Nov 01 San Juan mayor questions abrupt postponement of House hearing about Hurricane Maria By Luis Alonso Lugo, Associated Press Rep. Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, who had invited Cruz to testify, told reporters he was given no explanation for the postponement. Continue reading
Oct 29 Puerto Rico cancels contract with Whitefish Energy By Michael D. Regan Puerto Rico’s power company on Sunday pulled out of a $300 million contract with utility provider Whitefish Energy Holdings. Continue reading
Oct 27 Puerto Rico faces huge challenges in rebuilding and reinventing K-12 education By Andrew Ujifusa, Education Week Puerto Rico has the opportunity to recreate, and not just rebuild, its long-struggling school system. But a positive transformation for the island’s schools might be crippled before it can even start. Continue reading
Oct 27 FEMA disavows Puerto Rico power contract amid investigations By Michael Biesecker and Matthew Daly, Associated Press The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Friday it had no involvement in the decision to award a $300 million contract to help restore Puerto Rico's power grid to a tiny Montana company in Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's hometown. Continue reading
Oct 26 Congressional committees investigate Puerto Rico contract award By Matthew Daly, Associated Press Multiple congressional committees are investigating a $300 million contract awarded to a small Montana company in the hometown of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke that was tapped to help restore Puerto Rico's damaged power grid. Continue reading
Oct 24 Senate passes $36.5 billion disaster aid bill By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press The Senate passed a $36.5 billion emergency aid measure Tuesday to refill disaster accounts, provide a much-needed cash infusion to Puerto Rico, and bail out the federal flood insurance program. Continue reading
Oct 24 Democrat urges probe of Puerto Rico power contract to Zinke neighbor By Matthew Daly, Associated Press A Democratic congressman on Tuesday called for an investigation into a $300 million contract awarded to a small company based in Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's hometown of Whitefish, Montana. Continue reading
Oct 22 Psychological first aid must be part of disaster relief By Alani Gregory, STAT The danger of natural disasters lies not only in the tremendous loss of life and property, but also in the psychological toll they take on survivors. Continue reading
Oct 20 Watch 6:02 After two devastating hurricanes, U.S. Virgin Islands’ ‘hurt is very real’ By PBS News Hour Hurricane-battered infrastructure and limited electricity have taken a toll on the tourism-driven economy of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Home to 100,000 Americans, the islands took a hit from both hurricanes Irma and Maria at their peaks within a span of… Continue watching
Oct 20 WATCH: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gives update on Puerto Rico By Corinne Segal The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to hold a briefing on Puerto Rico at 1:15 p.m. ET. Watch the updates here. Continue reading