusa” Hernández Torres (X via Jenniffer González) By THE STAR STAFF Former Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Zaida “Cucusa” Hernández Torres reacted Thursday to remarks made by Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, asserting that “the great white shark” will not run for governor of Puerto Rico because “he is a coward.” Regarding the Senate president’s controversial post -- part of a dispute

Olga Tañón By THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón has signed Joint Resolution 12-2026 to designate a section of PR-866, in the Levittown neighborhood of Toa Baja, as Olga Tañón Avenue, in recognition of the singer’s artistic career and social contributions. “For four decades, Olga Tañón has made us dance, vibrate with her voice and charisma, feel proud of her international achievements, and empower us as women through her songs,” the governor said in a written statem

By THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón signed Law 25-2026, which amends the Puerto Rico Veterinary Practice Act to clarify revalidation requirements and create a provisional licensing mechanism to expand the availability of veterinary services on the island. The measure, corresponding to Senate Bill 110, was authored by Sen. Carmelo Ríos and amends Articles 3 and 12, as well as adding a new Article 12.2 to Law Number 194 of Aug. 4, 1979, as amended. “Experts recommen

Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera By THE STAR STAFF Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera presented his Strategic Plan for Federal Funds this week, an initiative that turns his district office into a center for guidance and access to information on federal funds for municipalities and non-profit organizations (NPOs) in Puerto Rico. “The objective of this plan is to stop municipalities and non-profit organizations from being left out of federal fund

Sen. Wilmer Reyes Berríos By THE STAR STAFF Guayama District Sen. Wilmer Reyes Berríos on Wednesday accused at-large Sen. Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz of portraying himself as the watchdog of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) and the current administration, despite having left the Municipality of Villalba, where he had served as mayor, with a critical financial situation that includes a $3.6 million debt with the water utility. Reyes Berríos maintained that

Javier Rúa Jovet, public policy director at the Puerto Rico Solar and Energy Storage Association By THE STAR STAFF Puerto Rico’s solar and energy‑storage advocates are urging regulators to reject a proposal by LUMA Energy that would raise the residential fixed charge from about $4 per month to more than $40.  The Puerto Rico Solar and Energy Storage Association (SESA) and Solar United Neighbors (SUN) filed a motion before the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) opposing the requ

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón By THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón urged a federal judge this week to return her lawsuit seeking to invalidate the extension of LUMA Energy’s contract to Puerto Rico’s local courts, arguing that the case centers solely on enforcing commonwealth law and not on political or financial motives. In a filing submitted this past Monday to U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain, the governor and the Puerto Rico government said the lawsuit fa