AGP Executive Report

Puerto Rico Water & Drought: Puerto Rico’s drought conditions have eased, but the island’s water crisis is still a live concern, with reservoirs and reporting rules under pressure. Public Health & Families: HITN is hosting a Spanish-language town hall on kids and screen time, pairing pediatric and neuropsychology experts with guidance for Hispanic families. Local Business & Community: A Río Piedras cosmetics brand is expanding into a larger Callejón del Carmen space, aiming to grow its store and turn it into a community gathering spot. Education & Innovation: Interamerican University teams won Enactus Puerto Rico 2026, earning spots at the Enactus World Cup in São Paulo. Sports (Puerto Rico ties): Puerto Rico’s basketball presence continues in international coverage, including NORCECA volleyball qualifiers featuring Puerto Rico. Aviation (San Juan-to-Miami link): New details from the NTSB describe a Miami runway overrun involving a Boeing 767 that flew from San Juan, with speed and go-around actions central to the probe. Culture & Heritage: Puerto Rican Festival of Wisconsin returns to Summerfest grounds, celebrating 13 years of Puerto Rican culture.

Puerto Rico Water Crisis: Puerto Rico went from no drought to widespread extreme drought in just months, with rainfall failures triggering shortages and rationing; the governor declared a state of emergency in late July and the U.S. approved a drought disaster covering dozens of municipalities. Public Health & Regulation: EPA gave tentative approval to Puerto Rico drinking-water reporting rules as rationing continues, while officials also move to modernize health services. Healthcare Modernization: Mayagüez is investing over $6 million to upgrade Hospital San Antonio—targeting inpatient beds, the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, maternity, and the operating room. Church Leadership: Pope Leo XIV named Franciscan Father Gerardo Antonio Vargas Cruz as coadjutor bishop for the Fajardo-Humacao diocese, with succession planned after Bishop Luis Francisco Miranda Rivera’s retirement. Local Culture & Business: Puerto Rico bartenders can compete to create a signature mezcal cocktail for a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, as part of the Tres Santos Mezcal Cocktail Competition 2026. Travel & Connectivity: American Airlines is boosting Miami-to-Caribbean options, including up to eight daily flights to San Juan starting Oct. 5.

Water Crisis & Accountability: Residents in San Juan say unreliable service has forced them to store water and spend more on food, as drought and aging infrastructure collide with frustration over government inaction. Energy & Infrastructure: The governor announced a new $21.3 million FEMA investment for reconstruction and resilience projects across Puerto Rico. Economy & Costs: New analysis says tariffs sharply raised Puerto Rico’s import burden in 2025, with ripple effects pushing up prices for consumers and businesses. Local Business & Training: A new Leadership and Service Academy will run monthly workshops in Hato Rey starting Sept. 18, helping companies train staff without shutting down operations. Housing Finance: Three Puerto Rican co-ops have joined the Federal Home Loan Bank System to expand low-cost liquidity for community lenders and homeownership efforts. Public Health Rules: EPA gave tentative approval to Puerto Rico drinking water reporting rules as rationing continues. Sports (Puerto Rico in focus): Puerto Rico’s women’s team fought for a World Cup berth, with China edging Puerto Rico 75-72 to set up a quarterfinal matchup. Education & Talent: A new Puerto Rico academy aims to strengthen leadership and employee training. Community & Culture: The Puerto Rican film “Extranjera” opens in theaters across the island after festival success.

World Cup (Puerto Rico): Puerto Rico’s women’s team saw its run end in Berlin, falling 75-72 to China as Han Xu scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds; Trinity San Antonio led PR with 24 points, nine boards, seven assists and five steals. World Cup (Next up): China and Australia punched their tickets to the quarterfinals, setting up China vs. France and Australia vs. Spain. Local Business (Guaynabo): Slim Chickens opens its first Puerto Rico location Thursday, Sept. 10, at San Patricio Village in Guaynabo, with a $1.5M investment and plans for 50+ jobs. Local Economy (Dorado): The Economic Development Bank of Puerto Rico backed Ichiban’s expansion with a $360,000 loan, targeting 25 direct jobs. Tourism (Central-South): Discover Puerto Rico held a Cayey gathering to connect tourism resources with businesses outside the San Juan metro. Aviation/Impact (Regional): U.S. investigators say an Amazon cargo pilot repeatedly warned about excessive speed before a deadly Miami runway overrun that killed five and injured five.

Miami Airport Tragedy: Investigators say an Amazon Air cargo jet from San Juan overran Miami International’s runway after an unsteady landing, with flight data suggesting a late go-around attempt and no speed brakes or thrust reversers before it hit a cleaning contractor van and an SUV, killing five workers and injuring five more; NTSB plans to interview the pilots and release a cockpit voice recorder readout. Puerto Rico Energy Debate: The Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce opposes any government move to return PREPA to operational control, saying the island needs an executable plan with costs, metrics, and timelines—not just diagnoses. FIBA World Cup—Puerto Rico in the Mix: Puerto Rico faces China for a quarterfinal berth, with China’s Zhang Ziyu drawing major attention as the 7-foot-3 teen phenom. Migration Update: The U.S. Coast Guard repatriated 51 Dominican and Haitian migrants intercepted near Aguadilla to the Dominican Republic. Local Business & Jobs: Hiring expectations in Puerto Rico remain positive for Oct–Dec, led by small and medium-sized enterprises in retail and logistics. Tech & Finance: Celligence announced a $100M investment to scale AngelAi, aiming to automate mortgage decisioning and transactions for consumers and lenders.

Aviation Safety: The NTSB says data from the Amazon Prime Air crash at Miami International suggests pilots considered aborting the landing seconds before the Boeing 767 overran the runway and hit vehicles, killing five and injuring five; investigators will interview the surviving pilots and later release cockpit voice details. Puerto Rico Connections: The flight had been returning from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the crash has renewed scrutiny of runway safety systems and airport preparedness. Women’s Basketball: Host Germany routed South Korea 94-56 to reach the FIBA Women’s World Cup quarterfinals; Hungary advanced by beating Japan and will face Team USA next, while China earned a quarterfinal berth after beating Italy and will play Puerto Rico for a spot. Local Culture & Sports: Puerto Rico’s Time To Sport platform launched to connect the sports community, and LatinUs’ film festival will screen Puerto Rican and other Latin-culture movies, including a Puerto Rican feature.

Aviation Tragedy: An Amazon Prime Air Boeing 767-300 arriving from San Juan overran a runway at Miami International Airport, killing five people on the ground and injuring five others; investigators recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders as the NTSB probes what went wrong, while Miami-Dade officials released victim names including Rolando Aleman and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo. Puerto Rico Sports & Community: A Puerto Rican-developed sports platform, Time To Sport, launched Sept. 5 to help athletes, fans, teams, and event organizers find games, buy tickets, and manage facilities in one app. Local Development: Vivienda inaugurated renovated municipal parking improvements in Naguabo’s traditional urban center, funded through CDBG-DR and other sources, aiming to boost access and revitalize the town core. Church News: Pope Leo XIV appointed a coadjutor bishop for the Diocese of Fajardo-Humacao, with Father Gerardo Antonio Vargas Cruz set to succeed Bishop Luis Francisco Miranda Rivera. Business & Finance: The Puerto Rico Financial Services Forum opened registration for its Nov. 2–3, 2026 event in San Juan, spotlighting banking, insurance, fintech, AI, and compliance. Sports Spotlight: Team USA swept group play at the FIBA Women’s World Cup and now faces quarterfinals after advancing, while Puerto Rico prepares for key matchups in the tournament’s final phases.

Aviation Tragedy in Puerto Rico’s Orbit: Investigators recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from an Amazon Prime Air Boeing 767 that overran a Miami runway and struck a van and an SUV, killing five people on the ground; NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy called the scene “utter devastation,” and said the plane came from San Juan, Puerto Rico, with two crew members surviving. Crash Timeline Details: The NTSB says the aircraft traveled about 1,300 feet past the paved runway, tore through fencing, and hit vehicles including a cleaning-services van carrying seven workers; recovery of victims remains the top priority while officials probe whether the landing was too late. Local Business & Tech: FV Bank announced it has launched SWIFT services to expand international wire options. Tourism Watch: Puerto Rico’s tourism industry says the island’s water crisis hasn’t meaningfully hurt visitor flow or hotel occupancy. Sports—Puerto Rico in the Spotlight: China clinched a quarterfinal spot by beating Italy, and will face Puerto Rico next, setting up a key matchup as the FIBA Women’s World Cup moves into the next phase. Public Health: Florida mosquito-control agencies are stepping up as dengue cases are expected to rise, with Puerto Rico included among U.S. territories where the virus has been recorded. Consumer/Everyday Life: A new report ranks mobile broadband data costs across countries, placing the UK 46th—an item readers may compare with Puerto Rico’s own connectivity costs.

Aviation Tragedy: An Amazon Prime Air Boeing 767-300 arriving from San Juan overran a runway at Miami International Airport Sunday, bursting into flames after hitting vehicles on the perimeter road; at least 5 died and 5 were injured, with the NTSB and FAA investigating what went wrong during landing and whether safety systems played a role. Puerto Rico in Sports: Puerto Rico’s women’s team kept its World Cup run alive by eliminating Turkey 75-71, with Arella Guirantes leading the charge; coach Gerardo Batista said the achievement still isn’t getting the respect it deserves. Island Community Debate: A Puerto Rico-focused opinion piece asks how the island can “come together” again, arguing that people should look out for neighbors like they did after storms, not rely only on government. Local Business Watch: Puerto Rico auto insurers are adjusting products and services as vehicle prices, interest rates, and repair costs rise. Water Crisis Context: A NASA map highlights severe drought across Puerto Rico, with most of the island affected and millions facing shortages and emergency measures.

Aviation Tragedy Tied to Puerto Rico: An Amazon Prime Air cargo Boeing 767-300 operated by 21 Air crashed at Miami International Airport after overrunning the runway on landing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, killing at least five people and injuring five others; thick black smoke and flames followed as the plane struck vehicles near the airport perimeter, trapping some victims and prompting a major rescue response with more than 60 fire units and about 200 personnel. Investigation Underway: The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have opened investigations into what went wrong, including whether the aircraft touched down too late to stop safely; Amazon said it is working closely with authorities and expressed condolences. Sports (Puerto Rico Interest): In the women’s FIBA World Cup, the U.S. survived a late scare from Italy to win 55-52 and advance to the quarterfinals, while China also moved on after an overtime win.

FIBA Women’s World Cup: Team USA keeps rolling in Berlin, opening with a 94-61 win over China behind Caitlin Clark’s 14 points and 11 assists, and now faces Italy on Sunday (Sept. 6) in Group D at 2:45 p.m. ET on TNT, with streaming via DIRECTV trial or Sling Blue. Puerto Rico in the tournament: Puerto Rico’s campaign continues in Group C, where Belgium is set to play Puerto Rico later Sunday, and the schedule also lists Puerto Rico vs. Belgium on TV (truTV). Local business spotlight: Boricua Emprende Fest drew 2,275 entrepreneurs to the Puerto Rico Convention Center, featuring panels and a pitch competition awarding more than $20,000 in seed capital. Consumer safety: Clorox Puerto Rico recall coverage flags 6.3 million Mistolin and Lestoil cleaner bottles due to potential bacterial risk, including products sold in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Parenting tech: Meta/Instagram says parents can’t directly access a teen’s account, but in Puerto Rico (among other regions) supervision tools may be available.

Miss World 2026: The pageant revealed its Top 40 finalists, with Puerto Rico’s Suil Pagan among the early qualifiers after fast-track challenges, while Asia Rose Simpson (Philippines) secured an early spot by topping the “Head-to-Head” challenge. Puerto Rico Travel Safety: Clorox Puerto Rico recalled about 6.3 million scented Mistolin and Lestoil cleaners sold in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands due to possible Pseudomonas aeruginosa contamination, with higher risk flagged for immunocompromised travelers and people with external medical devices. Local Border Enforcement: U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s San Juan Field Office reminded boaters that vessel operators must report arrivals under federal rules, using the ROAM mobile app when applicable. Sports Spotlight: Team USA opened the FIBA Women’s World Cup with a 94-61 win over China, featuring Paige Bueckers’ strong debut and Caitlin Clark’s playmaking as the tournament moves toward the next group-stage match. Business/Travel Funding: The FAA awarded $481M in airport grants, including a $100M boost for Atlanta’s runway and safety upgrades, as the federal airport funding program nears its Sept. 30 end.

Tourism & Economy: Puerto Rico was named International Guest Destination of Honor for the 2027 ANATO Tourism Showcase, with officials saying the move is aimed at boosting visibility and new deals in key Latin American markets. Energy & Utilities: Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón announced legislation to enable Puerto Rico’s participation in the federal “Trump Accounts” program for minors, expanding tax-advantaged savings options for families. Water & Climate Resilience: UT researchers are studying how hurricanes and other extreme weather are reshaping Puerto Rico’s environment and communities, focusing on risks like landslides, reservoir sediment, and climate impacts on agriculture. Sports Spotlight: Australia opened its FIBA Women’s World Cup campaign by beating Puerto Rico 70-54, while the U.S. rolled past China 94-61 in Berlin. Local Culture & Community: A new Bell City Boxing Gym opened with classes for kids, adults, and seniors, highlighting Puerto Rico-linked coaching experience and a focus on discipline and confidence. Entertainment Impact: Bad Bunny’s San Juan concerts drove a near-11% jump in Visa transactions citywide over the weekend, with food and lodging among the biggest gainers.

Puerto Rico Energy & Power: Puerto Rico’s PREPA executive director Mary Carmen Zapata resigned after a policy disagreement with Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón’s energy team, and Fernando Osorio Caño was named interim director; separately, PREPA is facing a lawsuit tied to a canceled 400 MW emergency power contract. Water Crisis & Drought: The island remains in the grip of extreme drought, with coverage noting severe conditions across large parts of Puerto Rico and continued government water-rationing efforts. Climate Research: UT researchers are studying how hurricanes and other extreme weather are reshaping Puerto Rico’s communities and ecosystems, with a focus on landslides, reservoir sediment, and climate adaptation. Public Health: Clorox Puerto Rico recalled about 6.3 million bottles of Mistolin and Lestoil cleaners in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands due to possible bacteria contamination. Sports (Puerto Rico in focus): In the FIBA Women’s World Cup, Australia beat Puerto Rico 70-54 in its opener, while Puerto Rico’s players were among the top scorers for the island team. Local Economy & Business: A new “KVIDA Modern Mexican Bar” opened in Columbus with a menu that includes Puerto Rican mofongo, reflecting the growing Latin food scene. Workplace Well-Being: A regional mental health workplace study flags financial stress in Puerto Rico, with many workers lacking emergency savings and reporting difficulty making ends meet.

FIBA Women’s World Cup (Puerto Rico angle): Australia opened its campaign by beating Puerto Rico 70-54 in Berlin, with Steph Talbot scoring 19 and Alanna Smith starring early before a left-calf injury sidelined her for the second half. Team USA (Puerto Rico connection): In the same tournament window, the U.S. cruised past China 94-61 as Caitlin Clark came off the bench to post 14 points, 11 assists, and a record-setting 11 dimes in a World Cup debut. Local business spotlight: Aguada-born entrepreneur Brian Ruiz launched “El Camerino,” a luxury mobile salon bringing full hair-and-makeup studio service to clients across Puerto Rico. Legal/online rights: A Massachusetts federal court ruling says copyright takedowns can be shielded when senders claim a subjective “fair use” belief, prompting an appeal from digital-rights advocates. Public health: Clorox recalled about 6.3 million bottles of Mistolin and Lestoil cleaners in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands due to possible bacteria contamination. Tech access: Oklahoma added driver’s licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet, which already works in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico Economy: The Treasury Department says Puerto Rico’s General Fund net revenues hit $13.91 billion in Fiscal Year 2026, up $279.1 million (2%) from FY2025, with collections also beating projections from the oversight board. First Circuit Court: A federal appeals court reversed a lower-court order tied to Puerto Rico’s birth certificate policy, upholding the government’s ability to keep “X” sex markers off certificates. Energy Contract Scrutiny: Lawmakers are pressing for answers after a Puerto Rico power-generation contract was canceled over alleged forgery, with officials pointing to a dispute over who signed on behalf of a vendor. Drought Relief: Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón announced the USDA approved an expanded drought disaster declaration covering three primary and 16 contiguous municipalities, unlocking more federal aid for farmers and small businesses. Women’s Basketball (Puerto Rico on the world stage): Puerto Rico opens its FIBA Women’s World Cup group play in Berlin against Australia, and the island’s Julirys Guzmán Laureano is making history as the first Puerto Rican woman to referee at the senior tournament.