Tuesday Jan 23, 2024

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

San Juan The

Star

DAILY 50¢

Miami Bound: Criollos to Play in Caribbean Series After Winning 21st Winter Baseball Title

Strengthening the Herd

P28

Cattle Brought in from Texas to Improve Productivity in Face of Climate Change P4

Businessmen Plead Guilty to Stealing Federal Funds

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NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL P 16

Haley & Trump Campaign in New Hampshire After DeSantis’ Exit P7

2 Tuesday, January 23, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

GOOD MORNING 3

January 23, 2024

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.

Businessmen plead guilty to stealing federal funds

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wo businessmen have pleaded guilty to stealing federal funds, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Puerto Rico announced Monday.

Martin D. Cruz Vázquez, president of FiveStar Pest Control Inc., and Luis O. Agosto Meléndez, president of CoolBreeze Air Conditioning Inc., pleaded guilty to the theft of federal program funds provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the administration of Public Housing Projects (PHPs) in Puerto Rico.

According to court documents, Cruz Vázquez used FiveStar to obtain fraudulent contracts with the American Management and Administration Corporation (AMAC) and to submit fraudulent invoices for work that was not rendered. From 2014 to August 2022, Cruz Vázquez illegally obtained some $363,937 in HUD operational funds that were earmarked for the administration of PHPs. Similarly, from 2014 to August 2019, Agosto Meléndez utilized CoolBreeze to obtain fraudulent contracts with AMAC causing the theft of approximately $73,199.46 in HUD operational funds.

Both schemes were carried out with the assistance of AMAC managers, including president Walter Pierluisi Isern, who were convicted in 2023 for related federal program theft in excess of $3.7 million.

“The U.S. Department of Justice will continue to prosecute those who attempt to defraud government programs,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “These plea agreements send a clear message to those who misuse government funds that they will be held accountable for their crimes.”

“The guilty pleas relating to theft of funds from a

HUD program meant to benefit low-income families is a signal that repercussions await all those that would seek to illegally obtain taxpayer dollars through fraudulent schemes,” said HUD Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Southeast Region Special Agent-in-Charge Jerome Winkle. “HUD OIG remains committed to working with our prosecutorial and law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of HUD’s programs and ensure vulnerable people in our communities are provided critical resources upon which they can rely.”

The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on two separate dates in April and face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

HUD OIG investigated the case with the assistance of the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Christine Amy is prosecuting the case.

W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico

González Colón insists she doesn’t support Trump

By THE STAR STAFF

R

esident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón insisted on Monday that she does not support Donald Trump to be the Republican Party candidate for president.

“As I have said since day one, I have my hands full here in Puerto Rico,” the resident commissioner said in response to questions from the press. “I am pregnant and I am running a primary, so I do not have the time to get involved in a presidential campaign as I have done in the past. I was involved in many of those presidential

campaigns.”

“I am also not a delegate to the National Convention,” González Colón added. “Let’s wait; I personally really like the ambassador and former governor Nikki Haley, whom I know. I did not support President Trump, so I hope that at the end of the road the waters reach her level and hopefully Nikki Haley can strengthen her candidacy, but I am not going to be involved in that campaign.”

With the departure of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis from the GOP race on Sunday, Haley and former President Trump remain as candidates.

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Tuesday, January 23, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

Cattle imported from Texas to improve productivity in face of climate change

By THE STAR STAFF

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o improve productivity and efficiency in livestock production and establish better agricultural practices adapted to climate change, the island Department of Agriculture (DA), along with a group of ranchers, have received 150 bulls and heifers of different breeds from the state of Texas.

The aim is to strengthen the livestock sector with animals that are better adapted to high temperatures, thus improving production.

DA secretary Ramón González Beiró said the effort between the government and ranchers had been inactive for more than 20 years.

“Evidently this reflects the transformation in the sector and the commitment not only of the government, but also of our farmers to strengthen the industry,” the official said. “The

The aim of the program is to strengthen the island livestock sector with animals that are better adapted to high temperatures, thus improving production.

importation of these cattle is just one of several projects we have underway to continue strengthening our agriculture, improving animal genetics, increasing production and pro-

viding quality to the consumer.”

González Beiró added that having genetically advanced animals that are resistant to the high temperatures of the island’s tropical climate “will allow us to produce four or five times more, thus benefiting beef production and the entire supply chain.”

The agriculture secretary noted that through the Agricultural Enterprises Development Administration, the agency he heads will subsidize 50% with a contribution of almost $700,000 to support livestock producers.

Likewise, González Beiró emphasized that in the coming months the newly arrived cattle will be mating, so that next year it is expected that the first births will take place.

“This process of crossbreeding is a positive alternative for animal improvement, adjusting the genetic potential with the climate of the island to increase, improve production and promote the planting of improved pastures,” he said.

Deadline for changing government health insurance is Feb. 14

By THE STAR STAFF

H

ealth Insurance Administration (ASES) Director Roxanna Rosario on Monday urged all beneficiaries of the Puerto Rico government’s health plan, Vital, who wish to change plans to complete the process on or before Feb. 14, the date on which the open enrollment period ends.

“Any beneficiary who, for any reason, wants to change insurers has until Wednesday, February 14, to complete the process,” Rosario said in a written statement, noting that those who are satisfied with the services of their insurer do not have to go through any process and will continue to receive their services as usual. “After this date, the change can only be made as long as there is a just cause.”

To change his or her insurer, the beneficiary can use the ASES Vital App, call the enrollment counselor at 1-833-253-

7721, or by accessing the www.planvital.org web page.

“The process is simple,” the official said. “There are several ways to do this; through our application, advice via phone and/or for those who master technology, through the website.”

Rosario clarified that beneficiaries can change insurers without having to change their doctor and/or primary medical group.

“The alternative is the beneficiary’s,” she said. “You can change insurers and primary care physicians and primary medical groups as well. But you can stay with the same doctor or medical group if you want to.”

The official emphasized that only those beneficiaries who make the change of insurer will receive a new plan card corresponding to the selected insurer. Currently, the insurers contracted under the Vital Plan are First Medical, MMM, Plan de Salud Menonita and Triple S.

Health Insurance Administration Director Roxanna Rosario

LUMA to replace lighting in San Juan legislative district

By THE STAR STAFF

D

istrict 3 (San Juan) Rep. José “Cheito” Hernández Concepción met with LUMA Energy President Juan Saca and Puerto Rico Electric Energy Authority (PREPA) Executive Director Josué Colón Ortiz on Monday to establish a plan for replacing street lights in numerous communities in the island capital.

At the meeting, the New Progressive Party lawmaker requested that the breakdowns in the electrical system in the most populated district of the island be addressed quickly.

“For us, the electrical system in our district is a priority,” Hernández Concepción said. “We have been forceful and

consistent in demanding improvements in the transmission and distribution of electricity, which is why we emphasize that breakdowns must be reduced in areas such as Villa Andalucia, Venus Gardens, and the Figueroa neighborhood sector, among others. Waiting times for repairs are unacceptable and must be improved.”

Hernández Concepción obtained a commitment from LUMA, which operates the island’s electrical transmission and distribution system, that its personnel will replace feeders and poles at an accelerated pace. As part of the renewed effort, several obsolete systems that provide energy to the Park Gardens development sectors and the Concordia condominiums, among others, were replaced.

The lawmaker also stressed the urgency of replacing

the lighting structures in the metro area.

“I was clear with the LUMA staff: we have to work on the lights; our communities must be illuminated at night,” he said. “We understand the complexity of the work in this area -- the changing of poles, the temporary disconnections of transformers -- however, this is a vital issue. … We achieved a commitment from LUMA to accelerate this work.”

Hernández Concepción also said he will monitor the commitments reached at the meeting and ensure they are fulfilled.

“The responsible oversight of LUMA, as well as [power plant operator] Genera Puerto Rico, will continue,” the legislator said.

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

5

Pierluisi, González Colón electoral teams set ground rules

By THE STAR STAFF

N

ew Progressive Party (NPP) primary candidate for governor Jenniffer González Colón said Monday that at her request there was a meeting of her campaign leadership and that of Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia with the party’s electoral commissioner, Vanessa Saint Dominic Cross.

“One of the things I have done is ask the party or the governor and directly ask the electoral commissioner of the NPP, that a first campaign meeting could be held between the teams, my political director, Ángel Cintrón, my campaign director Francisco Domenech, my electoral director Aníbal Vega Borges and today it is taking place,” González Colón said in a separate interview with the press. “A meeting was held this morning at the State

Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón

Election Commission with the NPP electoral commissioner, Santo Domingo, and Governor Pierluisi’s campaign director, Edwin Mundo.”

The resident commissioner said the meeting was held to establish clear rules on how the campaign should be run because “we are brothers in the same community and that we can, as a party, focus on what the absentee vote is, early voting, which is what is necessary for our party to win the November election.”

“I believe that the most important thing is that this work be done in unison, so I have made my team available to the party for this, for the regulations that are needed, so that we can be on the same page and there is no type of of discrepancy on the processes that will govern the primary that will take place on June 2,” González Colón stated.

Governor defends his trip to Spain

By THE STAR STAFF

G

ov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia on Monday defended his trip to Spain, where he said he has a “busy schedule at the International Tourism Fair.”

“This is my second participation in the International Tourism Fair that is held in Madrid every year,” the governor said in response to questions from the press. “I was there, I participated in the fair last year and we had concrete achievements; for example, some agreements were signed with Iberia -- the frequency of flights increased, Iberia marketed Puerto Rico throughout Europe -- and we also

announced at that time that Toro Verde, which is an entity that has a tourist facility in the Orocovis area, is going to be establishing a similar facility in Castilla. If I remember correctly it is in the Toledo area. Those two announcements were made last year and I took advantage of it and met with the top executive officers of various Spanish companies doing business in Puerto Rico. This year it’s continuity. It is very important that one not only goes once to a fair like this and meets with the main executives of companies that are investing in Puerto Rico, but that this effort continues year after year because that is what makes the difference.”

“This year, again, I will have meetings with the most

senior managers of Spanish companies in the areas of infrastructure and energy, because in both areas we need investment from abroad, by companies that contribute to the reconstruction that is underway and the transformation that is underway,” Pierluisi said. “That’s the work plan. In due course we will be sharing my agenda because the agenda is very busy.”

The governor said he did not know the details of trips to Spain made by some legislators.

“Lawmakers have to report on their own itinerary,” he said. “I don’t have details of those trips. From what I’ve seen in the media, they’re in Barcelona.”

Hernández Ortiz of Villalba, Sifre of Ponce participate in national mayors meeting

By THE STAR STAFF

P

uerto Rico Mayors Association President Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz, along with Marlese Sifre, the interim mayor of Ponce, participated last week in the 92nd edition of the winter meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors, where common issues affecting municipalities were discussed.

“In our mission to find alternatives to solve the situations we face every day, generating contacts with mayors of large and small towns helps us to be more effective,” said Hernández Ortiz, the mayor of Villalba. “The meeting established some key priorities, such as the growing mental health crisis, which is a particularly sensitive issue in Puerto Rico, as well as public safety, housing and homelessness.”

Other topics included the democratization of technology and innovation, as well as workforce development and investment in infrastructure.

Sifre pointed out that additional meetings with the White House and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also went in that direction.

“Direct collaboration with White House, Cabinet and agency officials, as well as congressional and political leaders

is vital,” she said. “Communication technology always helps, but nothing replaces direct and personal contact.”

The mayors present at the meeting, both Democrats and Republicans, also reviewed the legislative priorities for the rest of the current 118th Congress, and defended the mayors’ abilities to do their jobs, keep their residents safe and protect their rights.

“This ranges from following up on legislation passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Biden, to provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Act over 10 years, and the $13 billion Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to bolster public safety programs,” Hernández Ortiz said.

Particularly important for Sifre was the meeting on women entrepreneurs and small

business owners, and networking opportunities with mayors.

“These are issues that affect us all regardless of language, budgets or the size of our cities,” she said. “This was evidenced in one of last Friday’s meetings, for example, on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the way we work in future health situations.”

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Tuesday, January 23, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

Biden and Harris announce abortion protections on 51st anniversary of Roe P

By KATIE ROGERS

resident Joe Biden and Vice President Kam ala Harris on Monday announced new steps to support access to abortion, highlighting an issue that has galvanized voters in the year since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.

Harris traveled to Wisconsin on Monday morning as she began a national tour focused on preserving access to reproductive health care, as Biden was to bring together a task force on reproductive health care in Washington.

Both events were designed to call attention to the 51st anniversary of Roe v.

Wade, the landmark Supreme Court ruling that established a constitutional right to abortion, and to announce new steps that Biden’s administration has taken to help Americans get contraceptives and abortions under an emergency care law.

“Even as Americans — from Ohio to Kentucky to Michigan to Kansas to California — have resoundingly rejected attempts to limit reproductive freedom, Republican elected officials continue to push for a national ban and devastating new restrictions across the country,” Biden said in a statement. “On this day and every day, Vice President Harris and I are fighting to protect women’s reproductive freedom.”

In Washington, the Department of Health and Human Services will issue guidance for patients experiencing pregnancy-related emergencies to better understand their rights to care under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, known as EMTALA. The law requires hospital emergency rooms to provide medically necessary care,

Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden in the Rose Garden during National Small Business Week, at the White House in Washington, May 1, 2023. In events this week, the president and vice president are arguing that abortion access is crucial to personal freedoms, and warn of what is at stake if Donald Trump is re-elected. (Doug Mills/The New York Times) including abortions, in urgent circumstances.

The department will also provide “training materials for health care providers and establish a dedicated team of experts” to support hospitals around the country, according to a fact sheet distributed by the administration.

Those efforts may add to the legal challenges surrounding the administration’s efforts to bolster access to abortion. The administration is already in the middle of legal battles with Texas and Idaho over whether the law provides for the procedure. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the Idaho case.

Harris, who has become the administration’s most vocal defender of abortion rights, chose Wisconsin as the backdrop for the first in a series of abortion rights events her office has planned around the country through the spring. Kirsten Allen, the vice president’s press secretary, said that Harris’ office had planned several more stops, over the next two to three months, in “states that have enshrined protections, restricted access and states that continue to threaten access, causing chaos and confusion.”

Wisconsin is crucial to Biden’s reelection

prospects — he won there by about 20,600 votes in 2020 — and recent polling suggests a close race in 2024. It was also a target of former President Donald Trump’s efforts to spread falsehoods about illegal voting in 2020.

But Democrats hope that a series of victories for abortion rights advocates in Wisconsin could signal a wider trend ahead of the general election. In April, Wisconsin voters elected a liberal candidate to the state’s Supreme Court by an 11-point margin. In September, Planned Parenthood began providing abortions again after a judge ruled that an 1849 state restriction against them — which had been invalidated

by Roe until it fell — was not enforceable.

Back in Washington, the administration’s task force on reproductive rights announced on Monday what officials said were new steps to help Americans get contraceptives, including new guidance meant to clarify standards to insurers of federal employees. It also released a letter, issued by Xavier Becerra, the health and human services secretary, that will inform private insurers of their obligation to provide contraceptives to those they serve.

The president and vice president plan to continue trying to draw a contrast between Republican-led efforts to restrict abortion and contraception and the Biden administration’s efforts to frame the issue as one rooted in protecting personal freedoms.

On Tuesday — the day of the New Hampshire primary — Harris will join Biden at a rally for abortion rights inVirginia, where Democrats recently took control of the legislature and have proposed to enshrine abortion protections in the state constitution. Jill Biden, the first lady, and Doug Emhoff, Harris’ husband, are also scheduled to attend.

Trump defamation trial is delayed for illness, upending timetable

By MARIA CRAMER and KATE CHRISTOBEK

T

he New York trial of the writer E. Jean Carroll’s defamation suit against Donald Trump was suspended on Monday after one of his lawyers said she had been exposed to COVID and a juror fell ill.

The juror was on his way to court when he began to feel flulike symptoms and called the federal courthouse in Manhattan to report that he was feeling ill, the judge in the trial, Lewis A. Kaplan, told lawyers for Trump and Carroll in the courtroom.

Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, who was exposed to COVID during a visit to her parents, said she had tested negative but was still feeling symptoms.

She asked Kaplan to postpone court for the day, and then asked for the trial to be delayed until Wednesday. She noted that Trump, who was in court and had been whispering to her, had reminded her that New Hampshire was holding its presidential primary on Tuesday.

“I would need his testimony to be Wednesday,” Habba said.

Roberta A. Kaplan, Carroll’s lawyer, said

she would prefer to continue on Tuesday.

“I’d like to get this trial over with,” she said.

Judge Kaplan said he would consider Habba’s request. “Circumstances may result in your getting what you ask for,” he told Habba.

“And maybe not.”

Thus ended the question of whether Trump would take the stand on Monday and testify in the civil trial, which is beginning its second week and which he has used as an opportunity to reach voters and complain that he is being mistreated by the courts.

On Monday morning, Trump’s motorcade had headed to the downtown Manhattan courthouse where a jury is deciding how much money, if any, he must pay Carroll for defaming her in 2019. That was the year she first accused him of raping her decades earlier in a department store dressing room.

In May, jurors in a separate trial awarded Carroll a little more than $2 million after finding Trump liable for sexually abusing her.

They also found that Trump had defamed her in separate instances and awarded her $3 million in damages for those.

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

7

Haley and Trump campaign in New Hampshire after DeSantis’ exit

By NICHOLAS NEHAMAS, MAGGIE HABERMAN, JONATHAN SWAN, MAGGIE ASTOR and CHRIS CAMERON

my privilege to provide my complete and total endorsement for Donald J. Trump.”

A growing number of Trump-supporting Republicans are looking past the primaries and on DeSantis’ exit Sunday cemented the declaring him “the presumptive nominee.” The Republican presidential race as a twolist includes the chairs of the House and Senate person contest between Donald Trump Republican campaign arms, Richard Hudson and Nikki Haley with the New Hampshire and Steve Daines. primary less than 48 hours away.

Even before DeSantis dropped out, days Trump, at a rally in Rochester, New Hampafter his devastating 30-percentage-point loss to shire, basked in the embrace of his former rivals.

Trump in Iowa, Haley and Trump were locked “Vivek just came with us,” he said of in an increasingly intense and personal battle in Vivek Ramaswamy. “And now Ron just came New Hampshire. Trump has a significant lead with us. They’re all coming with us.” in polls there, but Haley hopes to capitalize on Haley, earlier, took a small victory lap the support of independent voters. with the news. “It’s now one fella and one lady Here’s what else to know: left,” she said in Seabrook, New Hampshire, — Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida campaigned for Trump in Keene, New Hampshire, on holding up two fingers to cheers. She added: “For now, I’ll leave you with this: May the best Supporters of former President Donald Trump gather prior to the start of a campaign Sunday, while Haley appeared with Judith woman win.” rally at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, N.H. on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (Doug Mills/ Sheindlin, better known as Judge Judy, at a rally in Exeter.

Trump’s praise for his former rival was The New York Times) — Rep. Dean Phillips, President Joe a sharp turnabout, as he had made bashing Biden’s little-known primary challenger, said DeSantis a blood sport for much of the past year. A little over an hour after DeSantis dropped out, Trump it remains to be seen whether DeSantis’ departure will help he would be open to joining a No Labels ticket if Biden and said he was “officially” retiring his derisive nickname for the her, or whether more of his supporters — like DeSantis Trump were the major-party nominees. himself — will migrate to Trump. DeSantis said the former — Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will headFlorida governor: “DeSanctimonious.”

“As you know, he left the campaign trail today at 3 p.m.,” president was preferable to “the old Republican guard of line events this week centered on protecting reproductive Trump said of DeSantis in Rochester. “And in so doing, he yesteryear,” a swipe at Haley. And within minutes of his rights. Their campaign is also releasing an ad featuring a was very gracious, and he endorsed me, so I appreciate that.” announcement, one of his top surrogates, Rep. Bob Good, Texas OB-GYN who had to leave the state for an abortion Though Haley now has the two-person race she sought, R-Va., had posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, “It is after she learned her fetus had a fatal condition.

R

Trump campaign bars an NBC reporter from a New Hampshire event

By MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM

D

onald Trump, who popularized the term “fake news” and as president declared the news media “the enemy of the people,” is again clashing with journalists over press access, this time to his 2024 campaign events.

An NBC News correspondent said Sunday that aides to Trump stopped him from covering an event in New Hampshire, where the former president was expected to make his first in-person remarks after Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida dropped out of the race.

Vaughn Hillyard, a longtime NBC News correspondent who regularly covers Trump, had planned to attend as a pool reporter representing five major TV networks. But he told other campaign journalists that the Trump team objected to his presence.

“Your pooler was told that if he was the designated pooler by NBC News that the pool would be cut off for the day,” Hillyard wrote in an email to the rest of the pool that was obtained by The New York Times. “After affirming to the

campaign that your pooler would attend the events, NBC News was informed at about 2:20 p.m. that the pool would not be allowed to travel with Trump today.”

Because candidate events often take place in cramped spaces, campaign journalists have long relied on a so-called pool system, in which one reporter attends on behalf of other news organizations. The television pool consists of ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC, with the networks taking turns on a preset schedule. Each network selects the individual journalist who is assigned to represent the pool.

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung acknowledged that the network pool did not attend the New Hampshire event, but he said the Trump campaign does not “bar reporters based on their reporting.” Cheung said the campaign holds some events without a network pool, and noted that the pooling system for presidential candidates is less formal than the system in place for covering the president at the White House.

“We work with each other when it makes sense for both sides,” Cheung said.

NBC News declined to comment. Later Sunday, Hillyard was allowed to attend a rally that Trump was holding at an opera house in Rochester, New Hampshire.

The incident Sunday echoed several episodes in Trump’s political career where he barred journalists from attending events or news conferences. During the 2016 campaign, he prohibited reporters from The Washington Post and BuzzFeed News from attending some rallies. As president, his administration revoked a CNN reporter’s press pass and barred certain journalists from some public events.

Hillyard has irritated Trump before with questions that the former president deemed impertinent. Last March, during a meeting with journalists aboard his plane, Trump grabbed Hillyard’s phone and asked that he be removed. “Get him out of here,” Trump told aides, according to audio published

by Vanity Fair.

On Friday, at a separate event in New Hampshire, Hillyard repeatedly pressed Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., a close Trump ally, about Trump being found liable in a civil trial for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll.

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Tuesday, January 23, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

At least 72 deaths in US are connected to severe winter weather

By JACEY FORTIN and COLBI EDMONDS

A

t least 72 people across the United States have died from weather-related causes after more than a week of frigid winter storms and brutally cold temperatures, according to reports from state officials, police departments, medical examiners and news outlets.

The number is likely to grow as authorities scramble to assess the death toll from the bitter chill, frozen roads and high winds, especially in parts of the country unused to extended bouts of a deep freeze.

Last Monday in Tennessee, a man died after he fell through a skylight while clearing snow from the roof of a business. Last Tuesday in Pennsylvania, five women from the same family were killed in a collision with a tractor-trailer, just moments after they had convened on the side of a snowy highway following a separate accident. And on Wednesday in Oregon, a tree branch, weakened by wind and ice, took down a live power line that killed two adults and a teenager.

Tennessee suffered a particularly high number of fatalities. At least 27 people there appear to have died of weather-related causes, including hypothermia, falls and traffic accidents, according to state health officials. And in Oregon, at least 11 people are reported to have died of weather-related causes, including the three who were killed by the power line. Both states declared a state of emergency last week, as did Kentucky, where at least five people died during the cold snap.

“Everyone, please take time today to check on your family, friends and co-workers and make sure they have what they need to stay safe and warm,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement Friday.

Traffic accidents — often caused by cars spinning out of control on icy, snowy roads — are among the most common causes of death during cold snaps. Hypothermia is another threat, especially for people who do not have access to shelter or heat. And downed power lines can raise the risk of fire or electrocution.

But cold-weather fatalities are difficult to count. The causes of death vary widely, and it can take time for authori-

People tend to underestimate the risks of extreme temperatures, said James Marshall Shepherd, a weather and climate expert at the University of Georgia. But cold snaps like the one that swept the country this month are often deadlier than hurricanes, tornadoes and other comparatively dramatic weather events. ties to pinpoint the exact circumstances of a traffic accident, a heart attack or a fall.

“It is very difficult to compile this sort of information

because there is a lot of ambiguity,” said Alan Black, an expert in climate and extreme weather at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

“There is still a lot of research to be done to understand the exact impact of winter weather in the U.S.,” he added, “and I think that it is an extremely important topic to explore since we simply don’t know the impact.”

Weather across the country remained frigid Sunday, with Nashville, Tennessee, hitting a low of 3 degrees. Parts of Texas had temperatures in the 30s on Sunday, and Chicago and Milwaukee saw temperatures in the teens.

But the freeze promises to break beginning Monday.

Temperatures are expected to rise across the country, hitting above-average levels in many places, said Bob Oravec, a lead forecaster with the National Weather Service in Maryland.

Instead of cold and snow, many areas could see heavy rains, including eastern Texas into the lower Mississippi Valley, which includes Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee. The West Coast will also have wet weather conditions. California is expecting heavy rain and snow in the Sierra Nevada.

People tend to underestimate the risks of extreme temperatures, said James Marshall Shepherd, a weather and climate expert at the University of Georgia. But cold snaps like the one that swept the country this month are often deadlier than hurricanes, tornadoes and other comparatively dramatic weather events.

People in the South, Shepherd said, can be especially vulnerable to extreme weather, particularly in low-income areas, and ones that are densely populated or unaccustomed to the cold.

During summer heat waves, which have become hotter than they used to be, many people in the South feel at least somewhat acclimated, Shepherd said. But decades-old infrastructure that is common in Southern states is often ill-suited to the kind of icy weather much of the region has experienced over the past week. He added that many residents may not have the necessary resources — such as reliable heat or warm clothes — to stay safe.

“When everyone else gets a cold,” he added, “we get the flu.”

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

9

First Black women to cover the White House are honored in the briefing room

By ERICA L. GREEN

O

n her first day covering the White House, Alice Dunnigan had every reason to stand out.

She was the first Black woman to be credentialed to join the White House press corps, and she had even arrived an hour early to cover her first news conference with President Harry Truman. But as she sat in the lobby of the West Wing, she may as well have been invisible.

“I sat there alone and apparently unnoticed, taking in all the activity while glancing now and then at my newspaper,” she wrote in her autobiography, “Alone Atop the Hill.” “If anyone wondered who I was or why I was there, they made no effort to find out.”

More than 75 years later, Dunnigan’s memory is being honored in the same setting where her colleagues once ignored her.

Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, in November named a new lectern in the White House briefing room for Dunnigan of The Associated Negro Press and Ethel L. Payne, who joined her on the beat a few years later for The Chicago Defender.

“The White House lectern is a powerful symbol of freedom and democracy beamed around the world on a regular basis,” said Jean-Pierre, who is the first Black woman to serve as White House press secretary. “I can’t think of two better people to be associated with that symbol than Alice and Ethel.”

Over the years, the briefing room lectern has become as much a cultural artifact as a political one, anchoring a room accessible to a privileged few.

April Ryan, Washington bureau chief and senior White House correspondent for The Grio, and the longest-serving Black woman in the White House press corps, said the decision to honor Dunnigan and Payne made her feel “seen.”

“There are still crescendo moments in Black America, and we are the only ones who are asking those questions, or writing those stories, and asking Black questions that no one else dares, or wants, or thinks are important enough to ask,” she said.

Ryan, who has been attacked by former President Donald Trump and conservative media for asking questions that pertain to Black Americans, said the choice of these

two women was particularly poignant.

Both women were chastised by White House officials and later ignored by President Dwight Eisenhower, who was often flustered by their questions about civil rights.

Dunnigan, who had to pawn her jewelry to make it between paychecks, said that white reporters took for granted that they would be allowed to cover the White House.

“To them it was nothing unusual because white reporters with reputation and status had always been accredited to the White House,” Dunnigan wrote of her colleagues, who eventually extended what she called “casual congratulations” for obtaining her credentials.

“I appreciated and cherished this honor even though I felt that I had actually earned it the hard way,” she wrote, “through strenuous preparation, perseverance, hard work, acceptable qualifications, persistence, a heroic fight, and proven ability.”

She recalled how she managed to scoop her colleagues during a cross-country train trip with Truman. When the train stopped in Missoula, Montana, in the middle of the night, many other reporters were asleep as Truman emerged in his bathrobe and spoke to a waiting crowd of students

about civil rights.

She was still awake, and reporters who missed the moment pressured her not to publish the resulting story for fear that it would make them look bad. But she published anyway, with a headline declaring: “Pajama Clad President Defends Civil Rights at Midnight.”

It took three months for Payne to ask her first question at one of Eisenhower’s news conferences, according to an excerpt from her biography, “Eye on the Struggle.”

The day came in February 1954, when she asked him about the Howard University choir being blocked from performing at a celebration the president attended — a detail that had been left out in other coverage of the event.

“The white press was so busy asking questions on other issues that the blacks and their problems were completely ignored,” Payne said of her time at the White House.

A question about whether Eisenhower would take action on banning segregation in interstate travel after the 1954 Brown v.

Board of Education Supreme Court decision was the one that got her shunned. Not only did Eisenhower stop calling on her, according to her biographer, but the White

Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, answers questions during a press briefing in the Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. Jean-Pierre recently announced that she named a new lectern in the room after Alice Dunnigan, the first Black woman credentialed to cover the White House in 1947 as a reporter for the Associated Negro Press, and Ethel Payne, who joined her a few years later to cover the White House for the Chicago Defender.

(Pete Marovich/The New York Times)

House press secretary attempted to revoke her press credentials.

Payne went on to become known as the “first lady of the Black press,” and her coverage of the civil rights movement was so instrumental that President Lyndon Johnson invited her to the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and gave her one of the pens he used to sign the landmark legislation.

Martha Joynt Kumar, a presidency scholar who has documented the relationship between the press and the White House for decades, said the Dunnigan-Payne lectern was a rare showing of solidarity between the White House and the press corps.

“It seems fluffy,” Kumar said, “but it isn’t.”

The naming of the lectern was inspired by the White House Correspondents’ Association’s creation of a lifetime achievement award in honor of the two women in 2022. Kumar said the Dunnigan-Payne lectern joins others of significance, including Blue Goose, which is used for formal presidential speeches, and Toast, which is used for toasts at events such as state dinners.

Judy Smith, who served as a deputy press secretary for President George H.W. Bush, and was the first Black woman to lead a White House press briefing, said the weight of the White House briefing room is felt by those who sit on both sides of the lectern.

“Speaking from the podium, addressing critical issues that affect the country, and every single word you say is taken very seriously, and sliced and parsed in so many different ways — it’s a tremendous responsibility,” Smith, who was the inspiration for the character Olivia Pope on the hit show “Scandal,” said in an interview.

“I also think that it’s important to acknowledge and recognize these women,” she added, “and the weight of the responsibility they felt as well.”

Alicia Dunnigan, Dunnigan’s granddaughter, said her grandmother would be “overcome” by the news of the lectern, which was officially dedicated in November.

“She wanted to inspire future generations,” Dunnigan said of her grandmother, who died in 1983. “The significance of that podium — I’m sure she never could’ve conceived of something so prominent and permanent, to stand as a beacon in that room, in her name.”

10 Tuesday, January 23, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

FAA tells airlines to check panels on a second Boeing plane

By MARK WALKER

T

he Federal Aviation Administration recommended late Sunday night that airlines begin visual inspections of door plugs installed on Boeing 737-900ER planes, the second Boeing model to come under scrutiny this month.

The FAA said the plane has the same door plug design as the 737 Max 9, which had 171 jets from its fleet grounded after a door panel was blown off one of the jets shortly after an Alaska Airlines flight left Portland, Oregon, on Jan. 5., forcing an emergency landing.

The door plugs are placed as a panel

where an emergency door would otherwise be if a plane had more seats.

The federal aviation safety agency subsequently grounded the 737 Max 9 fleet and announced it was investigating whether Boeing failed to ensure that the jet was safe and conformed to the design approved by the agency.

The FAA said Sunday that the door plug on the 737-900ER, which is not part of the Boeing Max line, has not yet been a problem.

“As an added layer of safety, the Federal Aviation Administration is recommending that operators of Boeing 737900ER aircraft visually inspect mid-exit

door plugs to ensure the door is properly secured,” the agency said in a statement.

The FAA is recommending that the airlines using the Boeing 737-900ER immediately inspect the four locations used to secure the door plug to the airframe.

The Boeing 737-900ER has over 11 million hours of operation and about 4 million flight cycles, according to the FAA. “We fully support the FAA and our customers in this action,” Boeing said in a statement.

Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, which use the 737-900ER, each said in statements that they had already started checking the door plugs on

their fleet. None of them expects any disruptions to their operations.

The incident involving the Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 flight earlier this month did not result in any serious injuries, but it could have been far graver had it occurred when the plane was at its cruising altitude.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident in hopes of learning what caused the door plug to be expelled from the plane.

In the meantime, the FAA recently ordered an initial round of inspections of 40 of the grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 planes as it works to develop final inspection instruction for the planes.

Macy’s plans to cut 2,350 jobs and close 5 stores

By JORDYN HOLMAN

M

acy’s, the country’s largest department store operator, told employees late last week that it was laying off 13% of its corporate workforce. The move comes as the company prepares to unveil a new strategy that will be overseen by its incoming chief executive.

The cuts amount to roughly 2,350 jobs, or about 3.5% of the company’s overall workforce, which includes employees at subsidiaries Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury. The layoffs will be achieved by eliminating some roles and consolidating teams, according to memos seen by The New York Times.

The company also said it would close five of its more than 560 Macy’s stores.

The memos said the decisions were based on consumer research and were meant to make the retailer more competitive by improving its cost structure and driving faster decision-making.

The cutbacks were reported earlier

by The Wall Street Journal.

Tony Spring will take over as Macy’s CEO next month from Jeff Gennette, a company veteran who is retiring

after holding the post since 2017. Spring, who ran Bloomingdale’s, was named to the top position in March and has undertaken a research effort alongside Adrian Mitchell, the chief financial officer and chief operating officer at Macy’s.

The company said it would unveil its wider strategy in the near future.

“As we prepare to deploy a new strategy to meet the needs of an everchanging consumer and marketplace, we made the difficult decision to redu-

Shoppers at Macy’s in Manhattan, on Nov. 29, 2023. Macy’s, the country’s largest department store operator, told employees Thursday, Jan. 18, 2023, that it was laying off 13 percent of its corporate work force. The move comes as the company prepares to unveil a new strategy that will be overseen by its incoming chief executive. (John Taggart/The New York Times)

ce our work force by 3.5 percent to become a more streamlined company,” a Macy’s spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

In a memo to employees, the company said it would be “offshoring certain areas of the business” but did not provide details.

As consumers have spent less on apparel and discretionary items over the past year, Macy’s has struggled to increase its sales, and it has been facing pressure to improve its business. In December, an investor group submitted a bid to take the company private at $5.8 billion, which was more than $1 billion above its market value at the time.

The share price has risen more than 50% over the last two months but remains lower than it was a year ago or early in the pandemic.

“Macy’s obviously needs to keep investors satisfied, and its focus on profit has accomplished that at a time when sales performance has been extremely lackluster,” Neil Saunders, managing director of research and consulting firm GlobalData Retail, said Thursday by email. “However, this strategy comes with an expiry date; ultimately no retailer can shrink itself to success.”

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

11 Stocks

S&P 500 hits fresh record high, builds on bull-market run T he benchmark S&P 500 scaled a fresh record high on Monday, extending a bull-market run into a new week on a boost from some megacap and chip stocks, while corporate earnings and clues on interest-rate cuts continued to top investors’ radar.

The S&P 500 surpassed Friday’s record level and hit an intraday high of 4,868.41 points, confirming a bull market after closing at an all-time high in the previous session since its October 2022 closing low.

Megacaps such as Alphabet, Meta Platforms and Apple added between 0.5% and 1.1%, while chip stocks Nvidia, Broadcom and Micron Technology advanced between 0.6% and 2%, taking the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index up by 0.2% to a new all-time intraday high.

“We’re going to see a fair amount of volatility ... any economic slowdown may put a cap on the markets and with inflation still being an issue, you may also see the Fed standing pat a lot longer than the markets think,” said Paul Nolte, senior wealth adviser and market strategist at Murphy & Sylvest.

Wall Street had stalled at the start of 2024 after the prior year’s stellar run, as investors reassessed a quicker start to interest-rate cuts in light of mixed economic data and Federal Reserve policymakers playing down such bets.

Traders have sharply scaled back their expectations of an at least 25-basis-point rate cut first arriving in March, with focus now more on May with a 53% chance, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool.

Investors will parse the personal consumption expenditure (PCE) index - the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, S&P Global PMI readings and an advance fourth-quarter GDP print this week to assess the central bank’s next policy decision when it meets on Jan. 31.

Big-ticket earnings this week from Netflix, Tesla, Abbott Laboratories, Intel and Johnson & Johnson, among others, will also be watched for insights into the health of corporate America.

United Airlines Holdings, Brown & Brown and Zions Bancorp are set to detail earnings after market close.

So far, 84.6% of the S&P 500 companies that have reported results have surpassed earnings expectations, LSEG data showed on Friday, compared with the 93.1% beat seen in the previous week.

At 11:51 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 120.08 points, or 0.32%, at 37,983.88, the S&P 500 was up 12.98 points, or 0.27%, at 4,852.79, and the Nasdaq Composite was up 67.29 points, or 0.44%, at 15,378.26.

Meanwhile, utilities fell 0.9% to lead declines among the major S&P 500 sectors.

The consumer staples index slipped 0.4% as ArcherDaniels-Midland slumped 22% after placing its CFO on administrative leave for an investigation and cutting its full-year profit forecast.

Gilead lost 10.2% after its cancer drug missed main

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goal in late-stage study.

Renewable energy firm SolarEdge gained 2.7% on plans to lay off about 16% of its global workforce.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 3.16to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 2.31-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.

The S&P index recorded 79 new 52-week highs and three new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 144 new highs and 97 new lows.

Strategists at the Wells Fargo Investment Institute (WFII) this week upgraded their rating on the energy sector to “favorable” from “neutral,” saying “oil prices will bottom with the global economy and then finish the year higher.”

A potential rise in Middle East tensions and any OPEC actions on production are factors that could influence near-term oil prices.

Prices for U.S. crude jumped as much as 4.5% on Friday before settling up 0.9%, after several oil tankers diverted course from the Red Sea following overnight air and sea strikes by the United States and Britain on Houthi targets in Yemen. The energy sector ended up 1.3% on the day.

12 Tuesday, January 23, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

Area around Khan Younis ‘essentially besieged,’ relief official says

By HIBA YAZBEK and ADAM YASGON

F

ighting intensified in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday, with medical personnel reporting heavy exchanges of gunfire and a surge of Israeli tanks and troops into areas around hospitals.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society and the Gaza Health Ministry said many people had been killed and wounded in the city of Khan Younis on Monday, without providing specific counts. Nahed Abu Taaema, director of surgery at Nasser Hospital, the largest hospital in southern Gaza, told Al Jazeera in a televised interview that it had received 100 wounded people and 50 bodies.

Naseem Hasan, an ambulance officer at Nasser, said in an interview that tanks were about 100 meters south of the hospital and “can target anyone.” He said one ambulance carrying a person who had been shot in the head was not able to reach Nasser Monday morning and had to go to a hospital in Rafah — a journey that took three hours.

In a statement, the Red Crescent said the presence of Israeli troops near AlAmal Hospital, which it operates, meant its ambulances could not reach the injured in Khan Younis. It said that anyone attempting to move around the area was coming under fire.

The house in Khan Younis under which a tunnel entrance was found, as photographed during an escorted tour, on Jan 19. 2024. (Isabel Kershner/The New York Times) “Khan Younis is very dangerous now,” Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Red Crescent, said in an interview.

“The whole district of Khan Younis is essentially besieged.”

As Israel has wound down its operations in northern Gaza, it has pushed ahead with its invasion of Khan Younis, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people have sought shelter in schools, hospitals and tent cities.

Israeli officials have said the campaign in the city — which they describe as a Hamas stronghold — was targeting

the group’s leadership, and they have accused Hamas of using hospitals and other civilian infrastructure to hide its operations. But civilians, many of whom have relocated several times since the start of the war, have been left with no refuge.

Wafa, the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency, reported Monday that several people had been killed and wounded at a school in Mawasi, west of Khan Younis, after an Israeli strike. The report could not be independently verified. The school was sheltering displaced people who went there after the Israeli

military told them that Mawasi, a seaside area, was a safe zone.

Farsakh said that Red Crescent crews had been receiving calls from people who were wounded across Khan Younis, including at the school in Mawasi, and that the crews were unable to respond “because they are being targeted.”

The Israeli military didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. On Sunday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Israeli forces in southern Gaza were acting with great precision and would be “expanding” their operations in Khan Younis.

“The plumes of smoke from the tanks, artillery and planes belonging to the air force will continue to cover the Gaza Strip’s skies until we achieve our goals, chief among them toppling Hamas and returning the hostages to their homes,” he said in a statement.

The Gaza Health Ministry said Monday that Israeli strikes had killed 190 people and wounded 340 others in the enclave over the previous 24 hours. It did not specify how many of the casualties were in Khan Younis.

The ministry said Sunday that more than 25,000 people had been killed since Israel began its bombardment of the strip after the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on its territory, which Israeli officials say killed 1,200 people.

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, diagnosed with skin cancer

By ISABELLA KWAI

S

arah Ferguson, the Duchess of York and the former wife of Prince Andrew, said on Monday that it had been a “shock” to receive a second diagnosis of cancer within a year, after doctors found melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer.

The former royal, 64, had spoken publicly about her decision to undergo a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery last year, following a breast cancer diagnosis in the summer.

A spokesperson for Ferguson told The Associated Press on Sunday that the melanoma was found after several moles were removed during her treatment for breast cancer and that doctors were still analyzing the situation.

On Monday, Ferguson said on Instagram that she had received care “in the past weeks” and was recuperating at home with family. “It was thanks to the great vigilance of my dermatologist that the melanoma was detected

when it was,” she wrote.

“Naturally another cancer diagnosis has been a shock,” she added, “But I’m in good spirits and grateful for the many message of love and support.”

Melanoma is a particularly deadly type of skin cancer. It accounts for only 1% of all diagnosed skin cancers in the United States but causes the majority of deaths. In Britain, it makes up about 4% of all new cancer cases, and melanoma rates have been on the rise, according to Cancer Research U.K., a charity that supports cancer research.

Ferguson, known widely as “Fergie,” rose to mainstream attention in the 1980s — and became British tabloid fodder — after she married Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, who was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages in 2022 after being named in a sexual abuse case.

The pair divorced in the 1990s but remained friends; they have two daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eug-

enie.

Ferguson has since worked as a television presener, written children’s books and historical romances and launched a podcast. After revealing her breast cancer diagnosis last year, Ferguson had urged her podcast listeners to get routine mammograms.

“It’s very important that I speak about it,” she said at the time, adding that both her father and stepfather died from cancer. She is a longtime patron for charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust.

On Monday, she warned people to “be diligent” about checking for changes in and the emergence of new moles.

Senior members of the royal family were hit by health worries last week. King Charles III was to receive a “corrective procedure” for an enlarged prostate this week, the palace said. Catherine, the Princess of Wales and the wife of Prince William, will take a hiatus from public duties to recuperate from abdominal surgery.

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

13

As US and militias engage, White House worries about a tipping point

By PETER BAKER

A

nother day, another barrage of rockets and another spark that U.S. officials fear could set off a wildfire of violence across the Middle East.

The latest attack on U.S. troops in the region over the weekend resulted in no deaths, but President Joe Biden and his advisers worry that it is only a matter of time. Whenever a report of a strike arrives at the White House Situation Room, officials wonder whether this will be the one that forces a more decisive retaliation and results in a broader regional war.

The assault on U.S. troops based at Ain al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq on Saturday night was by one measure the most successful believed to be carried out by a militia sponsored by Iran since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7. Two of an estimated 17 rockets and short-range ballistic missiles fired at the base made it through air defense systems. An unspecified number of U.S. military personnel were reported injured, but none were said to have been killed.

But it was just the latest in a regular string of relatively low-level assaults that have become a way of life in the Middle East for U.S. forces since the Hamas attack. As of Thursday, Iranian-backed militias had carried out 140 attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria, with nearly 70 U.S. personnel wounded, some of them suffering traumatic brain injuries. All but a few have been able to return to duty in short order, according to the Pentagon.

U.S. forces have at times mounted retaliations, but in limited fashion to avoid instigating a full-fledged conflict.

Biden administration officials have regularly debated the proper strategy. They do not want to let such attacks go without a response, but on the other hand do not want to go so far that the conflict would escalate into a full-fledged war, particularly by striking Iran directly. They privately say they may have no choice, however, if U.S. troops are killed.

That is a red line that has not been crossed, but if the Iranian-backed militias ever have a day of better aim or better luck, it easily could be.

“The administration confronts a problem without a risk-free solution,” said Aaron David Miller, a longtime Middle East peace negotiator now at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “They don’t want

deteriorating into something even deadlier.

Israel continues to hammer Hamas in Gaza while exchanging fire across the Lebanese border with Hezbollah, taking on two groups backed by Iran, even as U.S. troops fight with Houthis in Yemen and militias in Iraq and Syria. Iran blamed Israel for an airstrike on Damascus, Syria, on Saturday that killed five Iranian military figures. Iran for its part has fired missiles into Iraq, Syria and Pakistan, prompting Pakistan to mount its own airstrike against Iran.

Biden’s team is trying to manage all those flashpoints at the same time it is trying to find a way to press Israel to scale back its war against Hamas to a more surgical operation with fewer civilian casualties. So far, according to Gaza health officials, more than 25,000 people have been killed, some of President Joe Biden boards Marine One in Rehoboth Beach en route to New Cast- them Hamas combatants but most of them le, Del., on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The latest attack on American troops over the women and children. weekend resulted in no deaths, but President Biden and his advisers worry it is A senior Biden administration official only a matter of time. (Yuri Gripas/The New York Times) was leaving for the region Sunday to seek a new agreement between Israel and Hamas to strike Iran directly for fear of escalation, gram, and he facilitated the release of frozen to release some or all of the 120 hostages which only widens the margin for pro-Irani- Iranian assets in exchange for the release of still believed to be held in exchange for at an groups, including the Houthis, to strike at Americans held prisoner. least a pause in the fighting, according to Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., derided U.S. two U.S. officials who spoke on condition U.S. forces. At some point, if U.S. forces are killed, they’ll have no alternative but to re- operations against the Houthis as “very lim- of anonymity because of diplomatic sensiited pinprick strikes against a bunch of goat tivities. spond directly against Iranian assets.”

While there have been no known U.S. herders in Yemen” and asserted that Biden The official, Brett McGurk, the presifatalities from enemy fire since Oct. 7, two had not moved strongly enough to deter Iran. dent’s Middle East coordinator, planned to Navy SEALs went missing this month dur- “Joe Biden’s weakness and indecision and travel to Cairo to meet with Abbas Kamel, ing a nighttime commando raid on a boat half measures have failed totally to protect chief of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service carrying Iranian-made ballistic-missile and Americans,” he said on the Hugh Hewitt ra- and widely considered the nation’s secondcruise-missile components to the Iranian- dio show last week. most-powerful official. As part of the trip, The White House has rejected the argu- previously reported by Axios, McGurk will backed Houthis in Yemen. On Sunday, U.S. Central Command said the SEALs had died ment that Biden has been too soft on Iran, also head to Doha, Qatar, to meet with and it had ended its search. One of the SEALs pointing to sanctions that his administration Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abslipped off a boarding ladder or was swept has imposed on 500 individuals, companies dulrahman Al Thani.

At the same time, administration officials off by a high wave, while the other jumped in or government entities. “There’s been a lot of effort here to hold Iran accountable for said they were worried the conflict in the reto try to save him, according to news reports.

Biden’s critics of Biden have complained their destabilizing activities,” National Se- gion might be getting worse, not better.

Council that he has been too passive, even after the curity United States launched six airstrikes in 10 spokesperson days against Houthi forces. The Houthis have John Kirby said 20% been attacking merchant and military vessels Friday.

DE DESCUENTO AL PRESENTAR There are in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in what CORTINAS EN ALUMINIO Aprobado por DACO ANUNCIO. they call retaliation for Israel’s military opera- so many brush fires and so tions against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The critics contend that Biden has em- many players boldened Iran by not acting more firmly, not with matches just since Oct. 7 but also through his whole in the region administration. Biden has unsuccessfully that it is not tried to negotiate a new agreement with Iran hard to imag- (787)923-1959/377-5662 that would restrain its nuclear weapons pro- ine the conflict

14

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Modi opens a giant temple, a triumph toward a Hindu-first India

T

hey fanned out across the vast country, knocking on doors in the name of a cause that would redefine India.

These foot soldiers and organizers, including a young Narendra Modi, collected millions of dollars to be socked away for a long fight to build a grand Hindu temple in Ayodhya, in northern India. Across 200,000 villages, ceremonies were arranged to bless individual bricks that would be sent to that sacred city, believed by Hindus to be the birthplace of the deity Ram. The bricks, the campaign’s leaders declared, would not just be used for the temple’s construction on land occupied for centuries by a mosque. They would be the foundation for a Hindu rashtra, or Hindu nation, that would correct what right-wing Hindus saw as the injustice of India’s birth as a secular republic.

Now, nearly four decades later, the cornerstone of that sweeping vision has been laid.

Modi, the country’s prime minister, inaugurated the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Monday — the crowning achievement of a national movement aimed at establishing Hindu supremacy in India by rallying the country’s Hindu majority across castes and tribes.

“Today, our Ram has come. After centuries of patience and sacrifice, our Lord Ram has come,” Modi said during the ceremony. “It is the beginning of a new era.”

The moment is both one of triumph for Hindu nationalists and one of jubilation for many others who care little for politics. Ram has a wide following in India; excitement around the temple’s consecration had been building for weeks, with saffron-colored pennants strung across a million streets and markets, and posters of Ram advertising the event everywhere.

But for the country’s 200 million Muslims, the Ram temple has reinforced a sense of despair and dislocation.

The Babri Mosque, which once stood on the site, was destroyed in 1992 by Hindu activists, unleashing waves of sectarian violence that left thousands dead. The manner in which the mosque was razed set a precedent of impunity that reverberates today: lynchings of Muslim men accused of slaughtering or transporting cows, beatings of interfaith couples to combat “love jihad” and — in an echo of Ayodhya — “bulldozer justice” in which the homes of Muslims are leveled by officials without due process in the wake of religious tensions.

The Hindu right wing has ridden the Ram movement to become India’s dominant political force. The opening of the temple, built over 70 acres at a cost of nearly $250 million, marks the unofficial start of Modi’s campaign for a third term, in an election expected in the

Volunteers hand out kits telling people how they could participate in the Ram temple consecration ceremony at home in Mumbai, Jan. 15, 2024. The Ram temple inaugurated by Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Monday is on the disputed site of a centuries-old mosque destroyed in a Hindu mob attack that set a precedent of impunity against Muslims. (Atul Loke/The New York Times) spring.

That it was Modi who was the star of the inauguration of the temple in Ayodhya — which Hindu nationalists have compared to the Vatican and Mecca — captures the right’s blurring of old lines.

India’s founding fathers took great pains to keep the state at arm’s length from religion, seeing it as crucial to the country’s cohesion after the communal bloodletting wrought by the 1947 partition that cleaved Pakistan from India. But Modi has unabashedly normalized the opposite.

After completing the consecration rituals alongside priests on Monday, Modi prostrated in front of the Ram idol, carved with a warm smile and lucid eyes in black stone and bedecked in jewels. The prime minister then emerged at the edge of the temple steps in his signature style for big moments: the powerful leader, alone in the frame, striding forward and bowing to the thousands of handpicked guests — celebrities, seers and business leaders — seated below.

In preparation for his role in Ayodhya, Modi embarked on an 11-day Hindu purification ritual. The prime minister was seen temple-hopping across the country, and when his office put out pictures of him at his residence feeding cows, which are seen as holy by many Hindus, fawning television channels ran them as breaking news.

Manoj Kumar Jha, an opposition lawmaker, said that while Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, might be toppled someday, the transformation of the state and society would take decades, at least, to undo.

“Winning elections could be arithmetic.

But the fight is in the realm of psychology — the psychological rupture, the social rupture,” Jha said. Just as Muslim Pakistan was founded as a state for one religious group, India is “now emulating Pakistan, a little late.”

“The toxic mix of religion and politics is idealized,” he added. “Nobody is bothered to see what such a toxic mix has done.”

In many ways, India’s birth as a secular republic was an idealistic project undertaken by its founding leaders, including Mohandas K. Gandhi and the country’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. With India’s diversity in mind, they defined a secular state not as one that keeps out religion, but as one that keeps an equal distance from all religions.

Muslims who remained in India after the creation of Pakistan amounted to the world’s third-largest Muslim population. There were also millions of Christians, Sikhs and Buddhists.

Hinduism itself contained multitudes, distinguished not just by devotion to 30 million distinct deities, but also by rigid caste hierarchies and regional cultural identities.

Members of the Hindu right were appalled that the departure of the British had left Muslims with a nation of their own in Pakistan but had not afforded the same for Hindus in India. It was, to them, just the latest inequity for the religious majority in a country that had endured several bloody Muslim invasions and was ruled for centuries by the Mughal Empire.

Initially, these Hindus struggled to turn the anger over partition into a political movement not just because of the event’s trauma, but also because of the taint from a grave act of terrorism. In 1948, one of their foot soldiers, Nathuram Godse, assassinated Gandhi, who had amassed a huge following as an icon of nonviolence and an advocate of India’s diversity.

The founders’ secular vision remained in place largely because of Nehru’s nearly two decades in power. But it rested on a thin foundation. There was no major project of historical reconciliation between Hindus and Muslims, said Abhishek Choudhary, the author of a recent book on the ascent of the Hindu right, as Nehru — “a terribly overworked politician” — focused on the immense work of ensuring the country’s immediate survival.

The opening for the right wing came in the decades after Nehru’s death. When his descendants — first his daughter, Indira Gandhi, and then his grandson Rajiv Gandhi — toyed with majoritarian sentiments in the 1980s to keep themselves in power, they walked into a game for which the Hindu right was much better prepared.

The right’s fountainhead, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or RSS, which will be 100 years old next year, has many offshoots,

all working closely for the same goal. When one sibling in the RSS faced a state crackdown, the others could continue organizing.

But what the right wing lacked was political power. One group related to the RSS had already been agitating around the issue of a Ram temple. The BJP, the political arm of the RSS, got on board.

The Babri Mosque had been built by a military commander of the Mughal Empire in the 16th century after the destruction of a Ram temple, the Hindu right argued. The movement to build a temple for Ram at the same spot was not just about the return of a deity with crosscutting popularity in India as a just ruler and moral exemplar, but also the toppling of a symbol of conquest.

After turning the Ram movement into a participatory affair across the country, the BJP saw its political fortunes shoot up in elections in 1989, and again in 1991. There was no turning back.

The campaign gained such confidence that even as the dispute over the plot was being heard in court, tens of thousands of foot soldiers gathered at the spot in December 1992 and, in the presence of top rightwing leaders, destroyed the mosque with ropes, sledgehammers and their bare hands.

Alok Kumar, the president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the RSS offshoot that has led the decadeslong temple movement, said the destruction of the Mughal structure — which he asserted the Muslim rulers had erected to drain Hindu “willpower and self-respect” — and the building of the temple were crucial to a Hindu revival.

“I believe that when that structure in Ayodhya was brought down,” Kumar, a softspoken lawyer, said in an interview, “the inferiority complex of the Hindu race went away.”

As the court case dragged on, the issue remained a communal tinderbox. When more than 50 Hindu activists returning from Ayodhya in 2002 were burned to death in a train fire in Gujarat, it unleashed days of brutal violence that left more than 1,000 people dead in the state, a majority of them Muslims.

Modi, who was then the chief minister of Gujarat, was accused of complicity in the riots, though the courts later cleared him of wrongdoing.

Twelve years later, he would become prime minister. While he campaigned first on the economy and then, in his reelection bid five years later, on national security, his focus remained on the Hindu right’s priorities. Victory in the temple fight was sealed with a Supreme Court ruling in 2019.

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

15

China’s economy is in serious trouble

By PAUL KRUGMAN

I

n 2023, the U.S. economy vastly outperformed expectations. A widely predicted recession never happened. Many economists (though not me) argued that getting inflation down would require years of high unemployment; instead, we’ve experienced immaculate disinflation, rapidly falling inflation at no visible cost.

But the story has been very different in the world’s biggest economy (or second biggest — it depends on the measure). Some analysts expected the Chinese economy to boom after it lifted the draconian “zero COVID” measures it had adopted to contain the pandemic. Instead, China has underperformed by just about every economic indicator other than official GDP, which supposedly grew by 5.2%.

But there’s widespread skepticism about that number. Democratic nations like the United States rarely politicize their economic statistics — although ask me again if Donald Trump returns to office — but authoritarian regimes often do.

And in other ways, the Chinese economy seems to be stumbling. Even the official statistics say that China is experiencing Japan-style deflation and high youth unemployment. It’s not a full-blown crisis, at least not

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yet, but there’s reason to believe that China is entering an era of stagnation and disappointment.

Why is China’s economy, which only a few years ago seemed headed for world domination, in trouble?

Part of the answer is bad leadership. President Xi Jinping is starting to look like a poor economic manager, whose propensity for arbitrary interventions — which is something autocrats tend to do — has stifled private initiative.

But China would be in trouble even if Xi were a better leader than he is.

It has been clear for a long time that China’s economic model was becoming unsustainable. As Stewart Paterson notes, consumer spending is very low as a percentage of GDP, probably for multiple reasons.

These include financial repression — paying low interest on savings and making cheap loans to favored borrowers — that holds down household income and diverts it to government-controlled investment, a weak social safety net that causes families to accumulate savings to deal with possible emergencies, and more.

With consumers buying so little, at least relative to the Chinese economy’s productive capacity, how can the nation generate enough demand to keep that capacity in use? The main answer, as Michael Pettis points out, has been to promote extremely high rates of investment, more than 40% of GDP. The trouble is that it’s hard to invest that much money without running into severely diminishing returns.

True, very high rates of investment may be sustainable if, like China in the early 2000s, you have a rapidly growing workforce and high productivity growth as you catch up with Western economies. But China’s working-age population peaked around 2010 and has been declining ever since. While China has shown impressive technological capacity in some areas, its overall productivity also appears to be stagnating.

This, in short, isn’t a nation that can productively invest 40% of GDP. Something has to give.

Now, these problems have been fairly obvious for at least a decade. Why are they only becoming acute now? Well, international economists are fond of citing Dornbusch’s Law: “The crisis takes a much longer time coming than you think, and then it happens much faster than you would have thought.” What happened in China’s case was that the government was able to mask the problem of inadequate consumer spending for a number of years by promoting a gigantic real estate bubble. In fact, China’s real estate sector became insanely large by international standards.

But bubbles eventually burst.

Shoppers at a street market in Shanghai on Jan. 13, 2024.

Some analysts expected the Chinese economy to boom after it lifted the draconian “zero COVID” measures it had adopted to contain the pandemic. Instead, China has underperformed by just about every economic indicator other than official G.D.P., which supposedly grew by 5.2 percent, as Paul Krugman writes. (Qilai Shen/The New York Times) To outside observers, what China must do seems straightforward: end financial repression and allow more of the economy’s income to flow through to households, and strengthen the social safety net so that consumers don’t feel the need to hoard cash. And as it does this it can ramp down its unsustainable investment spending.

But there are powerful players, especially state-owned enterprises, that benefit from financial repression. And when it comes to strengthening the safety net, the leader of this supposedly communist regime sounds a bit like the governor of Mississippi, denouncing “welfarism” that creates “lazy people.”

So how worried should we be about China? In some ways, China’s current economy is reminiscent of Japan after its bubble of the 1980s burst. However, Japan ended up managing its downshifting well. It avoided mass unemployment, it never lost social and political cohesion, and real GDP per working-age adult actually rose 50% over the next three decades, not far short of growth in the United States.

My great concern is that China may not respond nearly as well. How cohesive will China be in the face of economic trouble? Will it try to prop up its economy with an export surge that will run headlong into Western efforts to promote green technologies? Scariest of all, will it try to distract from domestic difficulties by engaging in military adventurism?

So let’s not gloat about China’s economic stumble, which may become everyone’s problem.

16 Tuesday, January 23, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

Anuncian inversión para el ecosistema de investigación y desarrollo en la Isla POR CYBERNEWS

S

AN JUAN – El gobernador Pedro Rafael Pierluisi Urrutia, junto al secretario del Departamento de Desarrollo Económico y Comercio, Manuel Cidre y el presidente de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Luis Antonio Ferrao, anunció el lunes, el inicio de la construcción del Advancing Science and Technology Research and Entrepreneurship Innovation Center (Centro ASTRE), tras una subvención de 10 millones de dólares de la Administración de Desarrollo Económico (EDA) y $6 millones de dólares de fondos estatales.

Además, se anunció la creación del Centro de Incubadora y Transferencia de Tecnología de la Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPRCITT) de los Institutos Nacionales de Salud (NIH), el cual recibió una subvención de 8 millones de dólares del NIH y el gobierno de Puerto Rico estará pareando con 2 millones de dólares adicionales.

“Mi compromiso con la educación y con nuestros centros educativos más importantes ha sido y sigue siendo firme. Hoy anunciamos el progreso de tres iniciativas importantes. En primer lugar, ya comenzó la construc-

ción del Centro ASTRE, un centro para el avance de la investigación y el empresarismo en ciencias y tecnología. Para esto estamos remodelando el quinto piso de estas facilidades para convertirlo en un espacio de incubadora de negocios, en el cual los científicos e investigadores boricuas puedan desarrollar y comercializar sus proyectos de investigación, nuevos tratamientos y medicamentos”, detalló el gobernador en declaraciones escritas.

Del mismo modo, se anunció la remodelación del cuarto piso del edificio para el desarrollo del UPRCITT, en el cual se llevarán a cabo investigaciones científicas colaborativas de empresas en múltiples disciplinas y estará disponible para compañías farmacéuticas investigación y desarrollo para vacunas, siendo el primero de su tipo en Puerto Rico.

“El UPRCITT trabajará en la creación de laboratorios de primer orden, fomentando colaboraciones entre empresas biotecnológicas y farmacéuticas e investigadores de la UPR, proveyendo la fuerza laboral de la universidad, entre los que se encuentran su personal docente, estudiantes de pregrado, posgrado y posdoctorales. Am-

bos proyectos son cónsonos con los esfuerzos de nuestra administración para hacer a Puerto Rico más atractivo en el ámbito de las biociencias”, destacó el primer ejecutivo.

Además, se anunció la inauguración del Centro para Estudios Pre-clínicos, en el cual se trabajará para completar las fases de ensayo en el desarrollo de un tratamiento o algún medicamento antes del proceso comercial. El centro contará con una facilidad de 40 mil pies cuadrados y tendrá capacidad para sostener hasta 30 proyectos de desarrollo e investigación al mismo tiempo, lo que será beneficioso para realizar investigaciones locales y para que empresas decidan traer sus operaciones a la Isla.

Por su parte, Manuel Cidre, explicó que el DDEC ha hecho del Centro Molecular un proyecto prioritario para, junto al Fideicomiso de Ciencia y Tecnología, fomentar una economía basada en la innovación que pueda crear nuevas empresas y empleos en Puerto Rico.

“Estos espacios servirán como incubadoras para nuevas empresas de biotecnología, generando nueva propiedad intelectual en Puerto Rico”, dijo Cidre.

Informan exequias fúnebres del exalcalde de Hatillo, José “Chely” Rodríguez POR CYBERNEWS

H

ATILLO – El alcalde de Hatillo, Carlos Román Román informó que las exequias fúnebres del exalcalde del pueblo, José “Chely” Rodríguez Cruz, se realizarán el miércoles, 24 de enero, en el cementerio nuevo municipal. El cuerpo será expuesto en el Teatro municipal José A Monrouzeau, en Hatillo mañana martes, en horario de 9 de la mañana a 8 de la noche y el miércoles de 9 de la mañana a 2 de la tarde.

“Nuestro pueblo continúa de luto. Reconozco el amor y el respeto que sienten los hatillanos por nues-

tro eterno alcalde Chely Rodríguez. En honor a su memoria, habilitamos el teatro municipal para que todo aquel que desee rendirle homenaje póstumo pase por el lugar. Allí además tendrán la oportunidad de ofrecer sus condolencias a la familia” informó Román.

El Teatro Municipal José A Monrouzeau ubica en el casco urbano del pueblo. “Coordinamos guardias de honor para que todo aquel que desee rendir sus condolencias pueda hacerlo”. El alcalde Román extendió una invitación a todo Puerto Rico para que sean parte de estos actos que celebrarán la vida y obra del exalcalde Rodríguez Cruz.

Gobernador dice que va apoyar a cualquier gestión a “Quiquito” Meléndez y JGo opina que lo obligaron a quitarse POR CYBERNEWS

S

AN JUAN – A raíz de la salida de la contienda a comisionado residente del representante, José Enrique “Quiquito” Meléndez Ortiz, Pedro Rafael Pieluisi Urrutia asegura que “apoyará al legislador en cualquier gestión” y la comisionada residente Jenniffer Aydin González Colón sostuvo que a Meléndez Ortiz, lo obligaron a dejar la aspiración.

“Es una decisión muy personal que tomó, la respeto y él va a contar con mi apoyo, ya tanto como representante, que es el cargo que ocupa actualmente, como en

el futuro porque él no radicó para la reelección como representante, pues va a contar con mi apoyo cómo representante y de igual manera en el futuro, en cualquier gestión que desee hacer”, dijo el gobernador a preguntas de la prensa.

Por su parte, González Colón sostuvo que no le extrañó la salida de Meléndez Ortiz de la contienda.

“No me he de extrañar, yo siempre dije desde el día uno que yo iba a tener un compañero de papeleta a Washington, porque yo entendía que el trabajo que se hace en la Capital Federal es tan importante que requiere el que tengas una persona que conozca, que tenga

los accesos, que se ha respetado en el ambiente federal y que no vaya yo a aprender. Por eso busqué al capitán Elmer Román. Así que yo desde el día uno, cuando vi que había dos candidatos, sabía que iban a obligar al representante Meléndez a quitarse de la contienda como en efecto pasó, aunque él diga otras cosas. Eso se veía venir, así que no me extraña lo más mínimo el que dé este tipo de respaldo”, expresó González Colón.

Con la salida de Meléndez Ortiz, el gobernador Pierluisi Urrutia dio su endoso al senador William Villafañe, que se enfrentará en primaria al candidato de González Colón, Elmer Román.

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

17

‘True Detective: Night Country’ review: Iced in

By MIKE HALE

“T

rue Detective” was never a series that went in for tender moments, but “True Detective: Night Country” — the show’s fourth season, after a five-year hiatus — takes a particularly unforgiving approach to the human condition. There is a moment late in the six-episode season, however, when the dour pop soundtrack turns sentimental, and it’s clear that we are supposed to be tenderly moved by what is happening. What is happening is that someone is disposing of the dismembered body of the close family member they have just killed.

Created for HBO back in 2014 by writer and English professor Nic Pizzolatto, the original iteration of “True Detective” was a gothic crime drama, in anthology form, marked by Pizzolatto’s penchant for ostensibly profound, quasipoetic dialogue — Raymond Chandler by way of Rod McKuen.

The new season, which premiered Jan. 14 and was directed and largely written by Mexican filmmaker Issa López, dispenses with the poetry — it is, by and large, a plain-spoken affair. But where Pizzolatto’s “True Detective” stories were essentially traditional noirs with a gloss of pop psychology and horror-movie sensationalism, López commits fully to the outre and the supernatural. Parricide? That’s just coming up for air.

López is coy about whether the cops, scientists, mine workers and Indigenous Alaskans who populate her story are actually dealing with malevolent spirits, but she is profligate in her use of horror effects to jolt the audience and goose the plot. Unseen voices abound, and dead people are frequently seen. Polar bears loom in the darkness. Oranges mysteriously, repeatedly appear out of nowhere and roll under characters’ feet. A group of men freeze together in a big jumble, naked and midscream, and have to be cut out of the ice and slowly thawed under bright lights. (Somewhere, “The Thing” is wondering why it didn’t think of that.)

What caused the deaths of the frozen men is one of the cases at the center of “Night Country,” the other being the brutal killing years before of a young Indigenous woman. Investigating the two cases, whose connection gradually becomes clear, are two cops who hate each other, not in a funny or bantering way but with heavy sincerity.

Jodie Foster plays Danvers, the abrasive police chief of the remote Alaska mining town where the story is set, and Kali Reis plays Navarro, a dogged state trooper. Both characters carry crippling baggage: family deaths; troubled loved ones; wartime terror; the disadvantages of being female and, in Navarro’s case, Indigenous. On top of it all, they share a dark moment in their professional pasts, a secret that, like many things in the season, is frequently teased before being anticlimactically revealed.

And they are not alone in their dysfunction — nearly everyone in “Night Country” is beat up or broken down, angry or embittered. The exceptions are the saps: the preternaturally kind bartender, Qavvik (Joel D. Montgrand), whom Navarro uses for sex, and the puppy-dog deputy, Pete Prior (Finn Bennett), whom Danvers sees as a surrogate son and mercilessly overworks. They both border on caricature — men who are exceptional for being basically decent — but Montgrand and

The new season, directed and largely written by Mexican filmmaker Issa López, dispenses with the poetry — it is, by and large, a plain-spoken affair.

Bennett make them believable and sympathetic. John Hawkes can’t do the same for Prior’s father, Hank, a casually corrupt cop eagerly waiting for his online fiancee to arrive from Vladivostok, Russia; he’s a flat-out cartoon.

Arctic settings (the season was filmed in Iceland), shot with an emphasis on darkness and vast, empty landscapes, fit hand in glove with eerie horror motifs; close comparisons include John Carpenter’s “The Thing” and the British series “Fortitude,” a show that covers some of the same ground as “Night Country” but in a more diverting, less wearying fashion. López, with help from cinematographer Florian Hoffmeister, deploys those elements in an atmospheric if convoluted mystery that looks and feels, for a couple of episodes, as if it might work its way to an interesting conclusion. But she can’t keep it under control — the mystery steadily dissolves into preposterousness, the characters sink into incoherence, and the horror isn’t original or evocative enough to carry things on its own.

The one way in which the season can be said to succeed, if only on the strength of its convictions, is as a representation of cultural and economic depredation — environmental damage from the mine is a factor in the mystery, and the story’s resolution is better explained by issues and emotions than by evidence or character development.

That could make “Night Country” popular — an exemplar of a growing genre you might call virtue-noir — but it doesn’t make it good. Pizzolatto’s overwriting got oppressive, but out

of its florid abundance, actors such as Matthew McConaughey, Taylor Kitsch and Mahershala Ali could fashion interesting characters. López doesn’t give her performers much to play beyond attitudes and postures.

At the center of the busy but dreary proceedings in “Night Country” is Danvers, who is a kind of anti-character: a protagonist and essentially a hero, who is almost comically unpleasant and inconsiderate and is hated by nearly everyone on screen. (She’s a construct built for our current political climate, the just barely redeemable Karen.) Foster, against all odds, finds ways to make Danvers seem human and even uncovers glints of humor in her; how she does it is a bigger mystery than those men in the ice.

18

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

5 science fiction movies to stream now

Louis Peres in “Tropic.”(Dark Star Pictures)

By ELISABETH VINCENTELLI

T

ime loops, twins, twists and trysts in this month’s collection of sci-fi picks.

‘Tropic’ We are in the near future and the European space agency is preparing to launch a mission that will last years if not decades — a length that means filling it with a young crew. Teenage twins Lázaro (Pablo Cobo) and Tristán (Louis Peres) are training together for spots in the program. They are equally dedicated, but the confident Tristán is doing just a little better than his brother. Just as you settle for “Space Academy: The Early Years,” director Edouard Salier makes a sharp turn.

One night, a strange green object — a meteorite? A spaceship? — falls from the sky into a lake in which the twins were swimming. Infected by the contaminated water, Tristán develops hideous lesions on parts of his body.

With his mind and senses affected as well, his dreams of space are over.

Meanwhile, Lázaro continues with his boot camp while helping their mother (Marta Nieto) look after the disabled Tristán — the roles have been reversed and Lázaro is now the dominant one.

At its heart, “Tropic” is a family drama about sibling relationships and guilt, but it takes place against a sci-fi background and wanders toward body horror. The film’s refusal to explain what happened

to Tristán is less frustrating than intriguing, and ultimately touching. (Rent or buy it on Vudu or Microsoft.)

‘Quantum Cowboys’ Multiverse and time-travel movies are ubiquitous these days — which I suppose has a certain kind of meta logic considering the subject. Few of them, however, match form and content like this flight of fancy from director Geoff Marslett, who co-wrote the screenplay with indie-rock stalwart Howe Gelb.

“Quantum Cowboys” extends its premise of coexisting universes and crisscrossing timelines to its aesthetics by juxtaposing live action and animation. It goes further by using various techniques to mix and match digital and hand-drawn art. The cast is equally all over the map and includes a delightfully dry Lily Gladstone, David Arquette, Alex Cox, X frontman John Doe, Americana siren Neko Case and — is that really French new wave icon Anna Karina?

Sophisticated and endearingly ramshackle at the same time, “Quantum Cowboys” loosely follows the adventures of Frank (Kiowa Gordon), Bruno (John Way) and Linde (Gladstone) in the Arizona Territory of the 1870s. There are time travelers, too, and a film crew, and a director of sorts (Patrick Page) who appears to be editing realities together from a control room. I can’t claim that I followed the film’s plot, or plots, but anything this sui generis deserves a cheer. (Stream it on Fandor. Rent or buy

it on most major platforms.)

‘Meet Cute’ Time loops tend to be something characters endure. Not so in Alex Lehmann’s sneakily dark comedy, in which Sheila (Kaley Cuoco) chooses to repeat over and over her first date with Gary (Pete Davidson). One evening, she introduces herself to Gary in a bar, and off they go into a journey of mutual discovery, wandering the New York City streets (the movie has a rather lackadaisical relationship with local geography). And then the same scenario repeats, with small differences. Sheila, you see, has chanced upon a time machine that, to the untrained eye, looks like a salon’s tanning bed, and she has become obsessed with getting her encounter with Gary just right, molding him to her exact desired specs in the process.

What is striking about “Meet Cute” is that it takes the archetype of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl and shows what can lurk behind the upbeat quirkiness: in this case insecurity, depression, sadness, fear of the unknown, and even a death wish. The film is unflinching in its look at someone who, at times, exhibits signs of mental imbalance as she doggedly pursues her obsession. The discrepancy between the subject matter and the tone makes “Meet Cute” something of a daring oddity that subversively upends audiences’ expectations. (Stream it on Peacock.)

‘The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes’ Anybody with a passing familiarity with fairy tales knows that wishes can come true, but usually at a price. If teenagers Kaoru and Anzu didn’t know that at the start of Tomohisa Taguchi’s anime feature, they certainly do at the end.

(Note that most mainstream platforms have only an adequately dubbed version but the anime streamer Hidive also offers the Japanese original with subtitles.)

Kaoru (Oji Suzuka/Gabriel Regojo) is lonely and miserable: His little sister, Karen, died in an accident, for which their father blames Kaoru. One night, the young boy discovers a so-called Urashima Tunnel, which can grant a wish to those who travel in it. The downside is that time in the tunnel slows

down to a crawl: three seconds inside equal two hours on the outside; a day is 6 1/2 years. Bringing Karen back is worth the danger for Kaoru, who practices spending as little time as possible in the tunnel with his one friend, Anzu (Marie Iitoyo/Patricia Duran). The tunnel is represented as a kind of liminal psychedelic space, and Kaoru’s scenes in it have a trippy vibe. But the movie is at its best describing the relationship Kaoru shares with Anzu in the normal world.

Poignantly, the two characters are so obsessed with figuring out how to achieve their respective wishes that they don’t enjoy their moments together. As with so many fantastical quests, the answer is within their sight. (Rent or buy it on most major platforms.)

‘Aporia’ Like “Meet Cute,” Jared Moshé’s subtly emotional film is about making peace with life’s imperfections. Well, it’s more serious than manufacturing the perfect date because “Aporia” deals with loss and grief. Sophie (Judy Greer, in a standout performance) has lost her husband, Mal (Edi Gathegi, from “For All Mankind”), and she and her daughter, Riley (Faithe Herman), are not faring well. That’s when Sophie and Mal’s friend Jabir (the great Iranian actor Payman Maadi) tells Sophie that he and Mal had been working on a time machine.

Lo and behold, the contraption is now ready, and it can be used to kill someone in the past. Sophie decides that they should go after the drunken driver who took Mal’s life. (The way the machine works involves the type of pseudoscience that will send physicists into peals of laughter; everybody else can just nod along.)

Amazingly, the contraption does work, Mal lives, and the family is whole again. Moral quandaries abound: What about killing a terrorist before he strikes?

Unexpected wrinkles also surface in the new timeline, which is what happens when you alter the past. Losing a loved one is a horrendous experience, but what if trying to avoid that pain only displaces it onto others? The problem with moral dilemmas is that no time machine can solve them for you. (Stream it on Hulu.)

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

19

Before the coronavirus pandemic, overlooked clues from Chinese scientists

By BENJAMIN MUELLER

I

n late December 2019, eight pages of genetic code were sent to computers at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

Unbeknown to U.S. officials at the time, the genetic map that had landed on their doorstep contained critical clues about the virus that would soon touch off a pandemic.

The genetic code, submitted by Chinese scientists to a vast public repository of sequencing data run by the U.S. government, described a mysterious new virus that had infected a 65-year-old man weeks earlier in Wuhan, China. At the time the code was sent, Chinese officials had not yet warned of the unexplained pneumonia sickening patients in the central city of Wuhan.

But the U.S. repository, which was designed to help scientists share run-of-themill research data, never added the submission it received on Dec. 28, 2019, to its database. Instead, it asked the Chinese scientists three days later to resubmit the genetic sequence with certain additional technical details. That request went unanswered.

It took almost another two weeks for a separate pair of virologists, one Australian and the other Chinese, to work together to post the genetic code of the new coronavirus online, setting off a frantic global effort to save lives by building tests and vaccines.

The initial attempt by Chinese scientists to publicize the crucial code was revealed for the first time in documents released last week by House Republicans investigating COVID’s origins. The documents reinforced questions circulating since early 2020 about when China learned of the virus that was causing its unexplained outbreak — and also drew attention to gaps in the U.S. system of monitoring for dangerous new viruses.

The Chinese government has said it promptly shared the virus’s genetic code with global health officials. House Republicans said the new documents suggested that was untrue. News accounts and Chinese social media posts have long reported that the virus was first sequenced in late December 2019.

But lawmakers and independent scientists said that the documents did offer tantalizing new details about when and how

scientists first tried to share those sequences globally, illustrating the difficulty the United States has with picking worrisome viruses out of the thousands of humdrum genetic sequences that are submitted to its repository every day.

“You’d never have an ambulance sitting in normal 3 p.m. traffic,” said Jeremy Kamil, a virus expert at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport. Referring to the coronavirus code from 2019, he said, “Why would you allow this sequence to sit there under the same process as a sequence I just got from a new snail species I found in a ravine?”

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the NIH, said in a statement Wednesday that the genetic code was not published because it “was unable to be verified, despite follow-ups by NIH to the Chinese scientist for more information and a response.”

In an earlier letter to House Republicans, Melanie Anne Egorin, a senior Health Department official, said that the sequence had initially been subjected to a “technical, but not scientific or public health,” review, as was customary. After not hearing back from the Chinese scientists about its requested corrections, the database, known as GenBank, automatically deleted the submission from its queue of unpublished sequences on Jan. 16, 2020.

It is not clear why the Chinese scientists did not respond. One of the submitters, Lili Ren, who worked at a virus institute

within the state-affiliated Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing, did not respond to a request for comment. The Chinese embassy said China’s response was “science-based, effective and consistent with China’s national realities.”

But the same sequence that Ren’s group sent to GenBank was made public on a different online database, known as GISAID, on Jan. 12, 2020, shortly after other scientists had posted the first coronavirus code. Ren’s group also resubmitted a corrected version of the code to GenBank in early February and published a paper describing its work.

The two-week gap between the code first being sent to the U.S. database and China sharing the sequence with global health officials “underscores why we cannot trust any of the so-called ‘facts’ or data” from the Chinese government, the Republican leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee said.

Jesse Bloom, a virus expert at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, said that the genetic sequence would have strongly suggested to anyone reviewing it in late December 2019 that a new coronavirus was causing the mysterious pneumonia cases in Wuhan. Instead, official Chinese timelines indicate the government did not make that diagnosis until early January.

“If this sequence had been made available, probably the prototype vaccines could’ve been started right away, and that was two weeks earlier than they were start-

The documents reinforced questions circulating since early 2020 about when China learned of the virus that was causing its unexplained outbreak — and also drew attention to gaps in the U.S. system of monitoring for dangerous new viruses.

ed,” Bloom said.

The documents, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, do not provide insight into the origins of the virus, Bloom and other scientists said, given that the sequence did not contain special clues about the virus’s evolution and was later made public anyway.

But they do offer new details about the pace at which Ren’s team worked to sequence the virus. The swab containing the virus they analyzed was taken from the 65-year-old patient, a vendor at the large market where the illness was first seen spreading, on Dec. 24, 2019. Within four days, scientists sent that virus’s genetic data to GenBank.

“That’s incredibly fast,” said Kristian Andersen, a virus expert at the Scripps Research Institute.

At the time, finding a new coronavirus in the patient’s sample would not have proved that it was that virus, and not a different virus or bacteria, causing his illness, Andersen said, though it would have been a reasonable hypothesis.

That consideration appeared to weigh on the Chinese scientists studying samples from early patients. One researcher at a Chinese commercial laboratory that worked with Ren wrote on a blog in late January 2020 that while she had identified a new virus in hospital samples, that alone did not demonstrate that the virus was causing pneumonia cases, slowing down an official announcement.

In early 2020, the Chinese government also issued directives discouraging certain lines of scientific research and restricted the release of data about the virus.

Even once the virus’s genetic code was sent to the U.S. repository, it would have been difficult for U.S. officials staffing the research-oriented database to take notice.

The repository holds hundreds of millions of genetic sequences. Much of the process for screening them is automated.

And at least until Chinese officials started sounding an alarm at the very end of December 2019, almost no one would have known to look for a new coronavirus within the heaps of submissions.

Still, some scientists believe that U.S. and global health officials have been slow to retrofit databases such as GenBank to allow them to seize on sequences that could have critical public health implications.

20 Tuesday, January 23, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

What makes chicken and rice even better? A little bite.

By MELISSA CLARK

M

y first attempt at crunchy rice was not entirely on purpose. I was a young, multitasking cook with a pot of rice left on low heat until ... wait, was something about to burn?

I salvaged what tender grains I could and was about to plunge the pot and its residual crust into a sink of soapy water, when I caught a whiff of something caramelized and toasty. I dislodged a shard of crust with a butter knife to sample, then went back, sprinkling the next with salt. Before I knew it, I was full, and the pot was clean.

By now, I’ve learned that this layer of crunchy, golden rice that can form at the bottom of the pot is rightly prized across cultures, be it Persian tahdig, Korean nurungji or Spanish socarrat, to name just a few. Achieving the ideal layer of crisp rice is the kind of culinary feat that takes long practice — or, occasionally — dumb luck.

Or you could use this simple hack: Spread cooked, oiled rice on a sheet pan and bake it at high heat. The large surface area of the sheet pan will dry the rice before it browns, making it especially crunchy, and the oven’s steady, indirect heat helps keep the rice from burning — a welcome relief for us multitasking cooks.

For this technique, I particularly adore the textural contrast of shortgrain rice, because while the plump, starchy grains get nicely crisp where they meet the bottom and edges of the pan, the top stays softer and chewy.

But long-grain rice, which takes on a consistently crunchy texture, also works.

Since you have a sheet pan of rice in the oven, you may as well put some protein on top to make it a meal. For this recipe, I slather bone-in chicken legs with a pungent mix of turmeric, ginger and garlic, and nestle them into a pan of rice flecked with scallion for sweetness. The spiced chicken fat renders and coats the rice as it roasts.

Then, at the very end, I dab everything with more of the turmeric-ginger mix-

Sheet pan turmeric chicken with crispy rice, in New York on Jan 9. 2024. Cooking rice on a sheet pan lets it crisp up gloriously, adding crunch to this classic weeknight pairing. Food styled by Monica Pierini. (Linda Xiao/The New York Times) ture, adding yet another dimension of fragrance and verve.

There are, of course, no shortcuts to the nuanced flavors of tahdig or nurungji or socarrat, but this dish makes for a deliciously easy one-pan meal that will come out right every time, without either practice or luck.

Sheet-pan turmeric chicken and crispy rice A layer of crunchy, golden rice at the bottom of a pan is revered across many cultures, be it a Persian tahdig, Korean nurungji or Spanish socarrat, and you can get a similar result by baking oiled rice at high heat on a sheet pan. Here, bone-in chicken legs are coated in a mix of turmeric, ginger and garlic and nestled into a pan of scallion-flecked short-grain rice. As it all roasts, the spiced chicken fat seasons the rice, which turns especially

crisp where it meets the edges and bottom of the pan while staying soft and chewy on top. Dabbed with more turmeric-ginger mixture at the end, it’s a richly flavored and textured chicken and rice dish all made in one pan.

Yield: 4 servings Total time: 50 minutes Ingredients: 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, plus more for serving 6 garlic cloves, finely grated or minced 2 tablespoons fresh ginger (from 1 2-inch piece), finely grated or minced 3 teaspoons kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal or use 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt, such as Morton), more as needed 2 teaspoons ground turmeric 2 teaspoons ground coriander 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks 5 cups cooked short-grain rice (such as sushi rice, see tip) 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, more as needed 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

and tender stems Preparation: 1. Place sheet pan on middle rack in oven and heat oven to 450 degrees.

2. While the oven is heating, marinate the chicken. In a large bowl, combine lemon juice, garlic, ginger, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt, turmeric, coriander and pepper, and mix well.

Transfer 1 tablespoon of the turmericginger mixture to a small bowl and set aside for serving. To the large bowl, add chicken and toss until the pieces are well coated; let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.

3. While the chicken is marinating, toss the cooked rice with the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, scallion whites and 3 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil (the best way to do this is with clean hands). Add a little more oil if needed to fully coat the rice so that it crisps up in the oven.

4. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the chicken pieces, tossing well to coat.

5. Use a large spoon to carefully spread the rice out on the hot sheet pan, then make divots in the rice for the chicken, making sure the sheet pan is exposed. Place chicken, skin side up, in the divots touching the pan. Drizzle the rice and chicken with a little more extra-virgin olive oil.

6. Roast until the chicken is deeply browned on top, cooked through and the rice is crisp at the edges, 40 to 50 minutes.

7. Stir a little more lemon juice and olive oil into the reserved turmeric-ginger mixture to thin it out. Use a spoon to dab or drizzle it onto the rice (not the chicken). Stir up the rice on the baking sheet, so the crisp parts get mixed into the soft part of the rice, and the turmeric mixture gets distributed. (Taste rice and add a little more oil, lemon juice and salt if necessary; rice can take a lot of seasoning.) Top everything with scallion greens and chopped fresh cilantro, and serve.

Tip: If you want to substitute longgrain rice, watch it carefully; it browns (and can dry out) more quickly than plumper grains of short-grain rice.

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

21

An ultrasound experiment tackles a giant problem in brain medicine

By GINA KOLATA

T

here is a problem with the recently approved Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm. Although it can remove some of the amyloid that forms brain plaques that are hallmarks of the disease, most of the drug is wasted because it hits an obstacle, the blood-brain barrier, that protects the brain from toxins and infections but also prevents many drugs from entering.

Researchers wondered if they could improve that grim result by trying something different: They would open the blood-brain barrier for a short time while they delivered the drug. Their experimental method was to use highly focused pulses of ultrasound along with tiny gas bubbles to pry the barrier open without destroying it.

The investigators, at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute at West Virginia University, reported their results recently in The New England Journal of Medicine.

When the barrier was opened, 32% more plaque was dissolved, said Dr. Ali Rezai, a neurosurgeon at the institute who led the study. The group did not measure the amount of antibody getting in — that would require radioactively labeling the drug — but in animal studies, opening the barrier allowed 5 to 8 times more antibody to enter the brain, Rezai said.

The early-stage experiment, which was tried in only three patients with mild Alzheimer’s, was funded by the university and the Harry T. Mangurian Jr. Foundation.

It was a preliminary safety study — the first stage in research — and not designed to measure clinical outcomes.

But when the results were presented at a recent meeting, “our mouths opened,” said Dr. Michael Weiner, an Alzheimer’s researcher at the University of California in San Francisco who was not involved in the study.

Researchers said it was an innovative but difficult approach to a problem that Dr. Walter Koroshetz, director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, deemed one of the most challenging in treating brain diseases: How do you get drugs into the brain?

Antibodies such as the Alzheimer’s drug aducanumab, which the company Biogen sells as Aduhelm, are extremely expensive; the listed price of Aduhelm is $28,000 a year. One reason for the high price, Koroshetz said, is that only 1% of the antibodies injected into the bloodstream slip past the blood-brain barrier.

Finding a safe way to open that barrier took more than a decade, though.

Investigators understood how the barrier worked, but opening it without causing any damage meant keeping it open for just a short time, because of its role in protecting the brain. It is a fragile part of circulatory system and not what many people envision, based on its name.

“A lot of people think of it as a thing that is wrapped around the head,” like a turban for the brain, said Dr. Alexandra Golby, a professor of neurosurgery and radiology at Harvard Medical School.

Instead, the barrier is at the ends of several major blood vessels that supply the brain. As they enter the head, the vessels branch and divide until, at their tips, they form narrow capillaries with extremely tight walls. This barrier keeps large molecules out and allows small molecules such as glucose and oxygen to get in.

The challenge was to pry those walls open without ripping the capillaries apart.

The solution turned out to have two components. First, patients are injected with tiny microbubbles of perfluorocarbon gas. The bubbles range in size from 1.1 to 3.3 microns (a micron is about 0.000039 inch.) Then, pulses of low frequency ultrasound are focused on the area of the brain to be treated. The ultrasound pulses set up waves in the fluid in blood vessels; the microbubbles rapidly expand and contract with the waves. This pries open the vessels without damaging them, providing entree into the brain.

Microbubbles, Golby said, are used routinely in ultrasound imaging studies of the heart and liver because they light up, revealing blood flow. They are filtered out of the body by the kidneys and liver.

“They have a 20-year track record of being safe,” she said.

For the experiment described in the new paper, researchers used ultrasound on

one side of the brain but not the other, for comparison, then performed brain scans to check the results.

Although the focused ultrasound approach proved successful as an experiment, all was not rosy. The device was designed to deliver ultrasound to a small targeted area, but in cases of Alzheimer’s, amyloid-containing plaque is all over the brain.

“If you want to get amyloid out of the brain, you want to go in with a paint brush, not a pencil,” Koroshetz said.

The researchers deliberately hit brain areas involved with memory and reasoning, but it remains to be seen whether the treatment improves outcomes. That will require a larger study.

The Alzheimer’s study is just one of several that involve opening the barrier to deliver drugs to patients with a variety of brain diseases.

All are in early stages, and all, so far, show that the method works; drugs that

were blocked get in.

One group, led by Dr. Nir Lipsman, a neurosurgeon at the Sunnybrook Research Institute of the University of Toronto, and his colleagues opened the barrier to deliver a chemotherapy drug to the brains of four breast cancer patients whose cancer had spread to the brain. The concentration of the drug, trastuzumab, increased fourfold, they reported.

That work was funded by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation and sponsored by Insightec, which manufactures the ultrasound device used.

Lipsman and his colleagues have now treated seven breast cancer patients and are expanding the study. They also are conducting preliminary studies in a variety of brain diseases, including cancer, Parkinson’s, and Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Golby and her colleagues have used the method to treat patients with glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer.

In an image provided by the facility, a patient undergoes focused ultrasound treatment to help remove part of the blood-brain barrier, increasing the efficacy of the Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm, at West Virginia University’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. The effects of drugs that treat Alzheimer’s, cancer and other illnesses are often limited by the blood-brain barrier, this small study suggests a way forward. (WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute via The New York Times)

22 Tuesday, January 23, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

Scientists scramble to keep dog aging project alive

By EMILY ANTHES

I

n late 2019, scientists began searching for 10,000 Americans willing to enroll their pets in an ambitious new study of health and longevity in dogs. The researchers planned to track the dogs over the course of their lives, collecting detailed information about their bodies, lifestyles and home environments. Over time, the scientists hoped to identify the biological and environmental factors that kept some dogs healthy in their golden years — and uncover insights about aging that could help both dogs and humans lead longer, healthier lives.

Today, the Dog Aging Project has enrolled 47,000 canines and counting, and the data are starting to stream in. The scientists say that they are just getting started.

“We think of the Dog Aging Project as a forever project, so recruitment is ongoing,” said Daniel Promislow, a biogerontologist at the University of Washington and a co-director of the project. “There will always be new questions to ask. We want to always have dogs of all ages participating.”

But Promislow and his colleagues are now facing the prospect that the Dog Aging Project might have its own life cut short. About 90% of the study’s funding comes from the National Institute on Aging, a part of the National Institutes of Health, which has provided more than $28 million since 2018. But that money will run out in June, and the institute does not seem likely to approve the researchers’ recent application for a five-year grant renewal, the scientists say.

“We have been told informally that the grant is not going to be funded,” said Matt Kaeberlein, the other director of the Dog Aging Project and a former biogerontology researcher at the University of Washington. (Kaeberlein is now the CEO of Optispan, a health technology company.)

A spokesperson for the National Institute on Aging said that the NIH does not comment on the decision-making process for individual grant applications.

The NIA could still choose to provide more funding for the Dog Aging Project at some point, but if the researchers don’t bring in more money in the coming months, they will have to pause or pare back the study.

“It’s almost an emergency,” said Stephanie Lederman, the executive director of the nonprofit American Federation for Aging Research. “It’s one of the most important projects in the field right now.”

Matt Kaeberlein, a co-director of the Dog Aging Project, with Dobby, his 12-year-old German shepherd, in their Seattle backyard on Aug. 24, 2022. The National Institute on Aging may let funding lapse for a yearslong study of nearly 50,000 pet dogs, which could also offer insight into human health. (Grant Hindsley/The New York Times) A petition asking for continued support from the National Institutes of Health has garnered more than 10,000 signatures, said Kaeberlein, who organized the effort.

Still, the researchers are not counting on the agency to come to their rescue, and they have learned how challenging it is to conduct large, long-term studies — which could take many years to pay off — when grants are usually awarded on a short-term basis.

So the three founders of the Dog Aging Project — Promislow, Kaeberlein and Dr. Kate Creevy, a veterinarian at Texas A&M University — have now created the nonprofit Dog Aging Institute to raise money for research. They hope to use the organization both to keep their own study alive and to fund other scientists who are interested in exploring similar subjects.

“The data are just coming fast and furious,” Promislow said. “If anything, we’ve had to slow it down because of these funding challenges. And it’s the worst possible time to be slowing things down, because now is the time when the really exciting stuff is just starting to happen.”

The Dog Aging Project was born from two observations. First, people would give almost anything to spend more good years with their dogs. Second, canine companions could be useful models for human aging. Dogs are prone to many of the same aging-related conditions people experience, including cancer

and dementia, and are exposed to many of the same environmental stressors, such as air pollution and noise. But because dogs age more quickly, studies of canine aging can yield results over shorter time frames.

The researchers estimated in their 2018 grant application that it would take at least three months to build the physical, digital and human infrastructure for the study. The process ended up taking three years. “I don’t think anybody appreciated how hard it was going to be,” Promislow said. (The pandemic, which shuttered or strained veterinary clinics, did not help, he added.)

But the project is up and running. The research team, which includes more than 100 people from more than 20 institutions, has sequenced the genomes of more than 7,000 dogs and deposited 14,000 samples in the project’s biobank. The scientists have added more than 36.5 million data points to their open-access database and started to publish some early findings. They have found, for instance, that a condition called canine cognitive dysfunction, also known as doggy dementia, is more common in sedentary dogs than active ones and that dogs fed once a day are less likely to have a variety of health problems than those that eat more frequently. More papers are in the works.

But when the researchers sought a fiveyear grant renewal last year, their application

did not score well enough in the first round of peer review to advance to the next stage of the funding process. “The reviewers were asking how much we’d accomplished in five years,” Promislow said. “Given the size of the project, I think the reviewers were wondering where the major papers are.”

Steven Austad, a biogerontologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham who is not part of the research team, said he was surprised that the researchers’ grant might not be renewed. “The importance of the things they publish and the depth of detail will increase over time, but I thought they got off to a really good start,” he said. “A large study like this really deserves a chance to mature.”

Austad’s miniature dachshund, Emmylou, is enrolled in the Dog Aging Project. But at 2 years old, he noted, Emmylou is “not going to teach them a lot about aging for a long time yet.”

Over the past few years, Shelley Carpenter, of Gulfport, Mississippi, has provided the researchers with regular updates on and medical records for her Pembroke Welsh corgi, Murfee. (She also collected a cheek swab for genomic sequencing.) Carpenter, whose previous corgi died from a neurodegenerative disease similar to ALS, hoped that the project might produce new medical knowledge that could help both dogs and people.

If the NIH suspends funding, they will be “throwing away” years of research, said Carpenter, who signed the petition. “Why did they even start it if they’re not going to follow through?”

The researchers are planning to apply for more NIA grants, Promislow said, but they have realized that they will need to develop additional funding sources to secure the project’s future. Although the Dog Aging Institute is still in nascent stages, the researchers ultimately hope to raise $40 million to $50 million for an endowment that could be used to fund a variety of research related to canine health and longevity, including the Dog Aging Project.

The institute’s immediate priority is to raise enough money to keep the Dog Aging Project afloat. It would take about $7 million to conduct the research the team had planned to do over the next year, but $2 million would be enough to “keep the lights on,” Promislow said. The institute is still awaiting its official tax-exempt status but is already seeking donations. “We haven’t yet identified a dog-loving billionaire interested in supporting aging research,” Promislow said.

“But we’re certainly going to try.”

The San Juan Daily Star Urbanización Girasol de Cabo Rojo, localizada en el barrio ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO Miradero de Cabo Rojo; del térDE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- mino municipal de Cabo Rojo, NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA Puerto Rico, con una cabida SALA SUPERIOR DE MAYA- superficial de 326.88 metros GÜEZ cuadrados. En lindes por el FINANCE OF AMERICA NORTE, en una distancia de 24.00 metros con solar D-16; REVERSE LLC por el SUR, en una distancia de Demandante Vs. SUCESION FRANCISCO 24.00 metros con el solar D-18; por el ESTE, en una distancia EDGARDO GARCIA de 13.62 metros con el solar PRINCIPE T/C/C D-2; y por el OESTE, en una FRANCISCO E. distancia de 13.26 metros con la calle número cuatro. En su GARCIA-PRINCIPE colindancia Oeste discurre una T/C/C FRANCISCO E. servidumbre a favor de la PuerGARCIA PRINCIPE to Rico Telephone Company.

T/C/C FRANCISCO Se enclava en este solar una EDGARDO GARCIA estructura de hormigón reforzaT/C/C FRANCISCO do y bloques de concreto, con GARCIA PRINCIPE T/C/C las facilidades usuales, para reFRANCISCO E. GARCIA sidencia de una familia. Inscrita al folio 280 del tomo 647 de T/C/C FRANCISCO Cabo Rojo, finca 22,825 RegisGARCIA COMPUESTA tro de la Propiedad de Puerto POR JOHN DOE Y Rico, Sección de San German.

La Hipoteca Revertida consta JANE DOE COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS inscrita al tomo KARIBE, finca 22,825 de Cabo Rojo, Registro DESCONOCIDOS; de la Propiedad de San GerESTADOS UNIDOS DE mán, inscripción 6ª. Propiedad AMERICA; CENTRO localizada en: URB. GIRASOL DE RECAUDACION DE DE CABO ROJO, D17 CALLE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES 4, CABO ROJO, PR 00623. Según figuran en la certificación Demandados Civil Núm.: MZ2022CV01715. registral, la propiedad objeto Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPO- de ejecución está gravada por TECA. EDICTO DE SUBASTA. las siguientes cargas anterioESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉ- res o preferentes: Nombre del RICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE Titular: N/A. Suma de la Carga: LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL N/A. Fecha de Vencimiento: ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO N/A. Según figuran en la certificación registral, la propiedad DE PUERTO RICO, SS. objeto de ejecución está graA: LA PARTE vada por las siguientes cargas DEMANDADA, AL (A posteriores a la inscripción del LA) SECRETARIO(A) DE crédito ejecutante: Nombre del HACIENDA DE PUERTO Titular: Secretario de la Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano. Suma RICO Y AL PÚBLICO de la Carga: $183,000.00. FeGENERAL: Certifico y Hago Constar: Que cha de Vencimiento: 18 de dien cumplimiento con el Manda- ciembre de 2100. Se entenderá miento de Ejecución de Senten- que todo licitador acepta como cia que me ha sido dirigido por bastante la titularidad de la proel (la) Secretario(a) del Tribunal piedad y que todas las cargas de Primera Instancia, Sala Su- y gravámenes anteriores y los perior de Mayagüez, en el caso preferentes al crédito ejecutande epígrafe, venderé en pública te antes descritos, si los hubiesubasta y al mejor postor, por re, continuarán subsistentes. separado, de contado y por El rematante acepta dichas moneda de curso legal de los cargas y gravámenes anterioEstados Unidos de América y/o res, y queda subrogado en la Giro Postal y Cheque Certifica- responsabilidad de los mismos, do, en mi oficina ubicada en el sin destinarse a su extinción el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, precio del remate. Se establece Sala de Mayagüez, el 21 DE como tipo de mínima subasta la FEBRERO DE 2024, A LAS suma de $183,000.00, según 11:30 DE LA MAÑANA, todo acordado entre las partes en el derecho título, participación precio pactado en la escritura o interés que le corresponda de hipoteca. De ser necesaria a la parte demandada o cual- una SEGUNDA SUBASTA por quiera de ellos en el inmueble declararse desierta la primera, hipotecado objeto de ejecución la misma se celebrará en mi que se describe a continuación: oficina, ubicada en el Tribunal URBANA: Solar identificado de Primera Instancia, Sala de con el número 17 del bloque D Mayagüez, el 28 DE FEBREen el plano de inscripción de la RO DE 2024, A LAS 11:30 DE

LEGAL NOTICE

@

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Se notifica a todos los interesados que las actas y demás constancias del expediente de este caso están disponibles en la Secretaría del Tribunal durante horas laborables para ser examinadas por los (las) interesados (as). Y para su publicación en el periódico The San Juan Daily Star, que es un diario de circulación general en la isla de Puerto Rico, por espacio de dos semanas consecutivas con un intervalo de por lo menos siete (7) días entre ambas publicaciones, así como para su publicación en los sitios pú-

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blicos de Puerto Rico. Expedido en Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, hoy 18 de diciembre de 2023.

JOVINO PÉREZ SANTIAGO, ALGUACIL REGIONAL. JOSÉ A. MONTALVO, ALGUACIL PLACA #454.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE AGUADILLA

MTGLQ INVESTORS, L.P. Parte Demandante Vs.

ISRAEL GONZALEZ SALABERRIOS Y SOREYRA CHAVANA DE LA CRUZ A/K/A SOREYRA CHAVANA DE GONZALEZ AND SOREYRA GONZALEZ, Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS

Parte Demandada Civil Núm.: AG2020CV01049.

Salón Núm.: (603). Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA Y COBRO DE DINERO. EDICTO DE SUBASTA. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE P.R., SS.

A: ISRAEL GONZALEZ SALABERRIOS Y SOREYRA CHAVANA DE LA CRUZ a/k/a SOREYRA CHAVANA DE GONZALEZ and SOREYRA GONZALEZ, Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS: Y AL PÚBLICO EN GENERAL:

El Alguacil que suscribe, certifica y hace constar que en cumplimiento de Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia que me ha sido dirigido por la Secretaría del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de Aguadilla, procederé a vender en pública subasta y al mejor postor, por separado, de contado y por moneda de curso legal de los Estados Unidos de América. Todo pago recibido por el (la) Alguacil por concepto de subastas será en efectivo, giro postal o cheque certificado a nombre del (de la) Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia. Todo derecho, título, participación e interés que le corresponda a la parte demandada o cualquiera de ellos en el inmueble hipotecado objeto de ejecución que se describe a continuación: RUSTICA: Solar I, radicado en el Barrio

(787) 743-3346

23 Caimital Alto del municipio de Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, conteniendo una cabida superficial de 558.64 metros cuadrados, en lindes por el NORTE, en 32.01 metros, con el Solar número 3 del Plano de Inscripción; por el SUR, en 35.00 metros con Alicia Miranda; por el ESTE, en 19.60 metros con Calle Publica; y por el OESTE, en 14.00 metros con terrenos de la Sucesión de Juan Ramos Badillo. Consta inscrito al folio 235 del tomo 415 de Aguadilla, finca número #23,083. Registro de la Propiedad, Sección de Aguadilla. La propiedad objeto de ejecución está localizada en la siguiente dirección: SR 2, KM 120.07, Caimital Alto, Aguadilla, P.R. 00602. Se informa que la propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravamen posterior, una vez sea otorgada la escritura de venta judicial y obtenida la Orden y Mandamiento de cancelación de gravamen posterior. (Art. 51, Ley 210-2015). En relación a la finca a subastarse, se establece como tipo mínimo de licitación en la Primera Subasta la suma de $214,605.00, según acordado entre las partes en el precio pactado en la Escritura de Hipoteca #4, otorgada en (no expresa lugar de otorgamiento), el día 4 de enero de 2006, ante la notario Norma Teresa Rivera López, e inscrita al folio 2219 del tomo 645 de Aguadilla, finca número 23,083, inscripción 6ta, como Asiento Abreviado extendida las líneas el día 26 de enero de 2018, en virtud de la Ley número 216 del día 27 de diciembre de 2010.

(Fue presentado el día 16 de septiembre de 2009 al Asiento 429 del Diario 839). La PRIMERA SUBASTA, se llevará a cabo el día 29 DE FEBRERO DE 2024 A LAS 10:30 DE LA MAÑANA, en mis oficinas sitas en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Aguadilla, en área del sótano al final del pasillo, el tipo mínimo para la primera subasta es la suma de $214,605.00. Si la primera subasta del inmueble no produjere remate, ni adjudicación, se celebrará una SEGUNDA SUBASTA el día 7 DE MARZO DE 2024 A LAS 10:30 DE LA MAÑANA, en el mismo sitio y servirá de tipo mínimo las dos terceras partes del precio pactada para la primera subasta, o sea, la suma de $143,070.00. Si la segunda subasta no produjere remate, ni adjudicación, se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA el día 14 DE MARZO DE 2024 A LAS 10:30 DE LA MAÑANA, en el mismo lugar y regirá como tipo mínimo de la tercera subasta la mitad del precio

pactado para la primera, o sea, la suma de $107,302.50. Dicha subasta se llevará a cabo, para con su producto satisfacer a la parte demandante el importe de la Sentencia dictada a su favor, a saber: Suma Principal de $192,805.35, con intereses a 6.880% anual, desde el 1ro de diciembre de 2017, hasta el presente y los que se continúen acumulando hasta su total y completo pago, más la suma de $59,357.87, como balance diferido y la cual no genera intereses, pagadera a la fecha de vencimiento, más los cargos por demora que se corresponden a los plazos atrasados desde la fecha anteriormente indicada a razón de la tasa pactada de 5% de cualquier pago que éste en mora por más de quince (15) días desde la fecha de su vencimiento, más una suma equivalente a $21,460.50, por concepto de costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado, más cualquier otra suma que resulte por cualesquiera otros adelantos que se hayan hecho la demandante, en virtud de las disposiciones de la escritura de hipoteca y del Pagaré hipotecario. Para más información, a las personas interesadas se les notifica que los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado, estarán de manifiesto en la Secretaría del Tribunal, durante las horas laborables.

Este EDICTO DE SUBASTA, se publicará en los lugares públicos correspondientes y en un periódico de circulación general en la jurisdicción de Puerto Rico. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los referentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsistentes. Se entenderá, que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. Se procederá a otorgar la correspondiente Escritura de Venta Judicial y el Alguacil pondrá en posesión judicial al nuevo dueño, si así se lo solicita dentro del término de veinte (20) días, de conformidad con las disposiciones de Ley. Si transcurren los referidos veinte (20) días, el tribunal podrá ordenar, sin necesidad de ulterior procedimiento, que se lleve a efecto el desalojo o lanzamiento del ocupante u ocupantes de la finca o de todos los que por orden o tolerancia del deudor la ocupen. Se informa que la propiedad objeto de ejecución se adquiere libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores. Expedido en Aguadilla,

Puerto Rico, a 28 de diciembre a comercio, colindando por el de 2023. Carol Chalmers Soto, NORTE, con un área de uso Alguacil Regional #526. comunal que da frente a la Calle Las Palmas, por el SUR, con LEGAL NOTICE un área de uso comunal, por ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO el ESTE, con el local comunal DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- #AG-5 (pared medianera) y por NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA el OESTE, con un área de uso SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN comunal que da frente a las JUAN. escaleras y al ascensor localiCONDOMINIO BAHÍA zados hacia el extremo Oeste del edificio.

PORCENTAJE: PROPERTIES, LLC Elementos Comunes GeneraDemandante v. les: 0.59660%. FINCA NÚMESUCESIÓN DE TEODORO RO 7467, inscrita al folio 290 GONZÁLEZ ACEVEDO del tomo 243 de Santurce Sur, COMPUESTA POR Registro de la Propiedad, Sede Metropolitana, sección primera FULANO DE TAL, de San Juan. Dirección física: FULANA DE TAL, Cond Bahía A, 1048 Ave. Las MENGANO DE TAL, Palmas Suite AG-4, San Juan MENGANA DE TAL, PR 00907. La subasta se llevaSUTANO DE TAL rá a cabo para con su producto Demandado satisfacer al demandante, total CIVIL NÚM.: SJ2023CV03127. o parcialmente, según sea el SALÓN: 903. SOBRE: COBRO caso, de la referida sentencia DE DINERO VÍA ORDINARIA. que fue dictada por la suma de AVISO DE PÚBLICA SUBAS- $73,951.74 concepto de cuotas TA. de mantenimiento vencidas y A: LOS CODEMANDADOS no pagadas de la propiedad, más las costas, gastos, penaDE EPIGRAFE Y AL PÚBLICO EN GENERAL: lidades, recargos, $1,500.00 por concepto de honorarios de El Alguacil que suscribe por la abogado. Esta subasta no tiene presente anuncia y hace consfijación de tipo mínimo por tratar que en cumplimiento de una tarse de una ejecución de senSentencia dictada en el caso tencia por embargo. Y PARA de epígrafe el 1 de septiembre CONOCIMIENTO DE LAS de 2023, notificada el 5 de sepPARTES INTERESADAS y del tiembre de 2023 y publicada el público en general, se advierte 13 de septiembre de 2023, una que los autos de este caso y Orden de Ejecución de Emdemás instancias están dispobargo emitida el 2 de enero de nibles para ser inspeccionadas 2024 y Mandamiento emitido el en la Secretaría del Tribunal de 4 de enero de 2024, que le ha Primera Instancia Sala Superior sido dirigido por la Secretaria de San Juan, durante las horas del Tribunal de Primera Instanlaborables. Se entenderá que cia, Sala de San Juan, procetodo licitador acepta como basderá a vender en subasta, y al tante la titularidad del inmueble mejor postor, por separado, de y que las cargas y gravámenes contado y por moneda de curso anteriores y los preferentes al legal de los Estados Unidos de crédito del ejecutante, incluyenAmérica, y/o giro postal, dinero do el gravamen por las contrien efectivo, cheque de gerente buciones sobre la propiedad o cheque certificado a nombre inmueble adeudadas, si los del Alguacil del Tribunal, o letra hubiere, continuarán subsisbancaria, con similar garantía tentes, entendiéndose que el de todo título, derecho o interés rematante los acepta y queda de los demandados de epígrafe responsable de los mismos sin sobre el inmueble que adelante destinarse a su extinción el prese describe. Se anuncia por cio del remate. La propiedad a la presente que la subasta haser ejecutada se adquirirá libre brá de celebrarse el día 13 de de cargas y gravámenes posteenero de 2024; a las 11:00 de riores. En testimonio de lo cual, la mañana, en mi oficina localiexpido el presente aviso, el cual zada en el Tribunal de Primera firmo y sello, hoy 10 de enero Instancia, Sala Superior de San de 2024, en San Juan, Puerto Juan, sobre el inmueble que se Rico. Edwin E Lopez Mulero, describe a continuación: ProAlguacil, Tribunal De Primera piedad Horizontal: Urbana: LoInstancia Sala De San Juan. cal comercial #AG-4, ubicado en el Condominio Bahía (VBCLEGAL NOTICE 56), localizado en la Calle Las ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO Palmas, Esquina Cerra, Barrio DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUTras Talleres, Santurce, San NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA Juan, Puerto Rico, con una caSALA SUPERIOR DE ARECIbida de 854.06 pies cuadrados, BO. equivalentes a 79.34 metros BANCO POPULAR DE cuadrados, el cual contiene PUERTO RICO un baño y un salón dedicado

24 DEMANDANTE V.

RAMÓN A. MARRERO VÉLEZ T/C/C RAMÓN ALBERTO MARRERO VÉLEZ, su esposa ADALIZ MACHADO VALENTÍN y la Sociedad Legal de Bienes Gananciales compuesta por ambos

DEMANDADOS Civil Núm. CCD2014-0490 (402). Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y Ejecución de Hipoteca por la Vía Ordinaria AVISO DE VENTA EN PÚBLICA SUBASTA. Yo, Angel de Jesus Torres Perez, Alguacil Supervisor de la División de Subastas del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Arecibo a los demandados y al público en general les notifico que, cumpliendo con un Mandamiento que se ha librado en el presente caso por el Secretario del Tribunal de epígrafe con fecha 4 de octubre de 2023 y para satisfacer la cantidad adeudada de $71,144.43 de principal mediante Sentencia dictada en el caso de autos el 21 de abril de 2015, notificada en autos el 23 de abril de 2015, procederé a vender en pública subasta, al mejor postor en pago de contado y en moneda del curso legal de los Estados Unidos de América, mediante efectivo, giro o cheque certificado a nombre del Alguacil de este Tribunal todo derecho, título e interés que hayan tenido tengan o puedan tener los deudores demandados en cuanto a la propiedad localizada en el Municipio de Arecibo, Puerto Rico, el bien inmueble se describe a continuación: 100 Calle Pino Escocés, Los Pinos, Arecibo, Puerto Rico 00612. URBANA: Solar #R-4 radicado en la Urbanización Vivienda Los Pinos situada en el barrio Santana del término municipal de Arecibo, Puerto Rico, con un área superficial de 430.0761 metros cuadrados, equivalentes a 0.1094 cuerdas, colindando al Norte, en 24.220 metros lineales con el paseo peatonal; al Sur, en 24.130 metros lineales con el solar R-3; al Este, en 17.090 metros lineales con solar R-5 y al Oeste, en 18.530 metros lineales con la calle #4. Sobre dicho solar se encuentra enclavada una casa de hormigón de una planta, con tres dormitorios, dos baños, sala-comedor, cocina, balcón y marquesina. Este solar se encuentra afectado en su frente, por una franja de servidumbre de 1.50 metros de ancho a favor de Puerto Rico Telephone Co. Consta inscrita al Folio 200 del tomo 1038 de Arecibo, Finca 44,000 Registro de la Propiedad de Arecibo, Sección I. Con el importe de dicha venta se habrá de satisfacer a la parte demandante las cantidades adeudadas, en el

caso de epígrafe, que se desglosan de la siguiente forma: $71,143.00 principal, 7% de intereses, los cuales continúan acumulándose hasta el saldo total de la deuda; más costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado. El tipo mínimo para la subasta será la suma de tasación pactada, la cual es $96,472.00 según la escritura de hipoteca para la propiedad descrita. De declararse la subasta desierta, se procederá a una segunda subasta y servirá de tipo mínimo de 2/3 del precio mínimo antes mencionado; $64,314.67.

Si tampoco hubiere remate ni adjudicación en esta segunda subasta, se procederá a una tercera subasta, en la cual regirá como tipo mínimo ésta la 1/2 del precio mínimo antes mencionado; $48,236.00. La primera subasta se llevará a cabo el 1 de febrero de 2024, a las 10:00 de la mañana. De no comparecer postor alguno se llevará a efecto una segunda subasta el 8 de febrero de 2024, a las 10:00 de la mañana. De no comparecer postor alguno se llevará a cabo una tercera subasta el 15 de febrero de 2024, a las 10:00 de la mañana. La subasta o subastas antes indicadas se llevarán a efecto en mi oficina, localizada en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Arecibo. Del Estudio de Título realizado surgen los siguientes gravámenes: Servidumbres a favor de la Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica de P.R., Puerto Rico, Telephone Co. y Condiciones Restrictivas. Condiciones Restrictivas bajo el Programa “Protegiendo tu Hogar” a favor de la Autoridad para el Financiamiento de la Vivienda de Puerto Rico en la suma de $20,000.00 sin intereses vencedero el mes de octubre de 2017, según Esc. #143 en San Juan el 16 de octubre de 2012 ante Félix Joel Zambrana Ortíz, inscrita al folio 200vto del tomo 1038 de Arecibo, finca #44000, inscripción 3ra. Sentencia dictada el 14 de octubre de 2014 en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Arecibo, caso civil #CCM20140489 sobre Cuotas de Mantenimiento seguido por la Asociación de Residentes Los Pinos, Inc. vs los esposos Marrero Machado por $2,019.70 anotada al folio 70 tomo 3 de Sentencias el 27 de febrero de 2015. Se advierte a los licitadores que la adjudicación se hará al mejor postor, quien deberá consignar el importe de su oferta en el mismo acto de la adjudicación en moneda de curso legal de los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica y para conocimiento de la parte demandada y de toda(s) aquella(s) persona(s) que tengan interés inscrito con posterioridad a la inscripción del gravamen que se está ejecutando, y para conocimiento de los licitadores y

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Tuesday, January 23, 2024

y Carmen Dolores compuesta por JAVIER la demanda dentro del término apelación dentro del término de 2024. GRISELDA RODRÍGUEZ SECRETARIA. aquí estipulado, se le anotará la 30 días contados a partir de la COLLADO, Cuadrado Vázquez, RUIZ PÉREZ, con rebeldía y se dictará sentencia publicación por edicto de esta MILDRED J. FRANCO REVENdirección física y postal sin más citarle ni oírle. Además, notificación, dirijo a usted esta TOS, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR también conocida como Carmen Cuadrado desconocida en N.Y.; se le apercibe que, en los ca- notificación que se considerará DEL TRIBUNAL. Vázquez; FULANO DORIS E. RUIZ PÉREZ, sos al amparo de la Ley Núm. hecha en la fecha de la publiLEGAL NOTICE DE TAL y FULANA DE con dirección física y 57-2023, titulada Ley para la cación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archi- ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO Prevención del Maltrato, PreTAL como posibles postal desconocida servación de la Unidad Familiar vada en los autos de este caso, DE PUERTO RICO TPJBUNAL herederos desconocidos en N.Y. CHARLIE y para la Seguridad, Bienestar con fecha 17 de enero de 2024. D PRIMERA IINSTANCIA SALA con posibles interés en PÉREZ PÉREZ, con y Protección de los Menores, En Carolina, Puerto Rico, el 17 SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN. la Sucesión de Arturo dirección física y postal entre los remedios que el Tri- de enero de 2024. KANELLY NEWREZ LLC D/B/A bunal podrá conceder se inclu- ZAYAS ROBLES, SECRETA- SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE Orengo Pacheco; desconocida en N.Y.; MENGANO DE TAL y ENIOVELL PÉREZ PÉREZ, yen la ubicación permanente RIA. KEILA GARCÍA SOLÍS, SERVICING AUXILIAR DEL MENGANA DE TAL como con dirección física y UT2023CV00422 12/01/2024 SECRETARIA Demandante V. 03:03:08 pm Entrada Núm. TRIBUNAL. posibles herederos postal desconocida en 102 Página 1 de 2 de un menor LA SUCESIÓN DE LEGAL NOTICE desconocidos con Bayamón; HÉCTOR IVÁN fuera de su hogar, el inicio de ARTURO ORENGO posibles interés en la PÉREZ GONZÁLEZ, Urb. procesos para la privación de ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO PACHECO COMPUESTA Sucesión de Carmen Flamboyán Gardens P-10 patria potestad y cualquier otra DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUPOR MYRIAM Dolores Cuadrado Calle Lima (16), Bayamón, medida en el mejor interés del NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA ORENGO CUADRADO, menor. (Artículo 33, incisos b y f CENTRO JUDICIAL DE SAN Vázquez, también P.R 00956; FULANO MARGARITA ORENGO JUAN SALA SUPERIOR DE de la Ley Núm. 57-2023). Se le conocida como Carmen DE TAL y MENGANO CUADRADO, ILIANA advierte de su derecho a com- SAN JUAN Cuadrado Vázquez.

DE TAL HEREDERO ORENGO CUADRADO, parecer acompañada de aboCONDOMINIO BAHÍA Por la presente se le emplaza gado en los casos que proceda.

DESCONOCIDO, con CARMEN IRENE PROPERTIES, LLC Demandante V. dirección física y postal Los abogados de la parte deORENGO CUADRADO, y notifica que debe contestar la demanda dentro del término son: Lcdo. Orville O. SUCESIÓN DE CARMEN desconocida. HÉCTOR mandante MERCEDES ORENGO ¡ de treinta (30) días a partir Valentín Rivera, P.O. Box 2335 IVÁN PÉREZ TORRES, Utuado, P.R. 00641-2335. Tel. FIGUEROA POLANCO Y CUADRADO, ROSA de la publicación de! presente OTROS DEBRA HERNÁNDEZ (787) 630-1038; ovalentin@ ORENGO CUADRADO, edicto y deberá presentar su Demandado(a) alegación responsiva a través VÉLEZ Y LA SOCIEDAD studiovalentin.com. Expido este FULANO DE TAL Y edicto bajo mi firma y sello de Caso Núm.: SJ2023CV06369.

DE GANANCIALES FULANA DE TAL COMO de! Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos este Tribunal, hoy 16 de enero Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO COMPUESTA POR POSIBLES HEREDEROS (SUMAC), el cual podrá accede 2024. DIANE ÁLVAREZ VI- ORDINARIO. NOTIFICACIÓN AMBOS; Urb. Flamboyán LLANUEVA, SECRETARIA GE- DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO. DESCONOCIDOS der utilizando la siguiente diGardens P-10 Calle CON INTERÉS EN rección electrónica: https://uniNERAL. YAMARIS ESTRONZA ALEJANDRO BELLVER ESPINOSA, ALEJANDRO@BELLVERLAW.COM. red.ramajudicial.pr, salvo que Lima (16), Bayamón, LA SUCESIÓN, LA MALDONADO, SECRETARIA A: SUCESION DE AUXILIAR. P.R. 00956. HIRAM SUCESIÓN DE CARMEN el caso sea de un expediente o que se represente por CARMEN FIGUEROA PÉREZ GONZÁLEZ, DOLORES CUADRADO fisico LEGAL NOTICE derecho propio, en cuyo caso POLANCO COMPUESTA IRIS IVETTE PÉREZ VÁZQUEZ, TAMBIÉN deberá presentar su alegación ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO POR: ZOE NARVAEZ AYALA Y LA SOCIEDAD DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL CONOCIDA COMO responsiva en la Secretaría del FIGUEROA, NATASHA DE GANANCIALES CARMEN CUADRADO Tribunal y notificar copia de la DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA ENGARCIA FIGUEROA TASU RONDE CAROLINA COMPUESTA POR VÁZQUEZ COMPUESTA misma al licenciado Andrés Y RAFAEL GARCIA Sáez Marrero, 501 Avenida JUAN ANTONIO AMBOS; HC-4 Box 9897 POR COMPUESTA Muñoz Rivera, San Juan, PR ROMAN POR SF Y Utuado, P.R. 00641; SUC. CARRASQUILLO VELEZ POR MYIUAM 00918, Tel. (561) 338-4101, coCOMO MIEMBRO DE Demandante V. DE JESÚS GONZÁLEZ ORENGO CUADRADO, rreo electrónico, asaez@tmpllc.

LA CUOTA VIUDAL POPULAR MORTGAGE, VÉLEZ Y LUISA DE MARGARITA ORENGO com, dentro de los treinta (30) USUFRUCTUARIA. INC. Y OTROS días siguientes a la publicación JESÚS, COMPUESTA CUADRADO, ILIANA (Nombre de las partes que se le Demandado(a) de este Edicto. Si usted deja de POR; FÉLIX GONZÁLEZ ORENGO CUADRADO, notifican la sentencia por edicto) Caso Núm.: CA2023CV03843. presentar su alegación responDE JESÚS; PERENCEJO (Civil: 408). Sobre: CANCE- EL SECRETARIO(A) que susCARMEN IRENE siva dentro del referido término, cribe le notifica a usted que GONZÁLEZ DE JESÚS; LACIÓN O RESTITUCIÓN DE ORENGO CUADRADO, el tribunal podrá dictar sentenel 11 de enero de 2024, este ZUTANO GONZÁLEZ MERCEDES ORENGO cia en rebeldía en su contra y PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO. NOTribunal ha dictado Sentencia, LEGAL NOTICE TIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA conceder el remedio solicitado DE JESÚS Y LA CUADRADO, ROSA Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en la demanda, o cualquier otro ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO SUCESIÓN FRANCISCO POR EDICTO. ORENGO CUADRADO, MARJALIISA COLÓN VILLANUEVA, en este caso, que ha sido debiDE PUERTO RICO TRIBUGONZÁLEZ DE JESÚS; damente registrada y archivada MENGANO DE TAL Y sin más citarle ni oírle, si el triMCOLON@WWCLAW.COM. bunal, en el ejercicio de su sana NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA en autos donde podrá usted MENGANA DE TAL COMO COMPUESTA POR JOHN A: JOHN DOE Y discreción, lo entiende proceCENTRO JUDICIAL DE UTUAenterarse detalladamente de DOE Y JANE DOE LAS POSIBLES HEREDEROS dente. Además, se le apercibe RICHARD ROE. DO SALA SUPERIOR los términos de la misma. Esta (Nombre de las panes que se le POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS que, en los casos al amparo EFRAÍN DE JESÚS notificación se publicará una notifican la sentencia por edicto) de la Ley Núm. 57-2023, tituDESCONOCIDOS; Hc 4 CON INTERÉS EN LA VÁZQUEZ Y OTROS EL SECRETARIO(A) que sus- sola vez en un periódico de Box 9892 Utuado, Puerto cribe le notifica a usted que circulación general en la Isla SUCESIÓN; CENTRO lada Ley para la Prevención Parte Demandante Vs. del Maltrato, Preservación de Rico 00641.

DE RECAUDACIÓN el 17 de enero de 2024, este de Puerto Rico, dentro de los HÉCTOR IVÁN PÉREZ la Unidad Familiar y para la 10 días siguientes a su notificaDE INGRESOS GONZÁLEZ Y OTROS Por la presente se le emplaza Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Seguridad, Bienestar y Protecy notifica que debe contestar la Sentencia Parcial o Resolución ción. Y, siendo o representando Parte Demandada MUNICIPALES, ción de los Menores, entre los usted una parte en el procediel público en general y para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general, una vez por semana durante el término de dos (2) semanas consecutivas con un intervalo de por lo menos siete (7) días entre ambas publicaciones, y para su fijación en tres (3) lugares públicos del municipio en que ha de celebrarse la venta, tales como, la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colecturía y se le notificará además a la parte demandada vía correo certificado con acuse de recibo a la última dirección conocida.

La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores, previa orden judicial dirigida al Registrador de la Propiedad de la sección correspondiente para la cancelación de aquellos posteriores. Se les advierte a todos los interesados que todos los documentos relacionados con la presente acción de ejecución de hipoteca, así como la de la subasta, estarán disponibles para ser examinados, durante horas laborables, en la Secretaría del Tribunal. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante, continuarán subsistentes; entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate.

Y para conocimiento de los demandados, de los acreedores posteriores, de los licitadores, partes interesadas y público en general, expido el presente Aviso para su publicación en los lugares públicos correspondientes. Librado en la Sala de Arecibo, Puerto Rico, a 12 de enero de 2024. Angel de Jesus Torres Perez, ALGUACIL. ***

Civil Núm.: UT2023CV00243.

Sobre: INCUMPLIMIENTO DE CONTRATO; CUMPLIMIENTO ESPECÍFICO DE CONTRATO; DAÑOS Y PERJUICIOS CONTRACTUALES Y EXTRACONTRACTUALES. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO ENMENDADO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, S.S.

A: SUC. DE AURORA PÉREZ MARTÍNEZ,

demanda dentro del término de treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación del presente edicto.

Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired. ramajudicial.pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaría del tribunal. Se le apercibe que de no contestar

en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o

miento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha 17 de enero de 2024. En San Juan, Puerto Rico, el 17 de enero de

Demandados CIVIL NUM. SJ2023CV11324.

SOBRE: - COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA POR LA VIA ORDINARIA. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. Estados Unidos de América Presidente de los Estados Unidos Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico. SS.

A: CARMEN IRENE ORENGO CUADRADO, como miembro de las Sucesiones de Arturo Orengo Pacheco

remedios que el Tribunal podrá conceder se incluyen la ubicación permanente de un (una) menor fuera de su hogar, el inicio de procesos para la privación de patria potestad, y cualquier otra medida en el mejor interés del (de la) menor. (Artículo 33, incisos b y f de la Ley Núm. 57-2023). Se le advierte de su derecho a comparecer acompañado(a) de abogado(a) en los casos que proceda. Expido este edicto bajo mi firma y sello de este Tribunal, hoy 16 de enero de 2024. Griselda Ro-

The San Juan Daily Star driguez Collado, Sec Regional.

F/Maria I Rios Lopez, Sec Serv a Sala.

circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando LEGAL NOTICE usted una parte en el procediESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO miento sujeta a los términos DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- de la Sentencia, Sentencia NAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA Parcial o Resolución, de la cual TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INS- puede establecerse recurso de TANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE revisión o apelación dentro del BAYAMÓN término de 30 días contados a BANCO POPULAR DE partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a PUERTO RICO usted esta notificación que se Demandante V. considerará hecha en la fecha SUCESION DE JOSE de la publicación de este edicANTONIO REYES MOLINA to. Copia de esta notificación ha T/C/C JOSE REYES sido archivada en los autos de MOLINA, COMPUESTA este caso, con fecha 28 de abril de 2024. En Bayamón, Puerto POR SU HEREDERA Rico, el 28 de abril de 2023.

CONOCIDA GLORIA LAURA I. SANTA SÁNCHEZ, SANTIAGO MALDONADO, SECRETARIA. LUREIMY ALIPOR SI; SUCESIÓN DE CEA GONZÁLEZ, SECRETAJOSE REYES SANTIAGO RIA AUXILIAR.

COMPUESTA POR SU LEGAL NOTICE HEREDERA CONOCIDA ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO ELBA MALDONADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUMARQUES T/C/C ELBA NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA IVELISSE MALDONADO SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN MARQUES; POR SÍ; BANCO POPULAR DE FULANO DE TAL PUERTO RICO Y SUTANA DE TAL Parte Demandante Vs. COMO HEREDEROS NEIDIBER CRUZ MEJÍAS DESCONOCIDOS Y/O Y JAVIER MARTÍNEZ PARTES CON INTERÉS ORTIZ EN DICHAS SUCESIONES

Demandado(a) Civil: BY2022CV05431. Salón: 703. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: SUCESION DE JOSE ANTONIO REYES MOLINA T/C/C JOSE REYES MOLINA, COMPUESTA POR SU HEREDERA CONOCIDA GLORIA SANTIAGO MALDONADO, POR SI; SUCESIÓN DE JOSE REYES SANTIAGO COMPUESTA POR SU HEREDERA CONOCIDA ELBA MALDONADO MARQUES T/C/C ELBA IVELISSE MALDONADO MARQUES; POR SÍ; FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANA DE TAL COMO HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS Y/O PARTES CON INTERÉS EN DICHAS SUCESIONES.

(Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 17 de abril de 2023, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de

Parte Demandada Civil Núm.: SJ2020CV01289.

(506). Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS. AVISO DE PÚBLICA SUBASTA. El Alguacil que suscribe por la presente anuncia y hace constar que en cumplimiento de la Sentencia dictada el 2 de noviembre de 2023, la Orden de Ejecución de Sentencia del 19 de diciembre de 2023 y el Mandamiento Enmendado de Ejecución del 22 de diciembre de 2023 en el caso de epígrafe, procederé a vender el día 12 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, A LAS 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA , en mi oficina, localizada en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Centro Judicial de San Juan, Sala Superior, en la Avenida Muñoz Rivera, Esquina Coll y Toste, Parada 37, San Juan, Puerto Rico, al mejor postor en pago de contado y en moneda de los Estados Unidos de América, cheque de gerente o giro postal a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal; todo título, derecho o interés de la parte demandada sobre la siguiente propiedad: URBANA: PROPIEDAD HORIZONTAL: Apartamento 5-E-8 del Condominio Estancia de Boulevard, localizado en el municipio de San Juan, con un área superficial de 1,791.00 pies cuadrados, equivalentes a 166.3839 metros cuadrados.

Tuesday, January 23, 2024 En lindes por el NORTE, con pared exterior del módulo; por el SUR, con pared exterior del módulo; por el ESTE, con apartamento 6 E-7 y por el OESTE, con apartamento 5-E7. Consta de dos niveles, en el tercer piso: de sala comedor, dos baños, tres dormitorios, cocina y balcón, un “walk-incloset” y otros tres “closets” segundo nivel en el cuarto piso: de estudio cubierto y terraza descubierta. Tiene una escalera interior que conecta los dos niveles. Tiene una puerta principal que da acceso a la escalera por donde se llega a la salida del módulo, una vez allí, por las calles interiores del condominio se obtiene acceso a la vía pública. Le corresponde una participación de 0.59% en los elementos comunes del condominio. Le corresponde un espacio de estacionamiento con capacidad para dos (2) vehículos que está marcado con el mismo número que el apartamiento. Inscrita al folio 61 del tomo 550 de Río Piedras Sur, Finca 17436. Registro de la Propiedad de San Juan, Sección IV. La hipoteca y su modificación constan inscritas al folio 21 del tomo 689 de Río Piedras Sur, Finca 17436. Registro de la Propiedad de San Juan, Sección IV. Inscripción tercera y cuarta, respectivamente.

DIRECCIÓN FÍSICA: ESTANCIAS DEL BOULEVARD APT 5E8, SAN JUAN, PR 00926.

Número de catastro: (79) 115003-226-15-151. El tipo mínimo para la primera subasta será de $156,400.00. De no haber adjudicación en la primera subasta se celebrará una SEGUNDA SUBASTA, el día 20 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, A LAS 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA en el mismo lugar, en la cual el tipo mínimo será de dos terceras partes del tipo mínimo fijado en la primera subasta, o sea, $102,933.33.

De no haber adjudicación en la segunda subasta, se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA, el día 27 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, A LAS 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA en el mismo lugar, en la cual el tipo mínimo será la mitad del precio pactado, o sea, $78,200.00. Si se declarase desierta la tercera subasta, se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada si ésta es igual o menor que el monto del tipo de la tercera subasta, si el tribunal lo estima conveniente. Se abonará dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si ésta es mayor. Dicho remate se llevará a cabo para con su producto satisfacer a la parte demandante el importe de la Sentencia por la suma de $126,173.01 de principal, más intereses sobre dicha suma al 4.875% anual desde el 1 de febrero de 2018 hasta su completo pago, más recargos acumulados, más la cantidad estipulada de $15,640.00 para

costas, gastos y honorarios de abogados, así como cualquier otra suma que contenga el contrato del préstamo, incluyendo pero sin limitarse a gastos de mantenimiento, inspecciones y otros adelantos “corporate advances”. Surge del Estudio de Título Registral que sobre esta propiedad pesan los siguientes gravámenes posteriores que afecta la propiedad que se pretende ejecutar: a. Embargo Estatal: Anotado sobre esta finca como perteneciente a Javier Martínez Ortiz, por concepto de contribución sobre ingresos, por la suma de $42,766.55, según certificación de fecha 15 de octubre de 2013, presentado el 6 de noviembre de 2013, expedido por Colector de Rentas Internas. Anotada al folio 53 del número de orden 209 del Libro de Embargos Estatales número, Ley número 12. b. Aviso de Demanda: Pleito seguido por Banco Popular de Puerto Rico vs. Neidiber Cruz Mejías y Javier Martínez Ortiz, ante el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de San Juan, en el caso civil número SJ2020CV01289, sobre cobro de dinero y ejecución de hipoteca, en la que se reclama el pago de hipoteca, con un balance de $126,173.01 y otras cantidades, según Demanda de fecha 13 de febrero de 2020. Anotada al Tomo Karibe de Rio Piedras Sur. Anotación A. Se notifica al acreedor posterior o a su sucesor o cesionario en derecho para que comparezca a proteger su derecho si así lo desea. Se les advierte a los interesados que todos los documentos relacionados con la presente acción de ejecución de hipoteca, así como los de Subasta, estarán disponibles para ser examinados, durante horas laborables, en el expediente del caso que obra en los archivos de la Secretaría del Tribunal, bajo el número de epígrafe y para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general en Puerto Rico por espacio de dos semanas y por lo menos una vez por semana; y para su fijación en los sitios públicos requeridos por ley. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante, continuarán subsistentes; entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de estos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate y que la propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores tal como lo expresa la Ley Núm. 2102015. Y para el conocimiento de los demandados, de los acreedores posteriores, de los licitadores, partes interesadas y público en general, EXPIDO para su publicación en los luga-

25

usted deja de presentar y notificar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el Tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la Demanda, o cualquier otro, si el Tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. Los abogados de LEGAL NOTICE la parte demandante son.

ABOGADOS DE LA PARTE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DEMANDANTE: DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUF/ ALEJANDRA RAMOS MUÑOZ NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA Núm. Tribunal Supremo 23,244 SALA DE TRUJILLO ALTO Cari. 459 km. 14.0 mt. Barrio Jobos, Isabela, Puerto Rico 00662 JOSÉ RAMÓN TORRES P.O. Box 213 PIZARRO Y EDITH Isabela, Puerto Rico 00662 ROSADO DE TORRES Tel. (787) 616-6869 aramos@licenciadonotariopr.com T/C/C EDITH EMERITA Expedido este edicto bajo mi RROSADO TORRES firma y el sello de este Tribunal, Demandante V. hoy 18 de enero de 2024. LIC. JOHN DOE, KANELLY ZAYAS ROBLES, COMO TENEDOR SECRETARIA REGIONAL. DENISSE TORRES RUIZ, SEDESCONOCIDO DEL CRETARIA DEL TRIBUNAL. PAGARÉ; HOUSING res públicos correspondientes, el presente Aviso de Pública Subasta en San Juan, Puerto Rico, hoy 9 de enero de 2024.

PEDRO HIEYE GONZÁLEZ, ALGUACIL, TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA, CENTRO JUDICIAL DE SAN JUAN, SALA SUPERIOR.

INVESTMENT CORPORATION

Demandada Civil Núm.: TJ2023CV00567.

Sala: 407. Sobre: CANCELACIÓN DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO LA VÍA JUDICIAL. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PR, S.S.

A: HOUSING INVESTMENT CORPORATION que garantizaba una hipoteca a favor de Housing Investment Corporation, o a su orden, por la suma de veintiocho mil setecientos dólares ($28,700.00). Intereses: nueve punto cincuenta por ciento (9.50%) anual.

Vencimiento: uno (1) de mayo de dos mil nueve (2009). Constituida mediante escritura número novecientos diez (910) otorgada en San Juan, Puerto Rico el treinta (30) de abril de mil novecientos setenta y nueve (1979) ante el Notario Público Raúl J. Vilá Sellés, según inscripción 1.

Por la presente se le emplaza y notifica que debe contestar la demanda incoada en su contra dentro del término de treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación del presente edicto. Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired.ramajudicial. pr/sumac/, salvo que se represente por derecho propio. Si

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE CAROLINA SALA SUPERIOR DE CAROLINA

JOSÉ RAMÓN TORRES PIZARRO Demandante V.

JOHN DOE

Demandado(a) Caso Núm.: TJ2023CV00585.

(Civil: 401). Sobre: CANCELACIÓN O RESTITUCIÓN DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO. ALEJANDRA MARÍA RAMOS MUÑOZ, ALERM_592@HOTMAIL. COM.

A: JOHN DOE COMO TENEDOR DESCONOCIDO DEL PAGARÉ A FAVOR DE HOUSING INVESTMENT CORPORATION.

(Nombre de las partes que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 7 de enero de 2024, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación

de este edicto. Copia de esta parcela #173 de la comunidad; notificación ha sido archivada y por el OESTE: con la parcela en los autos de este caso, con #171 de la comunidad. Inscrita fecha 18 de enero de 2024. En al folio 282 del tomo 98 de SanCarolina, Puerto Rico, el 18 de ta Isabel, Finca 3524. Registro enero de 2024. KANELLY ZA- de la Propiedad de Guayama.

YAS ROBLES, SECRETARIA. La hipoteca consta inscrita al ROSA M. VIERA VELÁZQUEZ, tomo Karibe de Santa Isabel, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR DEL Finca 3524. Registro de la TRIBUNAL. Propiedad de Guayama. Inscripción séptima. DIRECCIÓN LEGAL NOTICE FÍSICA: PARCELAS JAUCA, ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO 172 CALLE 1, SANTA ISABEL, DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- PR 00757. Número de CatasNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA tro: 67-438-001-060-21-000.

SALA SUPERIOR DE PONCE El tipo mínimo para la primera BANCO POPULAR DE subasta será de $65,324.00.

De no haber adjudicación en la PUERTO RICO primera subasta se celebrará Parte Demandante Vs. una SEGUNDA SUBASTA, el SUCESIÓN DE ÁNGEL día 27 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, LUIS CRUZ CRUZ A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA, T/C/C ÁNGEL CRUZ en el mismo lugar, en la cual el tipo mínimo será de dos terceCRUZ COMPUESTA POR FULANO DE TAL ras partes del tipo mínimo fijado en la primera subasta, o sea, T/C/C PAPO CRUZ Y $43,549.33. De no haber adjuMENGANO DE TAL, dicación en la segunda subasPOSIBLE HEREDERO ta, se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA el día 5 DE MARZO DESCONOCIDO, DE 2024, A LAS 11:00 DE LA ESTADOS UNIDOS MAÑANA, en el mismo lugar, DE AMÉRICA en la cual el tipo mínimo será REPRESENTADOS la mitad del precio pactado, o POR EL SECRETARIO sea, $32,662.00. Si se declaraDE LA VIVIENDA Y se desierta la tercera subasta, DESARROLLO URBANO se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la totalidad de (HUD) la cantidad adeudada si ésta es Parte Demandada Civil Núm.: PO2023CV01535. igual o menor que el monto del (406). Sobre: COBRO DE tipo de la tercera subasta, si el DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE tribunal lo estima conveniente.

HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA ORDI- Se abonará dicho monto a la NARIA. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE cantidad adeudada si ésta es AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE mayor. Dicho remate se llevará DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, a cabo para con su producto EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIA- satisfacer a la demandante el DO DE PUERTO RICO, SS. importe de la Sentencia por la AVISO DE PÚBLICA SUBAS- suma de $56,792.25 de princiTA. El Alguacil que suscribe pal, más intereses sobre dicha por la presente anuncia y hace suma al 4.75% anual desde el constar que en cumplimiento de 1 de noviembre de 2022 hasta la Sentencia Enmendada dicta- su completo pago, más $63.00 da el 6 de octubre de 2023, la de recargos acumulados, los Orden de Ejecución de Senten- cuales continuarán en aumento cia del 12 de diciembre de 2023 hasta el saldo total de la deuda, y el Mandamiento de Ejecución más la cantidad estipulada de del 22 de diciembre de 2023 en $6,532.40 para costas, gastos el caso de epígrafe, procederé y honorarios de abogados, así a vender el día 20 DE FEBRE- como cualquier otra suma que RO DE 2024, A LAS 11:00 DE contenga el contrato del préstaLA MAÑANA, en mi oficina, mo, incluyendo pero sin limitarlocalizada en el Tribunal de Pri- se a gastos de mantenimiento, mera Instancia, Centro Judicial inspecciones y otros adelantos de Ponce, Sala Superior, en “corporate advances”. Surge 2150 Ave. Santiago de los Ca- del Estudio de Título Registral balleros, Ponce, Puerto Rico, al que sobre esta propiedad pemejor postor en pago de conta- san los siguientes gravámenes do y en moneda de los Estados posteriores a la hipoteca que Unidos de América, cheque por la presente se pretende de gerente o giro postal, todo ejecutar: a. HIPOTECA: Constitítulo, derecho o interés de la tuida Angel Luis Cruz Cruz (solparte demandada sobre la si- tero), en garantía de un pagaré guiente propiedad: RÚSTICA: a favor de The Secretary of Parcela marcada con el #172 Housing & Urban Development en el plano de parcelación de of the United States of America, la Comunidad Rural Jauca del o a su orden, por la suma de término municipal de Santa Isa- $1,187.24, sin intereses y venbel, con cabida superficial de cedero el 1 de agosto de 2045, 0.2132 cuerdas, equivalentes según consta de la escritura a 837.93 metros cuadrados. #13, otorgada en San Juan, el En lindes por el NORTE: con 18 de marzo de 2021, ante el la calle de la comunidad; por el notario Juan H. Soto Solá, insSUR: con la parcela #161 de la crita al Tomo Karibe de Santa comunidad; por el ESTE con la Isabel, finca #3524, inscripción

26 9na. b. Aviso de Demanda: Pleito seguido por Banco Popular de Puerto Rico Vs. Sucesión De Ángel Luis Cruz Cruz t/c/c Ángel Cruz Cruz Compuesta por Fulano de Tal t/c/c Papo Cruz y Mengano de Tal, posible heredero desconocido, Estados Unidos de América representados por el Secretario de la Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano (HUD) ante el Tribunal Superior de Ponce, en el Caso Civil Número PO2023CV01535, sobre Cobro de Dinero y Ejecución de Hipoteca, en la que se reclama el pago de la hipoteca, con un balance de $56,792.25 y otras cantidades, según Demanda de fecha 24 de mayo de 2023.

Anotada al Tomo Anotación A. Se notifica al acreedor posterior o a su sucesor o cesionario en derecho para que comparezca a proteger su derecho si así lo desea. Se les advierte a los interesados que todos los documentos relacionados con la presente acción de ejecución de hipoteca, así como los de Subasta, estarán disponibles para ser examinados, durante horas laborables, en el expediente del caso que obra en los archivos de la Secretaría del Tribunal, bajo el número de epígrafe y para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general en Puerto Rico por espacio de dos semanas y por lo menos una vez por semana; y para su fijación en los sitios públicos requeridos por ley.

Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante, continuarán subsistentes; entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate y que la propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores tal como lo expresa la Ley Núm. 2102015. Y para el conocimiento de los demandados, de los acreedores posteriores, de los licitadores, partes interesadas y público en general, EXPIDO para su publicación en los lugares públicos correspondientes, el presente Aviso de Pública Subasta en Ponce, Puerto Rico, hoy 10 de enero de 2024.

MANUEL MALDONADO, ALGUACIL DEL TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA, SALA SUPERIOR DE PONCE.

T/C/C HACIENDA DEL BOSQUE INC., ASHTEN PRODUCTOS OF PUERTO RICO INC, INTERNATIONAL GROUP ORGANIZATION, INC. T/C/C INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC., IMPORTACIONES JAM INC., VIVIAN ESTHER FELICIANO PABON, GLORIA ESTHER PABON TORRES, CARIBBEAN PROMOTION GROUP, INCOPORATED

Demandado (s) Civil Núm.: KCD2015-2721.

Sobre: COBRO DE DIBERO Y EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA. AVISO DE VENTA EN PÚBLICA SUBASTA.

A: JORGE ALEXIS MEDINA RIVERA; HACIENDA EL BOSQUE INC., T/C/C HACIENDA DEL BOSQUE INC., ASHTEN PRODUCTOS OF PUERTO RICO INC, INTERNATIONAL GROUP ORGANIZATION, INC. T/C/C INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC., IMPORTACIONES JAM INC., VIVIAN ESTHER FELICIANO PABON, GLORIA ESTHER PABON TORRES, CARIBBEAN PROMOTION GROUP, INCOPORATED; WESTERNBANK PUERTO RICO (AHORA BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO Y AL PUBLICO EN GENERAL:

El que suscribe, Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior, Centro Judicial de San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico, hago saber a la parte demandada y, al PUBLICO EN GENERAL, y a todos los acreedores que tengan inscritos o anotados sus derechos sobre el bien hipotecado 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 surjan de la certificación registral, para que puedan concuLEGAL NOTICE rrir a la subasta si les convenga ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO o satisfacer antes del remate DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- el importe del crédito, de sus NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA intereses, costas y honorarios SALA DE SAN JUAN de abogados asegurados, quedando entonces subrogados MMG PRCI I, LLC en los derechos del acreedor Demandante V. JORGE ALEXIS MEDINA ejecutante, a saber: HIPOTECA: En garantía de un pagare RIVERA; HACIENDA a favor de Westernbank PuerEL BOSQUE INC., to Rico, o a su orden, por la

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

suma de $65,000.00, intereses al (no expresa) y a vencer a la presentación, según consta de la escritura #220, otorgada en San Juan, el1 de abril de 2025, ante el Notario Juan C. Ortega Torres, inscrito al folio 130 del tomo 854 de Sabana Llana, finca #4,926, inscripci6n 13ra.

Asiento abreviado el 2 de junio de 2011. HIPOTECA: En garantía de un pagare a favor de Westernbank Puerto Rico, o a su orden, por la suma de $35,000.00, intereses al 7.49% anual, no expresa vencimiento, según consta de la escritura #90, otorgada en Rio Grande, el 4 de marzo de 2009, ante el Notario Adrian J. Hilera Torres, inscrita al folia 130 del tamo 854 de Sabana Llana, finca #4,926, inscripci6n 13ra.

Asiento abreviado el 2 de junio de 2011. Que en cumplimiento con el Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia expedido el día 5 de diciembre de 2023, por la Secretaria del Tribunal, procederé a vender y venderé en pública subasta y al mejor postor la propiedad que ubica y se describe a continuación: Dirección de la Propiedad: Urb. Villa Capri, 614 Calles Niza y Verona S.J. PR 00924. URBANA: Solar sito en el barrio Sabana Llana de Rio Piedras dentro del municipio de San Juan, Puerto Rico, marcado con el número Once (11) de la manzana “B” de la Urbanización denominada Reparto Residencial Gustavo Gerardino, con un área superficial de cuatrocientos sesenta y tres metros cuadrados con veintitrés centímetros cuadrados (473.23 m.c.), en lindes por su NORTE, que es su frente en 15.05 metros con la calle “A” de la urbanización; por el SUR, que es su fondo en 3.32 metros con el solar número catorce (14) de la manzana “B” de la urbanización ; por el ESTE, con la calle marginal de la Urbanización que da al camino publico denominado Las Peñas en 32.13 metros y por el OESTE, en 31.09 metros con el solar número diez de la manzana “B” de la Urbanización. Finca número 4,926, inscrita al folio 112 del tomo 115 de Sabana Llana, Registro de la Propiedad de San Juan, Sección Quinta.

El producto de la subasta se destinará a satisfacer al demandante, hasta donde alcance, la SENTENCIA dictada a su favor ascendente a la suma de $288,569.85 de principal, más intereses acumulados a razón de 6.250% anual, los cuales ascendían al 23 de marzo de 2023 a $166,100.27 y los cuales continúan acumulándose hasta el pago total y solvente del principal; $18,521.72 de cargos por seguro de la propiedad (Prop Pres), más costas y gastos, en adición a honorarios de abogado, según pactados.

Los intereses se continúan acumulando a razón de $50.10 al

día (“per diem”) hasta el pago total de la deuda. Disponiéndose que si quedare algún remanente luego de pagarse las sumas antes mencionadas del mismo deberá ser depositado en la Secretaria del Tribunal para ser entregado a la parte con interés previa solicitud y orden del Tribunal. La venta de la referida propiedad se verificará libre de toda carga o gravamen que afecte la mencionada finca.

La adjudicación se hará al mejor postor, quien deberá consignar el importe de su oferta en el acto mismo de la adjudicación, en efectivo (moneda del curso legal de los Estados Unidos de América), giro postal o cheque certificado a nombre del alguacil del Tribunal. LA PRIMERA SUBASTA se llevará a efecto el día 13 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, A LAS 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA, en la oficina del referido Alguacil, localizada en el Centro Judicial de San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Que el precio mínimo fijado para la PRIMERA SUBASTA es de $310,000.00.

Que de ser necesaria la celebración de una SEGUNDA SUBASTA, la misma se llevará a efecto el día 21 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, A LAS 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA, en la oficina antes mencionada del Alguacil que suscribe. El precio mínimo para la SEGUNDA SUBASTA será de $206,666.67, equivalentes a dos terceras (2/3) partes del tipo mínimo estipulado para la PRIMERA subasta. Que de ser necesaria la celebración de una TERCERA SUBASTA la misma se llevará a efecto el día 28 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, A LAS 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA, en la oficina antes mencionada del Alguacil que suscribe. El precio mínimo para la TERCERA SUBASTA será de $155,000.00, equivalentes a la mitad (1/2) del tipo mínimo estipulado para la PRIMERA subasta. Si se declarase desierta la tercera subasta, se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada si ésta es igual o menor que el monto del tipo de la tercera subasta, si el Tribunal lo estima conveniente; se abonará dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si esta es mayor, todo ello a tenor con lo dispone el Articulo 104 de la Ley Núm. 210 del 8 de diciembre de 2015 conocida como “Ley del Registro de la Propiedad Inmueble del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico”.

La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquiere libre de toda carga y gravamen que afecte la mencionada finca según el Artículo 102, inciso 6. Una vez confirmada la venta judicial por el Honorable Tribunal, se procederá a otorgar la correspondiente escritura de venta judicial y se pondrá al comprador en posesión física del inmueble de conformidad con las disposiciones de Ley. Para conocimiento de

la parte demandada y de toda aquella persona o personas que tengan interés inscrito con posterioridad a la inscripción del gravamen que se está ejecutando, y para conocimiento de todos los licitadores y el público en general, el presente Edicto se publicará por espacio de dos (2) semanas consecutivas, con un intervalo de por lo menos siete días entre ambas publicaciones, en un diario de circulación general en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico y se fijará además en tres (3) lugares públicos del Municipio en que ha de celebrarse dicha venta, tales como la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colecturía. Se les informa, por último, que: a. Que los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado estarán de manifiesto en la secretaría del tribunal durante las horas laborables. b. Que se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsistentes. Se entenderá, que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. EXPIDO, el presente EDICTO, en San Juan, Puerto Rico, hoy día 9 de enero de 2024. PEDRO HIEYE GONZÁLEZ, ALGUACIL, DIVISIÓN DE SUBASTAS, TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA, SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE BAYAMÓN SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYAMÓN

TRUST MORTGAGE CORP Demandante V.

JOHN DOE Y OTROS

Demandado(a) Caso Núm.: BY2023CV06542.

Sobre: CANCELACIÓN O RESTITUCIÓN DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO. JORGE GARCIA RONDON, JAFGRONDON@GMAIL.COM.

A: FINANCE OF AMERICA REVERSE LLC. - PO BOX 40724 LANSING MI 48901-7924.

B: JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE (PERSONAS DESCONOCIDAS CON POSIBLE INTERES).

(Nombre de las partes que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 10 de enero de 2024, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debi-

damente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha 11 de enero de 2024.

En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el 11 de enero de 2024. LAURA I. SANTA SÁNCHEZ, SECRETARIA. SANDRA BÁEZ HERNÁNDEZ, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR DEL TRIBUNAL.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE BAYAMÓN

otro sin más citarle ni oírle, si el tribunal en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. El sistema SUMAC notificará copia a los abogados de la parte demandante, Lcdo.

Edwin Serrano Peña cuyas direcciones son: P.O. Box 71418 San Juan, Puerto Rico 009368518, teléfono (787) 993-3731 a la dirección edwin.serrano@ orflaw.com y a la dirección notificaciones@orf-law.com. EXTENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA y el sello del Tribunal, en Bayamón, Puerto Rico, hoy día 13 de noviembre de 2023. En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el 13 de noviembre de 2023. LCDA. LAURA I. SANTA SÁNCHEZ, SECRETARIA. NOELIA MATÍAS SALAS, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

San Juan, Puerto Rico 009368518, teléfono (787) 993-3731 a la dirección edwin.serrano@ orf-law.com y a la dirección notificaciones@orf-law.com. EXTENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA y el sello del Tribunal, en Bayamón, Puerto Rico, hoy día 14 de noviembre de 2023. En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el 14 de noviembre de 2023. LCDA. LAURA I. SANTA SÁNCHEZ, SECRETARIA. NOELIA MATÍAS SALAS, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE AGUADILLA

ISLAND PORTFOLIO SERVICES, LLC, COMO LEGAL NOTICE AGENTE DE FAIRWAY ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO ACQUISTIONS FUND, LLC DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE BAYAMÓN

ISLAND PORTFOLIO SERVICES, LLC. COMO AGENTE GESTOR DE FAIRWAY ACQUISITIONS FUND, LLC. Demandante Vs.

BARBARA S MONTUFAR Demandado

Demandante Vs.

JOHNNY PRATTS DÍAZ

Demandado Civil Núm.: AG2022CV00972.

Salón: 0003. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO ORDINARIO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

Civil Núm.: BY2023CV04429.

ISLAND PORTFOLIO A: JOHNNY PRATTS DÍAZ SERVICES, LLC. COMO Salón: 402. Sobre: COBRO - BO. CEIBA ALTA CARR DE DINERO. EMPLAZAMIENAGENTE GESTOR DE TO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS 459 KM 70.1, AGUADILLA, ACE ONE FUNDING, LLC. UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PR 00603 / HC 5 BOX Demandante Vs. PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTA55949 AGUADILLA, PR JOHN M VELEZ RIVERA DOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LI00603-9142.

Demandado

BRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO Civil Núm.: BY2023CV03323. RICO, SS. Salón: 402. Sobre: COBRO A: BARBARA S. DE DINERO. EMPLAZAMIENMONTUFAR TO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS URB. REXVILLE H8 UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL CALLE 8 BAYAMÓN, PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIP.R. 00957.

BRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO POR LA PRESENTE se le RICO, SS. emplaza por la deuda reclamada de $2,277.44 y requiere A: JOHN M. VÉLEZ RIVERA - URB. VILLAS para que conteste la demanda DE NAVARRA EDIF 19 dentro de los treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de APT F BAYAMÓN, P.R. este Edicto. Usted deberá pre00956. sentar su alegación responsiva POR LA PRESENTE se le a través del Sistema Unificado emplaza por la deuda recla- de Manejo y Administración mada de $1,921.85 y requiere de Casos (SUMAC), la cual para que conteste la demanda puede acceder utilizando la sidentro de los treinta (30) días guiente dirección electrónica: siguientes a la publicación de https://unired.ramajudicial.pr, este Edicto. Usted deberá pre- salvo que se represente por sentar su alegación responsiva derecho propio, en cuyo caso a través del Sistema Unificado deberá presentar su alegación de Manejo y Administración responsiva en la secretaría del de Casos (SUMAC), la cual tribunal. Si usted deja de prepuede acceder utilizando la si- sentar su alegación responsiva guiente dirección electrónica: dentro del referido término, el https://unired.ramajudicial.pr, tribunal podrá dictar sentensalvo que se represente por cia en rebeldía en su contra y derecho propio, en cuyo caso conceder el remedio solicitadeberá presentar su alegación do en la demanda o cualquier responsiva en la secretaría del otro sin más citarle ni oírle, si tribunal. Si usted deja de pre- el tribunal en el ejercicio de su sentar su alegación responsiva sana discreción, lo entiende dentro del referido término, el procedente. El sistema SUMAC tribunal podrá dictar senten- notificará copia a los abogados cia en rebeldía en su contra y de la parte demandante, Lcdo. conceder el remedio solicita- Edwin Serrano Peña cuyas dido en la demanda o cualquier recciones son: P.O. Box 71418

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

Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), la cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: http://unired. ramajudicial.pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaría del tribunal.

Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda o cualquier otro sin más citarle ni oírle, si el tribunal en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente.

El sistema SUMAC notificará copia a los abogados de la parte demandante, el Lcdo. Kevin Sánchez Campanero cuyas direcciones son: P.O. Box 71418 San Juan, Puerto Rico 009368518, teléfono (787) 993-3731 a la dirección kevin.sanchez@ orf-law.com, y a la dirección notificaciones@orf-law.com. EXTENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA y el sello del Tribunal, en Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, hoy día 7 de noviembre de 2023. En Aguadilla,

The San Juan Daily Star Puerto Rico, el 7 de noviembre de 2023. SARAHÍ REYES PÉREZ, SECRETARIA REGIONAL. GISELA SERRANO PÉREZ, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE CAROLINA

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO Demandante Vs.

SUCESIÓN DE CARLOS ENRIQUE GONZALEZ MALDONADO COMPUESTA POR GILBREN HERNANDEZ CENTENO

Demandado Civil Núm.: CA2023CV00074.

(404). Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO (EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA). EDICTO DE SUBASTA.

Al: PÚBLICO EN GENERAL. A: SUCESIÓN DE CARLOS ENRIQUE GONZALEZ MALDONADO COMPUESTA POR GILBREN HERNANDEZ CENTENO; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIÓN DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES (“CRIM”);

Yo, HÉCTOR L. PEÑA RODRÍGUEZ, ALGUACIL, PLACA #278, Alguacil de este Tribunal, a la parte demandada y a los acreedores y personas con interés sobre la propiedad que más adelante se describe, y al público en general, HAGO SABER: Que el día 20 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, A LAS 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA en mi oficina, sita en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de Carolina, Carolina, Puerto Rico, venderé en Pública Subasta la propiedad inmueble que más adelante se describe y cuya venta en pública subasta se ordenó por la vía ordinaria al mejor postor quien hará el pago en dinero en efectivo, giro postal o cheque certificado a nombre del o la Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia. Los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado, estarán de manifiesto en la Secretaría del Tribunal de Carolina durante horas laborables. Que en caso de no producir remate ni adjudicación en la primera subasta a celebrarse, se celebrará una SEGUNDA SUBASTA para la venta de la susodicha propiedad, el día 27 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, A LAS 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA y en caso de no producir remate ni adjudicación, se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA el día 5 DE MARZO DE 2024, A LAS 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA en mi oficina sita en el lugar antes indi-

cado. La propiedad a venderse en pública subasta se describe como sigue: URBANA: Solar marcado con el número 15 del Bloque “A” de la URBANIZACIÓN ROLLING HILLS, situado en el Barrio Martín González de Carolina, con una cabida superficial de 250.00 metros cuadrados. En lindes por el Norte, en 10.00 metros, con la Calle Manuela Walker (Calle número 1); por el Sur, en 10.00 metros, con paseo público, por el Este, en 25.00 metros, con el solar número 16-A; y por el Oeste, en 25.00 metros, con pared medianera que separa esta propiedad del solar y propiedad número 14 del Bloque “A”. Enclava una casa de dos plantas de concreto y bloques de concreto para residencia de una sola familia.

La escritura de hipoteca se encuentra inscrita al folio móvil del tomo 1307 de Carolina Sur, Registro de la Propiedad de Carolina, Sección Segunda, finca número 15,674, inscripción sexta. La dirección física de la propiedad antes descrita es: en el Urbanización Rolling Hills, Calle Manuela Walker, Solar #15, Bloque A, Carolina, Puerto Rico. La Subasta se llevará a efecto para satisfacer a la parte demandante la suma de $49,511.94 de principal, intereses al 6 7/8% anual, desde el 1ro. de abril de 2021, hasta su completo pago, incluye $5,481.54 de principal diferido, más la cantidad de $7,500.00 estipulada para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado, más recargos acumulados, así como cualquier otra suma estipulada en el contrato de préstamo, todas cuyas sumas están líquidas y exigibles. Que la cantidad mínima de licitación en la primera subasta para el inmueble será de $75,000.00 y de ser necesaria una segunda subasta, la cantidad mínima será equivalente a 2/3 partes de aquella, o sea, la suma de $50,000.00 y de ser necesaria una tercera subasta, la cantidad mínima será la mitad del precio pactado, es decir, la suma de $37,500.00. De declararse desierta la tercera subasta se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada si esta es igual o menor que el monto del tipo de la tercera subasta, si el Tribunal lo estima conveniente.

Se abonará dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si esta es mayor. La propiedad se adjudicará al mejor postor, quien deberá satisfacer el importe de su oferta en moneda legal y corriente de los Estados Unidos de América en el momento de la adjudicación y que las cargas y gravámenes preferentes, si los hubiese, continuarán subsistentes, entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio

Tuesday, January 23, 2024 del remate. La propiedad a ser vendida en pública subasta se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores. Podrán concurrir como postores a todas las subastas los titulares de créditos hipotecarios vigentes y posteriores a la hipoteca que se cobra o ejecuta, si alguno o que figuren como tales en la certificación registral y que podrán utilizar el montante de sus créditos o parte de alguno en sus ofertas. Si la oferta aceptada es por cantidad mayor a la suma del crédito o créditos preferentes al suyo, al obtener la buena pro del remate, deberá satisfacer en el mismo acto, en efectivo o en cheque de gerente, la totalidad del crédito hipotecario que se ejecuta y la de cualesquiera otro créditos posteriores al que se ejecuta pero preferente al suyo. El exceso constituirá abono total o parcial en su propio crédito. EN TESTIMONIO DE LO CUAL, expido el presente Edicto para conocimiento y comparecencia de los licitadores, bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal, en Carolina, Puerto Rico, 28 de diciembre de 2023. HÉCTOR L. PEÑA RODRÍGUEZ, ALGUACIL, PLACA #278, ALGUACIL DE LA DIVISIÓN DE EJECUCION DE SENTENCIAS, TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA, SALA SUPERIOR DE CAROLINA.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE CAROLINA

PENTAGON FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Demandante Vs.

JOHN DOE Y JANE DOE COMO POSIBLES TENEDORES DESCONOCIDOS DEL PAGARE EXTRAVIADO

Demandados Civil Núm.: CA2023CV04045.

(404). Sobre: CANCELACIÓN DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

A: JOHN DOE Y JANE DOE COMO POSIBLES TENEDORES DESCONOCIDOS DEL PAGARE EXTRAVIADO.

cedero el 1 de marzo de 2023 y otros créditos accesorios. Para garantizar el pago de dicho pagaré se constituyó hipoteca voluntaria mediante la escritura número 7, otorgada el 8 de febrero de 2008, ante el Notario Osvaldo Toledo Martínez, sobre el bien inmueble que se describe a continuación: URBANA: Parcela de terreno identificada como solar 76 del bloque “RO” de la Urbanización Riachuelo radicada en el barrio Dos Bocas del término municipal de Trujillo Alto, con una cabida de 339.37 metros cuadrados.

En lindes por el NORTE, en 10.75 metros y una distancia en arco de 5.50 metros, con la Calle Número 5; por el SUR, en 14.25 metros con el solar número 75; por el ESTE, en 24.00 metros con el solar número 77; y por el OESTE, en 20.50 metros, con la Calle 1. Enclava una casa de concreto diseñada para una familia.” Inscrita al folio 211 del tomo 534 de Trujillo Alto, finca 26878, Registro de la Propiedad de San Juan, Sección IV. La hipoteca antes mencionada consta inscrita al folio 1 del tomo 652 de Trujillo Alto, finca 26878, Registro de la Propiedad de San Juan, Sección IV, inscripción 4a. Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: http://unired.ramajudicial. pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberé presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaria del tribunal. Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda, o cualquier otro, si el tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente.

Greenspoon Marder, LLP Lcda. Frances L. Asencio-Guido R.U.A. 15,622 TRADE CENTRE SOUTH, SUITE 700 100 WEST CYPRESS CREEK ROAD FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33309 Telephone: (954) 343 6273 Frances.Asencio@gmlaw.com Expedido bajo mi firma, y sello del Tribunal, en Carolina, Puerto Rico, hoy 09 de enero de 2024. Lcda. Kanelly Zayas Robles, Secretaria Regional.

Myriam I. Figueroa Pastrana, Secretaria Auxiliar.

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

A: LUIS CARLOS HERNANDEZ REYES.

POR MEDIO del presente edicto se le notifica de la radicación de una demanda en cobro de dinero por la vía ordinaria en la que se alega que usted adeuda a la parte demandante, Oriental Bank, ciertas sumas de dinero, y las costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado de este litigio.

El demandante, Oriental Bank, ha solicitado que se dicte sentencia en contra suya y que se le ordene pagar las cantidades reclamadas en la demanda.

POR EL PRESENTE EDICTO se le emplaza para que presente al tribunal su alegación responsiva a la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días de haber sido diligenciado este emplazamiento, excluyéndose el día del diligenciamiento. Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://www/poderjudicial. pr/index/php/tribunal-electronico/, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la Secretaría del Tribunal. Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra, y conceder el remedio solicitado en la Demanda, o cualquier otro, si el tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente, sin más citarle ni oírle. El abogado de la parte demandante es: Jaime Ruiz Saldaña, RUA número 11673; Dirección: PO Box 366276, San Juan, PR 00936-6276; Teléfono: (787) 759-6897; Correo electrónico: legal@jrslawpr. com. Se le advierte que dentro de los diez (10) días siguientes a la publicación del presente edicto, se le estará enviando a usted por correo certificado con acuse de recibo, una copia del emplazamiento y de la demanda presentada al lugar de su última dirección conocida: Bo. Sumidero, Carr. 173 KM 6 HM 2 Parcela 50, Aguas Buenas, PR 00703; HC 4 Box 8182, Aguas LEGAL NOTICE Buenas, PR 00703-8817. EXESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO PEDIDO bajo mi firma y el sello DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUdel Tribunal en Caguas, Puerto NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA Rico, hoy día 2 de enero de SALA DE CAGUAS 2024. Lisilda Martínez Agosto, ORIENTAL BANK Secretaria. Marta E. Donate Demandante V. Resto, Secretaria Auxiliar.

POR LA PRESENTE se le emplaza para que presente al Tribunal su alegación responsiva a la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación de este edicto. En dicha demanda se reclama la cancelación un pagaré otorgaLUIS CARLOS do el 8 de febrero de 2008, a faLEGAL NOTICE vor de PENTAGON FEDERAL HERNANDEZ REYES CREDIT UNION, por la suma ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO Demandado principal de $245,000.00, con Civil Núm.: CG2023CV03158. DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUintereses al 5.250% anual, ven-

27

NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE BAYAMÓN SUPERIOR DE BAYAMÓN

ISLAND PORTFOLIO SERVICES, LLC COMO AGENTE DE ACE ONE FUNDING, LLC Demandante V.

CHARLIE HERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ

Demandado(a) Caso Núm.: TA2023CV00731.

(Salón: 703). Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO - ORDINARIO. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO. NATALIE BONAPARTE SERVERA, NATALIE.BONAPARTE@ORF-LAW. COM.

A: CHARLIE HERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ.

(Nombre de las partes que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 11 DE ENERO DE 2024, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 12 de enero de 2024. En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el 12 de enero de 2024.

Laura I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria. Lureimy Alicea González, Secretaria Auxiliar Del Tribunal.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE BAYAMÓN

TRUST MORTGAGE CORP. Demandante Vs.

GOLDEN FINANCIAL SERVICES INC; CENLAR; JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE COMO POSIBLES TENEDORES CON INTERÉS

Demandados Civil Núm.: BY2024CV00088.

Sobre: CANCELACIÓN DE PAGARÉ HIPOTECARIO EXTRAVIADO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO.

A: CENLAR -

425 PHILLIPS BLVD, EWING, NJ 08618.

B: JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE. C: GOLDEN FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. (PERSONAS DESCONOCIDAS CON POSIBLE INTERÉS).

En este caso la parte demandante ha radicado Demanda para que se decrete judicialmente el saldo de los siguiente pagaré: HIPOTECA: En garantía de un pagaré a favor de Golden Financial Services, Inc., o a su orden, por $144,000.00, con intereses al 6 1/8% anual, vence el primero 1ro de abril de 2038, según consta de la escritura #242, otorgada en San Juan, Puerto Rico, el día 3 de abril de 2008, ante el Notario Público Manuel Rivera Meléndez, inscrito al folio #140 del tomo #1862 de Bayamón Sur, finca #27,180, inscripción 4ta y última, el cual esta garantizado por hipoteca sobre la propiedad que se describe como sigue: URBANA: Solar marcado con el número veintinueve (29) del Bloque DI de la Urbanización Santa Juanita, radicado en el Barrio Minillas de Bayamón, Puerto Rico, que comprende un área de trescientos uno punto treinta (301.30) metros cuadrados. En lindes por el NORESTE, con el solar número treinta (30) del Bloque DI; por el SURESTE, CON LA CALLE Cataluña; por el NOROESTE, con el solar número nueve (9) del Bloque DI; y por el SUROESTE, con el solar número veintiocho (28) del Bloque DI. Enclava una casa. Inscrita al folio 140 del tomo 1862 de Bayamón Sur, finca número 27,180, Registro de la Propiedad de Bayamón, Sección Primera. La parte demandante alega que dicho Pagaré se ha extraviado, según más detalladamente consta en la Demanda radicada que puede examinarse en la Secretaría de este Tribunal. Por tratarse de una obligación hipotecaria, y pudiendo usted tener interés en este caso o quedar afectado por el remedio solicitado, se les emplaza por este Edicto que se publicará en un (1) periódico de circulación general una (1) sola vez y que si no comparecen a contestar dicha Demanda radicando el original de la misma a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual pueden acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://www.poderjudicial.pr/ index.php/tribunal-electronico/, salvo que se representen por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberán presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaría del Tribunal Superior de Puerto Rico, Sala de Bayamón, con copia al abogado de la parte demandante, Lcdo. Jorge Gar-

cía Rondón, de PMB 538, 267 Sierra Morena, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00926 dentro del término de treinta (30) días contados a partir de Ia publicación del Edicto, se les anotará Ia rebeldía y se dictará sentencia en su contra concediendo el remedio solicitado en Ia Demanda sin más citarles ni oírles. EN TESTIMONIO DE LO CUAL, expido el presente Edicto por Orden del Tribunal, bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal, en Bayamón, Puerto Rico, hoy 9 de enero de 2024. LCDA. LAURA I. SANTA SÁNCHEZ, SECRETARIA. MARILYN COLÓN CARRASQUILLO, SUB-SECRETARIA.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE SAN JUAN SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN

FRANCISCO JAVIER LOPEZ SOTO Y OTROS Demandante V.

NAIDABEL SOTO MENENDEZ

Demandado(a) Caso Núm.: SJ2023CV08428.

(Salón: 906 CIVIL). Sobre: CANCELACIÓN O RESTITUCIÓN DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO. IAN ALEJANDRO LEBRÓN WARD, IANLEBRONWARD@GMAIL.COM.

A: JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE COMO POSIBLES TENEDORES DESCONOCIDOS DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO.

(Nombre de las partes que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 11 de enero de 2024, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha 12 de enero de 2024.

En San Juan, Puerto Rico, el 12 de enero de 2024. Griselda Rodríguez Collado, Secretaria.

Jane Villegas Díaz, Secretaria Auxiliar Del Tribunal.

28 Tuesday, January 23, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

Caguas captures 21st winter baseball title

By THE STAR STAFF

T

he Caguas Criollos became the champions of winter baseball on Sunday night by beating the Carolina Giants 4-1 at Yldefonso Solá Morales Stadium in Caguas.

The Criollos won their 21st championship, and their first title with Yadier Molina at the helm, in eight games. It was the debut season for the former major leaguer Molina as a manager in the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League.

It was the seventh championship for Criollos President Raúl Rodríguez Font, the team owner with the most titles in Puerto Rican winter baseball. Since he took over the team in 2009, Caguas has won titles in the 2010-11, 2012-13, 201617, 2017-18, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 202324 seasons.

A single by Luis Vázquez in the second inning drove in Danny Ortiz for the first run of the game as Caguas established a

Caguas’ 4-1 win over Carolina on Sunday night earned the Criollos their seventh Puerto Rican winter baseball championship since 2011. lead it would not relinquish.

In the third inning, Vimael Machín hit

a solo home run for the Criollos’ second run, and in the fourth inning, Pedro León

went deep to add the third run.

Machín led the Criollos’ offense with a pair of hits in four at-bats.

Carolina got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning with an RBI grounder by Bryan Torres. Then in the bottom half of the same inning, a pinch-hit triple by Dwight Smith Jr. drove in the Criollos’ fourth run for the final margin.

Caguas used six pitchers to cover the nine innings. The winner was Yacksel Ríos with two innings in relief, three strikeouts and just one hit allowed. Veteran closer Ricardo Gómez, who struck out two in the ninth inning, earned the save. Lefthander Luke Westphal allowed Caguas’ first run and pitched one inning to take the loss for the Giants.

The game ended with a fly ball off the bat of Jan Hernández to center fielder Pedro León with a runner at first.

The Criollos will now head for Miami in search of their sixth championship in the Caribbean Series.

Bill Iffrig, runner in iconic Boston Marathon bombing photo, dies at 89

By REBECCA CARBALLO

B

ill Iffrig, who became a nationwide symbol of resilience for appearing in a photo that captured his fall near the Boston Marathon finish line in 2013 after the first of two bombs exploded and who soon got up and completed the race, died Jan 8. He was 89.

Iffrig died at a memory care facility in Marysville, Washington, according to his son, Mark Iffrig, who confirmed his father’s death.

Bill Iffrig, who was an accomplished mountaineer and chair of a local climbing club, did not start running until he was 42. He went on to win dozens of national championships in races of varying distances.

He ran in more than 50 marathons, including several Boston Marathons. Iffrig placed second in his age group of 80-plus in the 2015 Boston Marathon, his son said.

Iffrig gained national attention, however, after he competed in the Boston Marathon in 2013, the year two homemade pressure-cooker bombs were detonated.

Three people were killed that day, 17 lost

limbs and 250 more were injured, many of them grievously.

Iffrig was about 60 feet from the finish line when the first bomb went off, knocking him to the ground. The moment was captured by John Tlumacki, a photographer for The Boston Globe.

In a 2015 interview with MSNBC, Iffrig recalled the explosion and being on the ground, assessing whether he was injured.

Because he was not bleeding and all his joints were “working OK,” he decided he could keep going, he said.

“I’m going to get up and finish this thing,” he recalled thinking. “I’d been out there four hours. I didn’t want to quit.”

Soon, his bright orange shirt was known across the country.

He became a symbol of resilience. President Barack Obama mentioned him by name when he addressed the nation after the bombings.

“Like Bill Iffrig, 78 years old — the runner in the orange tank top who we all saw get knocked down by the blast — we may be momentarily knocked off our feet, but we’ll pick ourselves up,” Obama said.

Before his photograph circulated

throughout the news, Iffrig lived a quiet life in Washington state.

William George Iffrig was born June 13, 1934, in Everett, Washington, to Clarence and Fannie Iffrig. His father worked at a cast iron company in Everett, and his mother was primarily a homemaker, doing some janitorial work later in life, according to Mark Iffrig.

Shortly after Bill Iffrig graduated from Everett High School, he began working as a carpenter for Weyerhaeuser, a pulp mill.

He worked there for about 20 years before the mill shut down.

He later became a brick mason for Scott

Paper Co., working there for about 20 years before retiring.

In addition to his son, Mark, Iffrig is survived by a daughter, Susan Shephard, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

His wife, Donna, to whom he was married for 69 years, died in November. His other son, Curtis, died in 1979 in a car crash when he was 17.

Despite his accomplishments in racing, Iffrig remained humble, Mark Iffrig recalled.

“If he lost or won the race, he was the same person,” he said Saturday. “He didn’t talk about himself, and he just went about his business.”

A view of Boylston Street, where two explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon occurred a day earlier, April 16, 2013. (Josh Haner/The New York Times)

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Sudoku

GAMES

29

How to Play:

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

Sudoku Rules: Every row must contain the numbers from 1 through 9 Every column must contain the numbers from 1 through 9 Every 3x3 square must contain the numbers from 1 through 9

Crossword

Wordsearch

Word Search Puzzle #D261NA

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Answers on page 30

Eager

Entertainments Enzyme Gland Goals

Hiding Levity

Loomed Loony Milky

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HOROSCOPE 30 Aries

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

(Mar 21-April 20)

Intellectual or artistic work could take up a lot of your time today, Aries. Your level of inspiration is high, and you’re apt to be full of ideas that others would find beneficial. You’re also likely to sense the thoughts and feelings of those around you before they themselves are consciously aware of them. This not only increases your career standing, it can help you in the love department. Enjoy your day!

Libra

(Sep 24-Oct 23)

Creative inspiration flows freely today, Libra, enabling you to channel it in more than one way.

An opportunity to earn a sizable fee doing something artistic could come your way. Spiritual or metaphysical studies may be involved. This might represent the attainment of a long-term goal you’ve been striving to reach, and therefore you’re apt to be rather excited about it. Tonight, go out and celebrate your success with your friends.

Taurus

(April 21-May 21)

Scorpio

Gemini

(May 22-June 21)

Sagittarius

(Nov 23-Dec 21)

Cancer

(June 22-July 23)

Capricorn

(Dec 22-Jan 20)

Study of religion and spiritual matters could well be of particular interest for you today, Taurus. You’re likely to discuss your knowledge and beliefs regarding such matters with a close friend, which could prove rather enlightening for both of you. Whatever you learn will prove to be artistically inspiring, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself spending some time writing down your thoughts or turning them into pictures. Don’t limit yourself!

Today communication with others is more likely to be on a subtle rather than verbal level, Gemini. When the phone rings, you might already know who’s on the other end of the line before you pick it up. You could also pick up telepathically on the thoughts of others. Books and articles about people who have had similar experiences could increase your understanding of them. Don’t fight it! Go with the flow.

Inspiration drawn from recent religious or spiritual occurrences could have you writing down accounts of your experiences, Cancer, perhaps with the idea of someday publishing them. Your concentration could well be intense, as writing for you today may not be only creative but therapeutic as well. It will also help to attend classes or workshops or simply to discuss the subject with a friend. Knowledge is essential.

Leo

(July 24-Aug 23)

You should be feeling especially strong and healthy today, Leo. The drive to exercise, particularly if you do it alone and outdoors, is likely to get the endorphins going and thus give you a natural high, which could lead to an increased level of inspiration and intuition. After you finish, it might be a good idea to sit in a park, preferably near water, to allow yourself to come down. Meditate and take a close look at your inner state.

Virgo

(Aug 24-Sep 23)

Today, Virgo, you might find yourself picking up uncanny telepathic messages from a friend who lives some distance from you. A telephone call might reveal that this person has just received some good news, and that they were just thinking of calling you! This probably won’t be the only ESP experience you have today. Your level of intuition is very high, so be prepared for some unusually strong psychic messages.

(Oct 24-Nov 22)

Usually you prefer to approach events with a practical and scientific attitude, Scorpio, but today you’re feeling especially intuitive and more aware of the other worlds, so it might be difficult to hang on to your usual mindset. Some uncomfortable feelings you’ve had about events in the news could prove to be accurate, which might be a bit disconcerting. Remember that there is so much in the Universe that can’t be explained through logic or science!

If you’ve been thinking about taking up the study of astrology, numerology, alchemy, or any other occult science, this is the day to get started, Sagittarius.

Scientific adherence to facts and rules combines with enhanced telepathic abilities to bring about a burgeoning skill in such fields. Look up some friends who share your interest and arrange to attend a class or workshop on whatever subject appeals to you the most. At day’s end your mind could be spinning!

Some rather intense and vivid dreams could inspire you to embark on some in-depth study of a subject that specifically interests you, Capricorn. Travel plans to one of the world’s great spiritual centers, such as Jerusalem, Glastonbury or Vrindavana, might be on your mind as a result. Your level of intuition is very high today, so whatever you dream of doing, give it some serious thought. It might be just what you need!

Aquarius

(Jan 21-Feb 19)

Romantic relationships take on a fairytale aura, Aquarius, bringing up the kind of desire, passion, and sense of unity associated with Lancelot and Guinevere. Therefore, this should be a wonderful day to schedule an intimate evening with a romantic partner. You could feel so much in tune with your friend that you may come with the same words at the same time. Enjoy this wonderful feeling, but don’t lose sight of reality.

Pisces

(Feb 20-Mar 20)

Today you might attend more than one group activity or social event involving spiritual or metaphysical matters. Your sense of intuition is very high, Pisces, and your level of understanding is especially acute. Therefore, concepts that could be confusing at other times could seem as clear as a bell today. You might form strong bonds with others who are also present, and you might make plans to meet with them again in the future. Enjoy!

Answers to the Sudoku and Crossword on page 29

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

31

CARTOONS

Herman

Speed Bump

Frank & Ernest

BC

Scary Gary

Wizard of Id

For Better or for Worse

The San Juan Daily Star

Ziggy

32 Tuesday, January 23, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star