Puerto Rico News Digest For October 9, 2015

MURDERS IN SAN JUAN AND CAGUAS

As reported today by El Nuevo Dia, two murders have been  registered
this Friday morning, one each in San Juan and Caguas. In San Juan, a
man in his early 20s was shot to death in a business on Jose De Diego
Avenue in the Puerto Nuevo area at around 6:25 AM. Meanwhile, three
individuals reached  a bakery on Degetau Avenue in Caguas around 6:27
AM.  One man came in with a bullet wound, a woman was unhurt and
a dead man sat in their car. The injured man had gone into the bakery to
call for help. Police closed Degetau, Turabo Avenue and road PR-156 in
order to investigate the incident. No motives are yet known for either
killing.

WATER RESERVOIRS SEE MODEST INCREASE 

Recent rains brought to Puerto Rico by a tropical wave helped raise
water levels at most of the island's reservoirs. The Carraízo reservoir,
which serves part of the San Juan metro area, rose by nine centime-
ters, leaving the level at 38.47 meters this morning. However, the La
Plata reservoir, which also serves the San Juan area, did not see a le-
vel increase overnight. Users served by La Plata are still under a 24-
hour water rationing plan.

PR RESTRUCTURES EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

From Caribbean Business:

"More than 600 employees from the Puerto Rico Education Department
will be transferred to other divisions and agencies in a push to reorganize
the government. Public Affairs Secretary Jesús Manuel Ortiz said Thurs-
day that more than 400 workers will be placed in administrative positions
at public schools. The remainder will have administrative jobs at the police
department to free some 1,200 officers from desk duties and allow them to
return to the street..."

PIERLUISI FILES BILL FOR LOAN GUARANTEES

From News Is My Business:

"Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi introduced a bill Thursday that
would authorize the U.S. Treasury Department to guarantee repayment
of principal and interest on bonds to be issued in the future by the island’s
bond-issuing public entities, but only if the agency certifies that the co-
mmonwealth has “demonstrated meaningful improvement in managing
its public finances.” The “Puerto Rico Financial Improvement and Bond
Guarantee Act of 2015” would require any Puerto Rico bonds guaranteed
by Treasury to be used solely to meet urgent short-term financing needs
like Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes, to make capital expenditures t
that promote long-term economic growth (as opposed to operating expen-
ditures), or to refinance its existing bond debt at a lower interest rate..."

BOND DENIED TO ACCUSED HUSBAND-KILLER

From 680 News:

"A federal judge on Thursday denied bond to a Puerto Rican woman accu-
sed of offering a hit man $3 million to kill her wealthy Canadian husband.
Aurea Vazquez Rijos pleaded not guilty and was ordered to remain in jail
until her trial, which is scheduled to start Oct. 27. Vazquez arrived in Puer-
to Rico in late September after a court in Spain ordered her extradition. Att-
ending Thursday’s hearing was Vazquez’s mother, who was given custody
of her daughter’s baby, who was born in Spain..."