Puerto Rico News Digest For March 16, 2015

ATHLETES INJURED DURING SHOOTOUT

Photo: Puerto Rico Police Dept.

From Yahoo News:

Two competitors in a Puerto Rico Ironman triathlon were injured by
gunfire exchanged between occupants  of two cars as they sped past
the bicycling part of the Sunday event in an  upscale area of the U.S.
island's capital. Puerto Rico police identified the  wounded compe-
titors as Wisconsin woman Liz Boivin, 26, and island  resident
Miguel Arroyo Ramos, 49.  Boivin was hit in the left calf while
three bullets struck Arroyo in the  left side while they raced on bi-
cycles through the San Juan district of  Miramar. The triathlon in-
volves biking, running and swimming.

OIL TAX HIKE WENT INTO EFFECT SUNDAY

The increase in the crude oil tax to $15.50 per barrel, colloquially 

known as "La Crudita", went into effect yesterday across Puerto Rico. 

Immediate rises in the price of gasoline were expected and have 

already been seen. But, as of Sunday afternoon, many gas stations 

across the island were still selling fuel at the "old price". However, 

across the board gas price hikes are inevitable and will likely start 

to be seen more consistently over the next few days.

GUAYANILLA MAYOR DENIES SEX ALLEGATIONS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

The suspended mayor of Guayanilla, Edgardo Arlequin Vélez,  on 

Thursday expressed hope he will be vindicated in the end  after the 

Special Independent Prosecutor (SIP) Panel suspended him last week 

from the mayoral seat for allegedly sexually harassing a municipal 

female employee. “All these  actions against me were based solely 

on statements by another party,” Arlequin Vélez said in a written 

statement. “I flatly deny the facts alleged against me. My family is 

accompanying me right now firmly and with serenity and  gratitude, 

and the people overwhelmingly have expressed solidarity with me. 

At the end of the process, I will prevail and continue to serve my 

people as usual.

TREASURY COLLECTIONS UP FOR FEBRUARY

From News Is My Business: 

The Puerto Rico Treasury Department collected $709.3 million in 

February for the General Fund, a figure that was up $39.4 million, 

or 5.9 percent when compared to the same month last year, and $6.5 

million, or 0.9 percent, below estimates. One of the main revenue 

drivers was $319 million collected in income taxes, which exceeded 

February 2014 collections by $35 million. All components of this 

category reflected increases when compared to February 2014.

WOMEN'S NAVY TENNIS TEAM TO PLAY IN PR

From Navy Sports:

The Navy women's tennis team (11-6) will open a three-match spring 

break trip in Puerto Rico on Monday against Augustana College (S.D.)

at 12:30 PM (ET). The Mids and the Vikings will meet in Palmas del 

Mar on the southeastern coast of  Puerto Rico. The Mids have won 

three straight matches and are coming off a 4-3 win over Delaware 

on Thursday. Navy has also recently defeated Towson, 5-2, and Marist, 

5-2.

For the latest headlines throughout the day, follow @ThePRMonitor
on Twitter.

Puerto Rico News Digest For March 11, 2015

PLANE RECOVERED FROM CONDADO LAGOON

As reported by Noticel, a Piper PA-23 aircraft that crashed into
Condado Lagoon in San Juan on Monday afternoon has been re-
covered.   Pilot Rafael Pesquera, age 49, and co-pilot Ramón
Garida, also 49, were not seriously injured. Authorities dragged
the fallen aircraft to the shore of the lagoon yesterday, and it will
be taken to Isla Grande airport once fuel and the wings are remo-
ved. The exact cause of the accident is unknown, but apparently
the plane's engines stopped functioning not long after takeoff
from Isla Grande.

SOME INMATES TO LOSE VOTING RIGHTS

As reported today by El Vocero, the Chamber of Representatives
passed a bill last night that would strip prison inmates convicted
of major offenses of the right to vote in Puerto Rican elections.
Representative Carlos Vargas was behind the measure, and was
ableto get the votes to pass it as part of a deal in which he would
vote for the proposed oil tax increase, or "crudita". It is unknown
whether Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla will sign the bill.

LOWERING IVA ON SOME ITEMS CONSIDERED

From The San Juan Daily Star:

After meeting for several hours with House leaders, Gov. Alejandro
García Padilla is now accepting the idea of amending Tax Reform to
possibly introduce reduced rates of the value-added tax to certain
products and services and obtain needed votes in the House to pass
the bill. House Speaker Jaime Perelló and Majority Leader Charlie
Hernández met with the governor hours before he was slated to go
to the airwaves in support of his tax reform.

PR JOINS DIET SUPPLEMENT PROBE 

From The Chicago Tribune:

Dietary supplements are facing more scrutiny from U.S. regulators
as two states and Puerto Rico joined New York in a probe of the
$33 billion industry after testing showed some products didn't
appear to contain key ingredients advertised. Attorneys general in
Connecticut and Indiana and the Puerto Rico Department of Consumer
Affairs will investigate industry business practices and whether
claims of authenticity and purity are valid, Attorney General Eric
Schneiderman said Tuesday in a statement.

CLARO EXTENDS BROADBAND IN YAUCO

From News Is My Business:

Telecommunications company Claro announced Monday it has extended
broadband services to eight sectors in the town of Yauco, where a
combined 965 families will have access to the benefits associated
with high-speed Internet. The sectors of Algarrobo, Caimito,
Collores, Rancheras, Cotuy, Diego Hernández, Aguas Blancas, Naranjo
and Carrizales in Yauco join the initiative being bankrolled by the
Federal Communications Commission to boost rich broadband across
regions.