Haiti extends a state of emergency and nighttime curfew to try and repel widespread gang attacks
Haitiโs government says it is extending a state of emergency and nighttime curfew to try and curb violent gang attacks that have paralyzed the capital of Port-au-Prince in a fierce political battle for power.
Fossil fuel-dependent Puerto Rico can fully shift to clean energy by 2050, a federal study says
As Puerto Rico struggles with chronic power outages and a decaying electric grid, federal officials believe the U.S. territory that is heavily dependent on fossil fuels can fully shift to clean energy by 2050, according to a new study that has been two years in the making.
Post-Fiona fuel disruptions spark fear in Puerto Rico
A growing number of businesses including grocery stores and gas stations are temporarily closing across Puerto Rico as power outages caused by Hurricane Fiona drag on in the U.S. territory, sparking concern about the availability of fuel and basic goods.
Ex Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vรกzquez charged with bribery
Former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vรกzquez has been arrested on bribery charges related to the financing of her 2020 campaign, the latest hit to an island with a long history of corruption that brought fresh political upheaval to the U.S. territory.
Fatal boat trip highlights Haitians fleeing violence
Haitians are fleeing in greater numbers to the neighboring Dominican Republic, where they step onto rickety wooden boats as they attempt to reach Puerto Rico โ a trip in which 11 Haitian women drowned this week, with dozens of other migrants believed missing.
Roberto Clemente: More than Latin Americaโs baseball star
Roberto Clemente was the first Latino to be inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The legacy of Roberto Clemente is still treasured today, proven nearly 50 years after his death. In fact, the Orange County School Board unanimously voted to rename the facility Roberto Clemente Middle on Sept. 21, coincidentally during Hispanic Heritage Month. Becoming baseballโs most prominent Afro-LatinoRoberto Clemente started his Major League Baseball career with the Pittsburg Pirates. The son of a sugarcane worker, Clemente began his professional baseball career just after finishing high school.
Puerto Rico reopens public schools amid COVID-19 fears
Students arrive at the Ramon Marin Sola primary school for the first time in nearly a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic as some public schools reopen in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Danica Coto)SAN JUAN โ Parents across Puerto Rico knelt down on Wednesday to adjust their children's face masks and backpacks as public schools reopened for the first time in nearly a year despite the pandemic, with officials reporting scarce attendance amid COVID-19 concerns. Among them was the Ramรณn Marรญn Solรก primary school in Guaynabo, where parents checked their childrenโs face masks before hugging them goodbye. AdFor now, only kindergarteners, special education students and children in first, second, third and 12th grades are allowed to return to school. Union leaders and some parents and teachers have called on Pierluisiโs administration to wait until August to reopen schools, noting the U.S. territory has not seen a significant decrease in COVID-19 cases.
Officials seeking answers to Puerto Rico telescope collapse
This photo provided by Aeromed shows the collapsed Radio Telescope in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. The update is part of a report that the federal agency, which owns the telescope, had to submit to Congress as the investigation continues into the Arecibo telescope. It was until recently the worldโs largest radio telescope and was used to study pulsars, detect gravitational waves, search for neutral hydrogen and detect habitable planets, among other things. The telescope is located in Puerto Ricoโs karst region, which serves as an important water source and contains the islandโs richest biodiversity. It was a crushing event for scientists around the world who had been using the telescope for nearly six decades.
Teddy bears stuffed with cocaine lead to 3 arrests
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Cocaine-stuffed teddy bears that were mailed from Puerto Rico to Jacksonville led to the arrests of three men, authorities said. Edgar Ortiz Lopez, 28, Yaddiel Ortiz Lopez, 24, and Cassidy Martinez-Iglesias, 28, are charged with trafficking in cocaine and conspiring with another to traffic cocaine. The arrests were announced by Jacksonville Sheriffโs Office Director of Investigations Mike Bruno at a news conference Thursday afternoon. Bruno said it turned out to contain a teddy bear filled with 2 kilograms of cocaine and an electronic tracker. According to Bruno, JSO was alerted to a third and then fourth package mailed from Puerto Rico to Jacksonville, and that fourth package held a teddy bear filled with 1 kilo of cocaine.
High court to weigh Puerto Rico access to US aid
WASHINGTON โ The Supreme Court agreed Monday to decide whether it is unconstitutional to exclude people living in Puerto Rico from Supplemental Social Security Income. The administration argues that a pair of 40-year-old Supreme Court decisions already upheld the federal law that created SSI and excluded Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories from it. In recent months, a federal judge ruled that Puerto Rico residents should have access to other federal welfare benefits from which they have been excluded as well. A federal judge in Guam said residents of that Pacific island also should be able to collect SSI. AdA separate program, Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled, covers residents of the territories, but it has more stringent eligibility requirements and pays less generous benefits than SSI.
Cardinals re-sign C Yadier Molina for 18th season
Puerto Rico's Yadier Molina reacts after tagging out Venezuela's Ali Castillo during the first inning of a Caribbean Series baseball game at Teodoro Mariscal Stadium in Mazatlan, Mexico, Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)ST. LOUIS โ Yadier Molina enjoyed going through the process of free agency for the first time in more than two decades as a pro. But it was fun โ fun to be part of the free-agent process," Molina said, โbut in my mind, it was always St. Louis. Molina hit .262 with four home runs in 42 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, his last under a $60 million, three-year deal. But he's best known for his defense behind the dish, trailing only Ivan Rodriguez (13) and Johnny Bench (10) for the most Gold Gloves won by a catcher.
More rescue dogs from Puerto Rico arrive at Nassau Humane
FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. โ Sixteen more rescue dogs from Puerto Rico arrived at the Nassau County Humane Society on Friday. The Humane Society said the dogs appear to range in age from 10 weeks to 3 years. Itโs expected theyโll need spay-neuter operations that will be paid for by the Humane Society before they go to fur-ever homes. Nassau Humane said the stray animal population in Puerto Rico is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands and U.S rescue groups are trying to help. The Nassau shelter has already welcomed 30 dogs from two prior airlifts organized by Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Palm Beach County.
Puerto Rico to get billions for storm aid, reconstruction
FILE - In this May 28, 2020 file photo, the home of 85-year-old Carmen Lacen, sits inhabitable after the passing of Hurricane Maria partially covered by a torn, blue tarp, in Loiza, Puerto Rico. The U.S. territory is slated to receive more than $6 billion in federal funds to help prepare for future hurricanes and other disasters, officials said Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti, File)SAN JUAN โ Puerto Rico is slated to receive more than $6 billion in federal funds to help prepare the U.S. territory for future hurricanes and other disasters, officials said Tuesday. In addition, Puerto Rico now has access to $3.2 billion to continue rebuilding from hurricanes Irma and Maria, said Pierluisi, who praised the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden for acting quickly. Congress had assigned $67 billion to help with reconstruction efforts after the hurricanes devastated the island in September 2017, but of the $43 billion obligated, Puerto Rico has only received $18 billion amid concerns over how the money would be spent.
Feral pigs flummox Puerto Rico, infiltrate communities
A mature Vietnamese pot-bellied pig roams the streets of the Cantera community in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Dec. 11, 2020. Itโs the latest non-native species to invade communities in Puerto Rico like iguanas and caimans did before them, although these are proving particularly hard to control and can't be killed for food because they carry so many diseases. While there are no official numbers, Olivieri said he estimates there are now thousands of pigs roaming across Puerto Rico, with 67 of the islandโs 78 municipalities reporting sightings. He said that while feral hogs are a problem in the U.S. mainland, it is nowhere near the level of whatโs happening with the Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs in Puerto Rico. โItโs become a health problem.โ
More than 17K vaccinated in Puerto Rico; new doses en route
Nurse Melissa Valentin shows a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to be applied to medical personnel at the Ashford Presbyterian Community Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Dr. Iris Cardona, sub-secretary of Puerto Ricoโs Health Department, said some 21,400 Pfizer vaccines will be delivered weekly for the next four to six weeks. First in line to be vaccinated are health workers, emergency responders, hospital employees and those who live or work in shelters or nursing homes. Given that Puerto Rico is an island, many worry that the delivery of the second required Pfizer vaccine dose could be delayed. Puerto Rico has reported more than 112,000 confirmed and probable cases and more than 1,300 deaths.
Dozens of states file anti-trust lawsuit against Google
The lawsuit, announced by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, was filed in federal court in Washington, D.C. by states represented by bipartisan attorneys general. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court in Washington by attorneys general of 35 states as well as the District of Columbia and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. โThis is a big deal.โThe DOJ brought an antitrust suit against AT&T in 1974 that led to its breakup. On Wednesday, 10 states led by Republican attorneys general filed a lawsuit against Google accusing it of โanti-competitive conductโ in the online advertising industry, including a deal to manipulate sales with rival Facebook. ___This story has been updated to reflect the lawsuit is an effort of 35 states as well as the District of Columbia and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico, not 38 states.
Naval Hospital Jacksonville, UF Health in Gainesville begin COVID-19 vaccinations
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Naval Hospital Jacksonville and UF Health in Gainesville on Wednesday began giving the COVID-19 vaccine to high-risk and high-exposure health care workers. After the shipments arrived Tuesday at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, phase one of the COVID-19 vaccination plan started Wednesday, meaning some high exposure-risk personnel got their first of two injections. Health care workers, emergency services staff and public safety officials lined up to receive some of the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. And I think this is a step in the right direction.โMore than 300 additional health care workers at UF Health in Gainesville were expected to be vaccinated throughout the day. Elsewhere, at least 110 health care workers at UF Health Jacksonville have received their first shot.
FDA says some arenโt recommended to take COVID-19 vaccine
Nurse Melissa Valentin shows a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to be applied to medical personnel at the Ashford Presbyterian Community Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. (AP Photo / Carlos Giusti)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ When the FDA approved Pfizerโs COVID-19 vaccine, the medical community agreed it would help more people than not. However, the vaccine is not recommended for everyone just yet. She said itโs just that right now thereโs no data because no one who falls into these categories were included in the vaccine trials. Itโs important to note that it could be months before a vaccine becomes available for widespread public use, and weโre going to learn more about the vaccines by then.
Nassau Humane welcomes 13 rescue dogs from Puerto Rico
FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. โ The Nassau Humane Society has welcomed more than a dozen rescue dogs from Puerto Rico. Chissell said the Nassau Humane and other rescue groups took in 125 dogs from Puerto Rico. โSo we were happy to take in another 13.โIn October, Nassau Humane welcomed 15 dogs from Puerto Rico, and all have since been adopted. Now, Chissell is hoping for the same for these 13 dogs -- including Charlie, who was specifically chosen because of his medical issues. @NassauHumane has welcomed 13 rescue dogs from Puerto Rico.
Daddy Yankee achieves new balance, readies for his comeback
It's something he had to gradually learn after gaining 40 pounds (almost 20 kilos) during the first months of quarantine. I started eating and eating and eating and I put on the pounds like never before. โI devoted myself to my health and to something that was unknown to me, which was rest,โ he said. โI wanted the artists to be gigantic, on people's faces, so the audience could feel that they were in front of them and we achieved that,โ Yankee said. โIt was a concert that became a residence, like if Las Vegas had moved to Puerto Rico.โ___Follow Sigal Ratner-Arias on Twitter at https://twitter.com/sigalratner.
Huge Puerto Rico radio telescope, already damaged, collapses
This satellite image provided by 2020 Maxar Technologies shows the damaged radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2020. (Satellite image 2020 Maxar Technologies via AP)SAN JUAN โ A huge, already damaged radio telescope in Puerto Rico that has played a key role in astronomical discoveries for more than half a century completely collapsed on Tuesday. The U.S. National Science Foundation had earlier announced that it would close the radio telescope. The collapse stunned many scientists who had relied on what was until recently the largest radio telescope in the world. โIt's a huge loss,โ said Carmen Pantoja, an astronomer and professor at the University of Puerto Rico who used the telescope for her doctorate.