Puerto Rico News Digest For August 20, 2017

CAUGHT IN THE ACT AND NEARLY KILLED

THUGS TRY TO ROB GAS STATION, GET SHOT BY COPS

A police officer who happened to stop at a Total gas station in the Corujo sector of Bayamón inadvertently walked in on two individuals who were in the process of robbing the establishment at around 10:00 AM today.  Sergeant Pedro Colón Burgos was soon followed by a municipal police officer and a member of the state police's canine unit. A gunfight quickly broke out between the two parties, and one of the criminals was injured by gunfire in several parts of his body. The man's uninjured accomplice ran off, but was soon arrested by the roadside as he tried to flag down a car to steal. Both men are now in custody, and a stolen vehicle was impounded at the scene. The police officers were not hurt.

ROSSELLO: PR WILL BE STATE IN 5 YEARS

From Caribbean Business:

"In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the New Progressive Party (NPP), Gov. Ricardo Rosselló Nevares stressed that change is a constant in that party and predicted that in five years Puerto Rico will become the 51st state of the United States..."

CORRECTIONS OFFICER DIES DURING RIOT TRAINING

From Officer.com:

"A Puerto Rico corrections officer died after suffering a medical emergency while participating in riot control training this week. Corrections Officer David Torres-Chaparro began complaining of a strong pain in his chest during a training exercise

CHARBONIER PUSHES TO UPDATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAW

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"New Progressive Party (NPP) Rep. María Milagros Charbonier said Thursday that she is still pressing for several amendments to Law 54 of 1989, also known as the Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention Law, designed to prevent violence against women..."

PR BEATS BAHAMAS IN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

From Tribune 242:

"The Bahamas couldn’t stop the up-tempo game from host Puerto Rica and ended up getting blown out  by 64 points. The only thing that the undefeated Puerto Ricans didn’t do in their near flawless feature  game on day three of the championships on Thursday night was reach the 100 century mark in pulling oftheir 99-35 massacre over the Bahamas..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For August 2, 2017

"TONKA" GETS TRUCKED OFF TO THE MORGUE...SINGER OZUNA INVOLVED?

POWERFUL DRUG LORD BRUTALLY MURDERED IN SANTURCE

Shortly after midnight this morning, 38-year old Carlos Báez Rosa, who went by the nickname "Tonka" and was one of the most powerful drug lords in the San Juan area, was shot nearly 70 times with various firearms, including AK-47s and AR-15s. The spectacular midnight execution occurred in an alley in the gritty Cantera  sector of Santurce. To add a twist to the story,  police seized a Range Rover SUV at the scene, which belongs to reggeaton singer Juan Carlos Ozuna and contained $6,585 in cash, as well as the singer's wallet. Ozuna dedicated several of his songs to the murdered drug lord, and the latter produced at least one of the singer's recordings. Ozuna became notorious last week due to a viral video in which the reggeaton performer is seen hitting a security guard at one of his stateside performances with a microphone (video is below).

CONTROL BOARD DELIVERS 1ST REPORT TO CONGRESS

From Caribbean Business:

"Puerto Rico’s financial control board said Tuesday that its first annual report to the U.S. President and Congress does not call for the elimination of federal social assistance programs in the commonwealth..."

DOMINO'S TO PUERTO RICO: NO MORE PIZZA!

From News Is My Business:

"HFS Corp. — a franchisee for Domino’s Pizza in Puerto Rico — announced Wednesday the closing of all of its stores on the island, after seeking bankruptcy protection earlier this year, this media outlet confirmed..."

GONZALEZ ASKS FOR MEDICAL AND RESEARCH FUNDS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón on Monday announced the allocation of $607,568 in federal funds for the treatment of children and mothers with HIV/AIDS and studies on breast cancer..."

MAVS SIGN PUERTO RICAN GIAN CLAVELL

From Fox Sports:

"The Dallas Mavericks have signed free agent guard Gian Clavell, an undrafted rookie who has played  for Puerto Rico’s national team. Clavell was the Mountain West Conference player of the year at Colorado State last season..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 7, 2017

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE KILLS WOMAN

An as of yet unidentified 19-year-old woman was murdered by her boyfriend shortly after 6:30 this morning at the Juana Matos public housing project in Cataño. The victim had filed reports of domestic violence against her in the past, with the most recent one happening only yesterday. The 30-year-old male perpetrator attempted to commit suicide after shooting the woman, but was unsuccessful and was taken to hospital after being arrested by police. The killer had a record of previous domestic violence incidents.

PREPA RATE HIKE GETS POSTPONED

From Caribbean Business:

"The Puerto Rico Energy Commission (PREC) has granted the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s (Prepa) request to postpone until Oct. 1 a permanent rate hike that was slated to go into effect this month..."

MEDICAL POT DISPENSARY OPENS IN GUAYNABO

From News Is My Business:

"...Clínica Verde inaugurated Thursday a clinic at the Borinquen Towers on Roosevelt Ave. in Guaynabo. The 4,000 square-foot property entailed an investment of more than $1.5 million, and will provide a variety of six different cannabis-related products..."

PR FACES OFF AGAINST ANGOLA IN WORLD BASKETBALL

From AllAfrica:

"The Angolan under19 men's basketball team, third in group D in the first stage of the world championship in Cairo are playing this Friday at 1 p.m Puerto Rico, for the consolation phase from the 9th and 16th place..."

GUTIERREZ BLASTS RIVERA SCHATZ OVER LGBT SLUR

From Windy City Times:

"Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez ( D-IL ) responded to Thomas Rivera Schatz, Puerto Rican Senate President, who used the masculine pronoun "señor" repeatedly to describe Ana Matosantos, the only female member of Puerto Rico's Financial Oversight and Management Board..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 22, 2015

WATER RATIONING COMES TO THE SOUTH

Puerto Rico's water utility, Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados  (AAA), 

has announced the implementation of a water rationing program for sectors of the 

municipalities of Coamo, Santa Isabel and Salinas, as the island's worst drought in 

decades threatens underground aquifers in the region. Twelve-hour rationing, where

water flow is cut off to users for 12 hours at a time, begins Thursday, July 23. The 

rationing area is divided into two zones, A and B (see the map above to find out

which neighborhoods are in which zones). Zone A will be the first to see the water

stop flowing at midnight tonight. Water will be reestablished at noon, and then Zone

B will have its water cut off for 12 hours. AAA will not run water oases in these towns,

as rationing will initially only be 12 hours. 

PREPA APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

From Caribbean Business:

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa) announced Tuesday the designa-

tion of Javier Quintana Méndez as the new executive director of the financially trou-

bled utility, effective Aug. 3. "The successful transformation of Prepa is crucial for 

Puerto Rico and its citizens. The Governing Board of Prepa selected Dr. Quintana as 

executive director at this important moment, because we believe that his experience 

and background in the energy field will help Prepa reach its goal of becoming a self-

sustaining corporation. Now is the time for the crucial decisions that require great lea-

dership," said Harry Rodríguez, chairman of the utility’s board. Quintana Méndez, 

who has been vice president of Prepa’s board for the past two years, is currently the 

dean of the engineering school at Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Baya-

món campus, and a member of the Interamerican Board of Energy Resources Direc-

tors. Moreover, he is a former executive director of the Solid Waste Authority (2005-

2008).

TWO MORE SENATORS BACK CHAPTER 9 BILL

From News Is My Business:

Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced Tuesday that Senator Patrick Leahy 

of Vermont, the Ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, will cosponsor S. 

1774, the identical companion bill in the Senate to HR 870, the Puerto Rico Chapter 9 

Uniformity Act, which Pierluisi introduced in the House of Representatives in February.

Senator Leahy’s office advised Pierluisi’s office and Leahy will be formally added as a 

cosponsor. In addition, Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, a moderate who sits on the 

Senate Banking Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, has also agreed to co-

sponsor S. 1774, which was introduced last week by Senator Richard Blumenthal of Co-

nnecticut, Senator Charles Schumer of New York, and 10 other U.S. Senators, including 

Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

PR BASKETBALL TEAM LOSES PAN AM OPENER

From The Courier-Journal:

Rick Pitino's international coaching debut on Tuesday morning was an forgettable 

one. Pitino, coaching Puerto Rico's national team at the Pan Am Games here in Ca-

nada, saw his squad fall behind by 25 points in the first quarter, shoot 33 percent 

and lose 92-59 in a lopsided opener against Brazil at the Mattamy Athletic Centre 

on Ryerson University's campus. The 33-point loss matched a 2009 U of L loss at 

Notre Dame for the worst defeat by a Rick Pitino-coached team in at least the last 

15 years.