A deadly 2017 Atlantic hurricane that devastated Puerto Rico and Caribbean islands
AP News reports a widening probe ties multiple Puerto Rico officials to alleged corruption and interference in a key agency, prompting resignations and fresh scrutiny from Congress while the island battles outages and recovery delays.
The United States has mobilized disaster relief for Venezuela after 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck near Caracas. Washington has dispatched a disaster assistance team and pledged $150 million, while other nations offer help. The earthquakes have caused severe damage and casualties, prompting international calls for rapid humanitarian response.
Auditors find that only a fraction of federal funds obligated for Puerto Rico’s grid recovery have been disbursed. The GAO warns that staff turnover, review delays and the debt burden at PREPA hinder progress. Outages persist as vegetation overgrowth remains a key cause.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has suspended funding to the U.S. Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority after an ongoing investigation found widespread financial mismanagement, false certifications and improper payments. The authority has spent only a fraction of disaster recovery funds nine years after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, with investigations pointing to misused administrative costs and unspent project money. The agency is considering next steps, including an appeal process.