SAN JUAN — Governor Wanda Vázquez announced on Saturday that she will hold a nonbinding referendum in November to decide whether Puerto Rico should become a U.S. state, a move that comes amid growing disillusion with the island’s U.S. territorial status. For the first time in the island’s history, the referendum will ask a single, […]
Category: La Fortaleza News
U.S. Official: Disaster Recovery Pace To Speed Up In Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN — The newly appointed U.S. official charged with overseeing disaster recovery in Puerto Rico said today that while the pace of federally funded projects to help hurricane and earthquake victims has quickened, he’s worried about long term efforts. The comments by Peter Brown, White House special representative for Puerto Rico’s disaster recovery, came […]
OFFICIAL CORRUPTION: Puerto Rican Style … Education Secretary Lives In Luxury For $1.00 Per Month
SAN JUAN — A federal judge on Friday denied a request to move an upcoming corruption trial against former Puerto Rico Education Secretary Julia Keleher to the U.S. mainland. The decision in the high-profile case was celebrated by many in the U.S. territory who argued that Keleher should be tried where the alleged crimes occurred. […]
PRPD: Massacre At Río Piedras Housing Project Leaves Six Dead In Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN — At least six people were killed during a massacre at a public housing project in Puerto Rico on Monday night. Videos recorded by residents captured the terrifying moment a group of armed men stormed the Ernesto Ramos Pianini residential complex in Río Piedras at 6:45 p.m. One victim, identified as Alexis Padilla […]
Puerto Rico, With Three Governors In A Week, Might Put In A Fourth
SAN JUAN — A day after Puerto Rico got its third governor in less than a week following angry street protests, top officials from new leader Wanda Vázquez’s own party talked openly Thursday about their desire to see a fourth take over the position. Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, who played a key role in […]
Protesters Lock Legislators In Community Center As Puerto Rico Braces For Massive Protest
SAN JUAN — Puerto Rico braced early today for what many people expected to be one of the biggest protests ever seen as irate islanders pledged to drive Gov. Ricardo Rosselló from office. Hundreds of thousands of people were expected to take over one of the island’s busiest highways this morning to press demands for […]
Puerto Rico Treasury Department Announces Extension of Employee Retention Benefit Program
SAN JUAN — There’s good news for employers who have not yet applied for the Employee Retention Benefit in Puerto Rico. The deadline to apply for the program has been extended to June 30th, 2019 for first time filers and July 14th, 2019 for anyone wishing to amend a previous filing. Benefits are awarded on […]
Governors Albert Bryan Jr. and Ricardo Rosselló Meet For First Time In Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN — Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. met with Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Roselló while in the capital city Tuesday. Governors Bryan and Roselló discussed the ongoing recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands and preparedness efforts ahead of the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane season. Each governor committed to establishing a working partnership […]
Puerto Rico Department of Health Approves Sale of Naloxone Amid Opioid Crisis
SAN JUAN — Puerto Rico’s health department says a drug meant to control opioid overdoses can now be sold without a prescription, a move meant to reduce a spike in opioid deaths across the U.S. commonwealth. Health Secretary Rafael Rodriguez said Tuesday that naloxone will be sold as a nasal spray and as an auto-injection […]
Puerto Rico Begins Water Rationing Measures Amidst Drought-Like Conditions
SAN JUAN — Tens of thousands of people in Puerto Rico will face water rationing due to increasingly dry conditions in a U.S. commonwealth still struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria. Governor Ricardo Rossello said today that seven municipalities in the island’s northwest region could be without water for up to 24 hours at a […]