AGP Executive Report

World Cup Health Prep: Public health officials across U.S. host cities say they’re ready for the June 11–mid-July FIFA 2026 crowds, with heat and behavior risks top of mind as federal support shrinks. Puerto Rico Reconstruction Funds: Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera pressed DHS on why billions in FEMA reconstruction money for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria still sit undisbursed, citing delays and technical-assistance failures. Hotel Deal in Río Grande: Henderson Park says it has completed its acquisition of Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve in Puerto Rico, with planned capital investments and expanded management presence. Air Travel Boost: Southwest announced new Columbus-to-San Juan nonstop service starting Feb. 13, 2027, giving Central Ohio travelers a direct route. Sports—Puerto Rico Basketball: Canada closed the FIBA U18 AmeriCup group phase with a record 101–48 win over Puerto Rico, setting tournament rebound marks. Pride Leadership: The Puerto Rican Cultural Center will lead Chicago’s Pride Parade, highlighting its long-running LGBTQ+ health work. Concert Update: Rosalía postponed three Florida shows due to a family emergency, with fans told to hold onto tickets.

Puerto Rico Conservation: The Detroit Zoo sent 6,855 critically endangered Puerto Rican crested toad tadpoles to Río Encantado in Manatí to boost the species’ recovery, part of a long-running amphibian reintroduction effort. Puerto Rico Health & Military Readiness: Fort Buchanan’s Rodriguez Army Health Clinic is rolling out the Sword Thrive program, using motion-tracking tech and AI-guided home exercises with remote therapist oversight to speed rehab while keeping service members mission-ready. Puerto Rico Power Crisis: PREPA bondholders have appealed a federal court order that blocked their push to appoint a receiver or dismiss the bankruptcy, escalating the fight over who controls the utility’s next steps. Puerto Rico Business & Tech: Liberty Business says it’s expanding beyond connectivity with cloud, cybersecurity, IoT, and AI solutions tailored for Puerto Rico companies. Puerto Rico Culture & Pride: Chicago’s Pride Parade will be led by the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, highlighting its long-running HIV testing and support services.

Puerto Rico Tourism: Local small hotels say June and July are their busiest months, with most guests coming from within the island (often about 85%), and some properties targeting occupancy near 90% as summer ramps up. Education Policy: The Trump administration is pushing a new approach to TRIO college-access grants by letting states compete for long-running Talent Search funding—an idea that worries advocates could shift how programs are run. Streaming for Boricuas: Hemisphere Media Group expanded WAPA+ (Puerto Rico’s FAST channel) to Amazon Prime Video, aiming to bring more Puerto Rican news and entertainment to viewers on the U.S. mainland. Culture & AI Music: A Culture Bites segment spotlights viral AI-generated songs, including a “Puerto Rico Song” made with AI, and debates what it means for human craft and cultural representation. Aviation Disruption: A Frontier flight from San Juan to Chicago diverted to Miami after a passenger allegedly tried to open exit doors and assaulted an off-duty attendant.

Tourism & Hotels: Dorado signed an agreement to bring the Wyndham Garden brand to its beachfront hotel in Costa de Oro, a 53-room property opening slated for December 2026. Local Economy & Work: A new look at financial stress finds many workers lose focus and productivity when household money worries pile up. Finance: Puerto Rico’s credit unions held steady in Q1 2026, with improved loan quality and capitalization keeping stability levels unchanged. Public Records & Accountability: The Center for Investigative Journalism says it has repeatedly gone to court to obtain Puerto Rico government files, including missing-person data. Food Assistance: The Department of the Family reassured PAN participants that annual recertification is a federal requirement and benefits will continue. Aviation Safety: A Frontier flight from San Juan to Chicago was diverted to Miami after a passenger allegedly tried to open an emergency exit door and attacked an off-duty attendant; federal charges were filed. Sports: Amanda Serrano’s dominant second-round TKO tied her with Christy Martin for the women’s knockout record, and she says her farewell fight could be in Puerto Rico or New York.

Air Travel Safety: A Frontier Airlines flight from San Juan to Chicago was diverted to Miami after a passenger allegedly tried to open emergency exit doors mid-flight, then attempted to enter the cockpit and choked an off-duty flight attendant; passengers restrained him until landing, and authorities say the incident is under investigation. Cruise Industry: Norwegian Cruise Line is canceling months of sailings tied to Puerto Rico—first scrapping some Prima-class San Juan departures over port availability, and also canceling about three months of cruises on the Norwegian Viva that were set to homeport in San Juan, with affected travelers offered refunds and credits. Puerto Rico Economy: The Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics reports the island paid $919.7M in import tariffs in 2025, up sharply from 2024 and the highest in 15 years, with the effective tariff rate rising to 4.81%. Baseball (Boricua in Pro Sports): LG Twins signed Puerto Rican pitcher Yacksel Rios and released Yonny Chirinos, a move that reshapes the KBO pitching staff.

Mortgage Watch: Puerto Rico’s mortgage delinquency is at historic lows, with the 30-day rate at 3%, 60-day at 1%, and 90-day at 2% as of December 2025, according to OCIF data. Cruise Economy: Norwegian Viva is canceling San Juan departures for the 2027-2028 season due to port availability, and local tourism officials warn of about $17 million in economic impact. Trade & Energy: The Connecticut–Puerto Rico Trade Commission’s first meeting set subcommittees on economy, tourism, housing, education, and healthcare, and added energy assistance and efficiency after lawmakers flagged Puerto Rico’s power-outage challenges. Wildlife Conservation: The Detroit Zoo shipped 6,855 tadpoles to Puerto Rico to help restore the critically endangered Puerto Rican crested toad in Manatí’s Rio Encantado. Public Health/Research: A phase 3 trial reported improved disease-free survival for intermediate- to high-risk localized prostate cancer patients using an adenoviral immunotherapy plus radiation, with sites across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Aviation Incident: A Frontier flight from San Juan to Chicago was diverted to Miami after a passenger tried to open a door mid-flight; the flight later continued.

Education Funding Watch: Puerto Rico’s Fiscal Oversight Board warns the Education Department that relying on one-time money to cover recurring Special Education obligations is “not sustainable,” especially as federal pandemic funds expire by June 30. Courts & Contracts: The Puerto Rico Supreme Court upheld that noncompete clauses in professional services contracts can stay enforceable after a contract is assigned to another party, as long as restrictions are reasonable and consent is shown through conduct. Consumer Protection: A House committee chair says there’s no replacement revenue to suspend the second “crudita” excise tax, arguing it would cost $217.4 million and would force cuts to basic services. Public Safety for Families: Sen. Brenda Pérez Soto introduced a bill to let parents or guardians request audio/video recordings during private therapeutic sessions for minors and people with communication limitations. Local Economy & Rights: Arecibo-area Rep. Edgar Robles Rivera asked DTOP for a 12-month moratorium on removing street vendors in state right-of-way areas to create a “fair, uniform and humane” process. Tourism Spotlight: Carolina Beach in Carolina was named Puerto Rico’s best beach in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, with Isla Verde beaches placing second. Sports: Puerto Rico’s U17 girls finished sixth at the Pan American Cup after a 3-1 loss to Mexico in the fifth-place match. Tennis: Nicholas Snyder and Lauren Kettlewell Sotomayor won national tennis championships in Guaynabo.

Puerto Rico Sports Spotlight: Isabel “Rome” Alvarez, a Viera High School standout, earned a spot on Puerto Rico’s U23 women’s wrestling team for the 2026 Pan American Games in Lima and the U23 World Championships in Las Vegas. Maritime Security: U.S. Coast Guard crews working with federal partners intercepted a barge in San Juan Harbor and apprehended eight stowaways—four Chinese nationals and four from the Dominican Republic—before transferring them to CBP for processing. Travel Disruption: A Frontier Airlines flight from San Juan to Chicago (O’Hare) was diverted to Miami due to a passenger disturbance, and landed safely. Local Culture Abroad: The Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade marked its 40th anniversary with modern-day Puerto Rican honorees and a renewed focus on Puerto Rican culture and community. Entertainment Buzz: Taylor Swift confirmed she wrote and recorded an original song for “Toy Story 5,” titled “I Knew It, I Knew You,” releasing June 5.

Water Quality & Accountability: At-large Sen. Ada Álvarez Conde asked the U.S. Department of Justice for oversight on federal water-contamination agreements tied to Condado and other communities, after local lawsuits and continued wastewater discharge concerns. Cost of Living Pressure: Puerto Rico’s ombudsman Edwin García Feliciano urged an “unbreakable” united front to force the Financial Oversight and Management Board to address the high cost of living and its impact on families and seniors. Medicaid Funding Fight: Puerto Rico House Speaker Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez said lawmakers are heading to Washington to lobby to preserve Medicaid funding levels that are set to expire Sept. 30, 2027, focusing on keeping the 76% federal reimbursement rate. Hurricane Season Readiness: The González Colón administration says it’s fully prepared for hurricane season, citing updated emergency protocols and improved unified communications across agencies. Local Governance & Safety: Ponce and other officials continue pushing for inspections and compliance actions tied to public safety concerns, including scrutiny of unfinished structures.

Drug Bust at Sea: U.S. Customs and Border Protection used air-disabling fire to stop a smuggling boat off Puerto Rico, seizing about 391 pounds of cocaine and taking three Dominican nationals into custody. Power Woes in the Region: A total blackout hit St. Thomas and St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands again early Sunday, the second outage this weekend, as officials cite generation loss and long-running maintenance and capacity problems. Puerto Rico in the Spotlight: A new AP report notes indigenous leader Brooklyn Rivera has died in Nicaragua after nearly three years detained. Travel Buzz: The World’s Best Beaches list names Anguilla’s Shoal Bay East No. 1 in North America, highlighting powdery sand and calm, clear water. Sports & Puerto Rico Ties: Boxing coverage says Amanda Serrano wants her next fight in Puerto Rico, while other fight recaps focus on recent title bouts in El Paso.

FEMA Funding for Airport Resilience: Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández met with Carolina Mayor José Carlos Aponte Dalmau to push reconstruction and infrastructure priorities, including FEMA’s release of $5,014,600 for backup generators at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport to keep the island’s main gateway running during outages. Puerto Rico Film in the Spotlight: The acclaimed Puerto Rican film “Esta isla” will screen for free at Casa Pueblo’s Solar Cinema in Adjuntas, with a post-screening discussion featuring the directors/producers/writers Lorraine Jones Molina and Cristian Carretero and actor Auudi Robles. Music & Pride in Fashion: Bad Bunny’s latest Adidas drop, the “Nuevayol” Ballerina in vivid red inspired by Puerto Rico’s flamboyán trees, lands Saturday on Adidas.com. Sports Night for Puerto Rican Boxing: Amanda Serrano, Puerto Rico’s featherweight star, headlines an ESPN-televised championship card in El Paso on Saturday, with Serrano facing Cheyenne Hanson.

Caribbean Travel & Weather: Summer travel in the Caribbean can mean fewer crowds and better deals, but hurricane season runs June 1–Nov. 30, so travelers are urged to plan around risk areas. Puerto Rico Sports Spotlight: Puerto Rican boxing champ Amanda Serrano headlines an ESPN card in El Paso on May 30, while Stephanie Han and Holly Holm meet in a WBA rematch. Public Safety & Drugs: U.S. Customs and Border Protection says a Black Hawk operation helped stop a vessel off Puerto Rico with 391 pounds of cocaine seized. Local Culture & Community: Puerto Rico’s Tranquilo Quieto live series returns with Buscabulla. Music & Pop Culture: Bad Bunny’s voice role in Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” (as “Pizza with Sunglasses”) is drawing major buzz. Education & Youth: The Scripps National Spelling Bee crowned Shrey Parikh, with Puerto Rico among the places represented at the competition.

Puerto Rico Tourism: The Puerto Rico Tourism Company says the 2025-2026 winter cruise season was its strongest on record, with 1.36 million passengers in Old San Juan (up about 43%) and 515 homeport/in-transit calls (up 34.1%). Music & Pop Culture: Bad Bunny is set to voice “Pizza with Sunglasses” in Pixar’s “Toy Story 5,” a full-circle Hollywood moment for the Puerto Rican star. Local Culture & Entertainment: Tranquilo Quieto is back after a hiatus, releasing a new episode featuring Puerto Rican alt-pop band Buscabulla. Community & Faith: Fort Buchanan held a Change of Stole Ceremony as Chaplain (Maj.) Joseph Okpe handed over spiritual leadership to incoming garrison command chaplain Chaplain (Maj.) Farlin Reynoso. Sports: Puerto Rico’s presence showed up in a major TYR Pro Series swim meet, where Medford’s Eleanor Geraghty advanced strongly in multiple events. Weather Readiness: NOAA’s hurricane “cone of uncertainty” graphics are getting updates for 2026, aimed at helping people understand forecast uncertainty better.

Puerto Rico’s Food Security: The Agriculture Department has started distributing tissue-cultured plantain and banana seedlings, with 40,000 delivered at the Juana Díaz Agricultural Experiment Station and plans to reach nearly 215,000 disease-resistant seedlings across six regions as a preventive move against Fusarium. Housing & Cost of Living: A new Housing Affordability Index from Estudios Técnicos says homeownership is slipping further out of reach, with the index at 64% in Q4 2025 versus 99% in early 2019. Local Development Rules: The Financial Oversight and Management Board gave conditional approval to updates to municipal land-use plans in seven municipalities, but warned they’re “interim measures” until Puerto Rico’s broader permitting overhaul is finished. Power Grid Progress: LUMA says it still can’t meet the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau’s vegetation-management and transmission hardening “targets” because the regulator hasn’t defined them. Sports & Community: NBA Basketball School Puerto Rico announced summer camps in San Juan for ages 7–16, and the Women’s Softball Premier League kicks off Friday with Cidra hosting Ponce. Public Safety at Sea: The Coast Guard and partners intercepted a barge in San Juan harbor and arrested four Chinese and four Dominican nationals as stowaways.

Puerto Rico Economy & Housing: A new Housing Affordability Index update says homeownership is getting harder on the island, with affordability falling to 64% in Q4 2025 as prices rise, mortgage rates stay high, and household income doesn’t keep up. Disaster Recovery: FEMA approved more than $5.5 million for Puerto Rico Public Assistance projects, including repairs tied to Hurricanes Fiona and Maria for schools, municipalities, and community groups. Local Business & Industry: Puerto Rico’s DDEC is pushing manufacturing competitiveness by expanding partnerships with CEMEX, focusing on industrial innovation, supply chains, and reshoring. Energy & Grid Resilience: Infinite Grid Capital signed a letter of intent for about 1.1 GWh of utility-scale battery storage, including an approximately 400 MWh project in Puerto Rico. Sports & Community: The island also shows up in the spotlight with Puerto Rico’s U-17 team beating the Dominican Republic 3-2 at the U-17 Pan American Cup, while Puerto Rican pride continues in New York with the Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade’s 40th anniversary. Culture: “The Puerto Rico Song” keeps going viral, with its creator “Saxboy Billy” saying the catchy, humorous track took off far beyond travel content. Defense & Cuba: A report says the U.S. has been positioning ships and personnel around the Caribbean, with Puerto Rico and Florida included, as lawmakers push back on potential Cuba action.

Energy Relief: Puerto Rico’s Family Department will start a new LIHEAP phase offering up to $1,000 to households behind on electricity bills, with an initial automatic push to about 3,960 families and an application option via the ADSEF Digital platform starting May 27. Coastal Protection Fight: The ACLU of Puerto Rico is urging lawmakers to reject House Bill 25, saying it would weaken coastal protections and tilt maritime-terrestrial rules toward private development. Responsible Gaming Upgrade: Puerto Rico is set to join the National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program in June, letting people bar themselves across multiple regulated gambling operators through one registration. Campus Update: At RUM (Mayagüez), interim chancellor Miguel Muñoz Muñoz says agreements with the General Student Council will end protests while guaranteeing free access and academic continuity. Local Economy & Governance: PRMA is calling for a swift permanent appointment to lead DDEC after leadership shake-ups, warning uncertainty could hurt investor confidence. Tourism/Infrastructure: The Pan American West Pier in San Juan was inaugurated after a $40M investment aimed at boosting cruise tourism and economic activity. Culture & Entertainment: GAMERGY Puerto Rico debuts Aug. 29-30 at the Convention Center with esports, cosplay, and guest appearances.