Puerto Rico

Sierra Club, Coalition Partners Will Challenge Governor Fortuño's Cancellation of "Nature Reserve" Designation

November 3, 2009 -- San Juan, Puerto Rico -- Sierra Club and its coalition partners will challenge Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuño's proposed cancellation of the "nature reserve" designation held since 2008 by the island's Northeast Ecological Corridor.

Covering more than 3,000 acres in the northeast corner of Puerto Rico, the Corridor had been designated as a nature reserve in 2008 by preceding governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá. But late Friday, Governor Fortuño removed the designation of nature reserve in order to allow for large-scale, unsustainable development in the area, including more than 4,500 residential and tourist units and four golf courses.    » read more »

Caguas, Puerto Rico. October 30, 2009 – As part of the environmental commitment of saving energy at its facilities, Walmart Puerto Rico has established the first 100% LED lighted parking lot at the Walmart Supercenter in Santa Isabel. In this way, the Company sets a precedent at local level and an example with an initiative that promotes both environmental awareness and company’s cost-effectiveness.    » read more »

Funding for Idaho, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Dakota and the U.S. Virgin Islands to create jobs, reduce energy use

October 1, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that nearly $72 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is being awarded to 7 states and territories to support energy efficiency and conservation activities.

Under DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, these states will implement programs that lower energy use, reduce carbon pollution, and create green jobs locally.    » read more »

Application for Part 1 of Puerto Rico's State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

May 28, 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that $434 million is now available for Puerto Rico under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts.

Puerto Rico will be eligible to apply for another $214 million this fall. Today's funding is being made available per Puerto Rico's successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1st.    » read more »

01 June 2008 -- U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton has won Sunday's Democratic presidential primary contest in the commonwealth territory of Puerto Rico, soundly defeating rival Senator Barack Obama by a two to one margin. The Clinton victory comes near the end of the U.S. presidential primary season, and will only slightly erode Obama's lead among party delegates that will determine the Democratic presidential nominee.

Conventional wisdom holds that, at this point, Hillary Clinton has only the faintest hopes of securing the Democratic nomination. Nevertheless, she is finishing the primary season on a strong note. In recent weeks, she has scored overwhelming victories in the states of West Virginia and Kentucky. Now, she adds Puerto Rico to her win column.    » read more »

25 May 2008 -- With a little more than one week left in the U.S. presidential primary season, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has again vowed to continue her campaign because thousands of voters still have not cast their ballots.

Senator Clinton campaigned Sunday in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, which holds its primary next week.

Barack Obama supporters, Oregon: Photo by selena marie (CC)

She told a church congregation that faith has helped her through the campaign.

Puerto Rico Democrats vote June first. South Dakota and Montana vote two days later.    » read more »

Legislation Ensures Full Funding for Ground-breaking Scientific Work of Cornell University's Arecibo Observatory

April 16, 2008 -- Washington, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced that she has introduced legislation to ensure continued support for Cornell University’s innovative Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.

Arecibo Radio Telescope, Puerto Rico: Photo by Alberto Martinez Subtil (CC)    » read more »

April 07, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They died April 6 in Balad, Iraq, when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

Killed were:

Capt. Ulises Burgos-Cruz, 29, of Puerto Rico, who was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

Spc. Matthew T. Morris, 23, of Cedar Park, Texas, who was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

Source: DoD

Boston, Mass., March 17, 2008 – Nearly $5.4 million in grants and innovative financing are available to Northeastern communities and organizations working to significantly reduce diesel emissions and improve public health.    » read more »

03/10/2008, San Juan, P.R. -- Demonstrating its strong commitment to protect our oceans and marine life, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it has reached a settlement with the Authority for the Port of the Americas requiring it to pay a penalty of $308,000 for improper disposal of dredged material. On a number of occasions in the spring and summer of 2006, Weeks Marine, Inc., a Port of the Americas contractor, dumped material dredged to create the port in areas other than those designated for ocean disposal by EPA in its federal permit.    » read more »

February 21, 2008, ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced that Congressman Luis Fortuno (R-PR) has endorsed John McCain for president.    » read more »

02/21/2008, New York, N.Y. -- The amount of toxic chemicals released into the air, water and land in Puerto Rico fell by over 700,000 pounds, from 7.1 million pounds in 2005 to 6.4 million in 2006, according to data in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) report issued today in record time.    » read more »

Number of tournament teams to expand through qualifying rounds in 2013

02/19/2008 -- World Baseball Classic, Inc. (WBCI) today announced the final eight teams that will be invited to participate in the 2009 World Baseball Classic next March, as endorsed by the tournament's Steering Committee.    » read more »

Parque de las Flores Condominium Association allegedly refused to offer accessible parking

February 21, 2008, WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it has charged Parque de las Flores Condominium Association with violating the Fair Housing Act. HUD claims the association refused to provide an accessible parking space to Windy Calderon and her five-year old son who requires a wheelchair. The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to deny such a request when it is necessary to accommodate a tenant's disability.    » read more »

February 06, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Rafael Alicearivera, 30, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, died Feb. 5 in Tallil, Iraq, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident.

He was assigned to the 307th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

The incident is under investigation.

Source: DoD