U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche (Facebook via the United States Department of Justice) US attorney general says president acts alone on clemency decisions By EVA LAUREANO U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche on Thursday defended President Donald Trump’s sweeping use of presidential pardons, insisting that the president exercises the constitutional power independently and does not seek his approval or guidance, even as Trump’s second‑term clemency record faces mounting critic

Hundreds of members of the University of Puerto Rico Workers’ Union ratified a strike vote on Thursday. The strike is set to begin on Tuesday of next week if no agreement is reached with the university administration regarding the medical plan for physical plant employees. By THE STAR STAFF Hundreds of members of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) Workers’ Union ratified a strike vote on Thursday; the strike is set to begin on Tuesday of next week if no agreement is reached

Puerto Rico’s water and power authorities told lawmakers during a hearing in the island Senate on Thursday that they lack the capacity to meet the massive water demand of the proposed Esencia luxury development in Cabo Rojo, a disclosure that immediately raised questions about how the project’s land‑use consultation was approved in the first place. By THE STAR STAFF Puerto Rico’s water and power authorities told lawmakers Thursday that they lack the capacity to meet the massi

By THE STAR STAFF With close to half of the island now in a state of extreme drought, the Financial Oversight and Management Board has approved a 21‑day extension granting the Puerto Rico government continued access to the Emergency Reserve to fund response measures tied to the island’s ongoing drought emergency. The authorization, issued Wednesday, allows eligible expenditures through Sept. 10. According to the weekly update from the Drought Monitor issued Thursday, extreme

By THE STAR STAFF Tropical Storm Dolly formed on Thursday over the central tropical Atlantic and could bring heavy rains to Puerto Rico between Sunday and Monday, the National Hurricane Center reported. At 11 a.m. Thursday, the center of Dolly was located near latitude 13.6 degrees north and longitude 38.7 degrees west, some 1,555 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour and was moving westward at 24 miles per hour. The National H

Ivania Ortiz (3) of Puerto Rico spikes against Trinidad & Tobago during their match at the NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship in Santo Domingo on Tuesday. Puerto Rico won in straight sets. By THE STAR STAFF Puerto Rico dominated Trinidad and Tobago from start to finish on Tuesday, winning 3-0 (25-7, 25-5 and 25-5) to advance to the fifth-place match of the 2026 NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship at the Prof. Ricardo Gioriver Arias Volleyball Palace in Santo Doming

Lawrence Vidal (2) of Puerto Rico attacks against Mexico during their match at the Men’s NORCECA Final Six in Ponce on Tuesday. Mexico won in four sets. (Lynibel Ferrer – FPV) By THE STAR STAFF Mexico notched its second victory at the Men’s NORCECA Final Six on Tuesday by defeating host Puerto Rico in four sets at Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium. The set scores were 17-25, 25-17, 25-21 and 25-22. With the match tied at one set apiece, Puerto Rico (2-1) and Mexico (2-1) were e

Los Guapos of Dorado will look to defend their title when the Amateur Baseball League of Puerto Rico Confederation (COLICEBA) season opens next month. (Aldwin Santiago) By THE STAR STAFF The Amateur Baseball League of Puerto Rico Confederation (COLICEBA by its acronym in Spanish) announced this week that its 2026 season will begin on Friday, Sept. 18, featuring 17 franchises distributed across four sections. The opening game will pit the Caciques of Orocovis against the defen

The Open Call PR initiative is aimed at helping local entrepreneurs, including agricultural producers, grow their businesses while expanding the availability of Puerto Rican products in Walmart stores. By THE STAR STAFF Walmart Puerto Rico is launching a new edition of its Open Call PR program as part of an effort to increase its annual investment in products made, processed, distributed or harvested on the island. The initiative is aimed at helping local entrepreneurs grow