2 GOOD MORNING
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.
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Police call on killers of two minors in Río Grande to turn themselves in
Asked if there were any suspects identified, González replied that “there are several individuals who we know are responsible for these events, but I am not going to go into those details because we are protecting the integrity of the person.”
On Monday afternoon, designated Justice secretary Janet Parra Mercado said the investigation of the case will be completed and a decision will then be made whether to file charges, so as not to affect the investigative process.
“When the Prosecutor’s Office completes its investigation in the Río Grande case, it will make the determination that is appropriate under the law, whether to file charges or not,” Parra Mercado said in a written statement. “We will not discuss the evidence or argue with the lawyer in the press.”
By THE STAR STAFF
Police Commissioner Joseph González Falcón has sent a message to the people responsible for the deaths of two minors in Río Grande last week.
“Now I want to speak directly to those individuals responsible for this horrible event. The best thing they can do is turn themselves in because the Puerto Rican Police will not rest until they are in custody,” González said at a Sunday press conference. “Likewise, I want to speak directly to the people of Puerto Rico who are deeply affected by this case. Anyone who has any information, no matter the smallest detail, can call 787-3432020 with any information. That line is totally confidential.”
“We are doing everything, everything, all the logical investigative steps that any investigation, and this one specifically, deserves,” the island’s chief law enforcement officer added. “There is also a security plan that is running from the Carolina area to Fajardo where there are 12-hour shifts with the uniformed police, as well as Tactical Operations and the motorized unit. This is a fully integrated plan between all the divisions of the Puerto Rico Police and I want to recognize the men and women who are working on this case who have not rested since 10:40 last Wednesday night for their commitment to this case. And in the same way the FBI, ATF and HSI joined in on the case.”
“Cases are litigated in court,” she added. Two minors were killed and four people were wounded by gunfire in the attack that occurred last Wednesday night in the Villa Realidad community in Río Grande.
According to the police, they were alerted through a call to the 9-1-1 Emergency System about shots fired on Highway 955. Upon arriving at the scene, officers found Miguel Colón Rodríguez, 66, with a gunshot wound to the right leg, and Rocelyn Colón Marín, 51, with a gunshot wound to the left thigh. Both were transported to a hospital, and their condition was described as stable.
Related to those events, on highway PR-3, the police located a Kia Forte vehicle with the lifeless bodies of a 13-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy, both with gunshot wounds. They also found a wounded 12-year-old girl, who was taken to a hospital. Her condition is stable.
Meanwhile, authorities have charged Aneudy Castro Medina, the partner of the mother of the slain minors, for possession of a firearm.
According to the police report, Castro Medina was carrying and possessing an unlicensed rifle illegally, which he admitted was his property because he had had problems in the past.
Fajardo Court Judge Reicarlo de León Colón found cause for arrest and imposed a bail of $250,000 that Castro Medina did not pay. He was admitted to the Bayamón penal institution.
Police Commissioner Joseph González Falcón
Bill filed in House would ease deposits required for water connections
By THE STAR STAFF
Rep. Axel “Chino” Roque Gracia announced on Monday the filing of House Bill 301, titled the “Relief Act for the Payment of Deposits for Connections to the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA).”
The measure aims to provide better access to drinking water and sanitary sewer services by establishing a more accessible payment system for new PRASA clients.
“I frequently hear the concerns of many families who, due to the high cost of living, are forced to delay connecting to water services because they cannot afford to pay the full deposit upfront,” the New Progressive Party legislator said. “With this measure, we are removing an economic barrier and promoting social justice. No one should be denied access to water for financial reasons.”
The proposed legislation will allow all new clients of the public corporation to pay their deposit or bond required to initiate service in monthly installments of either three or six
months, thus lessening the financial burden of the initial payment. The bill includes amendments to Act No. 40 of 1945 (Puerto Rico Water and Sewer Law) and introduces a new subsection to Section 4. The latter amendment mandates that
PRASA permit new customers to opt for a prorated deposit payment schedule while upholding their right to essential services. Furthermore, PRASA will have a maximum of six months to revise Regulation 8901 and any other relevant regulations to comply with the new public policy, and any conflicting regulatory provisions will be automatically repealed.
“This bill strikes a fair balance; while we make access to an essential service easier, we do not jeopardize the finances of PRASA,” Roque Gracia said. “We provide people the opportunity to fulfill their responsibilities in a more accessible and realistic way. We are not giving anything away; we are offering a fair opportunity. We recognize that PRASA is vital for our country, but we also understand that many Puerto Rican families struggle to meet their basic expenses. This initiative supports both the citizens and the public corporation.”
Once approved, House Bill 301 will take effect immediately and will benefit thousands of island residents who require access to drinking water and sewage services for their homes and businesses.
Three killed in crash during illegal street race in Dorado are identified
The three people who lost their lives in the crash included a young female passenger in a car that was struck, and two young men who were run over, by a vehicle allegedly engaged in an illegal street race.
BY THE STAR STAFF
The police on Monday identified the three young people who died in a fatal accident that occurred at midnight on Sunday on highway PR-2 in Dorado, where an illegal race was taking place.
According to the police report, the victims were Joelys Santos Sánchez, 21, who was traveling as a passenger in a Toyota Corolla, and pedestrians José M. Cartagena Rosario, 19, and Kevin Torres González, 21, who were watching the race and were hit by the vehicle that allegedly initiated the accident.
The crash occurred at the road’s 26.5 kilometer mark, in the eastbound direction, near a restaurant and an auto parts store. Police said Yamaveh Rivera Hernández, 26,
Man accused in Guayama femicide sent to prison after not making bail
By THE STAR STAFF
Luis David Rodríguez, who is accused in the killing of Lisalee Escalante Espada, 28, was sent to prison for not being able to pay the bail imposed on charges of femicide, attempted murder, firing a firearm and pointing a firearm.
Escalante Espada, a mother of three children aged 7, 9 and 11, and Rodriguez’s partner, received a gunshot wound
to the head and was transported by a friend to the Mennonite Hospital in Guayama, where her death was confirmed early Sunday morning after an argument on 16th Street in the Jardines de Guamaní neighborhood.
Judge Marieli Paradizo Pérez, of the Guayama Court, determined probable cause for all the crimes charged and imposed bail of $1.2 million, which was not paid.
Rodríguez was remanded in custody until his preliminary hearing on Feb. 25.
a resident of Toa Baja, was driving a wine-colored 2012 Acura LX and was allegedly participating in an illegal race when he lost control of the vehicle.
Rivera Hernández hit a gold Mazda Protege that was trying to merge onto the road and then crashed into a 2001 Toyota Corolla driven by Yarelis Torres Alicea, 20, a pregnant woman, who was unharmed. After the impact, the Acura overturned and ran over several pedestrians who were watching the race.
The driver suffered minor injuries and had .10 percent alcohol in his system in the test performed. He was summoned as part of the investigation, which is in the hands of the Prosecutor’s Office. In addition to the deceased, three people were injured with fractures and are receiving medical attention.
Rep. Axel Roque Gracia
Senator files bill exempting seniors from taxes on OTC drugs
By THE STAR STAFF
Concerned about the quality of life of older adults in Puerto Rico, who are facing significant economic challenges due to the constant rise in the cost of living, District 6 (Guayama) Sen. Rafael Santos Ortiz has been advocating for measures to alleviate the financial burden on this demographic, particularly in terms of access to essential medications.
“The increase in the cost of living has severely impacted our elderly population, many of whom rely on fixed incomes from Social Security or limited pensions,” Santos said Monday in a written statement. “It is unacceptable that so many of our seniors must choose between buying food and obtaining essential medications for their health.”
To address the situation, Santos introduced Senate Bill 252, which proposes exempting non-prescription medications from the sales and use tax (IVU by its acronym in Spanish) for individuals aged 65 and older. The measure aims to lower the costs associated with purchasing pain relievers, anti-allergy medications, and other over-the-counter products that are crucial for the health and daily well-being of the senior population.
Santos emphasized the significance of the initiative within his district, which includes municipalities with a high
concentration of senior citizens.
“In the towns of our district, there is a large number of elderly individuals who deserve a dignified life without unnecessary financial worries,” he said. “This exemption will ease their financial burden and ensure they can take care of their health without additional challenges.”
Sen. Rafael Santos Ortiz
The senator acknowledged the need to evaluate the fiscal impact of the proposed measure and noted that feedback from the island Treasury Department is anticipated to assess how the initiative might affect government revenue.
“It is essential to strike a balance between providing economic relief for our senior citizens and maintaining the fiscal stability of the country,” Santos said. “We look forward to the Department of the Treasury’s insights to ensure this measure is implemented responsibly.”
The importance of the legislation also becomes more pronounced amid rising cases of abuse and neglect of elderly individuals in Puerto Rico, the senator noted.
“We cannot overlook the difficult circumstances many of our senior citizens endure, who not only face economic challenges but also social vulnerabilities,” he said. “Safeguarding their access to medications is just one of many steps we must take to ensure their well-being and dignity.”
The legislative proposal reflects the demographic reality in Puerto Rico, where the aging population continues to grow. Recent data indicates a significant increase in the number of individuals aged 65 and older, highlighting the urgency of implementing public policies that ensure their well-being and access to essential resources.
Federal officials investigate local founder of crypto investment firm
By THE STAR STAFF
Dan Morehead, the founder of prominent crypto investment firm Pantera Capital, is under federal investigation for potentially violating U.S. tax laws following his relocation to Puerto Rico, according to a report from CryptoNews.
Sen. Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, has alleged that Morehead may have improperly classified over $850 million in investment profits as exempt from federal taxes.
In a letter dated Jan. 9 and obtained by The New York Times, Wyden suggests that
Morehead may have misapplied tax exemptions available to Puerto Rico residents, CryptoNews reported.
The investigation comes as the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) tightens its focus on high-net-worth individuals who moved to the island to avoid paying U.S. taxes on income sourced outside Puerto Rico.
In 2012, the government passed Act 20 and Act 22 to promote the exportation of services by companies and individuals providing such services from Puerto Rico and the relocation of high-net-worth individuals to Puerto Rico. The laws have since become part of Act 60.
According to Wyden’s letter: “In most
cases, the majority of the gain is actually U.S. source income, reportable on U.S. tax returns, and subject to U.S. tax.”
Pantera Capital was the first U.S. crypto investment fund, and Morehead’s November 2024 blog post highlighted that the firm’s initial investments had grown by over 130,000%.
Pantera’s Bitcoin Fund, launched in July 2013, reportedly generated returns exceeding 1,000 times its initial bitcoin purchases at $74 per coin. The firm currently manages over $5 billion in assets, with almost half its capital invested outside the U.S.
The STAR could not reach Morehead, who has denied the allegations.
Vieques mayor honors police for ‘unwavering’ service
By THE STAR STAFF
As part of the events commemorating Puerto Rico Police Week, Vieques Mayor José “Junito” Corcino Acevedo paid tribute on Monday to the members of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau who are stationed in the offshore island municipality for their “unwavering commitment to our communities.”
The commonwealth police command in Vieques has a staff of 25 officers.
“Today marks the beginning of the commemoration of Police Week and in Vieques, we are more than grateful for the dedication of the men and women of the Police Bureau who make Vieques their home,” the mayor said in a written statement. “Their work is not only a duty, but an unwavering commitment
to justice, security and the well-being of our people. The police in Vieques face unique challenges due to our geography; however, they have overcome any obstacle to provide us with the security that we so desperately need.”
“Providing security to any municipality is no easy task, especially when we are an island. The members of the Police Bureau
in Vieques face a range of new challenges with determination, putting their lives at risk for ours,” Corcino added. “Today, more than ever, let us recognize their efforts; we will provide them with all the support they need and express our gratitude as a People. May their bravery inspire unity and hope on our island!”
According to data from the Police Bureau, in January eight crimes were reported in Vieques, including four vehicle thefts, two cases of illegal appropriation, one burglary and one aggravated assault. The
San Juan Daily
Pantera Capital founder Dan Morehead (LinkedIn)
February 18, 2025 5
First test of Trump’s power to fire officials reaches Supreme Court
By ADAM LIPTAK
In the first case to reach the Supreme Court arising from the blitz of actions taken in the early weeks of the new administration, lawyers for President Donald Trump asked the justices Sunday to let him fire a government lawyer who leads a watchdog agency.
The administration’s emergency application asked the court to vacate a federal trial judge’s order temporarily reinstating Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel. Dellinger leads an independent agency charged with safeguarding government whistleblowers and enforcing certain ethics laws. The position is unrelated to special counsels appointed by the Justice Department.
“This court should not allow lower courts to seize executive power by dictating to the president how long he must continue employing an agency head against his will,” the administration’s filing said.
The court is expected to act in the coming days.
The filing amounts to a challenge to a foundational precedent that said Congress can limit the president’s power to fire leaders of independent agencies, a crucial issue as Trump seeks to reshape the federal government through summary terminations.
The statute that created the job now filled by Dellinger, who was confirmed by the Senate in 2024, provides for a five-year term and says the special counsel “may be removed by the president only for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.” But a one-sentence email to Dellinger on Feb. 7 gave no reasons for terminating him, effective immediately.
He sued, and Judge Amy Berman Jackson of U.S. District Court in Washington entered a temporary restraining order allowing Dellinger to keep his job for two weeks while she considered whether to enter a preliminary injunction. Temporary restraining orders are generally not appealable.
The statute, Jackson wrote, “expresses Congress’ clear intent to ensure the independence of the special counsel and insulate his work from being buffeted by the winds of political change,” adding that the government’s “only response to this inarguable reading of the text is that the statute is unconstitutional.” Jackson was appointed by President Barack Obama.
A divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit on Saturday rejected the government’s emergency motion
unlawful and that the statute at issue was constitutional.
In 2020, the Supreme Court seemed to lay the groundwork for overruling that precedent in a case involving the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
The law that created the bureau, using language identical to that at issue in Humphrey’s Executor and in Dellinger’s case, said the president could remove its director only for “inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.”
In a 5-4 decision, the court struck down that provision, saying it violated the separation of powers and that the president could remove the bureau’s director for any reason.
In language that anticipated the court’s decision in July granting Trump, then a private citizen, substantial immunity from prosecution for conduct during his first term, Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, said the presidency requires an “energetic executive.”
for a stay of Jackson’s ruling. The unsigned majority opinion, joined by Judges Michelle Childs and Florence Pan, both appointees of President Joe Biden, said the government’s motion was premature.
“The question here is not whether the president is entitled to prompt review of his important constitutional arguments,” the opinion said. “Of course he is. The issue before us is whether his mere claim of extraordinary harm justifies this court’s immediate review, which would essentially remove the legal issues from the district court’s ambit before its proceedings have concluded.”
In dissent, Judge Gregory Katsas, a Trump appointee, said he would have blocked Berman’s ruling, thus allowing Dellinger to be removed from office. Citing recent Supreme Court decisions, he wrote that “Congress cannot constitutionally restrict the president’s power to remove the special counsel.”
The administration’s emergency application took aim at a precedent from 1935 that has been crucial to government operations. In that case, Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, the court ruled that Congress can shield independent agencies from politics. Some conservative justices have said they would overrule the precedent, arguing that it unconstitutionally infringed the power of the president.
That case concerned a federal law that
protected commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission, saying they could be removed only for “inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.”
President Franklin D. Roosevelt nonetheless fired a commissioner, William Humphrey. The only reason he gave was that Humphrey’s actions were not aligned with the administration’s policy goals.
Humphrey died a few months later, and his estate sued to recover the pay he would have received in that time. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the firing had been
“In our constitutional system,” he wrote in 2020, “the executive power belongs to the president, and that power generally includes the ability to supervise and remove the agents who wield executive power in his stead.”
The general reasoning in the chief justice’s opinion left Humphrey’s Executor on life support. Two members of the court — Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch — would have pulled the plug right away.
Justice Elena Kagan, writing for what was then the court’s four-member liberal wing, dissented, saying the Constitution did not address the scope of the president’s power to fire subordinates. Congress should therefore be free, she said, to grant agencies “a measure of independence from political pressure.”
The Supreme Court in Washington, on Jan. 17, 2025. In the first case to reach the Supreme Court arising from the blitz of actions taken in the early weeks of the new administration, lawyers for President Donald Trump asked the justices on Sunday to let him fire a government lawyer who leads a watchdog agency. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)
Winter storm brings frigid temperatures and snow to Midwest as powerful winds lash the Northeast
By AMY GRAFF
Asprawling storm was bringing powerful winds, snow and freezing conditions from the Midwest to the Northeast beginning Monday, already causing power outages and disrupting travel as conditions are expected to worsen through the week.
As one storm was moving away from New England — and was still expected to continue producing strong, gusty winds across the Northeast and Great Lakes over the next couple of days — the next winter storm was hitting the Central Plains and Midwest on Monday, then likely moving to the mid-Atlantic by Wednesday and the Northeast by Thursday.
“In the wake of the snow, it’s going to get very cold,” said David Roth, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Millions were already under extreme cold warnings, from the Upper Midwest and Plains down to Oklahoma and parts of Texas. In some areas that were flooded in recent days, including parts of Kentucky, southern Indiana and northwest Tennessee, temperatures had sharply dropped to below freezing, and would continue to dip, Roth said. Ice in flooded areas could slow the retreat of the water, he added, making recovery more complex.
“The cold is going to persist
through Friday,” he said.
Blizzard warnings also remain in effect for the western slopes of the central Appalachian Mountains because of strong winds, although they were expected to taper off later Monday. High
wind warnings were in effect across the Northeast, from parts of Delaware to northeastern Maine, until Monday evening.
In southwest Detroit, where temperatures dropped to the single digits,
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a broken water main flooded roads and homes in the region, city officials said.
Photos and videos posted to social media appeared to show residents being rescued by boat from icy waters that reached up to car windows.
Power outages, downed trees and hazardous road conditions could continue to disrupt daily life and upend travel plans across the affected regions.
Sunday’s windstorm delivered gusts approaching or exceeding hurricane strength, including 76 mph gusts at Camp David, located about 1,841 feet
in the Catoctin Mountains in northern Frederick County, Maryland, according to the weather service. Sustained hurricane force winds start at 74 mph.
Wind gusts of 71 mph were recorded at New Jersey’s Atlantic City International Airport on Sunday, according to the weather service. At Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the winds were recorded up to 65 mph, said Connor Belak, a meteorologist with the weather service.
One woman died in Philadelphia after a tree fell onto her vehicle Sunday evening, the Philadelphia Police Department said.
The high winds led to widespread power outages across much of the midAtlantic, according to Poweroutage.us, which tracks power outages. Nearly 70,000 customers were without power in Pennsylvania on Monday afternoon. Travel was largely back to normal Monday after hundreds of flights were delayed or canceled in New York on Sunday, according to airline tracking website FlightAware.
About 2 1/2 inches of snow fell Saturday evening in parts of Connecticut, including Fairfield and Middlesex counties. Areas across Massachusetts and Rhode Island got 2 to 5 inches of snow by Sunday morning, and as much as 7 inches fell in northern Massachusetts.
An unusual surge of warm, springlike moisture poured into the Ohio and Tennessee valleys and the lower Mississippi Valley on Saturday — triggering torrential rains that turned roads into rivers and created a sloppy, wet mess.
Some of the worst flooding occurred in northwest Tennessee and in western and central Kentucky. At least 10 people have died in the severe weather in Southern states.
This storm is dragging a mass of bitter cold Arctic air from Canada into the Great Plains and will pull it into the south-central United States. Some locations will likely record their lowest temperatures of the winter so far, the Weather Prediction Center said.
A flooded home in Pikeville, Ky., on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. At least 10 people died in Southern states during severe weather over the weekend. (Jared Hamilton/The New York Times)
LA TENGO MÁS CALIDAD A LOS MEJORES PRECIOS • MARCAS RECONOCIDAS A
How Trump’s 1-for-1 tariff plan threatens the global economy
By PETER S. GOODMAN
The world economy was already grappling with a perplexing assortment of variables, from geopolitical conflicts and a slowdown in China to the evolving complexities of climate change. Then, President Donald Trump unleashed a plan to uproot decades of trade policy.
In starting a process to impose socalled reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners, Trump increased volatility for international businesses. He broadened the scope of his unfolding trade war.
In basic concept, the argument for reciprocal tariffs is straightforward: Whatever levies U.S. companies face in exporting their wares to another country should apply to imports from that same country. Trump has long championed this principle, presenting it as a simple matter of fairness — redress to the fact that many U.S. trading partners maintain higher tariffs.
Yet in practice, calculating individual tariff rates on thousands of products drawn from more than 150 countries poses a monumental problem of execution for a vast range of companies, from U.S. manufacturers dependent on imported parts to retailers that buy their goods from overseas.
“It’s potentially a herculean task,” said Ted Murphy, an international trade expert at Sidley Austin, a law firm in Washington. “For every widget, every tariff classification, you can have 150 different duty rates. You’ve got Albania to Zimbabwe.”
The order that Trump signed Thursday directed his agencies to study how to proceed with reciprocal tariffs. That raised the risk of increasing costs for American consumers at a time of deepening concern over inflation, challenging the president’s own vows to bring down prices on groceries and other everyday items. And that heightened the possibility of greater delay from the Federal Reserve in lowering borrowing costs.
It also hastens the diminishing of the world trading system, which has long been centered on multilateral blocs and adjudicated by the World Trade Organization. Trump is aiming to advance a new era in which treaties give way to country-tocountry negotiations amid a spirit of nationalist brio.
The transition threatens to add to strains on global supply chains after years
of upheaval. International businesses have contended with an unfolding trade war between the world’s two largest economies, the United States and China. They have confronted impediments to passage through the Suez and Panama canals, sending shipping prices soaring.
Now, Trump has presented them with another formidable puzzle.
Under the system that has held sway for three decades, member countries of the World Trade Organization set tariffs for every type of good, extending the same basic rate to all members. They have also negotiated treaties — with other countries, and via regional trading blocs — that have further eased tariffs.
Trump has long described the United States as a victim of this structure, citing trade deficits with China, Mexico and Germany. In announcing the advent of reciprocal tariffs Thursday, he served notice that he claims authority to renegotiate the terms to his liking, absent respect for existing trade agreements.
It seemed no coincidence that Trump made his announcement on the day that India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, visited the White House. The United States runs a substantial trade deficit with India, with the value of its imported goods outweighing its exports last year by $45 billion.
Those imports include plastics and chemical products that incur tariffs of less than 6% when shipped to the United States, according to data compiled by the World Bank. When similar categories of U.S. goods are exported to India, they confront tariffs ranging from 10% to 30%.
If the Trump administration were to lift U.S. levies to equal levels, that would force U.S. factories to pay more for chemicals and plastics.
The same pattern holds across a broad sweep of consumer and industrial products — footwear from Vietnam, machinery and agriculture from Brazil, textiles and rubber from Indonesia.
A leading electronics industry trade association, IPC, on Thursday warned that increased trade protectionism would damage the U.S. economy.
“New tariffs will raise manufacturing costs, disrupt supply chains, and drive production offshore, further weakening America’s electronics industrial base,” the association’s president, John W. Mitchell, said in a statement.
Some experts see in Trump’s approach a potential negotiating tactic aimed at forcing trading partners to lower their own tariffs, rather than a prelude to the United States lifting its own. If that proves true, the process of calculating new tariff
rates might actually lower prices.
“There are a lot of ways this can go very badly for us,” said Christine McDaniel, a former Treasury official under President George W. Bush and now a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Virginia. “But if he can get other countries to open up their markets, there is a narrow path where this could end up promoting trade,” she said.
Still others warn that any process of negotiation could be guided less by national objectives than the interests of Trump’s allies. Tesla, the electric vehicle company run by administration loyalist Elon Musk, could benefit from exemptions to increased tariffs on key components.
The tumult is leaving companies that operate in the United States having to guess how events will transpire as they weigh the costs of importing parts or finished goods. Business, as the cliche goes, craves nothing more than certainty. That commodity is getting more scarce.
Ever since Trump’s first term, when he put tariffs on Chinese imports — a policy that former President Joe Biden extended — companies that sell into the U.S. market have shifted some production out of China.
Surging prices to move cargo by container ship have prompted companies to close the distance between their factories and their U.S. customers, a trend known as nearshoring.
Walmart, a retail empire ruled by the pursuit of low prices, has moved orders from Chinese plants to India and Mexico. Columbia Sportswear has scouted factory sites in Central America. MedSource Labs, a medical device manufacturer, has moved orders from factories in China to a new plant in Colombia.
Trump has challenged the merits of such strategies by threatening 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and Colombia, before quickly delaying or setting aside such plans. He has imposed acrossthe-board levies on steel and aluminum. He has delivered 10% tariffs on Chinese imports. Where he may turn next is the subject of a potentially expensive parlor game playing out in corporate board rooms.
“We take Trump seriously, but not necessarily literally,” Murphy said. “He talks in broad strokes, but we have to watch what actually emerges.”
Stocks
Investors pull out of US equity funds for a second successive week
U.S. investors pulled out of equity funds for the second consecutive week through February 12, driven by rising inflation, weaker economic data and concerns over President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, dampening risk appetite.
LSEG Lipper data showed that U.S. equity funds generated a net $2.25 billion in sales during the week as investors divested out of these funds for a fifth out of six weeks.
U.S. consumer prices in January saw their largest increase in nearly 1.5 years, reinforcing the Federal Reserve’s stance of not rushing to cut interest rates again amidst growing economic uncertainty.
U.S. mid-cap funds suffered a net $1.14 billion worth of outflow, the biggest weekly net sales in four weeks. Investors also divested small-cap funds of $451 million, multi-cap funds of $10.65 million but purchased large-cap funds to the tune of $864 million on a net basis.
Meanwhile, U.S. sectoral equity funds saw a net $1.55 billion worth of sales, the first weekly outflow in four weeks. Investors divested consumer discretionary and healthcare funds worth a notable $965 million and $686 million, respectively.
Oil prices strengthened on Monday as an attack on an oil pipeline pumping station in the Caspian Sea slowed flows from Kazakhstan, while investors monitored developments of a possible Moscow-Kiev ceasefire agreement that could ease sanctions and increase global supplies.
The dollar index, which hovered near a two-month low after weaker-than-expected U.S retail data for January, also boosted oil prices by making crude less expensive for non-U.S. buyers.
Brent crude futures settled at $75.22 a barrel, rising 48 cents. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 65 cents to $71.39 a barrel by 2:33 p.m. EST, and did not settle at its normal time due to the U.S. Presidents’ Day holiday. The public holiday led to relatively muted trading volumes.
Crude prices received support after drones struck the Kropotkinskaya pipeline pumping station in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, reducing oil flows from Kazakhstan to world markets by Western producers, including Chevron and Exxon Mobil, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium said on Monday.
The CPC, which is the station’s operator, called the attack
MOST ASSERTIVE STOCKS
an act of terrorism, but did not specify that Ukraine had sent the drones. An official at Ukraine’s security service, however, said Kyiv had hit the station and a nearby oil refinery using drones.
“Although those drone attacks so far had limited disruption impacts on Russian crude exports, the rising frequency of those attacks is a concern that at some point it triggers some supply risks,” UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.
The strikes came as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia prepare for ini-
tial talks in Saudi Arabia in the coming days.
European leaders held an emergency meeting in Paris on Monday following Trump’s announcement of a possible imminent sit-down with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Britain saying it was prepared to send peacekeeping troops to back up a possible Ukraine peace deal.
“Should sanctions relief allow it, we believe Brent crude oil prices could drop between $5 and $10/bbl if Russian barrels suddenly do not need to make a long journey to India or China, and more supply is suddenly made available,” BofA analysts said in a note.
The San Juan Daily Star
The San Juan Daily Star
European leaders meet in Paris as US pushes ahead with Ukraine plan
By CATHERINE PORTER and STEVEN ERLANGER
The leaders of many of Europe’s biggest countries came to Paris on Monday in an effort to forge a strategy for their own security, as President Donald Trump’s envoys prepared for talks with Russia over ending the war in Ukraine without them.
The meeting in Paris was pulled together hastily after the first visit to Europe last week by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that left European leaders alarmed by both the tone and message of the new Trump administration and what it might hold for the Continent.
Europeans were shocked by the hostility of Vance’s scathing speech in Munich criticizing Europe’s exclusion of far-right groups from power, and the sudden U.S. plans to begin peace talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia, starting Tuesday, without the presence of Ukrainian or European leaders.
Trump’s phone call last week to President Vladimir Putin of Russia broke ranks with most European allies who have tried to isolate the man who ordered the invasion of sovereign Ukraine three years ago next week.
The meetings with the new U.S. officials sowed real fear that the United States wants to pull thousands of troops out of Europe on a timetable that would leave Europe vulnerable to an aggressive Russia, and that Trump will cut a deal with Putin over the heads of Ukrainians and Europeans.
“Europe’s security is at a turning point,” said Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, on the social platform X after arriving in Paris on Monday. “Yes, it is about Ukraine — but it is also about us. We need an urgency mindset. We need a surge in defense. And we need both of them now.”
The meeting, called by President Emmanuel Macron of France at the Élysée Palace, is an initial effort to discuss a more coordinated and collective response to the Trump administration. The Élysée Palace said Macron and Trump held a 20-minute phone call before the meeting began.
On the agenda in Paris: what Europeans are willing to commit to secure any peace deal over the war in Ukraine in the short term, and in the long term, how to secure the Continent as it faces an expansionist Russia and the predicted withdrawal of the assurance of U.S. support.
Leaders will discuss issues including military spending and how to guarantee Ukraine’s
Ukrainian
soldiers train in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, Feb. 13, 2025. A meeting in Paris was pulled together hastily after the first visit to Europe last week by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth left European leaders alarmed. (Tyler Hicks/The New York Times)
security once some sort of permanent ceasefire or peace deal is reached, including the possibility of troop commitments in Ukraine.
Trump officials have said they expect the Europeans to be responsible for the main financial and military support for Ukraine in the future, but there is enormous vagueness around the whole issue. Europeans want to be at the negotiating table, if one is ever created.
Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, annoyed Europeans in Munich when he said that was unrealistic and that he foresaw a meeting between Russia and Ukraine with the United States as some sort of mediator. If the Europeans are supposed to secure and finance Ukraine, they say, they have a right to be part of any negotiation.
But Kellogg admitted in Munich that there is no fixed U.S. plan, but that he and other officials are in “listening mode.”
The Paris meeting comes the same day that Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The State Department said he would be joined by Mike Waltz, the national security adviser, and Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy.
They are supposed to discuss with Russian officials the future of the Russia-Ukraine war, but even those talks are more about how to set up future peace talks rather than about the substance of them.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of
Ukraine was in the United Arab Emirates on Monday for a track of negotiations with Russia that is separate from the Trump administration’s effort, focusing on prisoner exchanges and returning Ukrainian children from Russia.
He reiterated that Ukraine would accept no terms negotiated between Russia and the Trump administration without Ukrainian participation, and confirmed that Ukrainian representatives would not be at the talks in Saudi Arabia.
“The issue of a peacekeeping contingent is being discussed in France,” Zelenskyy told journalists in Abu Dhabi, UAE. “Emmanuel told me he would share all the details. If we talk about a peacekeeping contingent, then what will be its size? Where will it be deployed? Which countries will be part of it? How will they be armed? It is crucial not to lose the U.S. in this process in one way or another.”
Zelenskyy also said that when it comes to making a deal with Russia, “Europe must be at the negotiating table — I don’t know in what format, but this is very important for us.
This meeting is expected to be the first of many among European leaders in the coming weeks, an adviser to Macron said, adding that the meetings would include other countries in the future.
“Europeans must do more, do better and work in a coherent manner toward our col-
lective security,” the adviser, who insisted on anonymity in line with French political practice, said Sunday night.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain said in an article published in The Daily Telegraph that he was “ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary.”
“Securing a lasting peace in Ukraine that safeguards its sovereignty for the long term is essential if we are to deter Putin from further aggression in the future,” Starmer wrote.
Macron has been speaking for months to European leaders about forming a ceasefire buffer force in Ukraine to ensure that any peace deal with Russia is maintained. But his original idea was to have European forces far from the front lines, to help Ukrainians with training and logistics.
Military experts have said that it is first necessary to decide what kind of force is required, with what kind of resources, and what happens if they are attacked by Russia. This is why European leaders have said they must have guarantees of U.S. involvement, even if U.S. troops are not on the ground, for key weapons systems, air defense, air cover, satellite intelligence and the like.
But all that would depend on what kind of deal emerges and whether Ukraine would accept it. For that reason, many other European leaders have said the discussion is preliminary, if not premature.
As a former NATO official, Camille Grand, said, “Europeans cannot reasonably be expected to provide the security guarantees for a deal they are not negotiating.”
Spain’s foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, said before the meeting that while it was necessary for Europeans to meet and prepare decisions, “nobody is currently planning to send troops to Ukraine, especially because peace is still far off.” German officials have regularly said that it is premature to discuss sending troops to Ukraine.
European leaders are also expected to discuss the acceleration of European defense capabilities, as many now believe that the United States will withdraw tens of thousands of U.S. troops from Europe.
Just 23 of 32 NATO members now spend at least 2% of their gross domestic product on defense — more than a decade after vowing to do so in 2014. And NATO has made it clear that 2% must be “a floor, not a ceiling,” and more must be spent. A new spending goal will be set at the NATO summit this summer and is likely to be 3% or 3.5%.
Pope to stay in hospital to address ‘complex’ clinical issue, Vatican says
By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO
Pope Francis will remain in a Rome hospital after being admitted late last week following a series of tests that indicated a “complex clinical picture,” the Vatican said Monday, raising fresh concerns about the 88-year-old pontiff’s health.
Diagnostic tests carried out after Francis was taken to Policlinico A. Gemelli on Friday presented “a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection,” and his doctors had changed treatment accordingly, the Vatican said in a statement.
The complex clinical picture “would require an appropriate medical stay,” it said, without elaborating. In an evening update, the Vatican said Francis was in “stable” condition, with no fever.
A polymicrobial respiratory tract infection means that the pope has a mix of microbes, like viruses or bacteria, infecting his lungs or another part of his respiratory tract. It usually is not a good sign because healthy people seldom get such infections, said Dr. James M. Musser, director of the center for infectious diseases at Houston Methodist Hospital.
Francis was hospitalized in 2023 with a respiratory infection but was able to leave the hospital after three days.
Francis has had a busy schedule since New Year’s Eve, when he presided over the opening of the 2025 Jubilee, held
every 25 years in the Roman Catholic Church.
The Vatican announced in early February that Francis had bronchitis, but he continued his activities, holding smaller audiences at the Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse where he lives, but presiding over larger gatherings and Masses with thousands of pilgrims, including an outdoor Mass in St. Peter’s Square earlier this month.
In recent weeks, Francis had admitted to having respiratory difficulties. On several occasions, he asked aides to read his homilies and speeches for him.
After he entered the hospital, doctors prescribed complete rest. Subsequent medical updates said he was in “stable” condition.
The pope had part of a lung removed as a young man. In his autobiography, “Hope,” published last month, Francis wrote that in 1957, doctors cut away the upper lobe of his right lung after they found three large cysts. He spent days in an oxygen tent, he wrote. “The pain was terrible.”
His medical challenges have become more numerous with age. He has knee problems and sciatica that have caused a severe limp and, in recent years, have often required him to use a wheelchair, walker or cane.
The fact that the pope uses a wheelchair can make him more susceptible to such respiratory infections, Musser said, because people who use wheelchairs often do not take the
sort of deep breaths needed to adequately clear their lungs.
In 2021, Francis had colon surgery. After his bout with bronchitis in 2023, he was hospitalized again a few months later to undergo abdominal surgery for a hernia. Last year, he underwent diagnostic tests at the Gemelli hospital after a slight flu.
On Monday morning, Francis received Communion, ate breakfast and read some newspapers after a restful night, said Matteo Bruni, a Vatican spokesperson, adding that the pontiff was “in good spirits.” In an evening update, the Vatican said that Francis had also turned his attention to unspecified “work activities,” and had done some reading.
The Vatican said Francis was “touched by the many messages of affection and closeness that he continues to receive in these hours,” particularly from people who were also hospitalized and were sending him drawings and get-well messages. “He prays for them and asks that they pray for him,” the Vatican said.
Several visitors to St. Peter’s Basilica on Monday shared their concerns about the pontiff’s health.
Sabrina Geroni, a clothing designer from Florence, was among the hundreds of pilgrims who walked through the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica, a central Jubilee ritual, and she prayed for Francis’ speedy recovery. “He’s our earthly shepherd and I feel very grateful to him,” she said.
The disrupter in chief can’t end a war like this
By DAVID FRENCH
Can a nation be truly free and independent if it doesn’t possess a nuclear arsenal?
That question is being answered right now, on the battlefields of eastern Ukraine. If a nation’s conventional military can stop an aggressive, nuclear-armed nation in a defensive struggle, then there is hope for the viability of conventional deterrence.
If, however, a conventionally armed nation is doomed to fail — because it lacks the resources (including the allies) to defend itself — then look for more countries to pursue nuclear weapons. They will choose self-defense over subservience.
So far, most of the discussion of the risk of nuclear war in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been focused on a perceived immediate danger — that Russia will use nuclear weapons to achieve victory on the battlefield or to retaliate for Ukraine’s use of Western weapons on Russian soil.
The hovering threat of Russia’s nuclear arsenal is one explanation for the Trump administration’s shocking weakness in its dealings with Russia. It will stand tall when confronting allies like Denmark, Canada, Mexico and Panama. It will threaten war crimes when dealing with a puny, diminished military force like Hamas.
But regarding Russia? Consider the following news items from the past few days.
President Donald Trump initially refused to promise that he would even include Ukraine in his negotiations with Russia, as
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if Ukraine were a mere pawn on the chessboard. (He reversed himself and said later that “of course” Ukraine would have a place at the table.)
He spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, an event Russians celebrated. The Russian stock market soared, and a Russian lawmaker said the call “broke the West’s blockade.”
On Thursday, he said that he wanted to have Russia brought back into the Group of 7 — a gathering of the world powers — and said it was a “mistake to throw them out.” He said that if Russia had still been in the group, we “wouldn’t have had the problem with Ukraine.”
Yet Russia’s prior inclusion in the G7 (then called the G8) did not stop its aggression. Russia was suspended indefinitely from the group after its first invasion of Ukraine and its annexation of Crimea. Russia was entirely willing to invade a neighboring country even when it was included in the world’s most elite club of nations.
On Wednesday, Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, appeared to preemptively abandon a number of key Ukrainian demands. He declared that Ukraine would not join NATO and that it was an “illusionary goal” to believe that Ukraine would be able to claw back its lost territory.
The next day, Hegseth walked back his statement and said that “everything is on the table” when Trump is negotiating.
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that Hegseth’s statements and reversals were a “rookie mistake.” He also said, “I don’t know who wrote the speech. It is the kind of thing Tucker Carlson could have written, and Carlson is a fool.”
On Thursday, Vice President JD Vance adopted a harsher tone toward Russia, saying, “There are economic tools of leverage — there are, of course, military tools of leverage” that could be used to force Russia to reach an agreement.
The administration’s messaging was inconsistent and chaotic, but one thing was clear: Trump and Hegseth had floated significant concessions even before formal negotiations were underway.
Europeans can see what’s happening. They are realizing that they’re going to have to bulk up their defenses and are now planning to perhaps fight alone, without the United States, in a potential future conflict with Russia.
Soldiers with Ukraine’s 38th Separate Marine Brigade shell Russian positions, near Pokrovsk, Ukraine, Nov. 16, 2024. (Tyler Hicks/The New York Times)
It may seem far-fetched to imagine rampant nuclear proliferation, but we know that Iran is responding to its military defeats by redoubling its efforts to build a bomb. India and Pakistan maintain their own nuclear arsenals, rendering one of the world’s most volatile military rivalries incalculably more dangerous.
After the U.S. military and its coalition allies swept through Saddam Hussein’s immense ground army in a 100hour offensive during Operation Desert Storm, Krishnaswamy Sundarji, a former chief of staff of the Indian army, said, “One principal lesson of the Gulf War is that if a state intends to fight the United States, it should avoid doing so until and unless it possesses nuclear weapons.”
If that’s the sentiment of countries that might face the United States, how much more will it be the sentiment of countries that face looming threats from Russia and China?
America’s potential retreat coincides with a rise in rightwing nationalism in Europe, a movement that is not known for its pacifism or for its willingness to engage in multilateral cooperation. So now we’re looking at a potential new arms race, in which it’s not just the rogue states like Iran that will succumb to the nuclear temptation. Dr. Ricardo
A large number of Trump supporters think that all this is good. They think that the chaos keeps other nations off balance and that the United States is finally stepping back from being the world’s policeman. Europe is stepping up and paying its fair share. And we’re also recognizing the grim reality in Ukraine: It can’t win, and thus stopping the conflict is the most urgent priority.
While I do want our allies to spend more on their defense, it’s one thing to ask them to do so as our partners. It’s another thing entirely for them to rearm without American security guarantees and without reliable American support.
I see the events of the past week, and I see weakness — weakness that makes a world war (including a potential nuclear exchange) more likely, not less.
Congresista visita infraestructura de Mayagüez
POR CYBERNEWS
MAYAGÜEZ – El congresista Timothy Kennedy visitó el lunes el Puerto Sila María Calderón y el Aeropuerto Eugenio María de Hostos para conocer proyectos de infraestructura y dialogar con funcionarios sobre iniciativas de desarrollo económico.
“Es fundamental contar con el respaldo de líderes que comprendan la necesidad de fortalecer nuestra infraestructura para promover el crecimiento y el bienestar de nuestra comunidad”, dijo el alcalde de Mayagüez, Jorge Ramos Ruiz, en declaraciones escritas.
“Nuestra ciudad tiene un gran potencial para convertirse en un eje clave del comercio y el turismo en el oeste de Puerto Rico. La visita del congresista Kennedy demuestra un compromiso genuino con el progreso y bienestar de nuestra gente”, añadió el alcalde.
Durante la visita, dialogaron sobre iniciativas para modernizar el puerto y el aeropuerto a fin de impulsar la inversión, el comercio y el turismo en la zona oeste de Puerto Rico. El vicealcalde, el administrador municipal y varios gerentes también participaron en el recorrido.
“Mayagüez es una ciudad con un gran potencial económico y estratégico. Estoy comprometido en trabajar junto al gobierno local para asegurar que el puerto y el aeropuerto reciban los recursos necesarios para fortalecer el comercio, el turismo y las oportunidades de empleo en la zona”, afirmó Kennedy.
El alcalde recalcó que la administración municipal de Mayagüez continuará sus labores en conjunto con las autoridades estatales y federales para asegurar oportunidades económicas y una mayor calidad de vida para los ciudadanos.
Arecibo invierte $410,000 en su Centro de Usos Múltiples Paco Abreu
POR EL STAR STAFF
ARECIBO
– El alcalde de Arecibo, Carlos ‘Tito’ Ramírez Irizarry, informó que como parte de los proyectos de reconstrucción, restauración y ornato que se realizan
en la ciudad, actualmente se remodela el Centro de Usos Múltiples Francisco ‘Paco’ Abreu Correa, localizado en la marginal de la PR#2, cerca de Plaza del Atlántico, con una inversión aproximada de $410,000, para maximizar dicho espacio.
“Estas facilidades han servido de escenario y centro de reunión para muchas actividades y eventos de gran relieve en nuestra ciudad, y queremos que eso siga siendo así por muchos años más, con la calidad que nuestra gente merece”, señaló el alcalde.
El centro lleva el nombre de Don Francisco ‘Paco’ Abreu Correa, quien nació el 21 de mayo de 1902 en Arecibo y fue una figura destacada en la comunidad, conocido por su rol como alcalde de Arecibo durante 10 años. Su legado perdura hasta el día de hoy. En su honor, se inauguró dicho Centro de Usos Múltiples, como un espacio clave para la cultura local. En la parte superior del centro se realizan actividades culturales como obras de teatro, y fue durante muchos años sede de las
representaciones de las obras de la escritora y productora Myrna Casas. Este espacio tiene capacidad para 277 personas y está diseñado para este tipo de eventos.
Recientemente, el centro inició su proceso de rehabilitación. “La primera fase de renovación se ha enfocado en la remodelación del salón de actividades en la parte baja del centro, que incluye la renovación de los baños, la pintura y mejoras en la infraestructura del lugar. El salón tiene capacidad para entre 175 y 200 personas y dispone de estacionamiento privado para los visitantes. Al estar en la misma Carretera #2, su accesibilidad y facilidades lo hacen un centro único en nuestra ciudad”, añadió Ramírez Irizarry.
La segunda fase de construcción se centrará en los arreglos más detallados del centro, que incluyen la instalación de nuevas butacas, el sellado de techo, la remodelación del piso, la tarima y los ajustes acústicos. Estas mejoras buscarán optimizar la calidad del espacio para futuros eventos y actividades culturales.
Kobi Simmons es el primer refuerzo de los Gigantes
CANÓVANAS
– El armador y escolta norteamericano Kobi Simmons, con experiencia en la NBA, fue anunciado como el primer refuerzo de los Gigantes de Carolina-Canóvanas para la temporada 2025 del Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN), que comenzará en marzo.
Simmons, de 27 años y 6’5” de estatura, ha juga-
do con los equipos de Toronto, Cleveland, Charlotte y Memphis en la NBA.
En 2024, participó en la liga de baloncesto de China con el Zhejiang Golden Bulls, donde promedió 15.4 puntos y 5.1 asistencias por partido.
Los Gigantes jugarán esta temporada en una nueva sede, el Coliseo Carlos Miguel Mangual de Canóvanas, tras la aprobación unánime de su cambio por la junta de directores del BSN la pasada semana.
The San Juan Daily Star
Tuesday, February 18, 2025 13
Kim Sae-ron, a young South Korean actress, is found dead
By JIN YU YOUNG
South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron, a former child star whose promising career suffered a setback in recent years after a drunk-driving incident, was found dead in her home Sunday afternoon, police said.
Kim, who was 24, was discovered by a friend who had visited her house, according to the Seongdong Police Station in Seoul. There were no signs of home intrusion or foul play, and the cause of death is under investigation, police said.
One of South Korea’s most lauded young actors, Kim had not appeared in any shows since she faced public criticism after being convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol in 2022.
Her death marks the latest tragedy to strike South Korea’s booming but high-pressure entertainment industry, which has faced criticism for the toll it places on the mental health of its burgeoning stars. A celebrity’s popularity is often contingent on a spotless reputation, experts say.
Over the past few years, several young stars were ruled to have died by suicide, one after receiving hate messages for being outspoken and opinionated, and another after a legal battle put her romantic and sex life in the public domain.
Kim started her acting career by starring in “A Brand New Life,” a film about a girl abandoned in an orphanage, in 2009. She was 9 years old when the movie premiered
and was invited to the Cannes Film Festival.
She continued to appear in both big- and small-screen productions, accumulating at least two dozen credits and receiving numerous South Korean acting awards.
In May 2022, Kim’s career suffered after she was caught driving under the influence. She crashed her car into a guardrail and transformer, cutting off electricity to dozens of nearby businesses for several hours, according to Yonhap News Agency, which reported that her alcohol levels exceeded 0.2%. Having an alcohol level over 0.03% while driving is considered a DUI offense in South Korea.
Kim was fined 20 million won (around $14,000) and faced a fierce backlash on social media from the public and influencers, who criticized her behavior as reckless. The actress issued an apology on her Instagram account, saying “there is no excuse for this distasteful incident.”
At the time of the crash, Kim was filming a Netflix series called “Bloodhounds” that was released in 2023. Several of her scenes were edited out of the final cut, according to the entertainment-industry publication Variety, and she did not attend promotional events with the other members of the cast. Kim also stepped down from her role in another television drama by a local broadcaster.
After that, she mostly stayed out of the public eye. Local media has reported that the actress was attempting to return to the entertainment industry in small-budget projects and a stage play. Her last acting credit remains Netflix’s “Bloodhounds,” according to the industry website IMDb.
The death of Kim Sae-ron, one of South Korea’s most lauded young actors, marks the latest tragedy to strike the country’s booming but high-pressure entertainment industry. (X via thetruthin)
Fans of Kim took to social media to express their grief and pay tribute. Her former entertainment company, Gold Medalist, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Chubby Checker, Maná and Phish among Rock Hall nominees
By BEN SISARIO
Outkast, Phish, Chubby Checker, Billy Idol, the Black Crowes and the Mexican band Maná are among the first-time nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
This year’s ballot, announced by the hall last week, will also include Oasis, Joe Cocker, Mariah Carey, Cyndi Lauper, the White Stripes, Bad Company and Soundgarden, as well as Joy Division and New Order, the band that members of Joy Division formed after the death of its lead singer, Ian Curtis.
As in recent years, the latest nominees represent a mix of eras and subgenres. Those include boldface rock ’n’ roll names from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s (Cocker, Idol), punk and alternative heroes (Joy Division, Soundgarden, the White Stripes), arena-filling giants (Oasis, Phish), a hip-hop act (Outkast) and a nod to the world outside mainstream AngloAmerican pop (Maná).
Given the intense pressure the Rock Hall has faced in recent years to correct its poor record of admitting women to the pantheon, the inclusion of just two female performers —
Carey and Lauper, neither of them new to the ballot — may bring yet more scrutiny to the institution despite its promises to reform.
For longtime Rock Hall watchers, the biggest news this year may be Checker. His song “The Twist” — a cover of a B-side originally released by Hank Ballard and the Mid-
nighters — was a global phenomenon in the early 1960s, and it stands as one of the biggest hits in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. But until now, Checker, 83, has been ignored by the Rock Hall, despite years — decades, even — of complaints from his fans and protests by Checker himself. (Ballard, who died in 2003, was inducted into the hall in 1990.)
In 2001, Checker took out a full-page ad in Billboard magazine calling on the Rock Hall — along with nominators of the Nobel Prizes — to recognize him for the song that, he said, became “the biggest dance of the century.”
“I want my flowers while I’m alive,” he wrote. “I can’t smell them when I’m dead.”
In 2018, the Rock Hall included “The Twist” in a new honor, a list of singles that shaped rock ’n’ roll.
Artists become eligible for nomination 25 years after the release of their first recording. The nominations are voted on by more than 1,000 music historians, industry professionals and inducted artists.
The winning nominees are to be announced in April, and this year’s induction ceremony will be held in Los Angeles in the fall.
Mexican band Maná
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The San Juan Daily Star
How to travel with babies and toddlers
By PERRI KLASS
Traveling with a baby or a toddler can be fun, frustrating, even revelatory. Planning is key, and so is your willingness to tailor the trip to the youngest traveler. As Dr. Elizabeth Barnett, director of the pediatric travel program at Boston Medical Center, advises, “If you take a young child, it’s all about the child.”
Choose one (or two) destinations
This is not the time for a “nine European capitals in seven days” trip. Think about picking one place or splitting your trip between two destinations. That will allow you to settle in and get the sleep schedule sorted out. Most small children thrive on routines. If you find the right playground or bakery, your child will enjoy returning.
Getting there: It’s all about strategy — and luck
Airports, airplanes, long drives, train rides: They all loom large, depending on your child’s disposition. Get ready to distract, soothe, sing, nurse — whatever helps. For toddlers, pediatricians agree that travel is the perfect occasion to forget screen time rules and embrace devices and programming that will help pass the time.
For babies, sucking something aboard an airplane can help with painful air pressure changes in the ears, so pack a pacifier and a bottle, and if you’re breastfeeding, dress for comfortable semipublic nursing. Don’t give your baby medication to promote sleep unless you’ve discussed it with your pediatrician — and if you get clearance, try it at home first in case there are negative reactions. Healthychildren.org, from the American Academy of Pediatrics, is a good source for tips on air travel with babies.
Flexibility and preparation are key when taking young children on a trip, so is choosing the right place to stay and keeping your expectations reasonable. (Weston Wei/The New York Times)
Keep in mind that if an infant car seat is going to be used on an airplane, it should say on the label that it is certified for use on aircraft.
Some children behave perfectly on long flights, while others lose it completely. But every child is capable of both. It’s up to you to bring along equipment and diversions, snacks, changes of clothing and a friendly, apologetic smile in case your child interferes with other passengers’ comfort.
Where you stay matters
Many people with young children prefer vacation rentals with kitchens. Hotels, however, can work well — breakfast buffets and housekeeping services are always helpful — but check online comments to see whether guests with babies and toddlers have had good experiences.
When it comes to cribs, alert your hotel, and inquire in advance about availability. Airbnb has a filter for those looking for cribs. Many hosts will specify any additional equipment, including baby monitors. Your best bet, though, is to be in touch with the host. Remember that “child-friendly” does not mean “childproof” so look at the details and be particularly vigilant about staircases, fireplaces, pools and hot tubs.
Sleep when your baby sleeps
Sleep schedules vary widely in children. Some babies can sleep anywhere and through anything, and others need a quiet, dark room. Be flexible: In this, as in so much else, you’re more likely to have a successful trip if you follow the child’s schedule than if you insist on an adult schedule with
a sleepy, cranky child.
Choose child-friendly restaurants
Don’t go for fancy, do go for friendly, and try going at off-peak hours. Your ideal restaurant is a place where families come to eat and relax. One delightful aspect of travel in Spain and Italy, for example, is that if you find yourself setting out for a late dinner with an active baby or a toddler, everyone will take it for granted. And whatever the hour, if you find a place that works — and dishes your toddler appreciates — be prepared to go back.
Throw away the ‘adult’ sightseeing checklists
You may love to visit every church and art collection, but not on this trip. Choose one or two things you would most like to do, consider whether a baby carrier or stroller would work best, and be prepared to shorten or scrub the mission. Start out with limited expectations, and you may be surprised by your child’s adaptability.
Bring the right equipment
Yes, you need a folding stroller, and yes, you need a car seat. A portable crib guarantees you a safe sleep surface and may also give you a playpen in a strange room. There are also portable high chairs, which clip on to the edge of a table. Wirecutter has a summary of everything from portable cribs to blackout curtains to sound machines.
Consider vaccines, emergency plans, and food and water safety
Well before leaving, check in with your child’s pediatrician. Make sure immunizations are up-to-date, and discuss whether additional shots are needed. The measles vaccine, usually administered at 1 year old, can be given earlier if you’re going somewhere where measles might be a problem. Hepatitis A vaccines can also be given early. For remote areas, consider seeing a travel medicine expert, and discuss special immunizations and antimalarial drugs.
Bring medication your child regularly takes, and ask your pediatrician how to communicate if problems arise. You can also check in advance with rental hosts or concierges about local doctors and hospitals, with particular reference to pediatrics.
If your child does get sick while traveling, “the first thing is to do what you would do if you were at home,” Barnett said. Consider packing liquid acetaminophen or ibuprofen. A child with vomiting or diarrhea needs liquids immediately to prevent dehydration, and the younger the baby, the more important it is to seek local medical attention. In an area without safe water, breastfeeding is one way to keep your baby safe; for a child drinking anything else, be rigorous about using boiled or bottled water, and stick to cooked foods and peelable fruits.
Don’t lose sight of the sun
Wherever you are, prioritize sun safety. Bring sunscreen and hats, and keep young children covered up in the bright sun. If you need both sunscreen and insect repellent, apply the sunscreen first.
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ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE AGUADILLA SALA SUPERIOR. SUCESION DE:
JOSE FRANCISCO LOPEZ VIVES
Compuesta por: GABRIEL JOSÉ LÓPEZ ADORNO, t/c/p Gabriel J. López; MERARIS ZOE LÓPEZ ADORNO t/c/p Meraris Z. López Adorno; YASHIRA MAR! LÓPEZ ADORNO, t/c/p Yashira Man López EX PARTE
PETICIONARIOS
CIVIL NUM.: AG2025CV0044. SOBRE: EXPEDIENTE DE DOMINIO. CATASTRO: #007026-090-25-001. EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA
EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS E. E. U. U. EL ESTADO LIBRE
ASOCIADO DE PR. SS. A: LAS PERSONAS IGNORADAS Y DESCONOCIDAS A QUIENES PUDIERA PERJUDICAR LA INSCRIPCIÓN DEL DOMINIO A FAVOR DE LA PARTE
PETICIONARIA EN EL REGISTRO DE LA PROPIEDAD DE LA FINCA QUE MÁS ADELANTE SE DESCRIBIRÁ Y A TODA PERSONA EN GENERAL QUE CON DERECHO PARA ELLO DESEE OPONERSE A ESTE EXPEDIENTE
POR LA PRESENTE: se les notifica para que comparezcan, silo creyeren pertinente, ante este Honorable Tribunal dentro de los veinte (20) días contados a partir de la última publicación de este edicto a exponer lo que a sus derechos convengan en el expediente promovido por la parte peticionaria para adquirir su dominio sobre la finca que se describe más adelante. Usted deberá presentar su posición a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired.ramaiudiciai. pr, salvo que se presente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación en la secretaría del Tribunal. Si usted deja de expresarse dentro del referido término, el Tribunal podrá dictar sentencia, previo a escuchar la prueba de valor de la parte peticionaria en su contra,. sin más citarle ni oírle, y conceder el remedio solicitado en la petición, o cual-
Tuesday, February 18, 2025 15
quier otro, si el Tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. URBANO: Solar radicado en el Barrio Mora de Isabela, compuesto de 168.9321 metros cuadrados de terreno. En lindes: por el NORTE, en quince punto sesenta y tres (15.63) metros con Francisco Castro Calero; por el SUR, en quince punto doscientos noventa y nueve (15.299) metros con José Corchado Arocho; por el ESTE, en diez punto novecientos ochenta y tres 10.983) metros con Diana Nieves Mercado; y, por el OESTE, en once Punto doscientos setenta y ocho (11.278) metros con la carretera estatal número Ciento Doce (112) que de Isabela conduce a Aguadilla. Contiene una casa de madera techada de zinc, dedicada a vivienda, hoy, una estructura en hormigón y bloques, dedicada a vivienda. La propiedad no consta inscrita en el Registro de la Propiedad. Catastro número: 007-026-09025-001. La abogada de la parte peticionaria es; Lcda. Ivonne M. González Samot, PO BOX 613 Isabela, Puerto Rico 00662; Tel. (787)872-4646. Se le informa, además, que le Tribuñal ha señalado vista en este caso para el 23 de MAYO de 2025, a las 3:00 p.m., mediante videoconferencia, a la cual usted puede comparecer asistido por abogado y presentar oposición a la petición. Este edicto deberá ser publicado en tres (3) ocasiones dentro de! término de veinte (20) días, en un periódico de circulación general diaria, para que comparezcan si quieren alegar su derecho. Toda primera mención de persona natural y/o jurídica que se mencione en el mismo, se identificará en letra tamaño 10 puntos y negrillas, conforme a los dispuesto en las Reglas de Procedimiento Civil, 2009. Se le apercibe que de no comparecer los interesados y/o partes citadas, o en su defecto los organismos públicos afectados en el término improrrogable de veinte (20) días a contar de la fecha de la última publicación del edicto, el Tribunal podrá conceder el remedio solicitado por la parte peticionaria, sin más citarle ni oírle. En Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, a 23 de enero de 2025. SARAHI REYES PEREZ, Secretario(a) Regional. Awilda Caban, Secretario(a) Auxiliar del Tribunal.
LEGAL NOTICE
ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMER INSTANCIA SALA DE SUPERIOR DE FAJARDO GOBIERNO MUNICIPAL AUTÓNOMO DE FAJARDO, REPRESENTADO POR SU ALCALDE, JOSÉ A.
MELÉNDEZ MÉNDEZ
Peticionario V. ADQUISICIÓN DE SOLAR 267 DE LA CALLE GUMERSINDO MANGUAL DEL TÉRMINO MUNICIPAL DE FAJARDO; ETANISLA SÁNCHEZ, SUCN. CORSI, COMPUESTA POR HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS, CENTRO DE RECAUDACIÓN DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES (CRIM), JOHN DOE Y DUEÑOS(S) DESCONOCIDO(S)
Partes con Interés Civil Núm.: FA2024CV00837. Sobre: PROCEDIMIENTO SUMARIO DE EXPROPIACIÓN FORZOSA DE ESTORBO PÚBLICO. EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE.UU., EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE P.R., SS. A: ETANISLA SÁNCHEZ, A LA SUCESIÓN CORSI, COMPUESTA POR HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS, JOHN DOE, DUEÑOS(S) DESCONOCIDO(S) Y/O CUALQUIER PERSONA CON ALGÚN POSIBLE INTERÉS.
Se le emplaza y notifica que, con el fin público de erradicar el abandono y peligrosidad de propiedades declaradas estorbos públicos, el Municipio de Fajardo ha radicado en esta Secretaría una Petición de Expropiación Forzosa al amparo de la Ley General de Expropiación Forzosa del 12 de marzo de 1903, según enmendada, la Ley Núm. 107 de 14 de agosto de 2020 conocida como el Código Municipal de Puerto Rico, en su Artículo 2.018 [21 L.P.R.A. § 7183]; la Ordenanza Núm. 26, Serie 2014-2015, aprobada por la Legislatura Municipal de Fajardo, Puerto Rico el 4 de septiembre de 2014 y firmada por el su Alcalde el día 30 del mismo mes; y, la Ordenanza Número 13, Serie 2021-2022, aprobada por la Legislatura Municipal el 4 de noviembre de 2021 y por su Alcalde el día 28 del mismo mes; bajo el procedimiento sumario de expropiación forzosa de estorbos públicos que establece el Artículo 4.012A del Código Municipal establecido mediante la Ley Núm. 114 del 29 de junio de 2024, para adquirir la siguiente Finca: Urbana: Solar marcado con el número 267, ubicado en la Calle Gumersindo Mangual del término municipal de Fajardo, Puerto Rico,
con una cabida superficial de 104.55 metros cuadrados, equivalentes a 0.0266 cuerdas. En lindes por el NORTE con el solar número 269 con una distancia de 11.91 metros lineales; en lindes por el SUR con el solar número 265 con una distancia de 11.33 metros lineales; en lindes por el ESTE con el solar número 262 con una distancia de 9.27 metros lineales; y en lindes por el OESTE con la calle Gumersindo Mangual con una distancia de 8.74 metros lineales. Enclava una estructura. USO PÚBLICO: ELIMINACIÓN DE ESTORBO PÚBLICO. CATASTRO NÚM.: 150-036-040-22-001. JUSTA COMPENSACIÓN: $6,500, a ser consignados a tenor con el Art. 4.012A(f) del Código Municipal. No habiéndose podido emplazar personalmente a las partes con interés antes relacionadas, por desconocer su paradero, este Tribunal ha ordenado que se le emplace por edicto, el cual se publicará una (1) vez por semana, durante tres (3) semanas consecutivas en un periódico de circulación diaria en Puerto Rico. Se le notifica que, si usted desea presentar objeción o defensa a la incautación de las estructuras descritas, debe presentar su contestación en este Tribunal dentro del término improrrogable de 30 DÍAS, contados a partir de la última publicación de este edicto, debiendo notificar con copia de la misma a la parte peticionaria, a través de la LCDA. JOSEPHINE M. RODRÍGUEZ RÍOS - RUA 15,736: PO BOX 889 FAJARDO, PR 00728 Email: josephine.rodriguez@gmail.com. De usted no comparecer en el término aquí fijado, el Tribunal le anotará la rebeldía y dictará Sentencia en un término no mayor de 5 días. De usted comparecer o contestar la Petición, el Tribunal citará para juicio, el cual será celebrado en un término no menor de 15 días ni mayor de 30, de haberse contestado la Petición. Expedida por Orden del Tribunal, en Fajardo, Puerto Rico a 21 de enero de 2025. WANDA I. SEGUÍ REYES, SECRETARIA REGIONAL. SHEILA ROBLES HERNÁNDEZ, SUB-SECRETARIA.
LEGAL NOTICE
ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA
SALA DE SAN JUAN FIRSTBANK PUERTO RICO
Parte Demandante Vs. JASON OMAR
GONZALEZ DAVILA, SU ESPOSA MORAIMA
CASTRO RIVERA Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES
COMPUESTA POR ELLOS; ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA POR CONDUCTO DEL FISCAL FEDERAL DE LA CORTE DE DISTRITO DE ESTADOS UNIDOS PARA EL DISTRITO DE PUERTO RICO
Parte Demandada Civil Núm.: SJ2024CV03881. Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA Y COBRO DE DINERO. EDICTO DE SUBASTA. El suscribiente, Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia de Puerto Rico, Sala de San Juan, a los demandados de epígrafe y al público en general hace saber que los autos y documentos del caso de epígrafe estarán de manifiesto en la Secretaría del Tribunal durante horas laborables y que venderá en pública subasta al mejor postor, en moneda de curso legal de los Estados Unidos de América en efectivo, cheque certificado, o giro postal a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, en mi oficina en este Tribunal el derecho que tenga la parte demandada en el inmueble que se relaciona más adelante para pagar la SENTENCIA por $39,842.37 de balance principal, el cual se compone de $37,950.91 de primer principal y la suma de $1,891.46 de balance diferido, los intereses vencidos sobre el principal de $37,950.91 computados al 6.5% anual hasta su total pago; más el 5% computado sobre cada mensualidad por concepto de cargos por demora, desde el primero de septiembre de 2020, hasta su total pago; más la suma de $5,610.00 garantizada de la hipoteca para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado del acreedor demandante, más cualesquiera otras sumas que por cualesquier concepto legal se devenguen hasta el total y completo pago de esta sentencia hasta el día de la subasta. La propiedad a venderse en pública subasta se describe como sigue: URBANA: PROPIEDAD HORIZONTAL: Apartamento novecientos quince (915). Apartamento residencial de forma rectangular, localizado en el piso numero nueve (9) del edificio A del proyecto VBC guion ciento cincuenta y ocho (VBC-158) del Condominio Valle De Berwind hoy conocido como Torres de Cervantes que ubica en la calle Elder esquina calle treinta y seis (36) del Barrio Sabana Llana del termino de Rio Piedras, del municipio de San Juan, Puerto Rico, con una cabida superficial de NOVECIENTOS VEINTINUEVE PUNTO CERO UNO OCHO SEIS (929.0186) PIES CUADRADOS, siendo sus medidas
lineales de treinta y nueve (39) pies cinco y tres cuartos (5 ¾) pulgadas e largo por veinticuatro (24) pies once y media (11 ½) pulgadas de ancho. En lindes por el NORTE, en dieciocho (18) pies cinco y media (5 ½) pulgada con el apartamento numero novecientos trece (913); por el SUR, en veinticuatro (24) pies once y media (11 ½) pulgada con la pared exterior del edificio; por el ESTE, en treinta y nueve (39) pies cinco y tres cuartos (5 ¾) pulgadas con la pared exterior del edificio; por el OESTE, en treinta (30) pies siete y tres cuartos (7 ¾) pulgadas con el pasillo. La puerta principal del apartamento tiene un acceso al pasillo central del edificio. Esta unidad residencial consta de sala-comedor, balcón, cocina, baño, pasillo con closet, calentador de agua de treinta (30) galones, nevera, estufa y tres (3) cuartos dormitorios con su closet cada uno. Tiene un punto cero cero dos cuatro dos tres cinco por ciento (.0024235%) en los elementos comunes. Le corresponde un espacio de estacionamiento identificado con el mismo número del apartamento. Inscrita al sistema Karibe, finca número veintitrés mil trescientos noventa y siete (23,397), Registro de la Propiedad de San Juan. Dirección física: 915 Torres de Cervantes, A Piso 9, San Juan, PR 00924. Dicha propiedad se encuentra afecta a los siguientes gravámenes: HIPOTECA: En garantía de un pagare a favor de La Autoridad para el Financiamiento de la Vivienda, o a su orden, por la suma de $15,000.00, sin intereses, a vencer el 17 de septiembre del 2011, según consta de la escritura numero 770, otorgada en Carolina, el 17 de septiembre del 2003, ante el Notario Angel A. Colon Vazquez, inscrita al folio 34 vuelto del tomo 993 de Guaynabo, finca 23,397, inscripción 10ma. SUJETA A CONDICIONES DE SUBSIDIO por el término de 8 años, no podría vender, donar, hipotecar, transferir o enajenar de forma alguna la propiedad sin el consentimiento previo de la Autoridad. EMBARGO: Estados Unidos de America contra J. Gonzalez Davila & M. Garcia Flores, notificación numero 224817616, seguro social xxx-xx-4437, por la suma de $4876.80 del 10 de agosto del 2016, anotado al sistema karibe bajo asiento 2016-008228-FED, presentado el 1 de septiembre del 2016. La PRIMERA SUBASTA se llevará a cabo el día 6 DE MARZO DE 2025, A LAS 10:30 DE LA MAÑANA, y servirá de tipo mínimo para la misma la suma de $56,100.00 sin admitirse oferta inferior. En el caso de que el inmueble a ser subastado no fuera adjudicado en la
primera subasta, se celebrará una SEGUNDA SUBASTA el día 13 DE MARZO DE 2025, A LAS 10:30 DE LA MAÑANA y el precio mínimo para esta segunda subasta será el de dos terceras partes del precio mínimo establecido para la primera subasta, o a sea la suma de $37,400.00. Si tampoco hubiera remate ni adjudicación en la SEGUNDA SUBASTA, se celebrará una tercera subasta el día 20 DE MARZO DE 2025, A LAS 10:30 DE LA MAÑANA y el tipo mínimo para esta tercera subasta será la mitad del precio establecido para la primera subasta, o sea, la suma de $28,050.00. El mejor postor deberá pagar el importe de su oferta en efecto, cheque certificado o giro postal a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal. Si se declarase desierta la tercera subasta, se dará por terminado el procedimiento, pudiendo adjudicarse el inmueble al acreedor hipotecario dentro de los diez días siguientes a la fecha de la última subasta, si así lo estimase conveniente, por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada conforme a la sentencia, si ésta fuera igual o menor que el monto del tipo de la tercera subasta y abonándose dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si ésta fuera mayor. Se avisa a cualquier licitador que la propiedad queda sujeta al gravamen del Estado Libre Asociado y CRIM sobre la propiedad inmueble por contribuciones adeudadas y que el pago de dichas contribuciones es la responsabilidad del licitador. Que se entenderá por todo licitador acepte como suficiente la titulación y que los cargos y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsistentes en entendiéndose que el rematador los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse su extinción al precio rematante. Todos los nombres de los acreedores que tengan inscritos o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a la inscripción del crédito del ejecutante, o de los 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, siempre que surgen de la certificación registral, 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 entonces subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante. La propiedad a ser
ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores. Y para conocimiento de licitadores, del público en general y para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general diaria en Puerto Rico y en los sitios públicos de acuerdo a las disposiciones de la Regla 51.7 de las de Procedimiento Civil, así como para la publicación en un periódico de circulación general diaria y en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, por espacio de dos semanas con antelación a la fecha de la primera subasta y por lo menos una vez por semana. Los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento indicado estarán de manifiesto en la Secretaría del Tribunal durante las horas laborables. (Art. 102 (1) de la Ley núm. 210-2015). Expedido el presente en San Juan, Puerto Rico a 29 de enero de 2025. IRMA D. CARMONA CLAUDIO, ALGUACIL DEL TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA, SALA DE SAN JUAN.
LEGAL NOTICE
ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE FAJARDO SALA SUPERIOR ORIENTAL BANK Demandante Vs. BRUNO LUIS REYES ILDEFONSO Demandados Civil Núm.: FA2024CV00757. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA (VÍA ORDINARIA). EDICTO DE SUBASTA. El Alguacil que suscribe por la presente CERTIFICA, ANUNCIA y hace CONSTAR: Que en cumplimiento de un Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia que le ha sido dirigido al Alguacil que suscribe por la Secretaría del TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE FAJARDO, SALA SUPERIOR, en el caso de epígrafe procederá a vender en pública subasta al mejor postor en efectivo, giro postal, o cheque certificado en moneda legal de los Estados Unidos de América a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal el 4 DE MARZO DE 2025, A LAS 11:30 DE LA MAÑANA, en su oficina sita en el local que ocupa en el edificio del TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE FAJARDO, SALA SUPERIOR, todo derecho, título e interés que tenga la parte demandada de epígrafe en el inmueble de su propiedad que ubica en: URB. VISTAS DE LUQUILLO D-17 CALLE V-1 LUQUILLO, PR 00773 y que se describe a continuación: RUSTICA: Solar radicado en la Urbanización Vistas de Luquillo, situada en el
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Gratings
Hangar
As salaries boom, it’s a good time to be an NFL coach
By JOE DRAPE
No matter what happened on Super Bowl Sunday, Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid is still money. He is the highest-paid coach in the NFL, earning $20 million a year. And his Falstaffian turns alongside his star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, in those ubiquitous State Farm commercials have made him instantly recognizable, even to nonfootball fans.
Reid’s record suggests he is a bargain: three Super Bowl championships in five trips to the game with the Chiefs. He has also helped transform his small-market team into the league’s star attraction. Nearly 128 million people tuned in to see if the Chiefs could become the first team in NFL history to win a third consecutive Super Bowl. Instead, they watched Philadelphia demolish Kansas City, 40-22.
On Tuesday, the New Orleans Saints named the Eagles’ offensive coordinator, Kellen Moore, their new head coach, officially closing the hiring cycle for head coaches this year. Moore, 36, was the seventh coach hired since the end of the regular season, and in each case, a team has handed over millions of dollars to the person who it hopes can do for the franchise what Reid has done for Kansas City.
Over the past three decades, the value of NFL franchises has skyrocketed. In 1989, Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys for $140 million. In 2023, the Washington Commanders fetched $6 billion. With the advent of the player salary cap in the mid-1990s, coaches became assets, like practice facilities and team planes, and their average salaries have risen from $300,000 to $6 million a year, according to data compiled by Sportico and Pro Football Reference.
And each offseason, a handful of teams seem ready to empty their pockets in pursuit
In the college ranks, things are a little more complicated. The new era of name, image and likeness, known as NIL, has meant more money for players, but some of that has come at the expense of head coaches. Sure, Georgia’s Kirby Smart makes more than $13 million a year, and Ohio State coach Ryan Day recently signed an extension that pays him an average of $12.5 million annually. But with player payrolls for College Football Playoff-caliber teams ranging from $13 million to $20 million, athletic directors are deploying their resources more strategically.
Ohio State paid Chip Kelly, a former head coach at the college and professional levels, $2 million last season to be the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator. They won the national championship. Penn State, which lost in the semifinals, has since hired Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, and will pay him $4 million a year in hopes that he can help the Nittany Lions do the same.
of the next genius coach.
Last month, the Chicago Bears hired Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, 38, for a reported $13 million a year. He was suddenly the seventh-highest-paid NFL coach — $1 million ahead of the Baltimore Ravens’ John Harbaugh, who has won a Super Bowl, and $1 million behind the San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, whose team has played for the title twice. According to ESPN, Moore’s annual salary with the Saints would more than double the roughly $2.5 million he was making in Philadelphia.
“There is still a wide range of salaries for head coaches,” said Bob Boland, who has represented coaches as an agent and now is a law professor at Seton Hall University’s Gaming, Hospitality, Entertainment & Sports Law Initiative. “But ever since Sean McVay won the Super Bowl for the Rams, young, innovative
offensive coaches have become the archetype for franchises.”
McVay was 33 when he led the Los Angeles Rams to a Super Bowl appearance in 2019 and 36 when the team won the title in 2022.
(The Las Vegas Raiders bucked the trend this offseason, hiring veteran coach Pete Carroll, 73, who will become the oldest head coach in NFL history when the season starts.)
The Jacksonville Jaguars, after 72 hours of intrigue, followed this template and hired Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator, Liam Coen, 39, for more than $11 million a season. At first, Coen turned down the job and accepted a raise from Tampa that would have made him the highest-paid coordinator in the league at more than $4 million annually. When Jacksonville fired its general manager, however, Coen changed his mind.
“As you continue to do more research and gain more information as you go, it started to become more clear with every hour that this was an opportunity that you just can’t pass up for so many different reasons,” Coen said at his introductory news conference. “Ultimately, you want to do what is best for you and your family. That is what this came down to.”
“It’s easier to be an NFL coach now,” said Paul Finebaum, host of his own show on the SEC Network. “You have a set roster, a salary cap and an offseason. For college coaches, it never ends. You are recruiting year-round, watching the transfer portal, keeping your guys out of the transfer portal.”
And now the win-at-all-costs college mentality is costing some coaches money. Florida State coach Mike Norvell agreed to a one-year restructured contract that includes a $4.5 million contribution to help start a new university initiative aimed, in part, at raising money for revenue sharing and facilities.
Norvell is set to make $9.9 million in 2025 as part of a contract that includes incremental raises every year through 2031. A year after winning the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and finishing 13-1, the Seminoles finished last season 2-10, their worst record since 1974.
“I presented this to our administration in an effort to boost the support of our studentathletes while recognizing that the results and expectations need to be upheld to the highest level,” Norvell said in a statement.
Similarly, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy reduced his $7.75 million annual salary so some of it could be redistributed as part of revenue sharing with players.
“NIL has been disruptive to the coaching class,” Boland said. “I think we are going to see more college coaches going to the NFL as coordinators and head coaches.”
The San Juan Daily Star
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid during the second quarter of Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. Although he is the highest-paid coach in the NFL, earning $20 million a year, Reid’s record suggests he is a bargain: three Super Bowl championships in five trips to the game with the Chiefs. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
Answers to the Sudoku and Crossword on page 21
