http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/puertorico/ en-us Mon, 1 Dec 2008 20:26:33 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2140984/posts Breaking radio reports. No print or web source yet. Federal Judge Barbadoro has dismissed 15 of 24 corruption charges that weighed over Puerto Rico Governor (Democrat) Aníbal Acevedo Vilá. Details are sketchy, but apparently 13 of the charges have been dropped altogether but two can still be filed again. Related threads: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010202/posts http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2064806/posts U.S District Court - Puerto Rico District http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2140984/posts#comment Mon, 1 Dec 2008 20:26:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135192/posts Most notable among the petitions for clemency granted during Holder’s tenure is the request from 16 members of a Puerto Rican Marxist terrorist group, the Armed Forces of National Liberation, known by its Spanish acronym FALN, which engaged in a robbery and terror campaign in both the U.S. and Puerto Rico during the 1970s and 1980s. The clemency petition, which was supported by Reps. Luis Gutierrez (D-N.Y.), Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.) and Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), became the subject of fiery controversy after it was revealed that none of the convicted terrorists had renounced violence and that their victims had not been... CNS NEWS.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135192/posts#comment Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:47:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135173/posts PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic-The ocean glows a milky turquoise. Tiny waves lap at the powder-beige sand, in no rush to reach the line of postcard-perfect palm trees. Hundreds of luxury villas are positioned to take in the view, but there are no guests. There are no roofs either; neatly tied bundles of red tiles are stacked outside. The wind slams doors and rustles the yellowed newspaper taped to the windows. The paralyzed work scene at the Cap Cana resort, a development including four luxury hotels, three golf courses and a mega-yacht marina, is a victim of the global financial crisis... Breitbart / The Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135173/posts#comment Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:15:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2127274/posts The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) thought that it had things all wrapped up in Puerto Rico this year. This most powerful of American unions even held its annual convention on the sunny isle to showcase its power to overawe its intended prey. Apparently the small, local teachers union had other ideas, though. The SEIU blew into Puerto Rico to gobble up the Federación de Maestros de Puerto Rico (FMPR), or in English, the Puerto Rican Federation of Teachers. The SEIU’s plan was to add that small union its ever growing list of unions it has gobbled up and quashed... Stop the ACLU http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2127274/posts#comment Thu, 6 Nov 2008 20:55:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2125719/posts SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico voted today, in what early results show to be record numbers, to elect fiscal and social conservative Luis G. Fortuno as the next governor of Puerto Rico - making him the Island's first Republican governor since 1968. Fortuno, Puerto Rico's current sole representative in the U.S. Congress, ran in a four-way gubernatorial race as president of the Island's pro-statehood New Progressive Party. His running-mate, Pedro R. Pierluisi, also won, becoming the Island's next representative to Congress. Preliminary results show Fortuno has won solidly the gubernatorial election... Market Watch http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2125719/posts#comment Wed, 5 Nov 2008 11:58:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2124994/posts The Puerto Rico pro-statehood party's (PNP) Luis Fortuño, a Republican and the current island Congressman, is poised to win the election by a wide margin. Exit polls as follows: Univisión - Luis Fortuño 53% PNP - Luis Fortuño 57% El Nuevo Dia - Luis Fortuño 58% The current governor, Democrat and pro-staus quo (PPD), is trailing with less than 40% in all exit polls and preliminary results. Gov. Anibal Acevedo-Vila has been indicted by a Federal Grand Jury on 24 corruption charges. It seems we've been liberated from the liberals and socialists after eight years of hell. Vote wisely, USA. Caribbean Business http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2124994/posts#comment Tue, 4 Nov 2008 21:10:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2121895/posts SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Eight federal prosecutors will be in charge of looking after the Puerto Rico's general election process next Tuesday, to make sure no electoral fraud occurs and to observe any situation that may take place in the voting schools. In a letter sent to the Commonwealth’s State Elections Commission President Ramón Gómez, US District Attorney Rosa Emilia González said that the group of federal prosecutors observing the electoral process will be headed by prosecutors Ernesto López Soltero and José Ruiz. This is the first time federal authorities have participated in the transparency of the island’s electoral process,... Caribbean Net News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2121895/posts#comment Sat, 1 Nov 2008 19:20:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2117570/posts (English-language translation) SAN JUAN - Eight days before the elections, Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá made a televised address on Monday in which he spoke about the federal indictments against him, which he described as "injurious", and asked the people to make their own judgement. "These accusations against me are false, injurious, and I am not going to tolerate them. Perhaps those who believe the most important thing in life is money may ignore things such as these, but not me," the Governor said in a calm and serene tone. The Chief Executive emphasized that, among the 24 indictments the U.S.... El Vocero de Puerto Rico (Spanish-language article) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2117570/posts#comment Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:30:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2106259/posts SAN JUAN (Reuters) - Hurricane Omar strengthened on Wednesday as it bore down on Puerto Rico and the small islands of the northeastern Caribbean, and could be a "major" storm by the time it reaches them, U.S. forecasters said. The 15th tropical cyclone of a busy Atlantic hurricane season formed north of the Dutch island of Curacao on Tuesday, briefly preventing Venezuela from loading tankers with crude oil and knocking out power at the OPEC nation's 200,000 barrel-per-day Puerto La Cruz refinery. The U.S. National Hurricane Center predicted Omar would grow into a Category 2 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2106259/posts#comment Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:20:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2103110/posts (English-language translation) A strong earthquake was felt throughout all of Puerto Rico, with the strongest intensity in the town of Las Piedras, where the Seismic Network reported damage. The quake had an intensity of VI according to the Modified Mercalli Scale which measures earthquakes on a scale of I to X. Those measuring VI are characterized by a strong quake with a potential to cause slight structural damage. "At the moment of generating this bulletin damage has been reported; additional reports of minor damage can be expected considering the size and location of this earthquake," the Seismic Network reported on... El Vocero de Puerto Rico (Spanish-language article) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2103110/posts#comment Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:54:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2095988/posts The Senate Finance Committee has published a summary of some of the additions to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. There are many provisions in the bill that will directly benefit millions of Americans -- what's called the "AMT patch," for instance, which will protect 20 million middle class Americans from seeing a tax increase in 2009. Or tax deductions for tuition, and for teacher expenses. Corporations will see extensions of popular tax cuts -- for research and development, or renewable energies. But there's also some other stuff. My colleague Z. Bryon Wolf points out that it bears mentioning that all... ABC News Political Punch http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2095988/posts#comment Thu, 2 Oct 2008 18:53:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2089064/posts Nine people have been arrested in connection with a drug importation ring that shipped cocaine from Puerto Rico to New York City hidden in boxes of children's toys and puzzles, officials said Tuesday. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent-in-Charge John Gilbride said the five-month investigation revealed that Jose Diaz, 28, of Bronx, N.Y., directed associates in Puerto Rico to ship kilograms of cocaine concealed inside children's toy tool boxes and large toy container boxes to New York City. The organization then used U.S. Postal Service Express Mail to deliver the packages to addresses in Manhattan and the Bronx FoxNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2089064/posts#comment Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:24:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2087720/posts (English-language translation) SAN JUAN - In addition to claiming the lives of four people, the strong tropical wave that has been affecting the island since yesterday established a record rainfall of over 24 inches in some areas within a 24-hour period. Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá reported today that over 24 inches of rain fell in the Municipality of Patillas, which exceeds the record established in 1985 with the rains that affected the Mameyes community of Ponce, where 185 people died. "We expect rain to continue falling throughout the entire island today," the Governor warned during a press conference where he... WAPA.tv (Spanish-language article) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2087720/posts#comment Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:34:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086463/posts As part of our special investigation "Mission Creep: US Military Presence Worldwide," we asked a host of military thinkers to contribute their two cents on topics relating to global Pentagon strategy. (You can access the archive here.) The following dispatch comes from Katherine T. McCaffrey, an assistant professor of anthropology at Montclair State University in New Jersey and author of "Military Power and Popular Protest: The US Navy in Vieques, Puerto Rico". Mother Jones http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086463/posts#comment Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:02:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2083784/posts (English-language translation) The most recent [Puerto Rico election] poll by El Vocero and Univisión indicate that 57% of those interviewed favor [Resident Commissioner and] New Progressive Party (PNP) candidate for Governor Luis Fortuño, while 29% would vote to re-elect [incumbent] Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá [with the Popular Democratic Party (PPD)]. Fortuño’s current lead over Acevedo is 28 percentage points. When comparing to the poll published on May 29, it was observed that the PPD leader shortened by 4 [percentage] points the lead the PNP leader had at the time. Other candidates, and the [number of] undecided [voters], also increased their... El Vocero de Puerto Rico (Spanish-language article) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2083784/posts#comment Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:34:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2080889/posts (English-language translation) [Puerto Rico's] legislators moved - chairs and all - to Roberto Clemente Coliseum to honor during a special session the Puerto Rican soldiers who fought in the United States war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Within the framework of the observance of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Popular Democratic Party (PPD) and New Progressive Party legislators held a special session in which they spoke for over an hour to the hundreds of soldiers and their families who arrived at the Coliseum. The main speech was given by San Juan Mayor Jorge Santini. At a cost of $80,000 - not... El Vocero de Puerto Rico (Spanish-language article) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2080889/posts#comment Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:29:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2080842/posts (English-language translation) Amid fanfare, the Puerto Rico Professional Baseball League reappeared yesterday with a formal introduction to the media of its new name [now in English], Puerto Rico Baseball League, and a new logo. Its President José A. Andreu García announced that the season, which begins on November 6, will be dedicated to the late manager José "Ronquito" García. After a one-year recess, the "new league" emphasized that it comes with a change, revealing countless innovations that should delight both local and foreign fans since there will be interleague games with the Dominican Republic. "A recess was announced one year... El Vocero de Puerto Rico (Spanish-language article) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2080842/posts#comment Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:34:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2080710/posts Daddy Yankee has gone on the defensive after his endorsement of Republican presidential nominee John McCain prompted Fat Joe to dub him "a sellout." "A man does not sell out when he backs his ideals," the Latin Grammy-winning reggaetón artist told the New York Post from his home in Puerto Rico. Yankee's unwavering support of the Arizona senator shocked several in the hip-hop community, but that doesn't mean Yankee is about to stop backing the man he feels is best suited for the gig. "I don't care who I piss off," Yankee told the Post, while promoting the movie he... MTV http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2080710/posts#comment Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:59:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074585/posts b. Cultural Nationalism: The Silent Discriminatory Motive - Chief U.S. District Judge JOSE FUSTE SYLVIA DIFFENDERFER, et al. plaintiffs v. RAMON E. GOMEZ-COLON, et al., Defendants. -- Excerpt from "Opinion and Order" by Chief U.S. District Judge JOSE ANTONIO FUSTE - S/José Antonio Fusté -- September 2, 2008 b. Cultural Nationalism: The Silent Discriminatory Motive According to our experience as a federal judge, born, raised, and educated in Puerto Rico, we find that the only logical explanation for Defendants’ position against a bilingual ballot is a disguised form of discrimination rooted in cultural nationalism. Since 1898, Puerto Ricans have responded... U.S. District Court Puerto Rico http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074585/posts#comment Thu, 4 Sep 2008 16:04:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2070857/posts Russian, Delta Jets Nearly Collide Over Caribbean WASHINGTON (AP) ― Federal authorities say two airliners were a minute away from colliding when they turned away from each other over the Caribbean this week. The National Transportation Safety Board says the Delta Air Lines flight and a Russian-registered passenger jet were heading toward each other north of Puerto Rico on Thursday when cockpit alarms went off. In a statement Friday, the NTSB says the pilot of the Russian plane -- a Transaero Boeing 737 -- descended 200 to 300 feet to avoid Delta Flight 485. The planes were 33,000 feet over... CBS13.com (CA) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2070857/posts#comment Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:25:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2069781/posts (English-language translation) After hearing the pertinent parties out, Federal Judge José Fusté ordered that the ballots for the November 4 general elections [in Puerto Rico] be printed in English and Spanish. Fusté ordered the parties to begin to join efforts "immediately" towards having ready any changes to the ballots by September 5, so that they may be submitted to the Olés of Puerto Rico print shop on September 6. The ballots will begin to be printed on September 10. Olés of Puerto Rico owner Angel Figueroa pointed out during a hearing to show cause that printing the ballots in both... El Vocero de Puerto Rico (Spanish-language article) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2069781/posts#comment Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:09:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2067740/posts [Phoenix] - John McCain made it clear who his daddy was Monday morning. Daddy Yankee, the hip-hop star from Puerto Rico, endorsed the Republican candidate Monday morning. Wearing black aviator shades in the library of Central High School here, Daddy Yankee said, “I believe in his ideals and his proposals to lead this nation…He’s been a fighter for the Hispanic community.” The Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2067740/posts#comment Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:01:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2067571/posts (English-language translation) In addition to allegedly approving legislative bills and cabinet appointments in exchange for money, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are investigating alleged acts of money laundering and bank fraud by New Progressive Party Senator Jorge de Castro Font, sources to EL VOCERO reported. According to the sources, this is why the IRS joined the investigation which began in March. EL VOCERO anticipated on July 8 that federal authorities were investigating the alleged approval of bills in exchange for money coming from "large interests", as well as the confirmation of cabinet members.... El Vocero de Puerto Rico (Spanish-language article) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2067571/posts#comment Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:49:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2067536/posts (English-language translation) Two [mainland-born] Americans who live in [Puerto Rico] asked Federal Court to order the Commonwealth Elections Commission (CEE) to print in English [in addition to Spanish] the ballots for the November 4 general elections [in the island]. Once the suit was filed, Judge José Fusté, who presides over the case, scheduled a hearing for August 27 in which the defendants, CEE Chairman Ramón Gómez and the election commissioners [representing the island's four registered political parties], must provide the judge reason why he should not meet the plaintiffs' demands. Plaintiffs Sylvia Diffenderfer and Robert McCarroll are requesting that the... El Vocero de Puerto Rico (Spanish-language article) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2067536/posts#comment Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:55:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2066071/posts He — Ray Otero, superintendent, ordinary luckless guy — should have the cash, the car, the sexy Swedish girlfriend. The numbers alone demanded it: Last year, he spent $30,000 on the lottery. The winner, Richie Randazzo, spent a measly thirty bucks or so a week. “When I heard he won, I got so mad — I said to myself, ‘I can’t believe it,’ ” Mr. Otero said the other day, recalling how the television crews descended on his friend in a free-for-allish media display. “I spend all that money and the” — unprintable fellow — “wins? It’s wrong. I mean,... New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2066071/posts#comment Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:11:17 GMT