Sep 18 WATCH: Trump shifts on Puerto Rico, releases aid as election nears By Ben Fox, Associated Press President Donald Trump has announced the release of $13 billion in assistance to repair the damage in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria three years ago, and has pledged to restore its economy. Continue reading
Aug 17 FBI arrests Puerto Rico lawmaker, family in corruption probe By Dánica Coto, Associated Press FBI agents have arrested Puerto Rico Rep. María Milagros Charbonier after the legislator who once presided over the island's House Ethics Committee was charged in a public corruption case that officials say also involved her son, husband and an assistant. Continue reading
Aug 11 Puerto Rico governor sues elections commission in primary debacle By Dánica Coto, Associated Press Puerto Rico’s governor is adding new demands to conflicting proposals for rescuing the U.S. territory’s botched primary election. Continue reading
Aug 10 Puerto Rico halts primary voting in centers lacking ballots By Dánica Coto, Associated Press The unprecedented situation comes as voters ventured out amid a spike in COVID-19 cases across Puerto Rico, an island of 3.2 million people that has reported more than 12,800 probable cases, more than 8,500 confirmed cases and at least 274… Continue reading
Aug 07 Voters weary as Puerto Rico prepares for historic primaries By Dánica Coto, Associated Press Gov. Wanda Vázquez of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party is running against seasoned politician Pedro Pierluisi, who represented Puerto Rico in Congress from 2009 to 2017 and briefly served as governor last August after the then governor resigned following street… Continue reading
Jul 16 Puerto Rico rolls back openings amid spike in COVID-19 cases By Dánica Coto, Associated Press Puerto Rico's governor has announced major rollbacks including the closure of bars, gyms, marinas, theaters and casinos and restricted the use of beaches as the U.S. territory is hit by a spike in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. Gov. Wanda… Continue reading
May 21 Puerto Rico to reopen businesses, beaches with new rules By Dánica Coto, Associated Press The U.S. territory is about to emerge from a two-month lockdown that stifled business activity on an island already beset with economic woes. Continue reading
May 16 Puerto Rico to hold statehood referendum amid disillusion By Dánica Coto, Associated Press For the first time in the island’s history, the referendum will ask a single, simple question: Should Puerto Rico be immediately admitted as a U.S. state?… Continue reading
May 14 Puerto Rico to spend $2B to fight COVID-19 as concerns grow over allocation By Dánica Coto, Associated Press Wanda Vázquez said Thursday that $300 million will be used in part to increase testing, expand contact tracing and help the unemployed affected by a lockdown imposed in mid-March. Many Puerto Ricans also worry that the newest funds available will… Continue reading
May 02 Quake hits near Puerto Rico, some reports of damage By Dánica Coto, Associated Press A 5.5-magnitude earthquake hit near southern Puerto Rico on Saturday, jolting many from their beds on an island where some people still remain in shelters from previous quakes earlier this year. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Continue reading