Thursday May 11, 2023

The San Juan Daily Star, the only paper with News Service in English in Puerto Rico, publishes 7 days a week, with a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday edition, along with a Weekend Edition to cover Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Fiscal board: Unsustainable increases can’t be part of debt mediation

By THE STAR STAFF

The Financial Oversight and Management Board has said it can not enter into Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) debt mediations if they are required to agree to increases in debt adjustment offers that are unsustainable.

Lawyers for the oversight board spoke after the judge overseeing the case, Laura Taylor Swain, had said she may dismiss the case if the board’s proposed plan isn’t confirmed. She also said she was more likely to dismiss the case than to allow the oversight board to file another plan if the one under analysis wasn’t confirmed. Therefore, she called upon parties to negotiate a plan that had more stakeholder participation and advised the oversight board to weigh the potential of a dismissal against the risk that the board would agree to an unsustainable plan that would quickly fail and put Puerto Rico at risk.

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“We have to be extremely careful that we don’t put the system on the verge of catastrophe a few years down the line,” González said.

However, González admitted that the board was not entirely in agreement with the assumptions underlying the plan of adjustment.

Swain, meanwhile, expressed doubt that the mediators would put preconditions on parties that may violate their duty to “craft sustainable solutions for Puerto Rico.”

Shelley Chapman, who leads the mediation team, denied erecting “unreasonable and unnecessary barriers,” saying any other understanding may result from “selective hearing.”

Swain this week ordered that by next Tuesday, the mediation team must file a schedule for future mediation sessions between the team and the principal parties.

The PREPA debt plan proposes to restructure PREPA’s debt principally through an issuance of $5.68 billion of new bonds to fund partial recoveries on creditors’ claims. PREPA owns about $8.26 billion in revenue bonds, plus some $218 million in prepetition accrued interest on such bonds. The utility also owns $700 million in fuel line loans and projects some $246 million to $4.9 billion in general unsecured claims. It also has over $3 billion in unfunded pension liabilities.

Under the proposed plan, PREPA would pay for the new bonds over a 35-year period through revenues from a legacy charge to PREPA’s customers, but the board has said an affordable and sustainable legacy charge will generate only $5.68 billion in additional net revenues.

Oversight board attorney Martin Bienenstock told Swain on May 8 that the board could not mediate with established preconditions that may result in violations to its fiduciary duties.

“The board is ready and willing without preconditions of any sort, to mediate [the bondholder’s] claim amount [and the] board is ready and willing without preconditions to negotiate a global resolution with the bondholders,” Bienenstock said.

Swain convened the hearing to ascertain the reasons why the parties were not mediating a consensual debt restructuring for PREPA’s $10 billion debt.

Oversight board member Arthur González agreed with Bienenstock’s remarks in that he couldn’t see how the board could enter into negotiations if they had to agree to a position upfront that they believed was unsustainable.

“The Mediation team is directed to include the following information in future mediation reports: the number of completed mediation sessions in the prior month and the number of scheduled further mediation sessions as of the date of the report, whether the participants are attending with empowered principals as required above, whether the participants have made proposals and counter proposals in good faith, and whether any further assistance is needed from the Court,” the judge said.

Shelley Chapman leads the mediation team in the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority bankruptcy process.

Lawmaker arrested in protest says Guayanilla residents will sue to stop tower construction

By THE STAR STAFF

Popular Democratic Party Rep.

José “Cheíto” Rivera Madera said Wednesday that residents of the Indios neighborhood in Guayanilla will insist in the courts on obtaining a cease and desist order against telecommunications company Elite Towers.

The lawmaker was arrested early Wednesday as part of a protest to prevent the construction of the telecommunication tower. Speaker of the House of Representatives Rafael Hernández Montañez issued a statement supporting the lawmaker.

As indicated by Rivera Madera, for two weeks the community has been trying to stop the construction undertaken by Elite Towers after the argument was raised, based on documents from the Permit Management Office, that the structure violates certain parameters such as the granting of a categorical exclusion on protected rural land.

Rivera Madera said the Guayanilla mu-

nicipal government has already requested the cease and desist order and he has requested to be an intervener in the case.

The lawmaker said he was called at 3 a.m. and told that there were cement trucks on site ready to start construction.

“I go there and ask Lieutenant Irizarry, I think his name was, if they had special permits to work at that time,” Rivera Madera said minutes after being released from police headquarters in Peñuelas. “From what is clear from the construction permit that I have, it does not say that they are going to work outside of normal business hours.”

Reportedly the officer told him that the company did not have such a permit.

“They kept working and I stood behind one of the trucks,” Rivera Madera said. “He told me that he had to arrest me if I stopped there and he ended up arresting me.”

Rivera Madera maintained that he is waiting to be summoned given the possibility that he is charged with a crime.

Volunteer committee of doctors to address flight of health professionals

By THE STAR STAFF

In order to receive direct input from doctors to stop the flight of health professionals in Puerto Rico, at-large Sen. Keren Riquelme Cabrera announced on Wednesday the creation of a volunteer committee of doctors with which she will meet periodically to develop strategies, including legislation, focused on improving physicians’ working conditions.

“For the past few years we have been working to stop the exodus of doctors, who leave Puerto Rico for the states in search of a better quality of life. There are many situations

that drive this flight of talent, which due to the demographic reality, we cannot afford,” the New Progressive Party senator said. “That is why, in addition to listening to the doctors’ professional associations, we want to know about doctors directly, without a filter. That’s why we decided to create this committee.”

The Doctors Volunteer Committee will be composed of general practitioners, specialists and subspecialists, all from different geographical points on the island.

“The committee will be composed of 10 doctors, all volunteers, donating their time to reach a series of solutions, real and applicable, that allows us not only to stop this historic outmigration to the states, but also to have a robust number of these health professionals to address the new demographic reality in Puerto Rico,” the lawmaker added.

Riquelme said she is already in talks with numerous doctors to finalize the committee.

“We have spoken with various doctors, including internists and general practitioners, among others, and the response has been very positive,” she said. “We are going to meet in person in the coming days to announce all the members and begin, immediately, the exchange of ideas and concepts. We will then hold regular meetings to fine-tune details and establish solutions. This is everyone’s problem and together we are going to work on it.”

According to data from the Physicians & Surgeons Associa-

tion of Puerto Rico, the number of doctors currently practicing on the island is under 9,000, the lowest figure in 40 years. In February, Riquelme filed several measures, including a bill that empowers the Department of Economic Development and Commerce to grant special tax decrees to eligible doctors after Dec. 31, 2020, as well as a resolution to evaluate the feasibility of restoring tax credits under the parameters of Law 14-2017.

Popular Democratic Party Rep. José Rivera Madera

The Doctors Volunteer Committee will be composed of general practitioners, specialists and subspecialists, all from different geographical points on the island.

PDP recount could take several more days

By THE STAR STAFF

After completing the first day of the recount process for its presidential election held Sunday, Popular Democratic Party (PDP) officials announced late Tuesday that the process could take up to four additional days.

“This is undoubtedly going to take 3 or 4 days at this rate if there are no challenges to ballots,” PDP Alternate Electoral Commissioner Jorge Colberg Toro said at a press conference. Out of 350 ballot cases, 236 are regular and 114 were added by hand. On Tuesday, only 43 cases had been counted.

According to the recount results announced as of Tuesday night, Rep. Jesús Manuel Ortiz González had 3,757 votes for 42.75%, Villalba Mayor Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz had 3,065 votes for 34.85% and Morovis Mayor Carmen Maldonado González had 1,974 votes for 22.44%.

“The pattern that existed today is the

pattern that occurred last Sunday, which means that the election officials who worked on Sunday did their job well, they balanced the records well, they counted the briefcases well and the most important thing is that today there was no challenge of ballots,” PDP Electoral Commissioner Ramón Torres Cruz said.

“What happened here is, evidently, we have a virtual tie and the count will determine who won this event,” he added.

As for Hernández Ortiz’s request to paralyze the process over an alleged irregularity involving an individual involved in the original vote count, PDP President José Luis Dalmau Santiago declared it inadmissible, Colberg Toro said.

“First, no one is going to paralyze this process,” he said. “The only one who can paralyze this process is the court. No one else. Second, the approach was premature because the referenced person was not for a second alone inside the room counting votes. He didn’t go in. They made an approach of

Governor says who the SEC chairman is depends on Electoral Code amendments

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia said Wednesday that the permanence of Francisco Rosado Colomer as chairman of the State Elections Commission (SEC), depends in part on the approval of proposed amendments to the Electoral Code.

“Let’s go step by step,” the governor said at a press conference. “The important thing now is that the amendments that are being clarified are adopted. It didn’t happen yesterday, but I hope this will be resolved early next week. I understand that in conference committee an agreement will be reached and then it will go down to a vote at the beginning of the week.”

“Let’s go step by step; first, let’s see what the Electoral Code provides for the chairmanship and the alternate chairmanship,” Pierluisi continued. “The governor always has a role in appointing those officials, subject to confirmation by the House and Senate. I have already expressed myself on the merits of the chairman of the State

Elections Commission and I reiterate that.”

On Monday, the island House of Representatives did not agree with a measure approved in the Senate. New Progressive Party minority leader Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez said his delegation is evaluating the amendments.

“What happened here is, evidently, we have a virtual tie and the [re]count will determine who won this [electoral] event,” Popular Democratic Party Electoral Commissioner Ramón Torres

challenge, of paralysis without the person, without the alleged fact having occurred; it is premature.”

With transfer looming, concern raised over fate of Mayagüez zoo elephant

By THE STAR STAFF

The Save the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo Foundation demanded Wednesday that the central government reconsider the fate of Mundi, the zoo’s elephant, before the zoo’s imminent closure.

“We regret that Mundi is undergoing

physical and emotional changes due to the current situation,” Lynette Matos, president of the foundation, said in a written statement.

“We are concerned about Mundi’s health, particularly because his pool of water has been taken away amid high temperatures,” Matos said. “Carol Buckley, in charge of Mundi’s transfer, is keeping [Mundi] in these worrying conditions.”

Mundi’s situation has become critical with the government’s decision to close the zoo in Mayagüez, where the elephant has resided for many years, Matos said. The foundation has called for a reconsideration of the closure.

The zoo’s closure announcement has raised numerous concerns, including those regarding Mundi’s well being. The Save the Zoo Foundation has called on citizens from Mayagüez to Aguadilla to join today in saying goodbye to Mundi.

“We urge the population to go to the gates of the Puerto Rico Zoo in Mayagüez at four in the afternoon this Thursday to witness this historic and sad moment,” Matos said.

On Wednesday, Colberg Toro asked Hernández Ortiz to be patient and respect the recount.

State Elections Commission Chairman Francisco Rosado Colomer

Cruz said.

Governor favors giving municipalities the power to shut down some illegal businesses without a court order

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia said Wednesday that he is inclined to introduce legislation that would allow municipalities to shut down certain businesses operating in an illegal manner without the need of a court order.

The issue has resurfaced after a double homicide occurred in the pre-dawn hours Saturday on Loíza Street in Santurce. Hours before the deaths of two young tourists from Peru, the police had entered an establishment that had been visited by the victims over violations of use permits. However, officials could not close the premises even though the business had violated the law before because they needed a court order.

“I think that we should evaluate the permit laws of Puerto Rico to give OGPe [the Permit Management Office] more tools at the central level of the autono-

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mous municipalities to revoke permits when there are recurrences or infractions and violations of the law, as was apparently the case in the Loíza street bar,” Pierluisi said. “A court is now required to issue a cease and desist order. I think it is a bureaucratic process that delays, delays and sometimes you have to act urgently. The mayors of autonomous municipalities and OGPe should have the power, for example, to tell any business that has a permit to show cause why we should not revoke its permit because it has violated the laws on several occasions.”

The governor, who has defended the police’s patrolling efforts in the area but has also pointed out that misfortunes like Saturday’s cannot be prevented, indicated that he has discussed the issue with Planning Board Chairman Julio Lassús Ruiz, and with mayors such as Miguel Romero Lugo of San Juan, and that he contemplates introducing legislation.

million federal injection to target infrastructure, coastal monitoring

By THE STAR STAFF

Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón, detailed Wednesday the new allocations of federal funds for Puerto Rico that total more than $16.6 million.

These funds will help with the development of infrastructure works such as improvements and reconstruction of buildings, bridges, roads and the electrical system, as well as better scientific monitoring of the island’s coasts.

The Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System of the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez Campus will receive nearly $1.167 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in funding from the Biparti-

san Infrastructure Act, which the resident commissioner endorsed as a member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Funding will be awarded over two years ($582,000 in year one and $587,000 in year two).

The goal of the funds is to support and replace aging observation infrastructure, expand observation capabilities, and monitor water quality in support of ongoing and planned coastal barrier restoration initiatives that are funded by the federal government following Hurricane Maria. The upgrades will also meet maritime sector requirements, including so-called port practices, as needed to maintain critical port vessel traffic in challenging weather conditions, even after extreme weather events.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, meanwhile, approved federal allocations for reconstruction projects related to Hurricane Maria.

The Municipality of Utuado will receive $1,344,080.75 for work on bridges and highways in the Roncador neighborhood, the Municipality of Moca will receive $1,241,125.16 for work on roads and bridges, and for the same purpose the Municipality of Las Piedras will receive $2,953,523.23.

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority was approved for over $3.6 million for

distribution of public lighting in San Germán, and the Ponce Campus of Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico will receive two assignments, one of $5,039,010.37 and another of $1,287,359.67 for work in several of its buildings.

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi

The Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System, which operates out of the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez Campus, will receive close to $1.2 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

How might the government avoid default? Biden offers clues.

By JIM TANKERSLEY

Nearly two hours after the end of what appeared to be a fruitless meeting between President Joe Biden and Republican leaders this week over raising the federal debt limit, Biden finally offered a hint as to how the government might avoid a catastrophic default.

Actually, it was two hints, contained in an impromptu news conference in the Roosevelt Room. For the first time, Biden signaled he was open to clawing back some unspent stimulus money included in the economic rescue bill he signed in 2021 during the pandemic. That suggested a potential starting ground for compromise between the president and Republican lawmakers, who have refused to raise the nation’s borrowing limit without deep spending cuts, and who have pushed to rescind some stimulus funds.

Republicans estimate those clawbacks could save the government between $50 billion and $70 billion, a relatively small amount in the context of their $4.8 trillion proposal to cut spending and eliminate clean-energy tax breaks in exchange for raising the debt limit. Asked about the idea Tuesday, Biden did not rule it out.

“We don’t need it all,” Biden said, referring to the unspent coronavirus funds. “But the question is what obligations were there made, commitments made, money not disbursed, etc.? I have to look, take a hard look at it. It’s on the table.”

The second clue was not about possible compromise — it was the opposite. The president acknowledged that he is considering what would effectively be a constitutional challenge to the very existence of the debt limit. It is a unilateral path that Biden conceded could face legal hurdles. But his comments suggested that if Congress could not find a deal to raise the debt limit on terms acceptable to Biden — and before the nation runs out of cash to pay its bills — the president might be prepared to try to avoid default on his own.

“I am considering the 14th Amendment,” Biden said, referring to a clause in the Constitution that stipulates that “the validity of the public debt” issued by the U.S. government “shall not be questioned.”

Some constitutional scholars contend

that clause requires the government to continue issuing new debt to pay bondholders, effectively overriding the nation’s statutory borrowing limit, which is controlled by Congress.

Still, Biden noted, “the problem is it would have to be litigated.”

Neither route is anything close to a safe bet to avoid what economists on Wall Street and in the White House say would be a job-obliterating financial crisis and recession in the event of a prolonged default. The Treasury Department has estimated that it could exhaust its ability to pay all of its bills on time — including payments to America’s lenders — as soon as June 1 if the debt limit is not raised.

Together, though, those options could form the basis for Biden telling reporters that “I’m absolutely certain” the default threat could be defused in time.

Republicans have forced debt-limit showdowns before, under Biden and former President Barack Obama. But current and former administration officials, business lobbyists in Washington and even progressive economists say this standoff is different — and could carry significantly higher risks of tipping the nation into default.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy commands only a narrow majority in the House. It

includes a large group of spending hawks who have pushed for confrontation over the debt limit. They insisted he tie spending cuts, a rollback of the president’s climate agenda and new work requirements for recipients of government aid to a bill the House passed late last month to raise the debt ceiling, which is capped at $31.4 trillion.

Biden negotiated a last-minute deal to raise the limit and avoid default in 2011, as vice president. But as president, he has said he will not bargain over the basic responsibility of Congress to allow the government to continue borrowing money to pay its bills — which is needed because lawmakers have spent more than the government receives in tax revenue for more than two decades.

Those dynamics could make it significantly more difficult than it was in 2011 for the country to escape default. Emerging from the White House meeting Tuesday, McCarthy immediately sought to blame Biden and Senate Democrats for the threat of default.

“I’ve done everything in my power” to avoid default, he said. “We have passed a bill that raised the debt limit. Now, I haven’t seen that in the Senate. So I don’t know.”

Mike Konczal, a director of the liberal Roosevelt Institute, said this week that he worried that investors and others could

conclude from history “that a solution will show up at the last minute.”

“That seems much less likely now,” he said.

Still, business groups and some current and former administration officials have publicly and privately described what they believe could be the possible contours of a compromise to avoid default. It would most likely center on an agreement to limit federal discretionary spending for at least two years. It could perhaps include other areas of mutual interest to Biden and Republicans — like streamlining the permitting process to develop wind, oil, gas, solar and other energy projects.

Such a deal could be aided by a plunge in the stock market as a possible default approaches and investors panic, Democrats and Republicans say.

A spending compromise would be easy enough for congressional staff to draft in a matter of hours. Biden and Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, said Tuesday that staff members from both parties would meet for two days to discuss spending issues.

“We have to sit down and figure it out,” Schumer told reporters Tuesday. “But taking default off the table would be the best thing to do right now.”

Until Biden expressed openness to clawing back some coronavirus spending, however, it was unclear whether any urgent fiscal talks could coexist with his insistence that he will not bargain over the debt limit. Now, it seems more likely that Biden and his team will be willing to discuss some Republican spending proposals on an expedited timeline, whether they call it a negotiation or not.

It is also clearer that Biden might be willing to act on his own if those discussions do not bear fruit, by invoking the 14th Amendment and continuing to borrow money to pay the government’s bills.

“I don’t think that solves our problem,” he said, unless a court rules in the administration’s favor on the issue.

But Biden said the move was under consideration regardless, and he punctuated that thought at the end of his remarks on a potential default.

“I will do everything in my power to avoid it,” he said.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks to reporters after meeting with President Joe Biden to negotiate to raise the debt limit where no deal was reached, at the Capitol in Washington, on May 9, 2023.

Fort Hood is renamed Fort Cavazos as Army sheds confederate legacy

By APRIL RUBIN

Fort Hood, the third-largest U.S. military base, was renamed Fort Cavazos earlier this week to honor a Hispanic American Army leader rather than a Confederate general.

The base is now named after Gen. Richard Edward Cavazos, the nation’s first Hispanic American four-star general and brigadier general. He served in the Korean and Vietnam wars, the U.S. Army said in a statement.

Cavazos was the recipient of a Silver Star and a Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in Korea, and a second Distinguished Service Cross for an episode in Vietnam.

“Gen. Richard Cavazos’ service demonstrates excellence at every level,” the Army said. “His 20th century service will inspire soldiers as they continue those traditions of excellence into the 21st.”

The change in Killeen, Texas, came as part of a militarywide effort to rename bases, memorials and other installations associated with Confederate figures. It began in the wake of the 2020 killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, as the nation grappled with racist legacies.

Fort Hood was one of 10 Army bases that had been named after Confederates, including Fort Bragg in North Carolina, now renamed Fort Liberty, and Fort Lee in Virginia, renamed Fort Gregg-Adams, honoring one of the highest ranking African American officers in the Army.

Fort Cavazos was previously named for John Bell Hood,

who became a Confederate cavalry captain after the Civil War began in 1861 and was promoted to major general the next year. He led Confederate troops in battles including the Battle of Gettysburg.

The Naming Commission, established by Congress in 2021, singled out bases, posts, ships, streets and other sites named after Confederates and recommended new names.

The commission was established in response to a public backlash against Confederate installations in the wake of the 2020 murder of Floyd, with Americans demanding that U.S. institutions and officials reckon with the country’s racist past.

Many of the new names across the country now memorialize women and people of color.

A sixth-generation Texan born to Mexican American parents — his father was a World War I veteran — Cavazos enrolled in the ROTC program at Texas Technical University and was commissioned into the Army in 1951 upon graduating, a U.S. Army statement said. He later returned as a professor of military science.

Cavazos commanded the Ninth Infantry Division and III Corps. He first proved himself as a leader during the Korean War, the U.S. Army said.

“It was during that war’s closing days that he first distinguished himself as a leader, rallying his men to make three separate charges on a well entrenched enemy position,” the U.S. Army said. “Afterwards, he returned to the field five separate times to personally evacuate his wounded men before accepting treatment for his own injuries.”

the third-largest U.S. military base, was renamed Fort Cavazos on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, to honor a Hispanic American Army leader rather than a Confederate general; the base is now named after Gen. Richard Edward Cavazos, the nation’s first Hispanic American four-star general and brigadier general.

In Vietnam, he spearheaded soldiers through an ambush, organized a counterattack and led maneuvers to destroy enemy defenses. Cavazos served in the Army’s strategic branches at the Pentagon and as defense attaché to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.

In recent years, the base has been the site of numerous violent events involving sexual harassment and death.

In 2020, the remains of U.S. Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen, 20, were found after she was reported missing in a case that prompted national outrage. Prosecutors said she was killed by another soldier, U.S. Army Spc. Aaron Robinson, who subsequently killed himself with a pistol.

At a renaming ceremony at the base Tuesday morning, officials and soldiers celebrated the legacy of Cavazos as a leader and trainer. After serving for 33 years, Cavazos retired from the Army in 1984, but continued to mentor others throughout his retirement. He died in 2017.

The re-designation of the base involved changing more than 400 signs, a process that was about halfway through by Tuesday, said Chris Haug, a spokesperson for the base. The cost of the project was not yet known.

Cavazos frequently asked to be introduced to the junior members of any new unit that he met, said Lt. Col. James Tucker, who is retired and served in the Army with him. At Tuesday morning’s renaming ceremony, Tucker did the same in his honor, meeting and hugging a young soldier.

“None of you ever knew him and loved him like I do,” Tucker said through tears. “When I mention his name, I cry.”

A photo provided by the U.S. Army shows Richard Edward Cavazos circa 1982, as commanding general of the U.S. Army Forces Command. Fort Hood,

For Trump, a verdict that’s harder to spin

By MAGGIE HABERMAN and JONATHAN SWAN

When Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg secured the indictment of former President Donald Trump, it galvanized Trump supporters. Allies of his Republican rival, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, mark that indictment as the moment Trump sped away from his nearest opponent in the polls.

Nobody around Trump is making a prediction publicly or privately that there will be a similar effect after a jury on Tuesday in the lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation.

The price Trump was ordered by the jury to pay his accuser, Carroll, was $5 million, in a verdict he has promised to appeal. But whether he pays any political price at all is unclear. Trump was said to be furious about the verdict, and questioning the various decisions that were made by his team in the defense. Far from letting up on Carroll, his team plans to aggressively attack her claims and tether her to Democrats.

There is no world in which the result of that civil trial was a positive development for the project he is most focused on: the presidential campaign for which he remains the Republican front-runner.

Trump has a decadeslong history of crude and misogynistic comments — and he has faced repeated accusations of sexual harassment and assault, so many that they most likely would have sunk any other candidate. But a majority in the Republican Party have largely dismissed the accusations against a celebrity former president as irrelevant to how they cast votes.

But comments and even allegations are different from a jury verdict.

The first real test of his in-person response will come Wednesday night on a national stage in front of a live television audience — a town hall hosted by CNN in New Hampshire, in a venue filled with about 400 voters who are Republicans or Republican-leaning independents.

“Americans heard with their own ears in 2016 Trump brag on tape about sexual assault and still elected him,” said David Axelrod, a former top adviser to President Barack Obama, referring to the “Access Hollywood” tape. “Will this be different, or will his supporters simply dismiss it as one more example of the politically motivated ‘deep state’ beat-down

of which he claims to be the victim?”

A handful of allies of DeSantis, Trump’s closest rival in the Republican primary race, anticipated that this case could prove different from myriad other scandals Trump has faced.

Sens. John Kennedy of Louisiana and John Thune of South Dakota essentially averted their gazes when asked to comment by reporters. Among those who publicly defended him was Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.

“It makes me want to vote for him twice,” Tuberville told HuffPost. “People are going to see through the lines,” he added, saying that with “a New York jury, he had no chance.”

Few of Trump’s opponents were willing to condemn him either, at least so far. Only one Republican candidate, Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas, issued a statement.

“Over the course of my over 25 years of experience in the courtroom, I have seen firsthand how a cavalier and arrogant contempt for the rule of law can backfire,” the statement read. “The jury verdict should be treated with seriousness and is another example of the indefensible behavior of Donald Trump.”

Former Vice President Mike Pence told NBC News that it was up to the American public to decide whether Trump is fit to be president again, but added, “I just don’t think it’s where the American people are focused.”

For years, Trump’s approach to his busi-

ness and his political life has been to portray himself as inevitable, to give off the impression that challengers or critics shouldn’t even bother trying to best him. He has handled the 2024 Republican primary in much the same manner, encouraged by his polling lead and DeSantis’ stumbles. Still, some of his critics and even some allies concede that the various legal challenges could risk becoming too much freight for him to carry.

Trump’s advisers have recently conducted extensive polling to explore how deeply the various legal cases are resonating with primary voters, according to people briefed on the efforts.

Some of Trump’s advisers were nervously anticipating the verdict before deliberations began. One was candid in private that while they were relieved Trump had been found not liable of the specific claim of rape, the rest of the jury’s verdict was “not good.”

For Trump and his allies, describing him as the victim of a “deep state” plot by his government opponents and prosecutors

could be much harder to accomplish in this case. A federal jury of six men and three women gave legitimacy to an accusation of sexual abuse made by Carroll, a writer who was photographed with Trump in New York yet whom he continues to maintain he does not know.

One of the most damaging aspects of the trial for Trump was his videotaped deposition. People close to him acknowledge the comments were a self-inflicted wound, and are aware Democrats in particular may put them in television ads where independent and suburban voters whom Trump long ago alienated would see them.

In his deposition, he burrowed into his remarks on the “Access Hollywood” tape, when asked by Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, if it was true as he said on that recording that stars can grab women by the genitals.

“Well, if you look over the last million years, I guess that’s been largely true,” Trump said. “Not always, but largely true. Unfortunately, or fortunately.”

Former president and GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign event in Manchester, N.H. on April 27, 2023. Trump was ordered to pay $5 million in damages to E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of rape and defamation. A jury found him liable of sexual abuse, but not rape.

‘Rip and replace’: The tech cold war is upending wireless carriers

By CECILIA KANG

Deep in a pine forest in Wilcox County, Alabama, three workers dangled from the top of a 350-foot cellular tower. They were there to rip out and replace Chinese

equipment from the local wireless network.

Three hours into the job, the team ran into a hitch. Replacement gear from a European company was obstructing a safety beacon for airplanes. “We’ve got a problem,” a crew member on the ground said. “They say it’s blocking the beacon.”

The project had already been delayed for months because of storms, slow equipment shipments and labor shortages. The new snafu, discovered early this month, would add at least two more days and blow the budget, said John Nettles, the president of the family-owned Pine Belt Cellular, who was standing at the base of the tower.

“People in Washington think it’s easy to just swap out the equipment, but there are always problems you didn’t expect, always more expenses and always delays,” he said.

As the United States and China battle for geopolitical and technological primacy, the fallout has reached rural Alabama and small wireless carriers in dozens of states. They are on the receiving end of the Biden administration’s sweeping policies to suppress China’s rise, which include trade restrictions, a $52 billion package to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing against China and the divestiture of the video app TikTok from its Chinese owner.

What the wireless carriers must do, under a program known as “rip and replace,” has become the starkest physical manifestation of the tech Cold War between the two superpowers. The program, which took effect in 2020, mandates that U.S. companies tear out telecom equipment made by Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE. U.S. officials have warned that gear from those companies could be used by Beijing for espionage and to steal commercial secrets.

Instead, U.S. carriers have to use equipment from nonChinese companies. The Federal Communications Commission, which oversees the program, would then reimburse the carriers from a pot of $1.9 billion intended to cover their costs.

Similar rip-and-replace efforts are taking place elsewhere. In Europe, where Huawei products have been a key part of telecom networks, carriers in Belgium, Britain, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden have also been swapping out the Chinese equipment because of security concerns, according to Strand Consult, a research firm that tracks the telecom industry.

“Rip-and-replace was the first front in a bigger story about the U.S. and China’s decoupling, and that story will continue into the next decade with a global race for AI and other technologies,” said Blair Levin, a former FCC chief of staff and a fellow at the Brookings Institution.

But cleansing U.S. networks of Chinese tech has not been easy. The costs have already ballooned above $5 billion, according to the FCC, more than double what Congress appropriated for reimbursements. Many carriers also face long supply chain delays for new equipment.

The program’s burden has fallen disproportionately on smaller carriers, which relied more on the cheaper gear from the Chinese firms than large companies like AT&T and Verizon. Given rip-and-replace’s difficulties, some smaller wireless companies now say they may not be able to upgrade their

networks and continue serving their communities, where they are often the only internet providers.

“For many rural communities, they are faced with the disastrous choice of having to continue to use insecure networks that are ripe for surveillance or having to cut off their services,” said Geoffrey Starks, a Democratic commissioner at the FCC.

Last month, Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., introduced a bill to close the gap in rip-and-replace funding for carriers. Passing it will be challenging, with similar legislation failing twice over the past year and fierce debate in Washington over government spending and the debt ceiling. But “we have to follow up,” Fischer said. “Some of these carriers could go out of business.”

The scrutiny of Chinese telecom companies goes back more than a decade. In 2012, a Congressional committee issued a report on Huawei and ZTE warning of the companies’ ties to Beijing. In 2019, former President Donald Trump restricted U.S. companies from selling goods to the Chinese firms, while the FCC banned companies that receive federal subsidies from buying Huawei and ZTE equipment. The agency expanded those restrictions last year to limit all imports from the Chinese companies.

Rip-and-replace rolled out after Congress passed a law in January 2020 creating the reimbursement effort. But costs from the program quickly soared.

In January, the FCC said it had received 126 applications seeking funding beyond what it could reimburse. Lawmakers had underestimated the costs of shredding Huawei and ZTE equipment, and new equipment and labor costs have risen. The FCC said it could cover only about 40% of the expenses.

Some wireless carriers immediately paused their replacement efforts. “Until we have assurance of total project funding, this project will continue to be delayed as we await the necessary funding required to build and pay for the new network equipment,” United Wireless of Dodge City, Kansas, wrote in a regulatory filing to the FCC in January.

Huawei declined to comment; ZTE didn’t respond to a request for comment.

A row of ZTE equipment, which will soon be replaced by Nokia equipment, at Pine Belt Cellular’s central networking hub in Selma, Ala., on May 2, 2023. The company is removing Chinese telecom equipment under a federal program known as “rip and replace.”

Nasdaq rallies as investors cheer inflation data, Alphabet

The Nasdaq ended Wednesday at its highest intraday level in more than eight months, boosted by a slightly lower-than-expected increase in April inflation and Alphabet Inc’s latest artificial intelligence rollout.

The Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 4.9% in April from a year ago, compared with expectations of a 5% increase, raising hopes that the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hiking cycle is close to an end. Monthover-month CPI in April rose 0.4% after gaining 0.1% in March.

“Markets reacted positively because they saw the inflation data as a small positive,” said Michael Harris, president at hedge fund Quest Partners LLC. “The Fed is in a pause now. They’ve done their last rate hike and they’re going to wait and see for the next couple of months.”

The Nasdaq was helped by a 4.10% climb in Alphabet as the company rolled out more artificial intelligence for its core search product in response to competition from Microsoft Corp.

Large-cap tech stocks including Apple Inc and Microsoft also gained 1.04% and 1.73%, respectively.

The rate-sensitive S&P 500 technology sector index went up 1.22% and the communication services rose 1.69%.

“The CPI is indicating some sort of relief in inflationary pressure. That would mean the Fed would be toward the end or already at the end of its interest rate cycle, and growth companies are most heavily affected by higher interest rates,” said Kevin W. Philip, a partner at investment advisor Bel Air.

Growth companies rely more on borrowed money so they benefit from lower rates.

Fed funds futures traders are pricing in a pause in rate increases at the central bank’s June meeting, and less than a 5% chance of another 25 basis point hike.

“The market is pricing in a Fed cut beginning this summer. While inflation is decelerating, it’s not decelerating at a pace that would justify cutting the Fed funds rate anytime before the fourth quarter of 2023,” said Matthew Palazzolo, senior investment strategist at Bernstein Private Wealth Management.

Indexes were choppy during the session, as investors digested the positive inflation print with concerns about the looming debt ceiling.

Talks on raising the U.S. federal government’s $31.4 trillion debt ceiling entered a new phase on Wednesday as some areas of potential compromise emerged after Tuesday’s White House meeting. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 30.48 points, or 0.09%, to 33,531.33; the S&P 500 gained 18.47 points, or 0.45%, at 4,137.64; and the Nasdaq Composite added 126.89 points, or 1.04%, at 12,306.44.

Volume on U.S. exchanges was 11.04 billion shares,

MOST ASSERTIVE STOCKS

PUERTO RICO STOCKS COMMODITIES CURRENCY

compared with the 10.7 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.

Regional bank shares extended declines from volatile sessions last week on concerns about the sector’s health. PacWest Bancorp and Zions Bancorporation inched lower 0.49% and 2.74% respectively.

Oil and gas producer Occidental Petroleum Corp fell 3.58% after its first-quarter earnings fell short of analysts’ estimates. Livent Corp rose 5.24% after Australian lithi-

um miner Allkem Ltd agreed to merge with the U.S.-based chemical manufacturing firm to create a $10.6 billion firm. Airbnb Inc lost 10.92% as the vacation rental booking company had fewer bookings and lower average daily rates in the second quarter. Rivian Automotive jumped 1.80% after the electrical vehicle maker beat estimates for its first-quarter results and reiterated its annual production forecast.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by a 1.32-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.40-to-1 ratio favored advancers.

The S&P 500 posted 18 new 52-week highs and 11 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 86 new highs and 152 new lows.

Ukraine claims gains near Bakhmut as deadly fighting continues

By CARLOTTA GALL and MARIA VARENIKOVA

Ukrainian military commanders said Wednesday that their troops had broken through Russian positions on the southern flank of the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut, forcing Russian units back from their positions at an important bridgehead of a canal.

Ukrainian officials and the head of Russia’s Wagner militia group said Russian troops had lost an area of roughly 3 square miles southwest of the city. If confirmed, it would be the first significant gain for Ukraine in the fight for Bakhmut since pushing Russian forces off a key access road two months ago, although it was far from clear that Ukrainian forces could hold the ground or that it was a turning point in the monthslong battle.

The fighting around the city did not seem to be part of a broader counteroffensive that Kyiv has said will begin soon, but came amid an uptick in Ukrainian strikes behind Russian lines and reports of increased attacks in Russian regions bordering Ukraine. The Ukrainian operation near Bakhmut hit Russian army troops as they were rotating into position and was an opportunistic strike on a weak link in the Russian front, Ukrainian military officers said.

Russia’s Defense Ministry has not commented on the reports.

The Ukrainians said they broke through Russian lines in an area of fields, ravines and thickets of trees to the southwest of Bakhmut. Ukrainian commanders said several units — including the Azov soldiers in the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, a special forces unit; the Adam Tactical Group; and the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, a group that includes civilian

volunteers — had carried out the attack.

Andriy Biletsky, a commander of the Ukrainian 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, said in a video statement released early Wednesday that his troops had seized Russian positions and inflicted heavy losses on Russian troops. Two Russian companies, units typically with about 100 soldiers each, and a reconnaissance team had been “completely destroyed” in the fighting, he said.

His video statement, filmed at night, appeared to corroborate information released by Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner militia group that is leading the assault on Bakhmut.

Prigozhin said in a video statement Tuesday that the Russian flank had been broken. Known for his outspoken and often self-serving criticism of Russia’s military, Prigozhin accused units of the 72nd Brigade of the Russian army of aban-

doning their positions.

“Everyone fled and exposed a front almost 2 kilometers wide and 500 meters deep,” he said.

Prigozhin’s Wagner forces have played a key role in Russia’s assault on Bakhmut, but he has frequently blamed Russian military leaders for failing to adequately supply his forces. He released his statement just as President Vladimir Putin of Russia was attending the traditional Victory Day military parade in Moscow’s Red Square to commemorate the Soviet defeat over the Nazis in World War II.

He added that his forces had to move in to prevent a further Ukrainian advance. “It’s good we managed to block it somehow,” he said.

Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, said in a statement that the attack was part of a “defensive operation” aimed at stalling the Russian assault on Bakhmut, which has been raging for 11 months — one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the war. Syrsky did not mention the long-anticipated counteroffensive that Ukraine and its Western allies have been preparing for months with newly equipped and trained brigades.

Ukrainian commanders fighting in and around Bakhmut have said that their role is to prevent Russian advances while new brigades are trained and assembled to carry out the expected counteroffensive. They also said that they sensed that the Russian army was demoralized and thinly stretched in places along the front line, making them vulnerable.

A midlevel commander in the 3rd Assault Brigade who asked to be identified by his nickname, Zayan, in keeping with Ukrainian military rules, said of what might come next in the fight for Bakhmut: “Anything is possible.”

For Kyiv’s residents, tunnels are both shelter and source of adventure

By NICOLE TUNG

Several dozen Kyiv residents donned waders and wielded flashlights Sunday for a diversion from the threat of Russian attacks, descending into a network of subterranean tunnels under the Ukrainian capital for a dank but illuminating tour led by two urban explorers. The city was, unknowingly, just hours from one of the largest waves of Russian drone attacks of the war to directly target the capital. But it was already braced for assaults before Victory Day in Russia on May 9, and after explosions over the Kremlin last week that Moscow said involved Ukrainian drones.

Some 80 rivers flow through and under Kyiv, and the tunnels that the tour visited bring together some of them, eventually channeling their waters into the Dnieper. The organizer was Urbex Tour, a Ukrainian company that guides visitors to Cold War bunkers, catacombs in Odesa and even a missile base. Two explorers with the group, who have spent years mapping the underground world of Ukraine’s cities, were in charge Sunday.

The tour participants started by climbing into a manhole under Kyiv’s hip Podil neighborhood, armed with a sense of adventure. Their flashlights picked out arched brick walls built in the 19th century to separate the sewage system from the underground rivers, while the sound of trams above rumbled.

They walked along a steady stream of water, skirting the soft mud on its edges. In one long stretch, the ceiling dipped low, forcing them to advance in a crouch for at least 10 minutes. Rain can flood the tunnels, so the tours go ahead only when the weather has been dry.

All sorts of items surfaced: metal parts from the tramway, a rusted butter knife, old Soviet coins. A group of friends enthused about the fungi they saw growing from a concrete section of the tunnel wall.

One of the guides, Artem Forostyanyi, said the appeal of the tunnels was obvious. “People want these extreme tours to take them away from their everyday troubles,” he said.

At one point, he asked the participants to turn their flashlights off. The darkness was total. There was nervous

laughter when he suggested that they try to take five steps forward.

The laughter after the tour was less anxious, particularly between one married couple, who gave only their first names, Katia and Nikita, both 31.

“My husband decided to take me on a romantic outing,” Katia said after climbing back out of a manhole into the light of Kyiv.

Flowers adorn graves in the main cemetery in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, May 9, 2023.

Participants of an Urbex Tour session in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday, May 7, 2023, got the chance to explore the tunnels underneath the country’s capital.

As Turkish vote looms, Erdogan loyalists can’t imagine anyone else in charge

By BEN HUBBARD and SAFAK TIMUR

Memis Akbulut, a cellphone salesperson, listed the reasons that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could count on his support in elections Sunday that could drastically change the course of the country: He is charismatic, a world leader who has strengthened Turkey’s defenses and battled terrorism.

And thanks to a regulation that Erdogan pushed in the months leading up to the vote, Akbulut will soon receive an early pension from the government — at age 46.

“Everything is a 10,” he said recently in the central city of Kayseri. “I will vote for the president,” he added. “Is there anyone else?”

The presidential and parliamentary elections are shaping up to be Erdogan’s toughest electoral fight during his two decades as Turkey’s predominant politician. A cost-of-living crisis has angered many voters, and his government stands accused of mismanaging the initial response to catastrophic earthquakes in February. Recent polls suggest a tight race — and, perhaps, even a defeat — for Erdogan.

The political opposition has formed a broad coalition aimed at ousting him. Six parties are backing a joint presidential candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a former civil servant who has vowed to undo Erdogan’s legacy and restore Turkey’s democracy.

Erdogan’s die-hard supporters, which pollsters estimate to be about one-third of the electorate, see no reason for Turkey to change course. They love the president’s nationalist bombast, religious outlook and vows to stand up for the country against an array of forces they view as threats, including terrorist organizations, gay rights activists, the United States and NATO.

“Erdogan succeeded in building a close relationship with his electorate over the past 20 years,” said Akif Beki, a former adviser to the president who has broken with him and his governing party.

Others have benefited in concrete ways, either politically or financially, from links to Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party, also known as the AKP, Beki said.

“There is a new class that has arisen in his 20 years, and their interests are overlapping with Erdogan’s,” Beki said. “It is expecting them to act against their interests to expect them to go against the AKP and Erdogan.”

Erdogan’s critics note that Turkey’s gross domestic product began declining about a decade ago, and annual inflation, which surpassed 80% last year, has left many Turks feeling poorer. Most economists say Erdogan’s unorthodox financial policies have exacerbated the crisis.

During his years in power, the president has consolidated his control over much of the state, tilting Turkey toward autocracy, while frustrating the United States and other NATO allies by maintaining a close relationship with President Vladimir Putin of Russia after his invasion of Ukraine last year.

Kayseri, in central Turkey, has long been a stronghold of Erdogan, voting for him and his party, often overwhelmingly so, in every election since 2002. Recent conversations with more than two dozen voters there showed that many still admire his leadership while others simply can’t imagine anyone else in charge.

When Erdogan appeared on the national scene as a young,

dynamic prime minister in 2003, he and his party promised competent governance, reliable services and economic growth.

And for many years, they delivered it.

Turks’ incomes rose as their cities became cleaner and better organized. Between 2003 and 2013, the national economy grew threefold, new hospitals, airports and highways were built around the country, and voters rewarded Erdogan at the ballot box, electing him president in 2014 and 2018.

Kayseri, an industrial city of 1.4 million people in the shadow of a snow-capped peak, benefited during the Erdogan era, developing into an attractive city, with subway and tram lines, universities and factories that produce everything from shipping containers to furniture — much of it for export.

Sevda Ak, an Erdogan supporter, acknowledged that the high inflation had harmed her family’s purchasing power. But she was counting on Erdogan to fix it.

“If we shop for one child, we can’t shop for the other,” said Ak, 38, a mother of three. “But it is still Erdogan who can solve it.”

Her sister, Ayse Ozer, 32, credited Erdogan with developing the country but said he should crack down on merchants she accused of price gouging.

Erdogan’s critics, on the other hand, accuse him of weakening Turkey’s democracy. And many in the West see him as a problematic partner, a leader of a NATO country who snarled the alliance’s plans to expand after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Turkey waited many months to accept Finland into the alliance, but has still refused to admit Sweden.

Erdogan’s most loyal followers, however, see those actions as signs of strength.

“He doesn’t bow to anyone,” said Mustafa Akel, 48, a laborer in a door factory. “He built ships. He built drones. If he leaves, the one who will replace him is going to work to fill his own pockets.”

He acknowledged that Erdogan had profited, too, during his time in power. But no matter.

“I don’t think anyone else can rule this country,” he said.

In the months leading up to the vote, Erdogan has also

tapped the power of his office to appeal to voters and mitigate the effects of inflation by raising the minimum wage, boosting civil servants’ salaries and changing retirement regulations to allow millions of workers to receive early pensions.

And in recent weeks, he has invoked national pride in ways that appeal to many Turks.

He had a new, Turkish-built warship, the TCG Anadolu, dock in central Istanbul, where voters could walk aboard. He became the first owner of the first Turkish-built electric car. Via video link, he welcomed the first fuel delivery to a Russian-built nuclear power plant near the Mediterranean. He announced the start of production of Turkish natural gas in the Black Sea and promised free shipments to Turkish homes.

Few voters in Kayseri seemed impressed with the opposition, and many doubted its six parties could work together effectively.

Askin Genc, a parliamentary candidate for the opposition Republican People’s Party, said he expected the economy to give the opposition an opening.

“The cost of living will have an effect at the ballot box,” he said.

The opposition was also hoping to attract young voters, he said. About 6 million young Turks, out of 60.6 million eligible voters, will be able to vote for the first time, and analysts say Erdogan has struggled to entice them.

Many voters expressed frustration with Erdogan’s stewardship of the economy, but few said they would switch to the opposition because of it.

Ali Durdu, who was shopping with his family at an outdoor market, said he had long voted for Erdogan but was mad about high prices and would sit out this election. His wife, Merve, was also mad at Erdogan, but would vote for him anyway.

“Erdogan has his mistakes,” she said. “But he’s the best of the worst.”

A reelection campaign poster depicting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Kayseri, Turkey, on April 21, 2023.

Imran Khan, Pakistan’s ex-leader, is arrested

By CHRISTINA GOLDBAUM and SALMAN MASOOD

Pakistan’s ousted prime minister, Imran Khan, was arrested on corruption charges earlier this week, in a major escalation of a political crisis that has engulfed the country over the past year and that raises the prospect of mass unrest by his supporters.

The arrest intensified a showdown between the powerful Pakistani military and Khan, and brought the country into uncharted political territory. While Pakistani leaders have faced arrest before, never has anyone like Khan so directly — and with mass popular support — challenged the military, which for decades has been the invisible hand wielding power behind the government.

Political tensions have been building for months as Khan, a populist former cricket star who was removed from office last year, has accused the military and the current government of conspiring against him. Both military and government officials deny those claims.

Khan was at a court hearing in Islamabad when he was arrested by paramilitary troops, and he remained in custody Tuesday, officials said. A video of the arrest, circulating on social media, shows Khan being led into a law enforcement vehicle, surrounded by a throng of security officers in riot gear. Khan was arrested in connection with a land transfer for a university, officials said — one of several corruption cases he is facing.

His political party called for demonstrations soon after his arrest, and protests erupted in several cities.

In Lahore, throngs of Khan’s supporters ransacked the official residence of an army commander. Hundreds of protesters also gathered outside the army headquarters in Rawalpindi, just outside Islamabad. And in the port city of Karachi, police fired tear gas to disperse crowds that blocked the city’s main thoroughfare, and protesters burned a police vehicle, a prison van and a paramilitary troops’

checkpoint.

The unrest offered a stark reminder of the turbulent political scene in Pakistan, a nucleararmed nation of 230 million people that has struggled with instability and military coups since its founding 75 years ago. The military has ruled for over half of that history, and even under civilian governments, military leaders are seen as the force responsible for ushering political dynasties into and out of power.

Khan — whose party commands significant loyalty across the country — has made a stunning political comeback in the wake of his ouster last year. Tens of thousands have thronged his rallies, at which Khan and others have called for fresh elections and accused Pakistan’s military establishment of orchestrating his removal.

Prosecutors have in recent months opened dozens of court cases against Khan, including on charges of terrorism and corruption, and he has repeatedly faced threats of arrest after failing to appear in court.

Khan and his supporters deny the charges, characterizing them as a misuse of the justice system by the government, led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and the military to keep him out of politics. Political and military leaders deny those claims.

The tensions surrounding Khan broke into violence in November, when he was wounded during a rally after an unidentified man opened fire on his convoy, in what aides have called an assassination attempt. In recent months, Khan has accused a senior intelligence official of playing a role in that shooting.

On Monday, military officials offered a sharp rebuke to those accusations, releasing

a statement saying Khan had targeted military and intelligence officials with “insinuations and sensational propaganda” to further his political agenda.

The news release, a rare public statement from military leaders directed at a political leader, underscored the severity of the clash between them and Khan.

His arrest is “about Khan crossing the military’s ‘red line’ with his recent comments against officials in the military and intelligence services,” said Madiha Afzal, a fellow at the Brookings Institution. “It is about Khan’s escalating confrontation with the military establishment over the last year, and the fact that the latter sees Khan as an existential threat.”

Khan was arrested in connection with a case involving the transfer of land for Al-Qadir University, near Islamabad, officials said. Khan is accused of granting favors to Malik Riaz Hussain, a powerful real estate tycoon, with the university getting land and donations in return.

The National Accountability Bureau, Pakistan’s anti-corruption organization, said it had sent multiple notices to Khan that were ignored. Officials said he is now being held at one of the bureau’s offices in Rawalpindi, in northern Pakistan.

He will be presented before a court Wednesday, officials said.

The drama surrounding Khan seems only to have buoyed his popularity, analysts say, highlighting his ability to outmaneuver Pakistan’s typical playbook for sidelining leaders who have fallen out of favor with the military.

Over the summer, his party, Pakistan Te-

hreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, won sweeping victories in local elections in Punjab — a province that has often served as a bellwether for national politics — and in Karachi.

Those victories were also seen as a response to worsening economic conditions that the government has struggled to address, and as a repudiation of the military establishment.

But they have drawn a crackdown on Khan’s supporters that many view as a coordinated effort by authorities to dampen his political prospects.

Journalists known to be sympathetic to Khan say they have been harassed by authorities. Live broadcasts of his speeches have been banned from news networks. A mainstream channel, ARY News, was forced off the air after airing an interview with one of Khan’s top aides in which he made anti-military remarks.

The crisis has flipped the script for Khan, who benefited from a close relationship with the military when he was elected prime minister in 2018. At the time, his rivals claimed that authorities had waged a campaign of coercion and intimidation that deterred any opposition and ensured Khan’s success.

Military officials have denied those accusations and maintained that the institution has adopted a “neutral” position in the current political crisis. The military appeared to withdraw its support for Khan at the beginning of last year, paving the way for lawmakers in parliament to remove him with the no-confidence vote.

But Khan has retained widespread popularity, a sign that authorities’ traditional methods may not be enough to silence a populist politician in the era of social media, analysts say.

Now, many fear Khan’s arrest will worsen the turmoil that has embroiled the country in recent months. Before Tuesday, his aides were warning that his detention would set off mass unrest.

“His supporters have demonstrated their capacity to turn up in large numbers and bring life to a standstill,” said Zahid Hussain, a political analyst and author based in Islamabad.

Soon after the arrest, official social media accounts for Khan’s political party released a prerecorded message from Khan, in which he directs party workers to stage protests across the country after his arrest.

Many rallied behind that appeal Tuesday, and protests are expected to continue this week — raising the specter of possible violent clashes between the police and Khan’s supporters.

“We are not afraid of tear gas and batons,” said Muhammad Shafiq, 24, a student who was among those protesting in Karachi. “For us, there is nothing more important than Mr. Khan.”

Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister, was removed from office by Parliament after a no-confidence vote last year.

How to think about green industrial policy

By PAUL KRUGMAN

The Biden administration’s signature policy achievement, at least so far, has been the Inflation Reduction Act, enacted last August. Despite its deliberately misleading name, the act was mostly a climate bill. Specifically, it sought to fight climate change with industrial policy, offering businesses and consumers a variety of subsidies to adopt green technologies, with the quintessential example being electric vehicles ultimately powered by renewable energy sources.

The news so far is that businesses appear to be rushing to take advantage of those subsidies, so the budget cost of the act is likely to be substantially higher than projected — maybe hundreds of billions of dollars higher. At the same time, the protectionist aspects of the legislation, which strongly favors domestic production, have irked other nations, with Europeans in particular talking about — although so far not taking much action on — a Green Deal Industrial Plan that would amount to a subsidy war with the United States.

In other words, early indications are that the Inflation Reduction Act will be an enormous success story.

Readers of a certain age — well, a fairly advanced age — may recall that there was a big U.S. debate about industrial policy in the 1980s and early 1990s. There was a widespread perception, fed by books like Lester Thurow’s 1992 bestseller “Head to Head,” that America was falling behind Japan and possibly Europe. Many analysts attributed Japan’s economic

growth to its industrial policy — that is, government efforts to promote the industries of the future.

America, a significant number of pundits argued, needed to push back with an industrial policy of its own.

Skeptics argued, however, that there was little evidence that industrial policy was behind Japan’s success and that governments were unlikely to be very good at “picking winners.” As if to drive this point home, political supporters of industrial policy came for a time to be known as “Atari Democrats”; sure enough, Atari, which helped create the video game industry, eventually failed spectacularly.

And Japan went from seemingly unstoppable juggernaut to cautionary tale (although Japan’s economy has actually performed better than most people realize; most of its slow growth can be attributed to demographics).

Now, however, America is finally going into industrial policy in a big way. Are we repeating old mistakes? No. This industrial policy is different.

The Inflation Reduction Act, unlike earlier proposed industrial policies, isn’t an attempt to accelerate economic growth by picking winners. It is instead about reshaping the economy to limit climate change. The main reason for doing this via subsidies and industrial policy, rather than through Econ 101-recommended policies like carbon taxes, is political. Emissions taxes were never going to pass an evenly divided Senate in which Joe Manchin had effective veto power, but legislation that would lead to a surge in manufacturing — which is already happening, by the way — was, if only barely, within the realm of the politically possible.

And the buy-American provisions, which will create a clear link between green investment and U.S. jobs, were a crucial part of the deal, even though they will make the transition more costly and create friction with our trading partners. When your overriding goal is to confront an existential environmental threat, efficiency is very much a secondary consideration.

Now, as it turns out, this may be a case in which the government will be successful in picking winners after all. The reason we’re able to make major progress on climate using carrots rather than sticks — subsidies rather than taxes or quotas — is that green technology has been advancing at an incredible rate, consistently outpacing official projections. And there are good reasons to believe that clean energy is subject to steep learning curves, so subsidizing a green transition will cause the technological progress making such a transition possible to advance even faster.

But this is icing on the cake. The main payoff to America’s new industrial policy will come not from job creation or even improved technology, but from limiting the damage from climate change.

And this is why a subsidy war with Europe, if it happens, will actually be a good thing. We want other countries to take action on climate, even if it involves some de facto protectionism.

Look, I understand why some economists are concerned.

The creation of a relatively open world trading system over the past three generations, with most tariffs relatively low, was an enormous diplomatic and economic achievement, and I appreciate why some economists I respect are worried that economic nationalism is putting this achievement at risk.

But my view is that in the face of a terrifying environmental crisis, we have to do whatever it takes to limit the damage. We don’t want to find ourselves saying, “Well, we cooked the planet, but at least we preserved the rules of the World Trade Organization.”

The same general logic applies to the budgetary costs. Suppose that the Inflation Reduction Act ends up costing $1 trillion more than expected — which would mean that it spurred several trillion dollars of green investment, because it would be bringing in a lot of private-sector money, too. This would mean higher future interest costs. The Congressional Budget Office currently projects that by 2033, the government will be spending 3.6% of gross domestic product on interest. At current interest rates, an extra $1 trillion in debt would mean around $35 billion a year in additional interest payments — raising the total from 3.6% to 3.7%. That sounds to me like a pretty low price for a significantly better chance of avoiding climate catastrophe.

So as I said, indications that the Biden administration’s climate policy is likely to cost more than expected and may provoke a subsidy war with Europe are actually good news. They’re evidence that, by the measure that truly matters, the policy may be working even better than expected.

POR CYBERNEWS

E L CAPITOLIO – El Departamento de Vivienda de Puerto Rico confirmó el miércoles que no tiene un plan para manejar los miles de paneles solares y baterías que entrarán en desuso en la próxima década.

“Este tema lo denominamos como una crisis”, dijo el representante Luis Raúl Torres Cruz en declaraciones escritas.

“No tanto por la implementación de las placas solares, sino por lo que sucede con sus materiales cuando cumplen su vida útil”, añadió.

“En esta primera ronda otorgamos alrededor de tres mil boletos para personas con niveles de ingreso máximo de once mil setecientos dólares para un hogar de una persona y hasta veintidós mil dólares para un hogar de ocho personas”, explicó la licenciada Ruth López, directora de apelaciones y división legal del Departamento de Vivienda.

La vista se llevó a cabo como parte de la Resolución de la Cámara 243 que investiga la crisis provocada por la instalación, manejo y disposición de placas solares y baterías de almacenamiento de energía solar en Puerto Rico.

Ingrid Vila Biaggi, ingeniera ambiental y presidenta de CAMBIO, advirtió: “Este es un tema que

hay que atender con urgencia. Mi llamado es a que se establezcan requisitos y obligaciones con los instaladores de las placas sobre cómo se van a disponer los materiales una vez estén en desuso”.

Por su parte, la comisionada asociada del Negociado de Energía de Puerto Rico (NEPR), Sylvia Ugarte Araujo, sugirió que la Asamblea Legislativa podría considerar fomentar los esfuerzos de reciclaje y recuperación de recursos para reducir los

impactos ambientales negativos asociados con el ciclo de un módulo fotovoltaico.

Finalmente, Fernando Gil Enseñat, presidente de la Junta de Gobierno de la Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica (AEE), señaló que las entidades reguladoras, como el Departamento de Recursos Naturales, deben revisar sus normas y procedimientos para establecer reglas claras para el manejo y disposición de estos equipos en Puerto Rico.

Continúan las vistas públicas que busca establecer plan para atender personas sin hogar

como titulares sin derecho.

SAN JUAN – La Comisión de Impacto Comunitario continuó hoy, miércoles, una vista pública sobre el Proyecto del Senado 778, que busca establecer el Plan de Abordaje al Fenómeno del Sinhogarismo en Puerto Rico.

Además, el proyecto de ley busca crear la Oficina de Apoyo a la Población sin Hogar; establecer el Consejo Directivo de la Oficina, su composición, definir sus facultades, responsabilidades y poderes; establecer el cargo de Coordinador de la Oficina, definir sus facultades, responsabilidades y poderes.

“Esta Comisión ha realizado varias vistas públicas para atender a la población sin hogar en nuestro país, pero es de prioridad que las agencias pertinentes basadas en el seguimiento a esta población sean proactivas y efectivas. Los Gobiernos, dentro de su política pública, tienen la responsabilidad de trabajar con esta situación”, sostuvo la presidenta de la Comisión, Lydia Méndez Silva.

A la audiencia pública compareció la presidenta del Colegio de Trabajadores Sociales de Puerto Rico (CTSPR), Kristal Pérez Martínez, quien resaltó que el proyecto de ley reconoce a las personas sin hogar

“El plan de abordaje al fenómeno del sinhogarismo en la isla a ser diseñado por la Oficina de Apoyo a la Población sin Hogar y su Consejo Directivo debe ser uno amplio que contemple la integración de todas las áreas de necesidad para la diversidad de personas que viven en estas circunstancias”, manifestó Pérez Martínez.

“Atender el problema de personas sin hogar en este momento histórico requiere también pensar más allá del perfil que se ha creado de las personas que solemos ver viviendo en las calles”, añadió.

A su vez, la portavoz del instituto respaldó la creación de una oficina destinada para atender la situación del sinhogarismo, sin embargo, planteó que se debería de tener las garantías de que contará con los recursos fiscales necesarios para operar de forma efectiva y eficiente.

Ante el desplazamiento y la gentrificación de familias de sus hogares, la presidenta del CTSPR enfatizó que este asunto es uno que debe de ser atendido urgentemente en otras legislaciones “para evitar que más personas terminen en situación de calle”.

“¿En qué el CTSPR se enfocaría para atender a esta población?”, cuestionó Méndez Silva.

“No solamente es enfocarnos en los servicios que serían mediáticos para la solución de ahora, sino tenemos que crear desde la Oficina de Apoyo a la Población sin Hogar movimiento y legislación que atienda los problemas sociales que causan el problema de sinhogarismo”, replicó la presidenta del CTSPR.

POR EL STAR STAFF

Puerto Rico sin plan para manejo de paneles solares y baterías desechadas

A 19-year-old pianist electrifies audiences. But he’s unimpressed.

By JAVIER C. HERNÁNDEZ

After six hours of sleep and a breakfast of milk and curry rice, Yunchan Lim, the South Korean pianist, was in a rehearsal studio at Lincoln Center on Tuesday morning working through a treacherous passage of Rachmaninoff.

“A little bit faster,” Lim, in a black sweatshirt and sneakers, said casually to the conductor, James Gaffigan, as they prepared for Lim’s New York Philharmonic debut this week. Gaffigan laughed.

“Usually pianists want the opposite!” the conductor said.

Lim — shy, soft-spoken and bookish — stunned the music world last year when, at 18, he became the youngest winner in the history of the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Texas. His victory made him an immediate sensation; a video of his performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in the finals has been viewed more than 11 million times on YouTube. (He will play that piece with the Philharmonic this week, under Gaffigan’s baton.)

Still a college sophomore, Lim has inspired a devout following in the United States, Europe and Asia. He has become a symbol of pride in South Korea, where he has been described as classical music’s answer to K-pop. Like a pop star, his face has been printed on T-shirts.

“He’s a musician way beyond his years,” said the conductor Marin Alsop, who headed the Cliburn jury and led the Rachmaninoff performance. “Technically, he’s phenomenal, and the colors and dynamics are phenomenal. He’s incredibly musical and seems like a very old soul. It’s really quite something.”

But Lim is uneasy with the attention. He does not believe he has any musical talent, he says, and would be content to spend his life alone in the mountains playing piano all day. (He limits his use of social media, he says, because he believes it is corrosive to creativity and because he wants to live as much as possible as his favorite composers did.)

“A famous performer and an earnest performer — a true artist — are two different things,” he said in an interview this week at the Steinway factory in Queens, where he was shopping for a piano.

Born in Siheung, a suburb of Seoul, Lim had a childhood filled with soccer, baseball and music. He began studying the piano at 7, when his parents enrolled him in a neighborhood music academy. He was drawn to the piano, he said, because he had grown up hearing Chopin and Liszt on recordings that his mother had purchased when she was

pregnant. He was also taken by the majesty of the instrument.

“The grand piano looked shiny and most impressive,” he said.

At 13, he enrolled in a prep school at Korean National University of Arts in Seoul. His teacher, the pianist Minsoo Sohn, was impressed by the sensitivity of his interpretations.

“At first he was a little bit cautious, but I immediately noticed that he was a huge talent,” he said. “He’s very humble, a student of the score and he isn’t over expressive.”

When Lim arrived in Fort Worth for the competition, which took place over 17 days, he said he felt the spirit of Van Cliburn, the eminent pianist for whom the contest is named.

Lim sometimes practiced as much as 20 hours a day, he said, sending recordings to Sohn, who was in South Korea, for guidance. He existed on a diet of Korean noodles and stews prepared by his mother,

who had accompanied him, as well as midnight snacks of toasted English muffins with butter and strawberry jam made by his host family.

“I knew it was like Russian roulette,” he said of the competition. “It could turn out well, or you could end up shooting yourself in the head. It was a lot of stress.”

His Rachmaninoff won ovations, but he was dissatisfied with the performance, believing that he achieved only about 30% of what he had hoped to accomplish. Since the competition, he said he had been able to watch just the first three minutes of the YouTube video before growing dispirited.

When he returned to South Korea after the Cliburn, he said he was unchanged. “I just want to say that there’s nothing different with me and my piano skills before and after the win,” he said at a news conference with his teacher.

Lim, who is still enrolled at Korean National University of Arts, plans to transfer this fall to the New England Conservatory, in Boston, where Sohn now teaches.

As a student, his international career has taken off, with a recital at Wigmore Hall in London in January and an appearance with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra in February. This summer, he will reunite with Alsop to perform the Rachmaninoff concerto at the Bravo! Vail festival in Colorado and the Ravinia Festival in Illinois. Next year, he will make his Carnegie Hall debut with an all-Chopin program.

Ahead of his debut in New York, Lim has been fine-tuning his interpretation of the Rachmaninoff. In preparing the concerto’s somber opening notes, he said, he imagines the “angel of death” or cloaked figures singing a Gregorian chant, following his teacher’s advice.

This performance is especially meaningful, he said. On his commute to and from middle school, he often played a 1978 recording of the Rachmaninoff concerto by Vladimir Horowitz and the Philharmonic. He said he had listened to the recording at least 1,000 times.

Lim said he felt nervous to follow in the footsteps of Horowitz, one of his idols, and that he would always consider himself a student, no matter how successful his career might be. He said artists should not be judged by the number of YouTube views they received, but by the authenticity of their work.

“It’s a bit hard to define myself as an artist,” he said. “I’m like the universe before the Big Bang. I’m still in the learning phase.”

“I’d like to be a musician with infinite possibilities,” he added, “just like the universe.”

The pianist Yunchan Lim at the Steinway factory in Queens, on May 9, 2023. “I just want to say that there’s nothing different with me and my piano skills before and after the win,” Lim said at a news conference with his teacher.

How to make a simple roast chicken, according to a french mom

By MELISSA CLARK

Like little black dresses, you can never have too many roast chicken recipes. Especially the French kind.

So, when Florence Chapgier, a Paris-born reader living in Los Angeles, emailed me this recipe from her French mother, Christiane Baumgartner, for roast chicken with tarragon, butter and cognac, I immediately gave it a try.

Chapgier’s name for the dish, “French roast chicken,” conveys its origin but not its distinctiveness.

The brilliance of the recipe is the alchemy between copious amounts of butter as it mingles with caramelized chicken juices, an entire bunch of fresh, licorice-y tarragon and a heady dash of cognac.

The dish has so few ingredients that Chapgier recommends seeking out high-quality ones — a cornfed chicken (“like in the Southwest of France”), lavish V.S.O.P. cognac (“you don’t use that much”) and nubby, mineral-rich gray sea salt. I tested the recipe with a regular chicken, California brandy and kosher salt from my local

supermarket, and it was still utterly phenomenal. So, use the best ingredients you can manage, but don’t sweat it.

The roasting technique itself could hardly be simpler: Salt the bird, let the skin dry out a bit, then coat it with softened butter and tarragon, and roast at 400 degrees. When the chicken is cooked through, turn off the heat and baste with the cognac and pan juices. Let it rest for 10 minutes in the cooling oven to absorb all the flavors, then carve, douse the meat and bronzed skin with plenty of buttery, schmaltzy, herby drippings, and serve.

Chapgier did have a note about adding the cognac. Turn off the heat before returning the booze-basted bird to the oven. The one time she forgot, the intense heat set the cognac on fire and cracked the glass in her oven door. (“That was a surprise,” she wrote.) This French bird, unlike coq au vin, is not improved by flambéing.

To round out the meal in the most classically French way, serve this with potatoes — roasted, fried, gratinéed or, best of all, mashed or puréed — so they can absorb every drop of the fragrant sauce. A bed of soft polenta is a less traditional but

just as delectable alternative. Add a crisp green salad and nice bottle of wine, et voilà.

Roast Tarragon-Cognac Chicken

The sophisticated, French flavors of brandy, butter and tarragon season this golden-skinned roast chicken, adding panache to what is otherwise an easy and straightforward recipe, adapted from Christiane Baumgartner via her daughter, Florence Chapgier, a reader. Serve it with mashed potatoes or polenta, a soft bed to absorb all the heady, buttery juices. And if you’re not a tarragon fan, fresh thyme makes an excellent, milder substitute.

Yield: 4 servings

Total time: 2 1/2 hours

Ingredients:

1 (4-pound) whole chicken

2 teaspoon coarse gray sea salt or 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1 bunch fresh tarragon, leaves and tender stems coarsely chopped (about 3/4 cup) 2 tablespoons cognac

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:

1. Pat the chicken dry and salt the bird inside and out. Transfer to a plate or baking dish, preferably on a rack, and refrigerate uncovered for at least 1 hour or overnight.

2. When ready to cook the chicken, heat the oven to 400 degrees.

3. In a small bowl, combine butter, tarragon, 1 tablespoon cognac and the pepper. Rub mixture inside the chicken cavity and over and under the chicken skin.

4. Place chicken on a rimmed sheet pan or in a large, ovenproof skillet. Roast, breast side up, until the skin is golden and crisp, and the juices run clear when you insert a fork in the thickest part of the thigh (165 degrees), about 1 hour.

5. Turn off the oven — don’t skip this step, as you don’t want the cognac to overheat and catch fire — and transfer the pan with the chicken to the stovetop. Pour the remaining 1 tablespoon cognac over the bird and baste with some of the buttery pan juices. Immediately return the chicken to the turned-off oven and let rest there for 10 minutes before carving and serving.

IF YOU, A CHILD IN YOUR CARE, OR ANOTHER LOVED ONE WERE HARMED BY ENDO OR A RELATED COMPANY, INCLUDING PAR OR AMS, OR THEIR PRODUCTS INCLUDING OPIOIDS, RANITIDINE, OR TRANSVAGINAL MESH, YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY DEADLINES IN THE ENDO BANKRUPTCY.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

On August 16, 2022, Endo International plc and certain of its affiliates filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Certain Endo affiliates manufactured and/or sold, among other things, branded opioid medications (including but not limited to OPANA® (oxymorphone hydrochloride), OPANA® ER (oxymorphone hydrochloride extended release), and PERCOCET® (oxycodone and acetaminophen tablets)), generic opioid medications, generic ranitidine medications, and transvaginal mesh. This notice is intended to inform you of your rights in this bankruptcy regarding the bar date and proof of claim process and Endo’s proposed sale of substantially all of its assets.

WHAT IS A CLAIM?

A “claim” means a right to seek payment or other compensation. If you, a child in your care, or another loved one were harmed by Endo or a related company, including Par or American Medical Systems (AMS), or their products, including opioids, ranitidine, or transvaginal mesh, you may have a claim against one or more of these entities. To make a claim, you will need to submit a proof of claim in the bankruptcy case. You may file a claim on behalf of yourself, a child in your care (including a child exposed to opioids in the womb), or a deceased or disabled relative. Examples of claims

that may be filed in the Endo bankruptcy include but are not limited to:

> Opioid Claims: Claims for death, addiction or dependence, lost wages, loss of consortium, or neonatal abstinence syndrome (sometimes referred to as “NAS”), among others.

> Ranitidine claims: Claims for cancer, including bladder, esophageal, pancreatic, stomach, and liver cancer, among others.

> Transvaginal mesh claims: Claims for pelvic pain, infection, bleeding, among others.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BAR DATE AND PROOF OF CLAIM PROCESS?

The deadline to submit your proof of claim is called a bar date. The bar date, or the deadline to submit your proof of claim, is July 7, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. (prevailing Eastern Time). If you do not submit a proof of claim by the deadline, you will lose any rights you may have had to seek payment or compensation. You must file a proof of claim form so that it is actually received by the bar date. A proof of claim form can be filed by you, a legal guardian, survivors, or relatives of people who have died or are disabled. You do not need an attorney to file a proof of claim for you.

For a more complete list of relevant companies and products manufactured and/or sold by Endo and its related companies, including full prescribing

VISIT: EndoClaims.com

EMAIL: EndoInquiries@ra.kroll.com

information and BOXED WARNINGS for OPANA® (oxymorphone hydrochloride), OPANA® ER (oxymorphone hydrochloride extended release), and PERCOCET® (oxycodone and acetaminophen tablets), and for more complete details about the bar date and instructions on how to file a confidential personal injury claim, visit EndoClaims.com or call 877.542.1878 (Toll-Free) or 929.284.1688 (International)

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SALE?

Endo intends to sell substantially all of its assets in an auction and sale process in the bankruptcy case and subject to approval by the bankruptcy court. Endo is seeking relief that the sale will be free and clear of all claims, liens, and encumbrances

If you disagree with the proposed sale, you must object to the sale in writing, so that your objection is received on or before July 7, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. (prevailing Eastern Time) Any party in interest who fails to properly file and serve its objection by the objection deadline may lose its claim against Endo’s assets if the sale is approved. Objections not filed and served properly may not be considered by the bankruptcy court. Complete details about the proposed sale, including any auction for Endo’s assets, the date of the hearing to consider the sale, and instructions on how to file an objection, are available at EndoClaims.com or by calling 877.542.1878 (Toll-Free) or 929.284.1688 (International)

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO

DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL

GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRI-

BUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTAN-

CIA SALA DE CAGUAS

ORIENTAL BANK

Demandante V.

JOHN DOE Y RICHARD

ROE COMO MIEMBROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE CARMEN

MILAGROS LÓPEZ COLÓN; JORGE LUIS LÓPEZ

COLÓN, JOSÉ RAMÓN

LÓPEZ COLÓN, MARTÍN COLÓN LÓPEZ, REY FRANCISCO SIERRA

LÓPEZ, VANESSA LÓPEZ TORRES, RAMSUE

LÓPEZ TORRES, MELISA LÓPEZ RIVERA, YELITZA LÓPEZ RIVERA, JOSUÉ LÓPEZ RIVERA, JONALYA LÓPEZ

MIRANDA Y JOANYS

LÓPEZ MIRANDA COMO

MIEMBROS CONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN

CARMEN MILAGROS

LÓPEZ COLÓN

Demandados

Civil Núm.: CG2022CV00903.

Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA.

LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE.UU., EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE P.R., SS. AVISO DE PÚBLICA SUBASTA. El que suscribe, Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de Caguas, hago saber a la parte demandada JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE COMO MIEMBROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE CARMEN

MILAGROS LÓPEZ COLÓN, JORGE LUIS LÓPEZ COLÓN, JOSÉ RAMÓN LÓPEZ COLÓN, MARTÍN COLÓN LÓPEZ, REY FRANCISCO SIERRA

LÓPEZ, VANESSA LÓPEZ TORRES, RAMSUE LÓPEZ TORRES, MELISA LÓPEZ RIVERA, YELITZA LÓPEZ RIVERA, JOSUÉ LÓPEZ RIVERA, JONALYA LÓPEZ MIRANDA Y JOANYS LÓPEZ MIRANDA

COMO MIEMBROS CONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN

CARMEN MILAGROS LÓPEZ

COLÓN y al PÚBLICO EN GENERAL; que en cumplimiento del Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia expedido el 23 de marzo de 2023, por la Secretaría del Tribunal, procederé a vender y venderé en pública subasta por el precio mínimo de $84,991.00 y al mejor postor, pagadero en efectivo, cheque de gerente o giro postal, a

nombre del alguacil del tribunal, la propiedad que se describe a continuación: 105 RUIZ BELVIS, CAYEY, PR 00736, y que se describe de la siguiente manera: URBANA: Solar o predio de terreno con una cabida de 192.00 metros cuadrados, en el Barrio Toita, de Cayey, Puerto Rico, y colindante por el frente o Norte, en 12.00 metros con la finca principal, hoy prolongación de la ca/le Ruiz Be/vis de Cayey; por el Este, en 16. 00 metros con solar de dona Angelica Duchesne, por el Sur, en 12. 00 metros y por el Oeste, en 16.00 metros con la finca principal de que se segrega propiedad de Santiago Aponte Andino. Finca 4801 inscrita al folio 148 del tomo 555 de Cayey, Registro de la Propiedad de Caguas, Sección I. La finca antes descrita se encuentra afecta a los siguientes gravámenes: (i) Hipoteca constituida por Carmen Milagros Lopez Colón, soltera, en garantía de un pagaré, aff#.958, a favor de Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria P.R., o a su orden, por $84,991.00, al 3.50%, vencedero el 1 de agosto de 2042, según Esc. #30-B, en San Juan, a 27 de julio de 2012, ante Gioakim Alessandro Murati Fernández, inscrita al folio 148 del tomo 555 de Cayey, finca #4801, inscripción 12ma, Registro de la Propiedad de Caguas, Sección I. La hipoteca objeto de esta ejecución es la que ha quedado descrita en el inciso (i). Será celebrada la subasta para con el importe de la misma satisfacer la sentencia dicta el 18 de agosto de 2022, mediante la cual se condenó a la parte demandada pagar a la parte demandante la suma de $79,624.05 de principal, más interés al 3.50% anual, que continuarán acumulándose hasta el saldo total desde el 1 de enero de 2020, $76.32 de cargos por atrasos, $8,499.10 de costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado, más cualquier otro desembolso que haya efectuado o efectúe la parte demandante durante la tramitación de este caso para otros adelantos de conformidad con el Contrato Hipotecario, incluyendo primas de seguro de hipoteca, prima de seguro de siniestro y cargos por demora. La PRIMERA SUBASTA será celebrada el día 30

DE MAYO DE 2023 A LAS 9:15

DE LA MAÑANA, en la oficina del Alguacil, sita en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Caguas, Puerto Rico. Servirá de tipo mínimo para la misma la cantidad de $84,991.00, sin admitirse oferta inferior. De no haber remate ni adjudicación, celebraré SEGUNDA SUBAS-

TA el día 6 DE JUNIO DE 2023

A LAS 9:15 DE LA MAÑANA,

en el mismo lugar, en la que servirá como tipo mínimo, dos terceras (2/3) partes del precio pactado para la primera subasta, o sea, $56,660.67. Si no hubiese remate ni adjudicación en la segunda subasta, celebraré TERCERA SUBASTA el día 13 DE JUNIO DE 2023 A LAS 9:15 DE LA MAÑANA, en el mismo lugar en la que regirá como tipo mínimo, la mitad del precio pactado para la primera subasta, o sea, $42,495.50. El Alguacil que suscribe hizo constar que toda licitación deberá hacerse para pagar su importe en moneda legal de los Estados Unidos de América, de acuerdo con la Ley y de acuerdo con lo anunciado en este Aviso de Subasta. Los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado estarán de manifiesto en la Secretaría del Tribunal durante horas laborables. Se entiende que todo licitador que comparezca a la subasta señalada en este caso acepta como bastante la titulación que da base a la misma. Se entiende que cualquier carga y/o gravamen anterior y/o preferente, si la hubiere al crédito que da base a esta ejecución continuará subsistente, entendiéndose, además, que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción cualquier parte del remanente del precio de licitación. La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores. Por la presente se notifica a los acreedores que tengan inscritos o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a la inscripción del crédito del ejecutante o acreedores de cargas o derechos reales que los hubiesen pospuesto a la hipoteca ejecutada y las personas interesadas en, o con derecho a exigir el cumplimiento de instrumentos negociables garantizados hipotecariamente con posterioridad al crédito ejecutado, para que puedan concurrir a la subasta si les convenga o satisfacer antes del remate el importe del crédito, de sus intereses, costas y honorarios de abogados asegurados, quedando subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante. Vendida o adjudicada la finca o derecho hipotecado y consignado el precio correspondiente, en esa misma fecha o fecha posterior, el alguacil que celebró la subasta procederá a otorgar la correspondiente escritura pública de traspaso en representación del dueño o titular de los bienes hipotecados, ante el notario que elija el adjudicatario o comprador, quien

deberá abonar el importe de tal escritura. El alguacil pondrá en posesión judicial al nuevo dueño, si así se lo solicita dentro del término de veinte (20) días a partir de la confirmación de la venta o adjudicación. Si transcurren los referidos veinte (20) días, el tribunal podrá ordenar, sin necesidad de ulterior procedimiento, que se lleve a efecto el desalojo o lanzamiento del ocupante u ocupantes de la finca o de todos los que por orden o tolerancia del deudor la ocupen. Y PARA CONOCIMIENTO DE LOS LICITADORES Y DEL PUBLICO EN GENERAL y para su publicación de acuerdo con la Ley, expido el presente Edicto bajo mi firma y sello de este Tribunal. En Caguas, Puerto Rico, hoy 25 de abril de 2023. ÁNGEL GÓMEZ GÓMEZ, ALGUACIL PLACA #593, ALGUACIL AUXILIAR, TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA, SALA DE CAGUAS.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIANDO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE GUAYANILLA EN SABANA GRANDE

RICARDO ANTONIO

GONZALEZ TORRES

CALLE JOSÉ BELÉN

GOTAY #556 PEÑUELAS, PR 00624. TEL. (787)5250294

Peticionario vs. EX-PARTE

Civil Núm.: GY2023CV00055 SOBRE: EXPEDIENTE DE DOMINIO. EDICTO.

El Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, a todo el que tenga derecho real sobre el inmueble descrito en la Petición de Expediente de Dominio, a las personas ignoradas a quienes pueda perjudicar la inscripción solicitada, así como los colindantes, causahabientes o herederos y en general a toda persona que desee oponerse. Por la presente se le notifica que comparezca, si creyera que le conviene, a este Honorable Tribunal, dentro de veinte (20) días a partir de la publicación de este Edicto, el cual se publicará por tres (3) veces y exponer lo que a sus derechos convenga en el expediente promovido por el peticionario para adquirir el dominio de la siguiente propiedad: URBANO: Solar número Quinientos Cincuenta y Seis (556) de la Calle José Belén Gotay de Peñuelas, Puerto Rico, antes Calle Palma Número veintinueve (29), tiene un área de CIENTO VEINTICINCO METROS CON VEINTIOCHO CENTIMETROS CUADRADOS. Colinda por el Norte con Alma Quiles antes

hoy su sucesión, teniendo una longitud de doce metros; por el Este con José R. Figueroa antes, ahora Noel Morales Orta, que mide doce metros de largo; por el Sur con la Calle José Belén Gotay, por donde mide nueve metros de frente; y por el Oeste con Residencial Los Flamboyanes, por donde mide doce metros. Enclava en dicho solar una estructura residencial construida en hormigón armado y bloques. Debe notificar con copia de sus alegaciones a la representación legal del promovente, Lcdo. Joseph Brocco Santiago, P.O. Box 608, Peñuelas, Puerto Rico 006240608, Teléfono 787-836-3020. En Yauco, Puerto Rico a 25 de abril de 2023. Carmen Tirú Quiñones, Secretaria. Delia Aponte Velázquez, Secretaria Auxiliar I.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN

BANCO COOPERATIVO DE PUERTO RICO

Demandante Vs. RAFAEL DE LA CRUZ

SANCHEZ, ETC.

Demandados

CIVIL NUM. KCD2017-0200 (903) SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCION HIPOTECA. EDICTO DE SUBASTA. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA. EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EEUU. ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PR.

A: SUCESIÓN RAFAEL DE LA CRUZ SANCHEZ:

YADRIEL RAFAEL

Y LISSHA MASSIEL DE LA CRUZ PÉREZ, FULANO Y MENGANA DE TAL, COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS Y CON INTERÉS; SUCESION

VIRGINIA PAULINO

MERCEDES: FANNY

CHARITO, ZUNILDA ALTAGRACIA Y VIRGINIA DEYANIRA PEREZ

PAULINO; SUTANO Y SUTANA DE TAL, COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS Y CON INTERÉS; DIRECCIÓN

POSTAL: URB. COUNTRY CLUB, CALLE DURBEC 928, SAN JUAN, P.R. 00924.

AL PUBLICO EN GENERAL:

El Alguacil del Tribunal que suscribe anuncia y hace constar; A- Que en cumplimiento

de un Mandamiento fechado 25 de julio de 2019, librado por este Honorable Tribunal en el caso de epígrafe, procederé a vender en pública subasta, en mi oficina sita en el edificio que ocupa el Centro Judicial de San Juan, al mejor postor y por dinero en efectivo o cheque certificado, todo título, derecho y/o interés de la parte demandada sobre la propiedad que se describe a continuación: URBANA: Solar Veintitrés (23) del Bloque O de la Urbanización Country Club, radicado en el Barrio Sabana Llana de Río Piedras, hoy San Juan, Puerto Rico, con un área de Trescientos Setenta y Nueve punto Doce (379.12) metros cuadrados y colinda por el Norte, en once punto setenta y siete metros, con la calle número veinte; por el Sur, en quince punto veintisiete metros, con el solar número veinticuatro del bloque O; por el Oeste, en veintiuno punto cincuenta metros, con la calle trece de dicha urbanización; por el Noroeste, en forma de arco, en cinco punto cincuenta metros, con la intersección de la calle número trece y calle número veinte; y por el Este, en veinticinco metros, con el solar número veintidos del bloque O. Inscrita al folio 196 del tomo 102 de Sabana Llana, Sección Quinta del Registro de la Propiedad de San Juan, finca número 4315.

B- Que los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado están de manifiesto en la Secretaría del Tribunal durante horas laborables bajo el epígrafe de este caso. C- Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante, continuarán subsistentes, entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores. D- Que la propiedad se encuentra afecta al siguiente gravamen anterior; Ninguno; Gravamen posterior; Ninguno. E- La subasta se llevará a cabo para satisfacer a la parte demandante el importe de la Sentencia que ha obtenido ascendente a la suma de $108,997.15; desglosados en $93,658.08 de principal e intereses acumulados al 8.50% anual, hasta su total y completo pago; $4,300.29 de recargos; $2,538.78 en deficiencia de cuenta de reserva, mas la suma de $8,500.00 pactados para el pago de costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado, intereses

vencidos acumulados y en cantidad asegurada por adelantos. Se fija como tipo mínimo para la primera subasta la cantidad de $85,000.00. La primera subasta se celebrará el día 1ero de junio de 2023, a las 10:00 de la mañana, en la Oficina del Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia de San Juan, por el tipo mínimo de $85,000.00. De declararse desierta dicha primera subasta, se celebrará en el mismo lugar antes mencionado, una segunda subasta el día 8 de junio de 2023, a las 10:00 de la mañana. El precio para la segunda subasta lo será 2/3 del tipo mínimo correspondiente fijado para la primera subasta, o sea, $56,666.66. De declararse desierta esta segunda subasta por el tipo mínimo indicado en el párrafo anterior, se celebrara en el mismo lugar, una tercera subasta el día 15 de junio de 2023, a las 10:00 de la mañana, con el tipo mínimo de la mitad del tipo mínimo fijado para la primera subasta, o sea, $42,500.00. Y PARA QUE ASI CONSTE, para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general y por un término de dos(2) semanas en los sitios públicos conforme a la Ley, expido el presente bajo mi firma y sello de este Tribunal, hoy 19 de abril de 2023, en San Juan, Puerto Rico. PEDRO HIEYE GONZALEZ ALGUACIL. ***

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE CULEBRA

JOSÉ ARMANDO CRUZ RIVERA, ROSA I. SANGRIA RIVERA Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR

AMBOS

Peticionarios

Ex-parte

Caso Núm.: CU2023CV00008. Sobre: EXPEDIENTE DE DOMINIO. EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO.

A: PERSONAS IGNORADAS O DESCONOCIDAS A QUIENES PUEDA PERJUDICAR LA INSCRIPCIÓN SOLICITADA, LOS QUE ESTÁN AUSENTES, PERO DE NO ESTARLO DEBÍAN SER CITADOS EN PERSONA Y

CUYO PARADERO SE DESCONOCE; Y, PERSONAS CON ALGÚN DERECHO REAL SOBRE LA FINCA OBJETO DEL PROCEDIMIENTO.

POR CUANTO: Ha presentado la Lcda. Josephine M. Rodríguez Ríos, con oficina en la el número 6 de la Celis Aguilera, Suite 201A, Fajardo, PR; PO Box 889, Fajardo, Puerto Rico 00738, con teléfono 787-4035056, una solicitud a nombre de los peticionarios para que se inscriba a su favor el dominio del siguiente inmueble: “URBANA: Solar localizado en la calle Escudero, también conocida como la Carretera Estatal número 250, Km. 1.1 de la Comunidad Rural Clark en El Barrio Pueblo Municipio de Culebra, con una cabida superficial de 779.57 metros cuadrados, equivalentes a 0.1983 cuerdas. En lindes, por el NORTE, en 41.803 metros, con JJRG LLC; por el SUR, con Casa Blanca RIAD VI Inc en 21.919 metros y con Luis M. Santana Rodríguez en 21.135 metros lineales; por el ESTE, en 13.186 metros con Luis M. Santana Rodríguez y, en 10.365 metros, con la Carr. 250; y por el OESTE con Jesús Sanes González, en 24.705 metros lineales.” Valor de ochenta mil dólares ($80,000.00). POR TANTO: Habiendo ordenado el Honorable Juez de esta Corte se publique este Edicto tres (3) veces, dentro del término de veinte (20) días en un periódico de circulación general, para que los que tengan derecho real sobre este inmueble y en especial Gloribel Torres Sanes y Eric Omar Monell Sanes como anteriores dueños, persona ausentes, personas con algún derecho real sobre el inmueble, personas ignoradas a quienes pueda perjudicar la inscripción solicitada y en general, todo el que desee o quiera oponerse pueda efectuarlo dentro del término de Veinte (20) días a partir de la última publicación de este edicto, libro el presente en Fajardo, Puerto Rico, a 1 de mayo de 2023. Wanda I. Seguí Reyes, Secretaria Regional. Kathia Ferrer Figueroa, Secretaria Auxiliar Del Tribunal I. ***

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO

Demandante Vs. RAMON L. GOMEZ RODRIGUEZ

Demandado

Civil Núm.: PA2022CV00261.

Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

A: RAMÓN L. GOMEZ RODRIGUEZ - HC 65

BOX 6305, PATILLAS, PR 00723.

POR LA PRESENTE se le emplaza y requiere para que conteste la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de este Edicto. Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), la cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired. ramajudicial.pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaría del tribunal. Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda o cualquier otro sin más citarle ni oírle, si el tribunal en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. El sistema SUMAC notificará copia a los abogados de la parte demandante, la Lcda. Natalie Bonaparte cuyas direcciones son: P.O. Box 71418 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8518, teléfono (787) 993-3731 a la dirección natalie.bonaparte@ orf-law.com, edwin.serrano@ orf-law.com y a la dirección notificaciones@orf-law.com.

EXTENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA

y el sello del Tribunal, en Guayama, Puerto Rico, hoy día 14 de abril de 2023. En Guayama, Puerto Rico, el 14 de abril de 2023. MARISOL ROSADO

RODRÍGUEZ, SECRETARIA

REGIONAL. LUZ M. GUZMÁN

SANTIAGO, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR DEL TRIBUNAL.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU-

NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN SEBASTIÁN ISLAND PORTFOLIO SERVICES, LLC. COMO

AGENTE GESTOR DE FAIRWAY ACQUISITIONS FUND, LLC.

Demandante Vs. PEDRO A RIOS GUZMAN

Demandado

Civil Núm.: SS2022CV00568.

Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO.

EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDIC-

TO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE

AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

A: PEDRO A. RIOS

GUZMÁN - BO. SANADOR, CARR.

423 KM 0.3 INT, SAN SEBASTIAN, PR 00685.

POR LA PRESENTE se le emplaza y requiere para que conteste la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de este Edicto.

Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), la cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired. ramajudicial.pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaría del tribunal. Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda o cualquier otro sin más citarle ni oírle, si el tribunal en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. El sistema SUMAC notificará copia a los abogados de la parte demandante, la Lcda. Natalie Bonaparte cuyas direcciones son: P.O. Box 71418 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8518, teléfono (787) 993-3731 a la dirección natalie.bonaparte@ orf-law.com, edwin.serrano@ orf-law.com y a la dirección notificaciones@orf-law.com.

EXTENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA y el sello del Tribunal, en SAN SEBASTIAN, Puerto Rico, hoy día 17 de ABRIL de 2023. En San Sebastián, Puerto Rico, el 17 de abril de 2023. SARAHÍ REYES PÉREZ, SECRETARIA CONFIDENCIAL. IVELISSE

ROBLES MATHEWS, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

SALA SUPERIOR DE AGUADILLA

U.S. BANK TRUST

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF CVI

CGS MORTGAGE LOAN

TRUST I

Demandante V. LA SUCESIÓN DE JOHN CHRISTIAN BERNHARTSEN; COMPUESTA POR

FULANO DE TAL Y

FULANA DE TAL COMO

POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS

Y BIRGITTE ARPE BERNHARTSEN, POR SÍ Y EN EL CUOTA VIUDAL

USUFRUCTUARIA; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIÓN DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES (CRIM)

Demandados

Civil Núm.: IS2022CV00103.

Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA. EDICTO DE SUBASTA. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

A: LA PARTE DEMANDADA, AL (A LA) SECRETARIO(A) DE HACIENDA DE PUERTO RICO Y AL PÚBLICO

GENERAL:

Certifico y Hago Constar: Que en cumplimiento con el Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia que me ha sido dirigido por el (la) Secretario(a) del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de Aguadilla, en el caso de epígrafe procederá a vender en pública subasta al mejor postor en efectivo, cheque gerente, giro postal, cheque certificado en moneda legal de los Estados Unidos de América al nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, en su oficina sita en el local que ocupa en el edificio del TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE AGUADILLA, SEGUNDO PISO, OFICINA DEL ALGUACIL REGIONAL, CALLE PROGRESO #70, EN AGUADILLA, el 2 DE AGOSTO DE 2023 A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA, todo derecho título, participación o interés que le corresponda a la parte demandada o cualquiera de ellos en el inmueble hipotecado objeto de ejecución que se describe a continuación: URBANA: Solar radicado en el Barrio Coto del Municipio de lsabela compuesto de 416.68 metros cuadrados. De terreno que mide 33.334 metros de frente por 12 metros de fondo. En lindes por el NORTE, con el solar “B”, dedicado a uso público; por el SUR, ESTE y OESTE, con el remanente de la finca principal de donde se segrega. Consta inscrita al folio 286 del tomo 244 de lsabela, finca número 12472, Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección de Aguadilla. Propiedad localizada en: Sr 113 KM 51 Cotto Ward, lsabela, PR 00662. Según figuran en la certificación registral, la propiedad objeto de ejecución no está gravada por cargas anteriores o cargas posteriores a la inscripción del crédito ejecutante. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad de la propiedad y que todas las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes al crédito ejecutante antes descritos, si los hubie-

re, continuarán subsistentes. El rematante acepta dichas cargas y gravámenes anteriores, y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. Se establece como tipo mínimo de subasta la suma de $58,400.00, según acordado entre las partes en el precio pactado en la escritura de hipoteca. De ser necesaria una SEGUNDA SUBASTA por declararse desierta la primera, la misma se celebrará en mi oficina, ubicada en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Aguadilla, el 9 DE AGOSTO DE 2023 A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA, y se establece como mínima para dicha segunda subasta la suma de $38,933.33, 2/3 partes del tipo mínimo establecido originalmente. Si tampoco se produce remate ni adjudicación en la segunda subasta, se establece como mínima para la TERCERA SUBASTA, la suma de $29,200.00, la mitad (1/2) del precio pactado y dicha subasta se celebrará en mi oficina, ubicada en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Aguadilla, el 16 DE AGOSTO DE 2023 A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA. Dicha subasta se llevará a cabo para, con su producto satisfacer a la parte demandante, el importe de la Sentencia dictada a su favor ascendente a la suma de $28,213.77 de principal, intereses al tipo del 7.5% anual según ajustado desde el día 1ro. de marzo de 2021 hasta el pago de la deuda en su totalidad, más la suma de $5,840.00 por concepto de honorarios de abogado y costas autorizadas por el Tribunal, más las cantidades que se adeudan mensualmente por concepto de seguro hipotecario, cargos por demora, y otros adeudados que se hagan en virtud de la escritura de hipoteca. La venta en pública subasta de la referida propiedad se verificará libre de toda carga o gravamen posterior que afecte la mencionada finca, a cuyo efecto se notifica y se hace saber la fecha, hora y sitio de la PRIMERA, SEGUNDA Y TERCERA SUBASTA, si ésto fuera necesario, a los efectos de que cualquier persona o personas con algún interés puedan comparecer a la celebración de dicha subasta. Se notifica a todos los interesados que las actas y demás constancias del expediente de este caso están disponibles en la Secretaría del Tribunal durante horas laborables para ser examinadas por los (las) interesados (as). Y para su publicación en el periódico The San Juan Daily Star, que es un diario de circulación general en la isla de Puerto Rico, por espacio de dos semanas consecutivas con un intervalo de por lo menos siete (7) días entre ambas publicaciones, así como para su publicación en los sitios

públicos de Puerto Rico. Expedido en Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, hoy día 11 de abril de 2023. ESTEBAN ATILES FELICIANO, ALGUACIL CONFIDENCIAL #984, ALGUACIL DE SUBASTAS, TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA, CENTRO JUDICIAL DE AGUADILLA, SALA SUPERIOR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYAMÓN E.M.I. EQUITY MORTGAGE, INC.

Demandante V. JOSE ORLANDO MELENDEZ RIVERA Y KATIANA MEDINA MEDINA

Demandado(a)

Civil: BY2023CV00748. Sala: 503. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA (VÍA ORDINARIA). NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: JOSE ORLANDO MELENDEZ RIVERA Y KATIANA MEDINA MEDINA.

(Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 2 de mayo de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 5 de mayo de 2023. En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el 5 de mayo de 2023. LCDA. LAURA I. SANTA SÁNCHEZ, SECRETARIA. IVETTE M. MARRERO BRACERO, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

SALA SUPERIOR DE FAJARDO

BANCO POPULAR DE

PUERTO RICO

Demandante Vs. SUCESION DE ROBERTO

CIRILO RAMIREZ COMPUESTA POR SUS HEREDEROS CONOCIDOS BENJAMIN

CIRILO GONZALEZ Y ANA

H. CRUZ DIAZ; FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANA DE TAL COMO HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS Y/O PARTES CON INTERES EN LA SUCESION; AUTORIDAD PARA EL FINANCIAMIENTO DE LA VIVIENDA DE PUERTO RICO

Demandados

Civil Núm.: FA2022CV00500. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. EDICTO ANUNCIANDO PRIMERA, SEGUNDA Y TERCERA SUBASTA. El Alguacil que suscribe, funcionario del Tribunal de la Sala Superior de Fajardo, Puerto Rico, por la presente anuncia y hace saber al público en general que en cumplimiento con la Sentencia dictada en este caso con fecha 19 de agosto de 2022, y según Orden y Mandamiento del 12 de enero de 2023 librado por este honorable Tribunal, procederé a vender en pública subasta al mejor postor, y por dinero en efectivo, cheque certificado o giro postal a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal con todo título derecho y/o interés de la parte demandada sobre la propiedad que se describe a continuación: RÚSTICA: Parcela C: Predio de terreno radicado en el Barrio Zarzal Arriba, del término municipal de Río Grande, Puerto Rico, compuesto de dos punto mil setenta y ocho cuerdas (2.1078 cdas.) equivalente a ocho mil doscientos ochenta y cuatro punto cuatro mil novecientos treinta metros cuadrados (8,284.4930 m.c.). En lindes por el NORTE, con el solar B del plano, en una distancia de 72.00 metros; SUR, con Samuel Méndez, en una distancia de 79.258 metros; ESTE, con Ángel C. Gómez, en una distancia de 104.00 metros; OESTE, con parcela D del plano, en una distancia de 21.965 metros y con el camino municipal en una distancia de 91.475 metros. FINCA

NÚMERO: 30,193, inscrita al folio 145 del tomo 516 de Río Grande, sección III de Carolina. Dirección Física: CARR. PR #966, KM. 2, INT., CAMINO LOS RAMOS, BO. ZARZAL, RIO GRANDE, PR 00745. Se anuncia por medio de este edicto que la PRIMERA SUBASTA habrá de celebrarse el día 8 DE JUNIO DE 2023, A LAS 2:00 DE LA TARDE, en mi oficina sita en el edificio que ocupa el Tribunal Superior de Puerto Rico, Sala Superior de

Fajardo. Siendo ésta la primera subasta que se celebrará en este caso, será el precio mínimo aceptable como oferta en la Primera Subasta, eso es el tipo mínimo pactado en la Escritura de Hipoteca para la propiedad, la suma de $164,866.00. De no haber remanente o adjudicación en esta primera subasta por dicha suma mínima, se celebrará una SEGUNDA SUBASTA el día 15 DE JUNIO DE 2023, A LAS 2:00 DE LA TARDE, en el mismo lugar antes señalado en la cual el precio mínimo serán dos terceras (2/3) partes del tipo mínimo pactado en la escritura de hipoteca, la suma de $109,910.66. De no haber remanente o adjudicación en esta segunda subasta por el tipo mínimo indicado en el párrafo anterior, se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA en el mismo lugar antes señalado el día 23 DE JUNIO DE 2023, A LAS 2:00 DE LA TARDE, en la cual el tipo mínimo aceptable como oferta será la mitad (1/2) del precio mínimo pactado en la escritura de hipoteca, la suma de $82,433.00. Si se declare desierta la tercera subasta se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada si ésta es igual o menor que el monto del tipo mínimo de la tercera subasta, si el tribunal lo estima conveniente. Se abonará dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si ésta es mayor. Con el importe de esta venta se habrá de satisfacer el balance de la sentencia dictada en este caso el cual consiste en el pago de $142,177.99 de principal, más intereses convenidos al 3.500% anual más recargos hasta su pago, más el pago de lo pactado en la sentencia para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogados. Se dispone que una vez celebrada la subasta y vendido el inmueble relacionado, el alguacil pondrá en posesión judicial a los nuevos dueños dentro del término de veinte (20) días a partir de la celebración de la Subasta. Si transcurren los referidos veinte (20) días, el tribunal podrá ordenar, sin necesidad de ulterior procedimiento, que se lleve a efecto el desalojo o lanzamiento del ocupante u ocupantes de la finca o de todos los que por orden o tolerancia del demandado/deudor la ocupen. El Alguacil de este Tribunal efectuará el lanzamiento de los ocupantes de ser necesario. Si la subasta es adjudicada a un tercero y luego se deja sin efecto, el tercero a favor de quién se adjudicó la subasta solo tendrá derecho a la devolución del monto consignado más no tendrá derecho a entablar recurso o reclamo adicional alguno (judicial o extrajudicial) contra el demandante y/o el acreedor y/o inversionista, dueño pagaré y/o su abogado. Si se anula la venta, el comprador tendrá derecho

a la devolución del depósito de la venta judicial menos los honorarios y costos incurridos en el proceso de venta judicial. No tendrá ningún otro recurso contra el acreedor hipotecario ejecutante ni la representación legal de éste. Por la presente, también se notifica e informa a la Autoridad para el Financiamiento de la Vivienda de Puerto Rico, Programa Bono de Vivienda para Gastos de Cierre, por éstos constar con unas condiciones restrictivas a su favor por la suma de $8,250.00 para gastos. Además, se notifica e informa a Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal, personas desconocidas que puedan tener derechos en la propiedad o título objeto de este edicto. La Venta en Pública Subasta de la referida propiedad se verificará libre de toda carga y gravamen posterior que afecte la mencionada finca, a cuyo efecto se notifica y se hace saber la fecha, hora y sitio de la Primera, Segunda y Tercera Subasta, si eso fuera necesario, a los efectos de cualquier persona o personas con algún interés puedan comparecer a la celebración de dicha Subasta. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsistentes. Se entenderá que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. Los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento del caso de epígrafe están disponibles en la Secretaría de este Tribunal durante horas laborables y para la concurrencia de los licitadores expido el presente Edicto que se publicará en un periódico de circulación diaria en toda la Isla de Puerto Rico por espacio dos (2) semanas y por lo menos una vez por semana y se fijará, además, en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Alcaldía y la Colecturía de Rentas Internas del Municipio donde se celebrará la Subasta y en la Colecturía más cercana del lugar de la residencia de la parte demandada. EN TESTIMONIO DE LO CUAL, expido el presente que firmo y sello, hoy día 25 de enero de 2023. DENISE BRUNO ORTIZ, ALGUACIL AUXILIAR, SALA SUPERIOR DE FAJARDO. JORGE A. ORTIZ ESTRADA, ALGUACIL REGIONAL INTERINO.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE MAYAGÜEZ

FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION T/C/C FANNIE MAE

JUAN, PR 00911-1102, PO BOX 4999, CAGUAS, PR 00726-4999, CARLOS

LEMOS HERMIDA, WANDA RODRIGUEZ MALDONADO Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR

AMBOS A LAS ÚLTIMAS DIRECCIONES CONOCIDAS: BO

AGUACATE ARRIBA

CARR. 3 R908 KM 1 HM

0, YABUCOA, PR 00767, 41 CALLE LUIS MUÑOZ

RIVERA, YABUCOA, PR 00767-3111 Y PO BOX

797, YABUCOA, PR 00767-0797. FULANO

Y MENGANO DIE TAL, POSIBLES TENEDORES DESCONOCIDOS DEL PAGARÉ.

(Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican las sentencia por edicto)

EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 19 de abril de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia

Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 4 de mayo de 2023. En Humacao, Puerto Rico, el 4 de mayo de 2023. IVELISSE C. FONSECA RODRÍGUEZ, SECRETARIA.

DALISSA REYES DE LEÓN, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

SALA MUNICIPAL DE SAN JUAN ASOCIACIÓN DE RESIDENTES DE LAS

CALLES EUGENIO D’ORS, FRAY GRANADA, CONCHA ESPINA, AZORIN Y EDUARDO BAZA, INC.

Demandante V. MILMARI GIUSTI

COLLAZO, JAVIER ANTONIO DEL VALLE DE JESÚS, AMBOS POR SÍ Y EN REPRESENTACIÓN DE LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR

AMBOS

Demandados

Civil Núm.: SJ2023CV01132. Salón de Sesiones: 803. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE.UU., EL PUEBLO DE PUERTO RICO, SS. A: MILMARI GIUSTI COLLAZO, JAVIER ANTONIO DEL VALLE DE JESUS, AMBOS POR SI Y EN REPRESENTACION DE LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS.

Por la presente se le notifica que la parte demandante ha presentado ante este Tribunal Demanda contra usted(es), solicitando la concesión del siguiente remedio: Demanda de COBRO DE DINERO, por concepto de cuotas de mantenimientos vencidas y no pagadas por la suma de $5,213.64 al 31 de enero de 2023. Representa a la parte demandante el abogado cuyo nombre, dirección y teléfono se consigna de inmediato:

LCDO. MELVYN E. FONTAN LOZADA

Colegiado Núm. 15768, RUA: 14519 PO Box 124, Bayamón, PR 00960-0124

Tel. 787-340-6604 Fax 787-261-9168

e-mail: melfonloza@live.com, melvynfontan@gmail.com

Se le apercibe que si no compareciera usted a contestar dicha demanda dentro del término de treinta (30) días a partir de haber sido diligenciado este Emplazamiento, Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired.ramajudiciai. pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaria del tribunal. Si usted deje de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda, o cualquier otro, si el tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. En San Juan, Puerto Rico, a 25 de abril de 2023. GRISELDA RODRÍGUEZ

COLLADO, SECRETARIA REGIONAL. IRIS OLIVO NÚÑEZ, SECRETARIA DE SERVICIOS A SALA.

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA MUNICIPAL / SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN ASOCIACIÓN PRO CONTROL DE ACCESO DE LA CALLE MARACAIBO, INC.

Demandante V. EDUARDO APONTE VELÁZQUEZ

Demandado

Civil Núm.: SJ2023CV02794.

Salón: 504. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO (R. 60). EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE.UU., EL PUEBLO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

A: EDUARDO APONTE VELÁZQUEZ.

Por la presente se le notifica que la parte demandante ha presentado ante este Tribunal Demanda contra usted(es), solicitando la concesión del siguiente remedio: Demanda de COBRO DE DINERO, por concepto de cuotas de mantenimientos vencidas y no pagadas por la suma de $2,749.50 al 31 de enero de 2023. Representa a la parte demandante el abogado cuyo nombre, dirección y teléfono se consigna de inmediato:

LCDO. MELVYN E. FONTAN LOZADA Colegiado Núm.15768, RUA: 14519 PO Box 124, Bayamón, PR 00960-0124 Tel. 787-340-6604; Fax 787-261-9168 e-mail: melfonloza@live.com, melvynfontan@gmail.com

Se le apercibe que si no compareciera usted a contestar dicha demanda dentro del término de treinta (30) días a partir de haber sido diligenciado este Emplazamiento, Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired.ramajudicial. pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaria del tribunal. Si usted deje de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda, o cualquier otro, si el tribunal, en el ejercicio de su · sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. En San Juan, Puerto Rico, a 26 de abril de 2023. GRISELDA RODRÍGUEZ COLLADO, SECRETARIA REGIONAL. LINDA LEVY RODRÍGUEZ, SECRETARIA DE SERVICIOS A SALA.

PUERTO RICO

Parte Demandante Vs. LA SUCESION DE DELIA MARIA AUFFANT MÉNDEZ COMPUESTA

POR YMA ENID LUGO AUFFANT, MARIÉN LUGO AUFFANT, DALIAH LUGO AUFFANT, YAMEL LUGO AUFFANT; LUCIA PÉREZ LUGO, CARLOS TARA ANTEQUERA LUGO, ALEXANDER AFXENDIOU Y MARI LENA AFXENDIOU; JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE como posibles herederos desconocidos de la Sucesión de DELIA MARÍA AUFFANT MÉNDEZ; LA SUCESION DE YAMEL LUGO AUFFANT compuesta por ALEXANDER AFXENDIOU Y MARI LENA AFXENDIOU; JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE como posibles herederos desconocidos de la Sucesión de YAMEL LUGO AUFFANT; CENTRO DE RECAUDACION DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES y ADMINISTRACION PARA EL SUSTENTO DE MENORES

Parte Demandada CASO CIVIL NÚM: PO2022CV00619. SOBRE: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VIA ORDINARIA Y COBRO DE DINERO. EMPLAZAMIENTO Y NOTIFICACION DE INTERPELACION POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA. PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA. ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO.

A: ALEXANDER AXFENDIOU Y MARI LENA AXFENDIOU como herederos de la Sucesión de YAMEL LUGO AUFFANT Y A ALEXANDER AXFENDIOU, MARI LENA AXFENDIOU, LUCIA PÉREZ LUGO Y CARLOS TARA ANTEQUERA LUGO como herederos de la Sucesión de Delia MARIA AUFFANT MÉNDEZ.

POR LA PRESENTE se les emplaza y requiere para que conteste la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de este Edicto. Usted deberá radicar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: http://unired.rama-

judicial.pr/sumac/, salvo que se presente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá radicar el original de su contestación ante el Tribunal correspondiente y notifique con copia a los abogados de la parte demandante, Lcdo. Orlando Camacho Padilla, al PO BOX 7970, Ponce, P.R. 00732; Teléfono: 787-8434168. En dicha demanda se tramita un procedimiento de ejecución de hipoteca y cobro de dinero bajo el número mencionado en el epígrafe. Se alega en dicho procedimiento que la parte Demandada incurrió en el incumplimiento del Contrato de Hipoteca, al no poder pagar las mensualidades vencidas correspondientes a los meses de septiembre 2020 hasta el presente, más los cargos por demora correspondientes. Además, adeuda a la parte demandante las costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado en que incurra el tenedor del pagaré en este litigio. De acuerdo con dicho Contrato de Garantía Hipotecaria la parte Demandante declaró vencida la totalidad de la deuda ascendente a la suma de $275,923.79 de balance de principal, en cual se compone de un primer principal por la suma de $264,913.87. más la suma de $11,009.92 de balance de principal diferido, más los intereses sobre la suma de $275,923.79 al 6.75% anual desde el día primero de agosto de 2020 de así como todos aquellos créditos y sumas que surjan de la faz de la obligación hipotecaria y de la hipoteca que la garantiza, más las sumas pactadas para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado. La parte Demandante presentó para su inscripción en el Registro de la Propiedad correspondiente, un AVISO DE PLEITO PENDIENTE (“Lis Pendens”) sobre la propiedad objeto de esta acción cuya propiedad es la siguiente: URBANA: Solar marcado con el número 5 en el plano del Proyecte Residencial Jardín de la Alhambra, radicada en la Urbanización La Alhambra del término municipal de Ponce, Puerto Rico, con una cabida de dos tres ocho punto cuatro cero (238.40m.) metros cuadrados. En lindes por el NORTE, con la calle de acceso y el solar número (cuatro) 4 del proyecto; por el SUR, con el solar número seis (6) del proyecto; por el ESTE, con la calle de acceso del proyecto y por el OESTE, con el solar número cuatro (4) de la urbanización La Alhambra. Enclava una estructura de dos plantas tipo dúplex diseñada para fines residenciales construida de concreto y bloques de concreto cuya primera planta consiste principalmente de un patio frontal, sala, comedor, cocina y un medio baño. la segunda planta consta de tres (3) habitaciones con sus closets, dos (2) baños, lavandería y un área de alma-

cén con acceso a dos (2) áreas de terraza en la parte superior de la estructura. Inscrita al folio ochenta y cinco (85) del tomo mil setecientos ochenta y seis (1.786), finca número cincuenta y nueve mil doscientos sesenta y cinco (59,265), Registro de la Propiedad de Ponce, Sección l. SE LES APERCIBE que, de no hacer sus alegaciones responsivas a la demanda dentro del término aquí dispuesto, se les anotará la rebeldía y se dictará Sentencia, concediéndose el remedio solicitado en la Demanda, sin más citarle ni oírle. Además, como miembro de la Sucesión de YAMEL LUGO AUFFANT / DELIA MARIA AUFFANT MENDEZ, se ha presentado una solicitud de interpelación judicial para que sirva en el término de treinta (30) días aceptar o repudiar la herencia. Se le apercibe que si no compareciera usted a expresarse dentro de término de treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación de este edicto en tomo a la aceptación o repudiación de la herencia, se presumirá que han aceptado a beneficio de inventario la herencia de YAMEL LUGO AUFFANT / DELIA MARIA AUFFANT MENDEZ y por consiguiente, responderán por las cargas de dicha herencia conforme dispone del Código Civil de Puerto Rico. En Ponce, Puerto Rico, a 3 de mayo de 2023. Carmen G. Tirú Quiñones, Secretaria. Mariely Félix Rivera, Secretaria Auxiliar del Tribunal.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

SALA DE BAYAMÓN

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO, Demandante V.

GABRIEL OYOLA NIEVES, FRANCISCA RIOS

NEGRÓN Y LA SOCIEDAD

LEGAL DE GANACIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS, EXPRESSO MORTGAGE CORPORATION, JOHN DOE

Demandadas. CIVIL NÚM.: BY2023CV02305

SOBRE: CANCELACION DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO POR LA VIA JUDICIAL. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA. PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS. ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. S.S.

A: EXPRESSO MORTGAGE

CORPORATION Y JOHN DOE COMO TENEDORES DESCONOCIDOS DEL PAGARÉ a favor de Expresso Mortgage Corporation, o a su

orden, por la suma de $34,460.00 de principal, intereses al 8.50% anual y vencedero el día 1 de octubre de 2019, según consta de la escritura número 259, otorgada en Bayamón, el día 31 de agosto de 1989, ante el notario Luis Rodríguez Bigas, e inscrita al folio 76 vuelto del tomo 620 de Bayamón, finca número 11,797, Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Primera Sección de Bayamón. Por la presente se le emplaza y notifica que debe contestar la demanda incoada en su contra dentro del término de treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación del presente edicto. Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired.ramajudicial. pr/sumac/, salvo que se represente por derecho propio. Si usted deja de presentar y notificar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el Tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la Demanda, o cualquier otro, si el Tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. Los abogados de la parte demandante son.

ABOGADOS DE LA PARTE

DEMANDANTE:

Lcdo. Reggie Díaz Hernández

RUA Núm.: 16,393

BERMUDEZ & DIAZ LLP

Suite 209

500 Calle De La Tanca San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901

Tel.: (787) 523-2670

Fax: (787) 523-2664 rdíaz@bdprlaw.com

Expido este edicto bajo mi firma y el sello de este Tribunal, hoy 4 de mayo de 2023. Lcda. Laura I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria Regional. Militza Mercado Rivera, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

SALA DE PATILLAS

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

Demandante Y.

EDUARDO MELENDEZ

SILVA, CARMEN LUZ

MARRERO GOMEZ Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANACIALES COMPUESTA

POR AMBOS, R&G MORTGAGE CORPORATION, JOHN DOE

Demandadas

Civil Núm.: PA2023CV00081.

Sobre: CANCELACIÓN DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO POR LA VIA JUDICIAL. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, S.S.

A: R&G MORTGAGE CORPORATION Y JOHN DOE COMO TENEDORES DESCONOCIDOS DEL PAGARÉ a favor de R & G Mortgage Corporation, o a su orden, por la suma de $110,000.00, intereses al 7% anual y vencimiento el día 10 de abril de 2025, según consta de la escritura número 71, otorgada en Guayama, Puerto Rico, el día 15 de marzo de 2005, ante la notario J. Cristina Alamao García, al folio 246 deI tomo 161 de Patillas, finca #7,199, Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección de Guayama. Por la presente se le emplaza y notifica que debe contestar la demanda incoada en su contra dentro del término de treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación del presente edicto. Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired.ramajudicial. pr/sumac/, salvo que se represente por derecho propio. Si usted deja de presentar y notificar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el Tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la Demanda, o cualquier otro, si el Tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. Los abogados de la parte demandante son.

ABOGADOS DE LA PARTE

DEMANDANTE:

Lcdo. Reggie Díaz Hernández

RUA Núm.: 16,393 BERMUDEZ & DIAZ LLP

Suite 209 500 Calle De La Tanca San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901

Tel.: (787) 523-2670

Fax: (787) 523-2664 rdíazbdprlaw.com

Expido este edicto bajo mi firma y el sello de este Tribunal, hoy 4 de mayo de 2023. MARISOL ROSADO RODRÍGUEZ, SECRETARIA GENERAL. GLORIVEE GARCÍA GONZÁLEZ, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE BAYAMÓN SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYAMÓN

Yogi Berra on the field: The case for baseball greatness

By LORNE MANLY

In the latest edition of Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations, there’s a sports figure who towers over the competition.

Among the nine sayings attributed to one Lawrence Peter Berra, the New York Yankees catcher better known as Yogi, are phrases that may seem nonsensical at first, but on further reflection offer wisdom for the ages.

“You can observe a lot by watching.”

“It was déjà vu all over again.”

And of course, there’s “It ain’t over till it’s over,” which provides the title for a new documentary about Berra’s life.

“It Ain’t Over” aims to be a corrective to the caricature implanted in the cultural consciousness of Berra as an amiable clown, a malaprop-prone catcher who looked as if he were put together with spare parts. But Berra was not only a cuddly pitchman for insurance, beer and chocolate milk, an inspiration for a certain cartoon bear, and a stand-up guy beloved by teammates; he was, the film argues, one of the best baseball players who ever lived.

“This guy was criminally overlooked his whole life, at every stage,” said Sean Mullin, the film’s director.

The documentary, which opens Friday, is intensely personal, tapping the eldest of Berra’s 11 grandchildren to serve as a narrator with no pretense to objectivity in fighting for her grandfather’s legacy.

It was a relatively recent slight that encapsulates the film’s defining thesis and yields the opening scene. During the All-Star Game in 2015, Major League Baseball honored the four players voted by fans as the greatest living legends. Watching that night with her grandfather, Lindsay Berra remembers becoming infuriated that Yogi Berra had not made the cut.

Mullin and Lindsay Berra, in separate interviews, emphasized that they meant no offense to the four greats honored that night — Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax and Johnny Bench. They just fervently believe that Yogi Berra should have been the fifth man walking on the field that night in Cincinnati.

“I always thought from the beginning that I figuratively wanted to put Grandpa back in the picture with the documentary,” said Lindsay Berra, who is an executive producer on the film.

The filmmakers marshal the statistics and an impressive array of former players and other baseball experts to back up their claim.

Yogi Berra — who died in 2015 at 90 — was a core part of 10 World Series championship teams as a player, more than anyone else. He won three MVP awards, played in AllStar Games in 15 straight years and in 1956 caught the only perfect game in World Series history. And only two major leaguers have ever hit more than 350 home runs while striking out fewer than 450 times: Joe DiMaggio and Berra.

The statistic that most impresses Lindsay Berra comes from 1950. That season, Berra went to the plate 656 times and struck out just 12 times: “That to me will always be astonishing, because guys today strike out 12 times in a weekend.”

All this passionate lobbying is not mere special familial pleading. Jon Pessah, who wrote the 2020 biography “Yogi: A Life Behind the Mask” (and is not in the film), said the idea that Berra’s baseball prowess has been overlooked “is 100% true.”

Besides the hitting feats, Berra willed himself into becoming a terrific defensive catcher and was expert at guiding his temperamental pitchers. (During Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series, he did not shake off one of the 97 pitches Berra called.)

“After studying his career, you say, wow, this guy carried the Yankees in the ’50s,” a decade that bridged DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle, Pessah said. “You look at what he meant on the field and at the plate, he was a force.”

The unfair, and incomplete, perception of Berra has much to do with his stubby stature and comparisons with his famous team-

mates. DiMaggio was slick and polished, and married to Marilyn Monroe; Mantle was the blue-eyed, golden-haired, all-American boy from Oklahoma. Berra — well, no demeaning or belittling description seemed off-limits to the writers who covered him. Early in his career, a Life magazine article referred to him as “knock-kneed” and “barrel-shaped,” and likened his running style to that of “a fat girl in a tight skirt.” That was all in one sentence.

His first manager called him an ape. In newspaper and magazine articles, Berra’s looks were compared to those of a gargoyle, a gorilla and an orangutan.

“Can you imagine reporters writing today that someone looked like a gorilla and was too ugly to be a Yankee?” Lindsay Berra said.

But Yogi Berra ultimately didn’t mind playing the butt of jokes, sloughing them off as just another test of character.

“I think he knew inside who he was,” Mullin said. “There was a real confidence at a very base level.”

Growing up the fourth child of Italian immigrants in St. Louis, Berra quit school after eighth grade to help support his family, although he pretty much just wanted to play baseball. Constantly underestimated, he ultimately signed with the Yankees. He served during World War II and was in a rocket boat at Omaha Beach on D-Day.

Back from the war, he played on a Yankees farm team for a year before being called up late in the 1946 season. He was in the majors for good.

While proving naysayers wrong with his hitting prowess and improving defense, he also displayed deep-seated integrity. At a time when racism still thrived in MLB despite Jackie Robinson integrating the game in 1947,

Berra showed respect to Robinson and other Black players; he later became good friends with Larry Doby, the first Black player in the American League.

Berra’s son Dale followed him into the majors, but a promising career was derailed by a cocaine addiction. Rehab didn’t help, and neither did encouragement from his family. It took an ultimatum, delivered by Yogi Berra, at an intervention in 1992.

“You’re not going to be my son anymore unless you make a decision to not do drugs again,” Dale Berra said his father told him. He has been clean since.

The other deep wound in Yogi Berra’s life came in 1985, inflicted by Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. Serving as manager for Steinbrenner was a decidedly unsafe proposition, and 16 games into Berra’s second season, he was fired. What angered Berra most wasn’t the firing, it was that Steinbrenner didn’t have the guts (or decency) to deliver the blow himself. Berra, always a man of his word, vowed never to return to Yankee Stadium until Steinbrenner apologized.

It took nearly 14 years before a rapprochement was brokered, leading to Yogi Berra Day at the stadium in July 1999. Fortythree years after the World Series perfect game, Larsen was reunited with his former battery mate to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Berra didn’t have a glove with him, so he borrowed one from Joe Girardi, a Yankees catcher at the time. Those there that day still marvel at what they then witnessed. David Cone proceeded to pitch another perfect game for the Yankees. A life well lived had its magical coda.

Yogi Berra at Yankee Stadium in New York on June 13, 1956. (Sam Falk/The New York Times)

Joe Kapp, quarterback who led Vikings to Super Bowl IV, dies at 85

By RICHARD GOLDSTEIN

Joe Kapp, the rugged quarterback who spent eight seasons in the Canadian Football League before making it to the NFL with the 1967 Minnesota Vikings, then took them to Super Bowl IV in January 1970, died on Monday in San Jose, California. He was 85.

His son, J.J. Kapp, said that his father died at an assisted living facility from complications of dementia. In the NFL, he gained a reputation for resilience in the face of injury.

“I’ve played with cracked ribs and a punctured lung and a torn knee and separated shoulder and a half-dozen other injuries,” he wrote in a first-person article. “I’ve been called ‘one half of a collision looking for another.’ You won’t see me running out of bounds to avoid a little physical contact with a linebacker.”

“Maybe this goes back to my Chicano childhood and machismo,” he added. “Machismo means manliness, a willingness to act like a man, and if a kid didn’t have machismo in the polyglot neighborhoods of the San Fernando and Salinas valleys in California, where I grew up, he had it tough.”

Kapp, who was partly of Mexican descent, was labeled “the toughest Chicano” by Sports Illustrated on its July 1970 cover.

The Vikings saw him as the successor to Fran Tarkenton, who had been traded to the New York Giants.

Kapp tied the still-unsurpassed single-game NFL record by throwing for seven touchdowns against the defending league champion, the Baltimore Colts, in September 1969.

He threw 19 touchdown passes during the 1969 regular season, leading the Vikings to the 1970 Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs, the champions of the AFL, which was in its last season before it merged with the NFL. The Vikings, anchored by the Purple People Eaters, a fearsome defensive line with Carl Eller and Jim Marshall at the ends and Alan Page and Gary

Larsen at the tackles, were strong favorites, but the Chiefs defeated them, 23-7.

Kapp incurred a badly injured shoulder when he was hit on a bootleg play, but he remained in the game, completing 16 passes for 183 yards, though he was intercepted twice. “The Kansas City defense looked like a redwood forest,” he told The Minneapolis Star-Tribune afterward.

Kapp joined the Boston (later New England) Patriots in 1970. The Patriots finished with a 2-12 record, then drafted quarterback Jim Plunkett of Stanford, the Heisman Trophy winner.

Having already been involved in a contract dispute with the Patriots, Kapp refused to sign a standard players contract for the 1971 season and quit the team in July, then filed an antitrust suit against the NFL. A jury declined to award him damages, but the case represented an early challenge in the players’ ultimately successful struggle to win free agency rights.

Joseph Robert Kapp was born on March 19, 1938, in Santa Fe, New

Mexico, the oldest of five children of Florence Garcia Kapp, who was of Mexican heritage, and Robert Kapp, a salesman, who was of German descent.

His family moved to California when Joe was young. He played football and basketball in high school and received an athletic scholarship from the University of California, Berkeley.

Kapp led the Golden Bears to the Pacific Coast Conference football championship in 1958 and a berth in the Rose Bowl game, a loss to Iowa. He played basketball for the Cal teams that won a pair of Pacific Coast championships.

A bruising 6 feet 2 inches and 205 pounds, Kapp set a career rushing record for Cal quarterbacks, running for 931 yards in three seasons. But the Golden Bears employed a split-T formation favoring quarterback-option running plays over the passing game, so Kapp wasn’t selected in the 1959 NFL. draft until the Washington team, now called the Commanders, chose him in the 18th round. They never contacted him, so he went to the Canadian Football League.

Kapp spent a season and a half with the Calgary Stampeders, then was traded to the British Columbia Lions after undergoing knee surgery. He led them to the 1963 Grey Cup game for the CFL championship, a loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but they defeated Hamilton, 34-24, for the 1964 Grey Cup title. He was a two-time CFL All-Star, threw for 136 touchdown passes and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1984.

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Kapp turned to acting after his NFL career ended. He appeared on the TV crime series “Ironside” and in the football-themed movies “The Longest Yard” (1974) and “Semi-Tough” (1977).

He was named the head football coach at California in 1982, a season that famously ended with “the play,” a five-lateral kickoff return by Cal for the winning touchdown against Stanford. He posted a record of 20-34-1 for five seasons at Berkeley.

Kapp was the British Columbia Lions’ general manager for most of the 1990 season and head coach of the Arena League’s Sacramento Attack in 1992.

Kapp lived in Los Gatos, California, in his later years. In addition to his son J.J., he is survived by his second wife, Jennifer Kapp; another son, Will; his daughters Emiliana and Gabriela; his brother, Larry; and his sisters Joanie Ebberson, Linda Rorher and Suzie McDonald. His first wife, Marcia, died in 2005.

Pro football players aren’t easily intimidated, but Kapp’s intensity made a decided impression.

“He’s a sorry passer and really not a great quarterback, but he’s a great leader,” Kansas City defensive end Jerry Mays was quoted by Sports Illustrated as saying after the team’s Super Bowl victory over the Vikings. “I hated to play against him. You felt his presence no matter where he was, on the sidelines or on the field. He’d look at you and challenge you with his eyes. When I think of him, I think of his eyes.”

Joe Kapp in a playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams in December 1969. Weeks later he took the Vikings to the Super Bowl as favorites to win it. They lost to Kansas City.

Sudoku

How to Play:

Fill in the empty fields with the numbers from 1 through 9.

Sudoku Rules:

Every row must contain the numbers from 1 through 9

Every column must contain the numbers from 1 through 9

Every 3x3 square must contain the numbers from 1 through 9

Crossword

Answers on page 30

Wordsearch

Aries (Mar 21-April 20)

Today you will likely be in the mood to nest with loved ones, Aries. Encourage children and partner to stay home with you. Make some popcorn and pull out the board games. You will be surprised at how much fun a quiet day at home can be. Tonight, order pizza and watch a movie. Get out the blanket and cuddle.

Taurus (April 21-May 21)

Today an article or TV show may set your mind spinning in the strangest directions. You could finally acknowledge your fascination with the occult, or perhaps discover an interest in dream interpretation. Let yourself indulge in your interests. Sometimes you don’t take the time to pursue subjects that you don’t deem “serious.” Go ahead and explore your dark side!

Gemini (May 22-June 21)

If you’ve been thinking about writing a novel or taking up oil painting, today is the day to begin. No excuses. You have just as much talent as anyone else, so why not use it? You might find it helpful to join a writing group or sign up for a painting workshop, if only to help you get started and stay motivated. Join a support group for artists. They will understand.

Cancer (June 22-July 23)

You clean house like someone with an attention problem, Cancer. You never stick with one task. Your bathroom mirrors and counters will get cleaned, but not the floor. Make an effort to clean thoroughly, one room at a time. Even if you don’t get through the whole house, you will receive some satisfaction from knowing that parts of it are spotless.

Leo (July 24-Aug 23)

Today you may need to be more selfless, Leo. You may moan about the obligations and expectations placed on you, but you do what’s expected. Much to your surprise, you actually find that you get more out of the experience than you put into it. You may visit a nursing home and be charmed by stories of the war years. Keep your mind and heart open. You will be richly rewarded.

Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23)

You may receive a letter or phone call that spurs you into action, Virgo. You might realize how close you are to reaching a long-term goal, and harness your energy for that final push to the finish line. Now that the goal is in sight, you’re already thinking about what your next one will be. “Ever onward” is your motto.

Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)

This may not be your preferred way to spend the day, but it would be an ideal time to finish up tasks that have been piling up at home, Libra. It would do you good to catch up on cleaning or get more organized around the house. Yes, Libra, that means throwing away last year’s newspapers and magazines. If you haven’t read them by now, you’re not likely to!

Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)

You’re a dedicated soul to spend precious personal time doing household chores, but certain things need to get done. If you still haven’t done all the laundry or read all the magazines, then tackle these first. Completing them will motivate you to move on to the next task. Before you know it, you will be sitting pretty in a neat, organized home. Scorpio.

Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)

You’re an avid reader, Sagittarius. Today you may come across some ideas that inspire ideas of your own. Perhaps you read something gives you an idea for a short story. Maybe an interview with a famous musician reignites your desire to play the piano. Pay attention to these yearnings. Write them down. When you review them in a few days, you will see which ones still have a strong pull on you.

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20)

You can expect to have a confusing encounter with a friend or colleague today, Capricorn. He or she may come to you for advice but hesitate to reveal the specifics of the problem. You will feel as though you’ve been asked to mediate an argument, yet you only know one side of the story. Be patient. Gently probe for more details. If they aren’t forthcoming, change the subject!

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb 19)

You’re feeling strong, energetic, and likely to be inspired to get some real work done around the house, Aquarius. Focus on the most mundane chores, such as reorganizing bookshelves or going through the clothes you no longer wear. This day won’t be the epitome of intellectual activity, but you will be rewarded with a tidy living space.

Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)

Something you read today could have a dramatic effect on your life, Pisces. Pay particular attention to dream psychology. You may find an explanation for a recurring dream. The accuracy of the description could stop you in your tracks and make you anxious to read more. You’re right to be intrigued, Pisces. You’re bound to learn more about yourself as you study this particular area.

Speed Bump