SAN JUAN

Puerto Rico privatized its electricity production on Wednesday.

Officials say the U.S. Coast Guard has detained a boat carrying 396 Haitian migrants near the Bahamas in one of the biggest human smuggling incidents in the region.

The governing board of Puerto Rico’s power company says it has approved a plan to privatize electric generation in the U.S. territory after meeting for nearly two hours behind closed doors.

A powerful drug lord from the Dominican Republic known as “The Abuser” has pled guilty to drug trafficking charges in U.S. federal court.

Millions of students have begun trooping back to public schools across the Philippines.

The U.S. and Canada have sent armored vehicles and other supplies to Haiti to help police fight a powerful gang amid a pending request from the Haitian government for the immediate deployment of foreign troops.

The National Science Foundation has announced it will not rebuild a renowned radio telescope in Puerto Rico, which was one of the world’s largest until it collapsed nearly two years ago.

Senior U.S. officials say the U.S. government will revoke visas from current and former Haitian government officials involved with criminal organizations

Puerto Rico’s governor requested that the U.S. government waive a federal law to allow for more fuel shipments to the island amid concerns over a dwindling supply of diesel in the wake of Hurricane Fiona.

Hurricane Fiona unleashed more rain on Puerto Rico on Monday, a day after the storm knocked out power and water to most of the island, and National Guard troops rescued hundreds of people who got stranded.

Tropical Storm Earl, churning about 350 miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico, remains messy and disorganized Tuesday morning but is expected to grow into a strong hurricane as it passes near or to the east of Bermuda on Friday.

Puerto Rico’s governor says all aggressive incidents stemming from a protest against a private power company that operates the island’s transmission and distribution system will be investigated.

Persistent power outages and threats from Puerto Rico’s government have prompted a company that operates the island’s transmission and distribution system to announce that it would dedicate more resources and crews to improve service.

Bahamian authorities said Tuesday that they have detained 111 Haitian migrants found on an overloaded sloop in waters around the archipelago.

Federal authorities have arrested seven people including a union leader and various dock workers accused in a $1.2 million extortion scheme that targeted shipping companies.

In a story published May 19, 2022, The Associated Press reported that a group of Democratic congress members on Thursday proposed a binding plebiscite to decide whether Puerto Rico should become a state or gain some sort of independence.

The U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies continue rescue efforts after a boat was spotted capsized in waters near an uninhabited island near Puerto Rico.

More than a million customers in Puerto Rico remain without electricity after a fire at a main power plant caused an island-wide blackout that forced the U.S. territory to cancel classes and shutter government offices in the biggest outage yet this year.

Puerto Rico’s government is formally exiting bankruptcy after completing the largest public debt restructuring in U.S. history after announcing nearly seven years ago that it was unable to pay its more than $70 billion debt.

Unknown people have toppled a statue of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León ahead of a visit of Spain's King Felipe VI to the U.S. Caribbean territory of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico is imposing new measures to fight a surge in COVID-19 cases that has overwhelmed medical staff in the U.S. territory and led to temporary shortages of testing kits.

A police superintendent in Jamaica has told The Associated Press that authorities have arrested a Colombian man they believe is a suspect in the July 7 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

A U.S. House committee is demanding that the company in charge of the transmission and distribution of power in Puerto Rico release key data amid widespread outages in the U.S. territory that have outraged and frustrated many.

Tropical Storm Fred has weakened to a tropical depression while sweeping over the Dominican Republic and dumping heavy rains that forecasters warn could cause dangerous flooding and mudslides there and in neighboring Haiti.

Elsa has strengthened into the first hurricane of the Atlantic season and it's blowing off roofs, snapping trees and destroying crops in the eastern Caribbean, where officials closed schools, businesses and airports under the threat of flash flooding and landslides.

A private company has taken over the transmission and distribution operations of Puerto Rico’s power authority, which has been struggling with blackouts and bankruptcy and a history of corruption and mismanagement.

Un jurado investigador acusó el jueves al boxeador puertorriqueño Félix Verdejo por la muerte de su amante embarazada, en un caso que podría ser castigado con la pena capital.

Boxeador puertorriqueño Félix “El Diamante” Verdejo enfrenta cargos tras hallazgo de amante muerta.

A federal judge has ordered Puerto Rican boxer Félix Verdejo held without bail after he was charged in the death of his 27-year-old pregnant lover whose body was found in a lagoon.

La isla de San Vicente se está quedando sin agua potable debido a la contaminación de sus fuentes con ceniza volcánica, y necesitará cientos de millones de dólares para recuperarse de la erupción del volcán La Soufrière, dicen autoridades.

People who ignored an initial warning to evacuate the area closest to a volcano on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent are now racing to get clear.

An explosive eruption has rocked La Soufriere volcano on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent.

The Biden administration is unveiling a coalition of community, religious and celebrity partners to promote COVID-19 shots as it seeks to overcome vaccine hesitancy.

Students arrive at the Ramon Marin Sola primary school for the first time in nearly a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic as some public schools reopen in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Danica Coto)SAN JUAN – Parents across Puerto Rico knelt down on Wednesday to adjust their children's face masks and backpacks as public schools reopened for the first time in nearly a year despite the pandemic, with officials reporting scarce attendance amid COVID-19 concerns. Among them was the Ramón Marín Solá primary school in Guaynabo, where parents checked their children’s face masks before hugging them goodbye. AdFor now, only kindergarteners, special education students and children in first, second, third and 12th grades are allowed to return to school. Union leaders and some parents and teachers have called on Pierluisi’s administration to wait until August to reopen schools, noting the U.S. territory has not seen a significant decrease in COVID-19 cases.

This photo provided by Aeromed shows the collapsed Radio Telescope in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. The update is part of a report that the federal agency, which owns the telescope, had to submit to Congress as the investigation continues into the Arecibo telescope. It was until recently the world’s largest radio telescope and was used to study pulsars, detect gravitational waves, search for neutral hydrogen and detect habitable planets, among other things. The telescope is located in Puerto Rico’s karst region, which serves as an important water source and contains the island’s richest biodiversity. It was a crushing event for scientists around the world who had been using the telescope for nearly six decades.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. La periodista de The Associated Press Dánica Coto, en San Juan, Puerto Rico, contribuyó a este despacho. Joseph se desplazaba el viernes en una motocicleta por la zona de Artibonite en la localidad de L’Estère, un día después de su evasión, cuando fue detectado en un retén, dijo el portavoz policial Gary Desrosiers a The Associated Press. Joseph sacó un arma y fue abatido en un intercambio de disparos con la policía, agregó. (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. Este material no puede ser publicado, difundido, reescrito o redistribuido sin permiso. La periodista de The Associated Press Dánica Coto contribuyó a este despacho desde San Juan. (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526.

Nurse Melissa Valentin shows a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to be applied to medical personnel at the Ashford Presbyterian Community Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Dr. Iris Cardona, sub-secretary of Puerto Rico’s Health Department, said some 21,400 Pfizer vaccines will be delivered weekly for the next four to six weeks. First in line to be vaccinated are health workers, emergency responders, hospital employees and those who live or work in shelters or nursing homes. Given that Puerto Rico is an island, many worry that the delivery of the second required Pfizer vaccine dose could be delayed. Puerto Rico has reported more than 112,000 confirmed and probable cases and more than 1,300 deaths.

SAN JUAN – A U.S. college student and her boyfriend have been sentenced to four months in prison in the Cayman Islands for violating strict COVID-19 measures following a recent ruling that will be appealed, their attorney said Thursday. Skylar Mack, 18, of Georgia, and Vanjae Ramgeet, 24, of the Cayman Islands, have been in prison since Tuesday, when the ruling was issued. After their arrest, a judge ruled the couple had to provide 40 hours of community service and pay a $4,400 fine. Under the original law, a Canadian couple found guilty of violating coronavirus measures were ordered to pay a $1,200 fine each. The Cayman Islands, a territory of nearly 62,000 people, has reported more than 300 coronavirus cases and two deaths.

SAN JUAN – Rena Lalgie has been sworn in as Bermuda’s governor, marking the first time that the British territory in the Atlantic has a Black woman as its leader. The event occurred on Monday, a day after Lalgie arrived in Bermuda, a wealthy financial haven and popular tourist destination. The appointment was announced in June by Queen Elizabeth II. Lalgie previously served as director of the United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanction Implementation. Lalgie, who is also the first female to serve as Bermuda’s governor, remains under quarantine as a result of her recent trip during the pandemic.

Yahaira Alicea, left, a respiratory therapist who treated the first two COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Puerto Rico, receives a vaccine in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)SAN JUAN – A respiratory therapist who treated the first two COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Puerto Rico became the first person in the U.S. territory to be vaccinated against the virus on Tuesday. Puerto Rico has reported more than 108,000 confirmed and probable coronavirus cases and more than 1,290 deaths. Alicea was immunized a day after FedEx planes carrying more than 16,500 Pfizer vaccine doses landed in Puerto Rico, with another more than 13,600 expected later this week. Officials have said that Puerto Rico’s National Guard has bought four freezers with the capacity to store 300,000 vaccine doses each.

FILE - In this Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020 file photo, provided by the Arecibo Observatory, shows the damage done by a broken cable that supported a metal platform, creating a 100-foot (30-meter) gash to the radio telescope's reflector dish in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. (Arecibo Observatory via AP)SAN JUAN – The National Science Foundation announced Thursday that it will close the huge telescope at the renowned Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico in a blow to scientists worldwide who depend on it to search for planets, asteroids and extraterrestrial life. The independent, federally funded agency said it’s too dangerous to keep operating the single dish radio telescope -- one of the world’s largest -- given the significant damage it recently sustained. An auxiliary cable broke in August and tore a 100-foot hole in the reflector dish and damaged the dome above it. Then on Nov. 6, one of the telescope’s main steel cables snapped, leading officials to warn that the entire structure could collapse.

SAN JUAN – Puerto Rico’s governor announced Friday that she will activate the National Guard to help enforce a curfew aimed at curbing a rise in COVID-19 cases and other measures, including once again closing beaches to everyone except those doing exercise. “There are many who have lowered their guard and have not understood that this pandemic is still with us.”Vázquez also urged people across Puerto Rico to be extremely cautious during the holiday season, encouraging families to get together via Zoom. He also noted that the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 has spiked in the last month. The new measures come as Puerto Rico struggles to recover from hurricanes, earthquakes and an economic and financial crisis that began more than a decade ago. “These are difficult times,” said Manuel Laboy, secretary of the island’s Department of Economic Development and Commerce.

“We’ve identified, much to our regret, a disorganization in the handling of material in the vaults,” he said at a press conference. We have to admit that.”Rosado said he didn’t know yet how many total votes are in the 126 briefcases, noting some contained three ballots and others 500 ballots. He said those votes could affect races like the one for mayor of Culebra, a popular tourist island just east of Puerto Rico. This year, Puerto Rico received more than 220,000 absentee and early votes, a record for officials who have been overwhelmed by the paperwork. “After these elections, there has to be a serious evaluation of how those votes will be handled,” he said, referring to absentee and early votes.

(AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)SAN JUAN – People across Puerto Rico awaited final results Wednesday of elections that saw long lines of voters and produced a tight gubernatorial race in the U.S. Caribbean territory. Meanwhile, Jenniffer González, Puerto Rico’s current representative in U.S. Congress and Pierluisi's running partner, easily won a second term. The race to become mayor of Puerto Rico's capital also was extremely tight, with only hundreds of votes separating two candidates, including one from a new party. Pierluisi briefly served as governor following last year’s protests and previously represented Puerto Rico in Congress for eight years. “Puerto Ricans have a short memory,” he said, adding that he remains hopeful a non-traditional party will eventually lead Puerto Rico.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Voters across Puerto Rico on Tuesday are choosing new leaders they hope can help heal a U.S. territory wracked by corruption, hurricanes, earthquakes and the coronavirus pandemic. “The situation in general here in Puerto Rico is chaotic,” he said. Supporters of President Donald Trump gather moments before leaving for the headquarters of the Republican party in support of his candidacy a few weeks before the presidential election next November, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020. They will be asked one question: “Should Puerto Rico be admitted immediately into the union as a state?” The vote is advisory as Congress would have to approve that happening. “Puerto Rico’s public administration collapsed a long time ago.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A grandfather accused in the fatal fall of his young granddaughter from an 11th-story window of a cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico last year has pleaded guilty to negligent homicide. Salvatore Anello of Valparaiso, Indiana, earlier said he would drop a not-guilty plea to help end what he called “this nightmare” for his family. Eighteen-month-old Chloe Wiegand slipped from his grasp and fell about 150 feet from an open window of Royal Caribbean Cruises' Freedom of the Seas ship in July 2019. Puerto Rico prosecutor Laura Hernández said Thursday that Anello would be sentenced Dec. 10.

Postal worker Jose Montoya does his rounds in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. The absence of street names and numbers across the island has long been a problem for the U.S. territory, where internet map services sometimes fail. Directions can involve a mango tree, or a bakery or a house of a certain color. Without an address, emergency responders cannot find people quickly or deliver basic supplies or medical care when up to 60% of homes in some municipalities lack one. As president of La Unión community, Martínez held a vote on potential street names.

In this Feb. 2, 2019, photo, provided by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, is the Eli Jackson Methodist Church and cemetery in San Juan, Texas. It is located on a ranch once operated by Nathaniel and Matilda Jackson, a biracial couple believed to have been "conductors" of the Underground Railroad to Mexico. Across Texas and parts of Louisiana, Alabama, and Arkansas, scholars and preservation advocates are working to piece together a puzzle of a largely forgotten piece of American history: a network that helped thousands of Black slaves escape to Mexico. (David Pike/University of Texas Rio Grande Valley via AP)

SAN JUAN U.S. researchers who estimated that nearly 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria are now investigating deaths that might have been missed and could be linked to infrastructure damaged by the Category 4 storm, officials announced Wednesday. The Milken Institute of Public Health at George Washington University received a nearly $1 million contract from the National Institute of Standards and Technology for the investigation. University officials said the project seeks to improve the death certification process and building standards across the U.S. mainland ahead of future storms as part of a collaboration with the University of Puerto Rico and others. Yaritsa Santiago, whose mother died after she was airlifted from Puerto Rico to Miami shortly after Maria struck, praised the upcoming investigation and said she was encouraged that the storm-related deaths will not be in vain. Puerto Ricos government at the time came under heavy criticism for severely undercounting the number of deaths related to Hurricane Maria, which destroyed the power grid and caused more than an estimated $100 billion in damage.

The situation infuriated voters and politicians alike as they blamed Puerto Ricos election commission. This is crass incompetence, said Anbal Acevedo Vil, a former governor who is running to represent Puerto Rico in Congress. But many who stood in lines on Sunday morning were elderly people not expected to return to voting centers once they opened. He said he would stay in line as long as needed because Puerto Ricos situation had to change. Meanwhile, the main opposition Popular Democratic Party, which supports Puerto Ricos current political status as a U.S. territory, is holding a primary for the first time in its 82-year history.

Only those who are exercising will be allowed on beaches, including joggers, swimmers and surfers. Vzquez said she also has asked the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to temporarily suspend flights from Texas and Florida, noting theyre struggling with their own spike in COVID-19 cases. Since the end of June alone, the percentage of positive cases in Puerto Rico increased 10-fold, according to Dr. Jos Rodrguez Orengo, executive director of The Puerto Rico Public Health Trust. More than 13 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed globally, with more than 580,000 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. In recent days, mayors in cities and towns across Puerto Rico took their own action ahead of the governor's announcement, concerned about the spike.

SAN JUAN – Two strong earthquakes shook Puerto Rico on Friday, but there were no reports of injuries in the latest of a series of tremors that have hit the U.S. territory since late December. It came just a few hours after a magnitude-4.9 shake hit in the same region, causing small landslides and collapsing an abandoned home weakened by the earlier quakes. Both shakes were felt across Puerto Rico, which has experienced a series of earthquakes this year that have damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes. The afternoon tremor's epicenter was 9.5 kilometers (5.9 miles) south-southeast of La Parguera, at a depth of 3 kilometers (1.8 miles). He said crews were inspecting buildings that have been weakened by the recent series of quakes.

Those who refuse to do so, or tested positive, or do not have the test results available, will be forced into a two-week quarantine. During that time, they have to undergo a molecular test and share the results if they want to be released from quarantine, said Puerto Rico Health Secretary Lorenzo González. Puerto Rico’s government will not accept any other test, including antibody ones that require a finger stick or blood drawn. Puerto Rico expects to receive up to 9,000 passengers a day in upcoming months, compared with the roughly 4,500 daily current arrivals, said Carla Campos, executive director of Puerto Rico’s Tourism Company. Vázquez's administration will require that all passengers fill a form prior to arriving in Puerto Rico with required information including where the test was taken.

SAN JUAN – A judge on Thursday gave Puerto Rico’s education secretary 24 hours to open all public school cafeterias in the U.S. territory or face arrest as impoverished students struggle to obtain free meals amid the pandemic. Among them are the two sons of Delia Vicente, whose school cafeteria in an impoverished neighborhood in the capital of San Juan remains closed. Education Secretary Eligio Hernández tweeted that the department is complying with court orders and that it would submit documents to prove it. Hernández had initially insisted he would not reopen any cafeterias because it was too risky, noting in part that 64% of workers are elderly. In recent weeks, the department was forced to close some cafeterias it had re-opened after some workers tested positive for COVID-19.

SAN JUAN – A former anti-drug agent and his wife, charged with diverting money from the Drug Enforcement Administration and aiding Colombian traffickers, on Wednesday agreed to have their case held in the U.S. mainland. José Irizarry clasped the leg of Nathalia Gómez-Irizarry as the couple sat quietly in Puerto Rico's federal court for an hour before the hearing, barely talking. They face a 19-count federal indictment in which Irizarry is accused of conspiring to launder millions in drug proceeds diverted from the DEA. The couple were arrested in Puerto Rico last week and released on $10,000 bond each. Some of the money allegedly was used to buy a $30,000 Tiffany diamond ring, a 2017 Lamborghini Huracan Spyder and a home in Puerto Rico, where the couple had been living.

SAN JUAN – The screams echoed across Puerto Rico when Jennifer Lopez unfurled a feather cape representing the flag of the U.S. territory during the Super Bowl’s halftime show, a moment that many were still replaying and sharing on Monday. “We Puerto Ricans are very sentimental about the flag,” Hernández said. The halftime moment surprised Puerto Rican journalist Jonathan Lebrón Ayala and his family as they watched the game at home. Latinos!” and then unfurled the flag while her young daughter sang, “Born in the USA.”“It was rather hectic,” he recalled with a laugh. “For better or for worse, people are going to be more in tune, looking for information about Puerto Rico,” he said.

The girl sat on rails near an open window on the cruise ship, thinking it was closed. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The grandfather of a toddler who fell to her death on a cruise ship in July has been charged with negligent homicide in her death, Puerto Rican authorities said. Salvatore "Sal" Anello was playing with the girl, Chloe Wiegand, on the 11th floor near a window while the ship was docked in Puerto Rico. An attorney for the Indiana family has said Anello sat the girl on rails near the open window, thinking it was closed. Port Authority officials said Anello sat the girl in the window and lost his balance, and the girl fell to her death.

U.S. Embassy personel and media prepare to board a National Guard C-130 plane enroute to Saint Martin September 11, 2017 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Photo by Jose Jimenez/Getty Images

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The federal control board that oversees Puerto Rico's finances on Friday released a plan that would cut the island's debt by more than 60% and rescue it from bankruptcy. The highly-anticipated restructuring plan comes three years after Congress created the federal oversight board, which allowed the territory to seek bankruptcy protection after years of facing its inability to pay its debt. Puerto Rico was dragged into billions of dollars in public debt after decades of mismanagement, corruption and excessive borrowing to balance budgets. The new restructuring plan targets bonds and other debt held by the government and will now go before a federal judge. The percentage of Puerto Rico's taxpayer funds spent on debt payments will fall to less than 9%, compared to almost 30% before the restructuring.

Tropical Storm Karen is moving north, away from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Tropical Storm Karen drenched southcentral Puerto Rico, causing a river to wash away a bridge in Coamo and cutting off at least 15 families, the National Weather Service said. Even as Karen moves away from Puerto Rico, it'll bring heavy rainfall, strong thunderstorms and flooding threats through Wednesday, forecasters said. "On the forecast track, the center of Karen will continue to move farther away from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands today," the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday. Puerto Rico Gov.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Hurricane Dorian was poised to test Puerto Rico two years after Hurricane Maria devastated the island. Shutters were going up last minute Wednesday morning at a grocery store in San Juan, Puerto Rico, hours before the island really began to feel the effects of the storm. We can't go away," Anaisa Suarez, who is vacationing in Puerto Rico this week, said. Shoppers with experience from Hurricane Maria told Local 10 News reporter Janine Stanwood they weren't as worried this time around. So (tropical storms and hurricanes) worry everybody over here in Puerto Rico," Jaime Figueroa said."

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico. - Hurricane Dorian was poised to test Puerto Rico two years after Hurricane Maria devastated the island. We can't go away," Anaisa Suarez, who is vacationing in Puerto Rico this week, said. Shoppers with experience from Hurricane Maria told Local 10 News reporter Janine Stanwood they weren't as worried this time around. So (tropical storms and hurricanes) worry everybody over here in Puerto Rico," Jaime Figueroa said."

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico. - Shutters were going up last minute Wednesday morning at a grocery store in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as Tropical Storm Dorian was just hours away from hitting the island. San Juan resident Torrence Bolsaias said he doesn't think this storm will be too much of a problem for the island. Not like Maria," store manager Sasha Reyes said. So (tropical storms and hurricanes) worry everybody over here in Puerto Rico," Jaime Figueroa said.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - It was the calm before Tropical Storm Dorian on Tuesday in Puerto Rico as few tourists were on the beach while some said they already had plans to leave. "I'm getting a lot of calls and text messages from home, so I think they're more concerned than we are right now," one woman said. One hotel worker in San Juan told Local 10 News that Hurricane Maria left its mark on the island and he knows to prepare. But it was busier than usual at a local grocery store as residents stocked up on water and other essentials. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yuln Cruz said at a news conference that four shelters will open Tuesday in the capital ahead of the storm's arrival.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch for Puerto Rico on Tuesday morning as Tropical Storm Dorian continues to move across the Caribbean toward the island. The storm, which weakened a bit overnight as the system hit Barbados, is expected to pass near, or just south of Puerto Rico Wednesday afternoon and evening as a strong tropical storm. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours and a tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours. "St. Lucia seems to be the bull's eye (Monday night) for tropical storm conditions," including strong winds and heavy rain, Brink said. Tropical storm conditions are possible throughout the Lesser Antilles through Tuesday morning and over Puerto Rico Wednesday, the center said.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico. - People in Puerto Rico were stocking up on water and other supplies Monday as they prepare for Tropical Storm Dorian to potentially hit the island. "Just to have enough water and canned food," Taraneh Verdaman told Local 10 News reporter Janine Stanwood outside a Costco in San Juan. To the south and east in Barbados, Tropical Storm Dorian is encroaching and people in cars are filling up their tanks, as gas station lines extend down the street. They've gathered medical supplies and tents to be self-sufficient if they need to help others.

Associated PressSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico Justice Secretary Wanda Vazquez has been sworn in as the island's new governor, culminating weeks of political turmoil. Vazquez took the oath of office early Wednesday evening at the Puerto Rican Supreme Court, which earlier in the day ruled that Pedro Pierluisi's swearing in last week was unconstitutional. But they were also expected to unleash a new wave of demonstrations because many Puerto Ricans have said they don't want Vazquez as governor. Ricardo Rossello was forced to resign by anger over corruption, mismanagement of funds and a leaked obscenity-laced chat. Pierluisi was sworn in as governor Friday.

Angel Valentin / Getty ImagesSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico's Supreme Court has overturned the swearing in of Pedro Pierluisi as the island's governor less than a week ago, clearing the way for Justice Secretary Wanda Vazquez to take up the post after weeks of turmoil. But it is expected to unleash new demonstrations because many Puerto Ricans have said they don't want her as governor. Pierluisi was then sworn in as governor Friday after Rossello formally resigned in response to angry street protests. Puerto Rico's Senate sued to challenge Pierluisi's legitimacy as governor, arguing that its approval was also necessary. The Supreme Court judges ruled in favor of the Senate.

Angel Valentin / Getty ImagesSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico's Supreme Court has overturned the swearing in of Pedro Pierluisi as the island's governor less than a week ago, clearing the way for Justice Secretary Wanda Vazquez to take up the post after weeks of turmoil. But it is expected to unleash new demonstrations because many Puerto Ricans have said they don't want her as governor. Pierluisi was then sworn in as governor Friday after Rossello formally resigned in response to angry street protests. Puerto Rico's Senate sued to challenge Pierluisi's legitimacy as governor, arguing that its approval was also necessary. The Supreme Court judges ruled in favor of the Senate.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Three suspected smugglers and about 220 pounds of cocaine were interdicted about 41 miles southwest of Cabo Rojo, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Tezanos' crew spotted the go-fast crew throwing nine duffel bags overboard. Officials said the Tezanos' crew recovered six of the bags, embarked the three suspected smugglers and destroyed the go-fast vessel as a danger to navigation. "This case highlighted the strong partnership between Customs and Border Protection and the Coast Guard," said Capt. Officials said the Tezanos' crew transferred the suspected smugglers and interdicted cocaine to Coast Guard Investigative Services agents in Puerto Rico.

Angel Valentin / Getty ImagesSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico's House of Representatives has voted to confirm Pedro Pierluisi as secretary of state, removing an important obstacle to him becoming governor in about an hour. The House, which is controlled by Pierluisi's New Progressive Party, voted 26-21, with one abstention, to confirm Gov. Some believe that because the legislature wasn't in session when Pierluisi was appointed, he's already secretary of state unless the legislature rejects him. Others argue that he still needs to be confirmed -- some say just by the House of Representatives. If Pierluisi does not become governor, the position is taken by Justice Secretary Wanda Vazquez, who is not widely popular and already is the target of protests.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - After Puerto Rican legislators threatened to impeach Gov. Ricardo Rossell, he announced his resignation just before midnight on Facebook Live, saying it will be effective Aug. 2. About two years after taking over as justice secretary, Wanda Vzquez will be taking over as governor of Puerto Rico during the transitional period. Ricardo Rossello is stepping down on July 24, 2019 in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Joe Raedle/Getty Images People celebrate as Ricardo Rossello, the Governor of Puerto Rico, announces he is stepping down from power on July 24, 2019 in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - After Puerto Rican legislators threatened to impeach Gov. Ricardo Rossell, he announced late Wednesday night on Facebook Live that he is resigning effective Friday afternoon. On Sunday, Rossell resigned from his position as president of the New Progressive Party saying that he will not be seeking relection. A judge issued search warrants for the mobile phones of the officials whose messages were leaked by the Puerto Rico Center for Investigative Journalism. There was a discussion about a plot to destabilize the University of Puerto Rico.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Puerto Rican legislators are giving Gov. Ricardo Rossell a deadline to resign warning him that they are starting an impeachment process on Thursday afternoon. On Sunday, Rossell resigned from his position as president of the New Progressive Party saying that he will not be seeking relection. A judge issued search warrants for the mobile phones of the officials whose messages were leaked by the Puerto Rico Center for Investigative Journalism. There was a discussion about a plot to destabilize the University of Puerto Rico.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Puerto Rican legislators are giving Gov. Ricardo Rossell a deadline to resign warning him that they are starting an impeachment process on Thursday afternoon. Ricardo Rossell will be addressing the people of Puerto Rico directly, in a message that hes working on right now," Maceira said about 6 p.m. A judge issued search warrants for the mobile phones of the officials whose messages were leaked by the Puerto Rico Center for Investigative Journalism. There was a discussion about a plot to destabilize the University of Puerto Rico.

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - JULY 21: Parishioners pray at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist on July 21, 2019 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. As the island is consumed with protesters demonstrating for the ouster of Ricardo Rossello, the Governor of Puerto Rico, the Rev. Benjamin Perez Cruz told the congregation during his Sunday service that they should pray for peace, calm and hope things work out for the positive on the island. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)Hide Caption

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - JULY 17: Demonstrators protest against Ricardo Rossello, the Governor of Puerto Rico on July 17, 2019 in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. There have been calls for the Governor to step down after it was revealed that he and top aides were part of a private chat group that contained misogynistic and homophobic messages. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)Hide Caption

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - JULY 24: A protester makes the heart sign towards police as she lays flowers along a police barricade on a street leading to the Governor's Mansion, as reports persist that Ricardo Rossello, the Governor of Puerto Rico, will step down on July 24, 2019 in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Protesters have been calling on Gov. Rossell to step down after a group chat was exposed that included misogynistic and homophobic comments (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)Hide Caption

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - A spokesman says Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossell has not resigned but says little more about whether Rossell plans to stay in office, or leave. In response to local media reports that Rossell was on the verge of leaving Puerto Rico, Public Affairs Secretary Anthony Maceira says Wednesday that: "Gov. Ricardo Rossell Nevares has not resigned and remains in Puerto Rico. Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Rico have been outraged by leaked, obscenity-laced online chats between Rossell and his advisers, and have protested for nearly two weeks demanding his resignation.

Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesSAN JUAN - Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossell is expected to resign Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the situation. The person expected to take his place is Puerto Rico Secretary of Justice Wanda Vazquez. "This is an opportunity to Puerto Rico to clean house, to start over," said Ediris Rivera, 23. CNN's Julian Zamora, Leyla Santiago, Rafael Romo and Mayra Cuevas in Puerto Rico and CNN's Tatiana Arias and journalist Florencia Trucco contributed to this report.

GUAYNABO, PUERTO RICO - JULY 20: Protesters try to hold a gate closed as police officers try to open the gate, that leads to a parking lot, in order to allow politicians in their vehicles to leave after a meeting with Ricardo Rossello, the governor of Puerto Rico, at the Yolanda Guerrero Cultural center on July 21, 2019 in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Protesters have called for the governor to step down after it was revealed that he and top aides were part of a private chat group that contained misogynistic and homophobic messages. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)Hide Caption

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Cruise passengers drifted through the streets of Old San Juan Thursday as shop owners took plywood down from store windows and painted over graffiti demanding Gov. "For yourself, your family, our ideals, and Puerto Rico, let someone else finish your term," Fortuo wrote. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump weighed in on the upheaval in Puerto Rico, tweeted harsh words for the territory's leadership a day after tens of thousands protested against the governor. Smaller protests have taken place around the island, with some Puerto Ricans taking down portraits of Rossell from government offices. There were more menacing signs of unrest, as well: Puerto Rico's police department said dozens of pistols and rifles were stolen from a police station in the town of Guayama Wednesday night.

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - JULY 17: Demonstrators and police face off during a protest against Ricardo Rossello, the governor of Puerto Rico on July 17, 2019 in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico's police department says somebody has broken into a police station and stolen weapons on the southern part of the U.S. territory. Police Commissioner Henry Escalera Rivera says in a department statement Thursday that the break-in occurred in the town of Guayama. A storage room lock was forced the night before and officers discovered that 30 pistols and 18 rifles had been taken, as well as 4,000 rounds of ammunition. Puerto Rico's Public Security Secretary Elmer L. Romn says officials have reported the burglary to federal authorities and officials are trying to locate those responsible.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico. - In a press conference Tuesday, Puerto Rico Gov. Thousands on the island are protesting, demanding he resigns following the leak of a private chat group between the governor, members of his cabinet and associates that were exposed by Puerto Rico's Center for Investigative Reporting. Puerto Rico's CFO texted the governor: "I'm salivating to shoot her up." "They don't need politicians that are sending texts that are indecent about women."

Jonathan Palombo/WikimediaSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - A 1-year-old girl apparently slipped from her grandfather's hands and fell to her death from the 11th story of a cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico, police said Monday. Nelson Sotelo told The Associated Press that the family of the child will remain in the U.S. territory until the investigation is complete. Authorities said the girl was traveling with her parents, two siblings and two sets of grandparents aboard the Freedom of the Seas, which docked in Puerto Rico on Sunday after a weeklong trip through the Caribbean. The police chief of South Bend, Indiana, Scott Ruszkowski, disputed the statement issued by Puerto Rico police that the girl was being held out of a window in an interview with WSBT television. A spokeswoman said the ship departed Puerto Rico on Monday for St. Maarten on a new itinerary and declined further comment.