Hurricane Dorian

2 PM Advisory from the National Hurricane Center

BULLETIN
Hurricane Dorian Intermediate Advisory Number 17A
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL052019
200 PM AST Wed Aug 28 2019

...DORIAN BECOMES A HURRICANE NEAR ST. THOMAS IN THE U.S. VIRGIN
ISLANDS...

...MULTIPLE OBSERVATIONS OF HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS IN ST. THOMAS...


SUMMARY OF 200 PM AST...1800 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...18.3N 65.0W
ABOUT 0 MI...0 KM W OF ST. THOMAS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 315 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...997 MB...29.44 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The Tropical Storm Watch for the Dominican Republic has been
discontinued.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Vieques and Culebra
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* British Virgin Islands

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Puerto Rico

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Puerto Rico

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the next 6 to
12 hours.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area, in this case within the next 6 to 12 hours.
For storm information specific to your area in the United States,
including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office. For storm information specific to your area outside of the
United States, please monitor products issued by your national
meteorological service.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 200 PM AST (1800 UTC), the center of Hurricane Dorian was located
near latitude 18.3 North, longitude 65.0 West. Dorian is moving
toward the northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this motion is
expected to continue for the next day or two. On this track, Dorian
should continue to move near or over the U.S. and British Virgin
Islands this afternoon and then move over the open Atlantic well
east of the southeastern Bahamas.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph (120 km/h)
with higher gusts.  Dorian is forecast to continue strengthening
during the next few days over the Atlantic waters.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 20 miles (30 km) to the
north and east of the center. Tropical-storm-force winds extend
outward up to 80 miles (130 km) primarily to the east of the center.
An elevated weather station on Buck Island just south of St. Thomas
reported a sustained wind of 82 mph (132 km/h) and a gust of 111 mph
(178 km/h).

The estimated minimum central pressure from nearby observations is
997 mb (29.44 inches).


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
RAINFALL:  Dorian is expected to produce the following rainfall
accumulations:
Northern Leeward Islands...1 to 3 inches.
Eastern Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the northwest
Bahamas...4 to 6 inches, isolated 10 inches
Western Puerto Rico and the central Bahamas...2 to 4 inches
Coastal sections of the Southeast United States...4 to 8 inches,
isolated 10 inches. This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods.

WIND:  Hurricane conditions are ongoing over portions of the U.S.
Virgin Islands, and are expected over Vieques, Culebra, and the
British Virgin Islands today.  Tropical storm conditions are
expected in Puerto Rico this afternoon and tonight.
Wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains
are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds
indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be
even greater.

SURF:   Swells are expected to increase later today across the U.S.
and British Virgin Islands and along the southern coasts of Puerto
Rico and Hispaniola, and they could cause life-threatening surf and
rip current conditions.  Please consult products from your local
weather office.

NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next complete advisory at 500 PM AST.
$$
Forecaster Avila

A map of storm shelters in Puerto Rico available ahead of #Dorian can be found at this link:

Shelter map

PUERTO RICO GOVERNMENT IN CRISIS

GOV. ROSSELLO IN HOT WATER OVER LEAKED CHATS

The government of Puerto Rico was thrown into turmoil starting on July 8th, when screenshots of chat sessions involving Governor Ricardo Rosselló on the Telegram application where made public. A few more pages where released the next day, and on July 13th, 889 pages of the chat screenshots were released by the Center for Investigative Journalism. The chats in question happened during December 2018 and January 2019.

The chat screens included several troubling statements, slurs, jokes and threats made by several of the chat participants: the Governor, Secretary of State Luis Rivera Marín, Public Affairs Secretary Ramón Rosario, legal counsel Alfonso Orona, CFO Christian Sobrino and lobbyist Elías Sanchez, among others. 

The chat scandal comes just days after the arrest of former PR Education Secretary Julia Keleher and other Rosselló administration officials on corruption charges

Some of the highlights from the chats:

• Participants joked about killing San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz.
• Homophobic slurs and other insults where used against member of the press, political opponents and celebrities like Ricky Martin.
• Insults against the federal Financial Control Board that oversees the island's finances.
• Mockery of the Governor's neighbors in Cayey -- where Rosselló has a vacation home --  and their poverty.
• Jokes about the backlog of dead bodies in Puerto Rico's forensic science center.
• Coordination of actions by online trolls on behalf of the Governor, rigging of online polls and    collusion with journalists in order to receive favorable coverage.
• Jokes about the weight of a Rosselló campaign volunteer.
• Directive by Rosselló to "sic" the police on or jeopardize the employment of political rivals.
• The Governor expressed a desire to "take care of" Arnaldo Claudio, the federal monitor assigned to oversee Puerto Rico's troubled police force.

The full text of the chats (in Spanish) is available as a pdf at this link. 

Some of the most controversial remarks, translated to English, can be found here.

Numerous politicians, celebrities and private citizens have called for the Governor's resignation. So far, he refuses to step down, although some cabinet officials involved in the chats have announced their resignations. Widespread anti-Rosselló  protests have rocked the city of San Juan, starting the weekend of the chat revelations and continuing into this week.

For ongoing updates on the political crisis and the protests happening  in response to the chat scandal, keep an eye on our Twitter feed. The latest headlines and updates can also be seen on the ticker at the top of this page.

Puerto Rico News Digest For January 9, 2019

PR FBI CHIEF: ISLAND FACES "CRISIS OF VIOLENCE"

From CBS News:

"The top FBI official in Puerto Rico said the island is facing a "crisis of violence" and has asked the agency for more personnel and resources from the U.S. mainland. In an interview with local radio station NotiUno630 Wednesday morning, Special Agent in Charge Douglas Leff said no other agency field office in the country is facing what his San Juan office is facing in terms of crime..."

GONZALEZ TO INTRODUCE NEW STATEHOOD BILL

From El Nuevo Dia:

"Resident Commissioner in Washington Jenniffer González plans to introduce a new pro-statehood bill in the House. However, for the legislation to be addressed during this Congress, the government of Puerto Rico would have to hold a "statehood: yes-or-no" referendum this year..."

AGRITEK GETS POT LICENSE

From News Is My Business:

"Agritek Holdings Inc., a real estate investor for the cannabis sector in the United States and Canada, announced that its licensee and partner, 1919 Clinic, has received its final approval from the Puerto Rico Department of Health to begin operations under the medicinal cannabis program..."

NY TIMES NAMES PR TOP TOURIST DESTINATION

From Caribbean Business:

"Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló Nevares was pleased Wednesday with the New York Times(NYT) having selected the island as its top recommended travel destination this year. “Once again, we see rewarded the effort we have made to present Puerto Rico to the world as a world-class destination, to present the attractions of our beautiful Island, as well as highlighting the resilient nature of Puerto Ricans..."

TEACHER SHORTAGE ON HORIZON AS MANY RETIRE

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"About 65 percent of local public school teachers are near the average age for retirement, yet there are not enough qualified candidates in the island to replace them, Teachers Association President Ada Diaz said Tuesday..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For December 10, 2018

ARREST WARRANT SOUGHT FOR PEDOPHILE TEACHER

The federal probations office has asked the Department of Justice to issue an arrest warrant for former teacher Yaira Cotto Flores, who earlier this year was found guilty of having sexual relations with a 14-year-old student in 2016. She began communicating online with the student in 2015, and early the following year took him to a motel, where they had intercourse.

Cotto Flores was due to turn herself in to the federal Bureau of Prisons today so that she could start serving her 10-year prison sentence in Alabama, which would be followed by 8 years of probation. The teacher has failed to turn herself in on more than one occasion, and according to her husband, she has been seeking mental health treatment.

ROSSELLO NOT SAYING HOW HE'S PAYING FOR BONUS

From El Nuevo Dia:

"Governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares said that the Christmas bonus to public employees will not threaten the government payroll spend during the last months of the fiscal year. However, the  governor offered little or no information regarding the "savings" that his administration reached to offset this $ 85.3 million disbursement..."

NO PROBABLE CAUSE AGAINST WANDA VAZQUEZ

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"In an unprecedented process, First Instance Court Judge Yazdel Ramos late Friday dismissed all three charges presented by the Independent Special Prosecutor Panel (PFEI, its Spanish acronym) against Secretary of Justice Wanda Vázquez, indicating the evidence presented did not show probable cause for arrest..."

PR HOUSE TO REQUEST JONES ACT EXEMPTION

From Caribbean Business:

"Puerto Rico Rep. José Aponte Hernández will ask the new U.S. Congress to study a request made this weekend by the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), that Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska be permanently exempted from the cabotage law known as the Jones Act..."

Puerto Rico News Digest for July 5, 2018

TROPICAL STORM BERYL FORMS

According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Depression Two has now become Tropical Storm Beryl, the second tropical storm of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season. According to the NHC's 2:30 PM AST update, the system reached maximum sustained winds of 40 mph early this afternoon, putting it in tropical storm status. As of this morning, the storm was expected to dissipate east of the Lesser Antilles sometime early next week. Keep checking this website and our Twitter feed  for any changes in the storm's status or forecast track. No watches or warnings have been issued so far. The latest stats on Beryl as of 3:45 PM AST are: 

LOCATION...10.3N 42.3W
ABOUT 1330 MI...2140 KM ESE OF THE LESSER ANTILLES
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 275 DEGREES AT 16 MPH...26 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1007 MB...29.74 INCHES

SENATE REJECTS REPEALING LAW 80

From El Nuevo Dia:

"Not even 24 hours after Rosselló called for an extraordinary session, the Senate rejected, for the third time, the bill that would repeal the compensation for unjustified dismissal act (Law 80-1976), and that would have allowed the  Government to comply with the agreement reached with the Oversight Board..."

PR GOVT TO CHALLENGE BOARD'S BUDGET IN COURT

From Caribbean Business:

"In a statement issued by his office, La Fortaleza, Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló announced Thursday that “the Government of Puerto Rico” was asking the court to “defend” the budget approved by the island’s legislature, which he signed, and decide whether it or the budget certified by the island’s fiscal oversight board should be implemented..."

PARTS OF EL YUNQUE FOREST TO REOPEN FOR SUMMER

From San Juan Daily Star:

"[Forest Service Interim Chief Vicki Christiansen]...announced that another area in the forest, Yokahu Tower, was to reopen to the public on July 4. In addition to Yokahu Tower, La Coca Falls along PR-191 and the Puente Roto and Angelito trails on road PR-988 are the few forest attractions available for visitors at this time..."

MAN SHOT TO DEATH IN CIDRA HOUSE

A still unidentified male was shot to death shortly after 2:00 AM today in the mountain town of Cidra. Local police were alerted to the shooting by a phone call, and upon arriving at the residence on Girasol Street, in the Campo Bello sector, found the bullet-riddled body of the victim inside his house. Caguas homicide detectives are investigating.

Puerto Rico News Digest for June 28, 2018

PUERTO RICAN SOCIALIST HEADED TO CONGRESS?

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Tuesday night victory over congressman Joe Crowley in the Democratic Party primary election for New York's 14th House District puts the young victor of Puerto Rican descent within striking distance of becoming the youngest woman ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Ocasio-Cortez, who was outspent by Crowley during the campaign by a ratio of 10 to 1, has espoused democratic socialist ideas and was able to garner strong grassroots support in the 14th district, which includes parts of The Bronx and Queens. As her congressional district is solidly Democratic, Ocasio-Cortez is the favorite to win the seat in November's general election.

MAN SHOT TO DEATH FOUND IN OROCOVIS

As reported by El Vocero, a murder was reported shortly before 10 PM last night on road PR-156, in the Las Marianas sector of the mountain town of Orocovis. A 911 call alerted police to the shooting, and upon arriving, they found the body of 35 year old Edwin López Rosario, who was a local resident. The victim had been shot several times in different parts of his body.

NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT WORKERS DROPS BY OVER 12K

From El Nuevo Dia:

"In one year, the number of public servants in Puerto Rico was reduced by 12,033 workers, according to the most recent Registry of Occupied Positions prepared by the Office of the Comptroller. This figure  represents a 6 percent decrease in the government's workforce..."

LAW 80 FIGHT CONTINUES BETWEEN GOVERNOR, LEGISLATURE

From Caribbean Business:

"Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said Thursday that dialogue over the repeal of Act 80 of 1976–on compensation for dismissals without just cause–remains open. “I want to reach a resolution that benefits the people of Puerto Rico. And I will use all the mechanisms that are available: Call for an extraordinary session,  dialogue or whatever to be able to find a solution that can comply with the agreement [with the island’s fiscal oversight board]. I hope all colleagues are willing to have that conversation,” the governor told the media..."

TRANSPORTATION DEPT TO OFFER SERVICES THROUGH APP

From News Is My Business:

"The Puerto Rico Department of Transportation has launched the CESCO Digital Mobile application to enable users to conduct transactions that until Monday could only be done in person at Driver Services Centers (CESCO,) the Treasury Department or via complicated websites. The tool was developed by students from the University of Puerto Rico in Bayamón, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló confirmed upon unveiling the new mobile technology..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For May 29, 2018

THE VIOLENCE CONTINUES: MAN SHOT TO DEATH IN CAROLINA

As reported by El Vocero, a man was found shot to death early Tuesday morning on 73rd Street in the Villa Carolina neighborhood of the municipality of Carolina. The victim -- who remains unidentified -- was described as being dark-skinned, about 5 feet, nine inches tall and weighing approximately 140 pounds. He was dressed in a black shirt, red and white pants and black athletic shoes. An anonymous 911 call alerted police to the sound of gunshots in the area shortly after midnight. Police are investigating.

ROSSELLO AND BOARD DEFEND LABOR CHANGES

From El Nuevo Dia:

"Governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares rejected yesterday that the repeal of the Unjust Dismissal Act (Law 80-1976) would leave the island´s working class in a vulnerable position, especially women and senior employees, because there are other labor laws to protect them..."

PREPA BUDGET FACES FIVE YEARS OF SHORTFALLS

From Caribbean Business:

"The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) said Friday that the approved fiscal-recovery plan for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa) faces billions in financial risks that will hinder the transformation of the grid..."

PUERTO RICO RETAIL SALES GROW 6.7% FOR JANUARY

From News Is My Business:

"Puerto Rico’s retail sales for the month of January 2018 totaled $2.8 billion, representing a 6.7 percent growth when compared to the same period in 2017, when total sales were $2.6 billion..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For February 11, 2018

BREAKING:

POWER OUT ACROSS NORTHERN PR

FIRE AT MONACILLOS STATION LEAVES THOUSANDS IN THE DARK

Photo: John Mudd, via Twitter.

Many parts of northern Puerto Rico, including large swaths of the San Juan metro area, were plunged into darkness on Sunday night, seemingly due to a fire at the Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica's Monacillos substation in Río Piedras. The failure at Monacillos may have created a domino effect which knocked other substations out of service. Per AEE, the San Juan and Palo Seco power plants are currently offline. 

According to both El Nuevo Día and power utility customers on social media, sectors of the following municipalities have been affected: San Juan, Carolina, Trujillo Alto, Guaynabo, Caguas, Camuy, Hatillo, Manatí, Arecibo,  Río Grande, Barceloneta and Luquillo. At this time, the cause of the fire is unknown. AEE sources have stated that it could take as long as 16 hours for power to return to most of the affected areas. Follow our Twitter feed for the latest.

ROSSELLO AND GONZALEZ ANNOUNCE RECOVERY FUNDS

From Caribbean Business: 

"Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, along with Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González announced an allocation of $16 billion in federal funds for the island’s recovery after Hurricane Maria. This appropriation is part of budget legislation approved by Congress and signed Friday by President Donald Trump..."

MALL OF SAN JUAN TO MAKE $10M FOR 2018

From News Is My Business:

"Taubman Centers Inc., owners and operators of The Mall of San Juan, anticipated Friday that they will generate $10 million of net operating income (NOI) from that asset in 2018, some of which may come from sources other than sales activities..."

PR SENDS ATHLETE TO WINTER OLYMPICS

From Time: 

"Carrying Puerto Rico’s flag at the 2018 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea, Flaherty beamed as the first representative for Puerto Rico at the Games since 1998, when it sent another alpine skier and two-man and four-man bobsled teams to Nagano, Japan."

Puerto Rico News Digest for December 21, 2017

WHITE HOUSE SAYS TAX BILL WON'T HURT PR

From Caribbean Business:

"Sweeping tax code changes aimed at keeping U.S. companies from shifting profits offshore to avoid taxes will not affect the battered economy of Puerto Rico, a senior White House official said on Wednesday. Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló has said the provisions in a new tax bill passed by Congress could prompt drug and medical device manufacturers to leave the island territory, which is considered a foreign jurisdiction for tax purposes..."

GOVERNOR RETURNS TO CONGRESS FOR TALKS

From El Nuevo Dia:

"Governor Ricardo Rosselló will begin negotiations in Washington today in a second attempt seeking to insert Puerto Rico into the recently approved tax reform..."

FEMA: MORE THAN $870 MILLION GIVEN TO STORM SURVIVORS

From News Is My Business:

"More than $870 million in federal funds has been provided to Puerto Rico survivors of Hurricanes Irma and María, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said. This includes money paid out in FEMA grants, U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest loans and National  Flood Insurance Policy claims..."

STRANDED ANIMALS RESCUED FROM PUERTO RICO

From Patch.com

"It was a happy day in Westhampton Sunday as 130 animals landed safely after being rescued from Puerto Rico. The rescue mission was conducted by the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons. "This is our biggest rescue to date," ARF representatives said..."

Hurricane Maria Coverage

OH, GOD...NOW WHAT?!?

DANGEROUS HURRICANE MARIA THREATENS PR

Hurricane Maria is expected to go through Puerto Rico, entering from the southeast, on Wednesday morning, even as the island is still dealing with the aftermath of its brush with Hurricane Irma little over a week ago. The latest National Hurricane Center bulletin is available below. Please keep checking our Twitter feed (featured below, after the bulletin) for the latest hurricane news.

BULLETIN
Hurricane Maria Advisory Number  16
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL152017
1100 PM AST Tue Sep 19 2017

...EYE OF POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE MARIA
NEARING ST. CROIX...
...CORE EXPECTED TO REACH SOUTHEASTERN PUERTO RICO WEDNESDAY
MORNING...


SUMMARY OF 1100 PM AST...0300 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...17.3N 64.7W
ABOUT 30 MI...45 KM SSE OF ST. CROIX
ABOUT 120 MI...190 KM SE OF SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...175 MPH...280 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 10 MPH...17 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...909 MB...26.85 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* British Virgin Islands
* Puerto Rico, Culebra, and Vieques
* Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to Puerto Plata

From our Twitter feed:

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 24, 2017

JARDINES DE COUNTRY KILL

Carolina neighborhood reports murder for 2nd weekend in a row

A man believed to be in his early 20s, who is so far unidentified, was shot to death at around 4:30 on Sunday morning in the Jardines de Country Club neighborhood of Carolina. The victim parked his car on 30th Street, between a basketball court and baseball field in the suburban neighborhood, and was apparently shot at several times as he sat in the vehicle. It is unknown whether he was pursued there before being killed. After shooting, the perpetrators presumably drove away in their own vehicle, while the victim left his bullet-riddled car and stumbled for a few feet before falling to the ground, where he died. A 911 call alerted police to the sound of gunfire, and they found the lifeless body soon afterward. This is the second murder reported in Jardines de Country Club inside of a week, and was one of eight violent deaths registered over the weekend across Puerto Rico.

TREASURY NET INCOME UP 1.7% FOR LAST FISCAL YEAR

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Puerto Rico Treasury Secretary Raúl Maldonado Gautier reported that the net income to the General Fund from the newly concluded fiscal year 2016-17 (July-June) amounted to $9.334 billion, which represents $159.6 million, or 1.7 percent  more than the previous fiscal year 2015-16..."

ROSSELLO SIGNS PATIENTS' RIGHTS LAW 

From Caribbean Business:

"...Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló on Sunday enacted Senate Bill 27, giving patients more say before health insurers and providing greater power to the Patients Advocate Office (OPP by its Spanish initials) when defending those who are  not covered by the government’s medical plan, Mi Salud..."

MORE PR DOCTORS GOING BANKRUPT 

From News Is My Business:

"During the first six months of the year, 17 medical doctors filed for bankruptcy protection, reporting more than $23.5 million in combined debt to the court, a report by research firm Boletín de Puerto Rico confirmed..."

ROSSELLO TRIES TO PUT PR IN CONGRESSIONAL AGENDA

From The Washington Examiner:

"Puerto Rico is throwing a wrench into the mainland's politics. The Caribbean island's government held a referendum on June 11 to gauge public support in what was the territory's fifth-ever plebiscite on statehood, and the vast majority  of voters said yes..."

Attorney Sentenced To Prison For Concealing A Fugitive

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of Puerto Rico

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Attorney Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Concealing A Fugitive From Arrest, Obstruction Of Justice And Tampering With Judicial Proceedings

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico– Today, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Daniel R. Domínguez sentenced state criminal defense attorney Lemuel Velilla-Reyes to 18 months of imprisonment, one year of supervised release and a $20,000 fine for concealing a fugitive from arrest, endeavoring to obstruct, influence and impede the due administration of justice, and tampering with official proceedings, announced U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Public Corruption Squad.

Velilla-Reyes was found guilty on October 12, 2016, after a 20-day jury trial. He was originally indicted on September 16, 2014, on charges of harboring and concealing from detection a person for whose arrest a warrant had been issued under the provisions of a law of the United States on a charge of felony. On July 9, 2015, a second indictment was returned against Velilla-Reyes and Wilfredo Rodríguez-Rodríguez, on charges of endeavoring to obstruct, influence, and impede the due administration of justice, and tampering with official proceedings.

The facts proven at trial showed that on July 14, 2011, Velilla-Reyes represented federal fugitive Wilfredo Rodríguez- Rodríguez, aka “Fredo,” aka “Cape,” aka “Capellán,” under the false name of “Felix Otero-Torres” on local drug and weapon charges in state court. At that time, Wilfredo Rodríguez-Rodríguez had an outstanding arrest warrant since July 14, 2010, in federal case U.S. v. José Colón-de Jesus, et. al. Crim. No. 10-251 (JAF), where he was listed as the fifth individual in the 110-defendant indictment. He was charged with participating as a leader in a drug trafficking conspiracy to distribute controlled substances at the Virgilio Dávila, Las Gardenias, Brisas de Bayamón, and Falin Torrech housing projects, and other areas within the Bayamón Municipality. Velilla-Reyes was the attorney for many of the members of the drug trafficking organization which Rodríguez-Rodríguez was a part of, and had legally represented him in a prior criminal state case in 2006.

In the early morning hours of July 14, 2011, Police of Puerto Rico officers arrested Rodríguez-Rodríguez in Toa Baja while they were executing state arrest warrants. Upon his arrest, he provided the false name of Felix Otero-Torres, and did not provide or have on his person any identification documents.

Attorney Velilla-Reyes arrived at the police station to provide legal representation for Rodríguez-Rodríguez under the false name he had provided. Velilla-Reyes stood by while the charges against his client where filed under the false name. He then appeared in court during the probable cause proceedings and falsely represented to the court that his client Felix Otero-Torres could not recall his social security number or his full address. Velilla-Reyes requested that bail be set without electronic monitoring and told the court he would continue to represent his client throughout all the proceedings. He also vouched for his client’s fulfillment of pre-trial release conditions and his appearance in court. Rodríguez-Rodríguez, who was affirmatively identified during the days that followed, did not show up at the police station for booking and did not return to any court proceeding. Velilla-Reyes continued as the attorney of record, but failed to appear in any of the subsequent court hearings. As a consequence of the above actions, the bond was ordered forfeited and the bond company had to pay $24,000.

“The actions committed by this attorney and his efforts to conceal a federal fugitive from arrest through illegal conduct, undermined the public’s trust in the judicial system. The public’s trust in the integrity of the criminal justice system and those who work within that system is paramount to preserve law and order in our society. We will continue to work with local, state and other federal law enforcement agencies to strengthen the public’s trust in our justice system,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.

“As the evidence in this case demonstrated, this defendant abused his status as a trusted officer of the court to corrupt the judicial system, and in doing so, endangered the public by setting a fugitive free,” said Douglas Leff, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI. “The FBI thanks its partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office for their diligence in obtaining this conviction.”

Senior Litigation Counsel José Ruiz Santiago, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenifer Y. Hernández, and Victor O. Acevedo-Hernández were in charge of the prosecution of the case.

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 17, 2017

WEEKEND BLOODBATH

12 DEAD BETWEEN FRIDAY AND SUNDAY ACROSS PUERTO RICO

Twelve people across Puerto Rico died in suspected homicides between Friday morning and Sunday morning, according to police. Three separate murders were registered in Río Piedras, Humacao and the Hato Rey area of San Juan on Friday. The Humacao victim has been identified as 27-year-old Luis O. Fontanez  López. On Saturday, one murder each took place in Toa Alta and in the Puerto Nuevo section of San Juan. In the Toa Alta case, three masked men in a white car gunned down Ángel Joel Vázquez Hernández age 34, killing him. The victim's 13-year-old daughter was also injured in the brazen attack. Later that day, a decomposing body was found in a field in Caguas, near Road 175.

On Sunday, two young men were executed just past midnight near the Liborio Ortiz housing project in Aibonito, while another man was shot to death less than two hours later at a basketball court in the Piñones sector of  the town of Loíza. The victim was identified as César Orlando González Correa, age 32. He had just left a niece's birthday party at the court; several individuals followed him out to the facility's parking lot and shot him with various firearms, including an assault rifle, over 70 times. Another murder took place at 3:28 that same morning in Ponce, where the bullet-riddled body of  Walter Sánchez de Jesús was found inside a car.

Daylight provided no respite from the parade of horrors, as a woman's body was found in a field close to 10:00 AM on the grounds of Maria Auxiliadora Church in Santurce's gritty Cantera neighborhood. The victim's body showed signs of head trauma, and a bloodied cinderblock was found nearby. Scarcely half an hour after this gruesome discovery, a bullet-riddled body was found inside a white Acura SUV in the Jardines de Country Club neighborhood of Carolina. The victim was identified as Eduardo Luis Mercedes Carrión, a 27-year-old man from San Juan. The murder tally for the year now totals 361, one more than at this time last year.

ECONOMIC CRISIS HITS MAYAGÜEZ ZOO

From Caribbean Business:

"The economic crisis afflicting Puerto Rico for the last decade has also taken a toll on the island’s only zoo, with critics saying it is sorely understaffed and struggling to care for its animals on a limited budget..."

EPA PROPOSES CLEANUP FOR UTUADO SUPERFUND SITE

From News Is My Business:

"The U.S. Environmental Protection is proposing a cleanup plan to address sources of chemical contamination at the Papelera Puertorriqueña Inc. Superfund site, a paper and plastic goods manufacturer in Utuado, the agency confirmed..."

BOARD APPROVES LIQUIDATION OF GDB

From Reuters:

"Puerto Rico's financial oversight board late on Friday approved a plan to wind down the island's Government Development Bank (GDB), bringing the defunct fiscal agent a step closer to settling more than $5 billion in debt..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 15, 2017

WHO'S THE REAL ANIMAL?

Crazed dog-killer murders pooch in middle of road

File photo

Toa Alta resident David Mercedes, age 20, sits in jail after chasing a neighbor's pitbull which had entered his property out onto the street and brutally killing the dog. The pooch succumbed to injuries caused by a heavy wooden object which the disturbed perpetrator used to beat it over the head several times. Responding Toa Alta police were shocked at the scene when they arrived to investigate. The violent dog-hater remains at the Bayamón jail after having failed to pay a $10,000 bond.

AIBONITO, NOT SO BONITO...MAN SHOT TO DEATH 

Joseph Rosario Rivera, age 29, fell victim to a drive-by shooting near the entrance to the Las Flores neighborhood of Aibonito, on Road PR-722, on Thursday night. At about 10:35 that night, mulitple individuals with firearms shot at Rivera from inside the car, striking him several times. A good samaritan drove the victim to a local hospital, where he died. The bloody incident has been tallied as the 352nd murder in Puerto Rico for 2017, seven less than at this time last year.

PIP LAWMAKERS: STOP DUMPING TOXIC COAL ASH!

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Legislators Juan Dalmau Ramírez and Denis Márquez Lebrón of the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) announced  Thursday the introduction of steps in the island Senate and House to stop the dumping of toxic coal ash and remedy the ineffectiveness of Law 40 of 2017..."

SENATE PRESIDENT TO FOCUS ON MUNICIPALITIES

From Caribbean Business:

"Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz has defined the course of the upcoming legislative session by pointing out that his priority, as of August, will be to address the fiscal and structural challenges of Puerto Rico’s  78 municipalities..."

RICH PEOPLE RUSH IN TO PICK PUERTO RICO'S BONES

From Bloomberg:

"Distressed-mortgage investors are descending on troubled Puerto Rico. There are big names among them: Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Perella Weinberg Partners and TPG Capital. What’s luring them is the opportunity to scoop up home loans and foreclosed properties for pennies on the dollar..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 12, 2017

FAKE COPS ROB VILLALBA RESIDENTS

In two separate incidents at around 3:00 AM on Tuesday, three people were robbed in their homes by four criminals, two of  which were dressed as police officers. The individuals first came to a man's house in the town of Villalba, and after entering the house, informed the victim that they had a search warrant. They them threatened him with a gun and tied him up with an electrical cord before robbing him. The criminals then made their way to the house next door, were they threatened a couple. After a search, the men found $3,000 inside a vehicle, which they took along with a phone before fleeing the scene.

MAN FOUND SHOT TO DEATH IN CAROLINA

The body of 27-year-old Darwin Méndez Mize was found around noon yesterday on the side of Road 860 in the Martín González sector of Carolina. The man, who was shot in the head five times, was a resident of the Loma Alta neighborhood of the same city and had a criminal record. Police are investigating and no suspects have been identified as of yet.

PR TO OKAY POT FOR THE NON-TERMINALLY ILL

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"A law to allow terminally ill patients to use marijuana is now in effect in Puerto Rico, but Gov. Ricardo Rosselló Nevares promises it will soon be amended to include less serious conditions. The governor signed a law Sunday to regulate the use of medicinal cannabis..."

PR AMENDS PR TAX INCENTIVE LAWS

From Caribbean Business:

"Puerto Rico’s governor has signed several amendments to laws meant to lure more investors and attract new companies amid a deep economic crisis. One of the amendments signed by Gov. Ricardo Rossello requires $5,000 a  year in donations to nonprofits to qualify for a break..."

MENNONITE HEALTH BUYS SAN LUCAS HOSPITAL

From News Is My Business:

"Following a period of much analysis and evaluation, the Mennonite Health System reached an agreement with the Episcopal San Lucas Health System to purchase the assets and operation of the Episcopal San Lucas Hospital in  Guayama..."

GOVERNOR CREATES LGBT AFFAIRS COUNCIL

From Pasquines:

"While Governor Ricardo Rosselló’s party is usually considered socially conservative, he took a big step forward  last week in the interest of LGBT people in Puerto Rico. On July 5 Governor Rosselló signed an executive order on Facebook live Broadcast which created an LGBT Affairs Advisory Council..."

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 June 29, 2017

DRUG DEALER KILLED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT

Police have identified a man gunned down yesterday morning in a Loíza alley as 39-year-old Jose R "Tatín" Quiñones Ayala, who was allegedly responsible for drug distribution in the local area. Ayala was walking down Melilla alley near 10:40 AM when two males approached him in a small gray car, stepped out of the vehicle and opened fire, leaving him for dead.

FIRST PR BANKRUPTCY MEDIATION DATE SET

From Caribbean Business:

"During the first half of Wednesday’s omnibus hearing over Puerto Rico’s bankruptcy cases, a July 12 date was announced for the first mediation session between creditors and the commonwealth..."

NORMANDIE HOTEL NEEDS $20 MILLION IN REPAIRS

From News Is My Business:

"The iconic Normandie Hotel, located at the entrance of the San Juan islet, needs an investment of some  $20 million to be brought back to its former glory, Tourism Co. Executive Director José Izquierdo said during confirmation hearings on Tuesday..."

LEGAL AID FOR LOW INCOME CITIZENS TO BECOME LAW

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"House Speaker Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Núñez recently has filed legislation to provide greater access to legal services for low income citizens, particularly in civil cases, by developing the Fund for Access to Justice and thereby creating greater access to financial resources..."

GOVERNOR: TRUMP WOULDN'T BLOCK STATEHOOD

From The Washington Examiner:

"Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rossello says he disagrees with Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., who said President Trump would block the U.S. territory from becoming a state because of its Latino population..."

Thirteen Individuals Indicted For Social Security Fraud

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of Puerto Rico

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

The total loss for SS is $1,510,921.90

SAN JUAN, P.R. - On June 23, 2017, a Federal Grand Jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned nine separate indictments charging 13 individuals with fraud against the Social Security Administration (SSA) disability insurance benefits in Puerto Rico, announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez Vélez. These cases were investigated by the Social Security-Office of Inspector General (SS-OIG) with the collaboration of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, and the Puerto Rico Police Department.

The SSA is responsible for the implementation of the Disability Insurance Benefits Program. The SSA provides monetary benefits to workers with severe, long-term disabilities, who have worked in SSA covered employment for a required length of time. Spouses and dependent children of disabled workers may also be eligible to receive benefits.

Pursuant to SSA regulations, a claimant must prove to SSA that he or she is disabled by furnishing medical and other evidence with the application. The application and supporting evidence would then be evaluated by SSA to determine the individual’s medical impairments and determine the effect of the impairment on the claimant’s ability to work on a sustained basis.

The nine indictments charge thirteen individuals of theft of government property, concealment or failure to disclose work activity to SSA and false statements or representations to the SSA. These defendants knowingly and willfully embezzled, stole, and converted to their own use the Social Security Disability Insurance Benefit payments to which the defendants knew that they were not entitled.

The defendants and the Social Security Disability Insurance Benefit payments to which they knew they were not entitled to are: Damaris Marrero-Santiago and Isaias Diaz-Torres $254,100.90; Mariluz Rodríguez-Rodríguez and Juan C. Rodríguez-Miranda $82,700.90; Roberto Padilla and Ednali Ramirez-Maldonado $317,083.40; Nancy Serrano-Picón $130,493.20; Edwin Maldonado-Burgos and Consuelo Nuñez-Serrano $72,235.30; Elson Fernández $77,647.50; Arnaldo Ramos-Martir $142,096.40; Minerva Carro-Rivera $311,976.10; and Luis Álvarez-Ramos, a.k.a. “Wichy” $56,207.20. They reported during a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) that the disability beneficiary had not been able to work due to different health conditions, when in truth they were working.

Defendant Nancy Serrano-Picón was also charged with healthcare fraud. As part of her SSA disability benefits, Serrano-Picón became eligible, applied for and received benefits under the Medicare Program. Once a person is receiving SSA disability benefits for 24 months he/she automatically starts receiving Part A of the Medicare Program (hospitalizations) and they become eligible to apply for Part B and C of the Medicare Program. If they decide to apply for Part B and/or C of the Medicare Program, the monthly premium is deducted from their monthly disability benefits.

“This is a great example of ongoing efforts by the Government to deter fraud against the social security programs,” said United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The Department of Justice is committed to investigate and prosecute those who engage in fraudulent schemes. Hopefully this round of arrests will discourage more people from getting involved in these types of schemes, because we will continue investigating these crimes.”

SSA-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge John Grasso said: “Today’s arrests are the latest in our continued and ongoing effort to bring to justice all individuals who commit Social Security Disability Fraud. I am very grateful for the efforts of our law enforcement partners involved in this investigation, and for the continued commitment from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to aggressively pursue these important cases. I strongly encourage the public to report suspected instances of Social Security fraud to the OIG’s Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or https://oig.ssa.gov/report.”

Special Assistant United States Attorney Vanessa D. Bonano-Rodríguez is in charge of the prosecution of these cases. If convicted, the defendants could face a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment and/or fines of up to $250,000.00. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.