AGP Executive Report

FIBA Women’s World Cup (Berlin) Kickoff: Team USA opens Sept. 4 vs. China, with Puerto Rico in the mix—Australia vs. Puerto Rico and USA vs. China headline an early slate, and HBO Max/TNT/truTV are the key ways to watch. Puerto Rico in the spotlight: Puerto Rican trailblazer Julirys Guzmán Laureano becomes the first Puerto Rican woman to referee at the Senior Women’s Basketball World Cup. Local culture, LGBTQ+ joy: Maricelis Nogueras drops “Besos d’esos,” a playful sapphic love song with a video shot in Old San Juan. Gender marker court update: The First Circuit reverses a prior order, backing Puerto Rico’s “X” sex-marker policy for birth certificates and affirming local control over public records. Community care at home: The Family Department extends home aide services for elderly and disabled residents while oversight review continues. Immigration & kids online: A major Meta settlement pushes child-safety reforms, including limits on screen time for under-18 users. Sports beyond basketball: International Boxing announces a December event at Woodman’s Center featuring fighters from Puerto Rican and Dominican communities.

Puerto Rico Rights & Identity: Governor Jenniffer González-Colón says the First Circuit reversed a lower-court order that would have forced Puerto Rico’s Demographic Registry to add an “X” sex marker on birth certificates, keeping the island’s male/female markers in line with existing law. Healthcare Education: Universidad Ana G. Méndez (UAGM) and Hospital Español Auxilio Mutuo (HEAM) announced an affiliation to develop a new Puerto Rico medical school, linking clinical rotations, internships, seminars, and community health projects. Culture & Community Media: Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints toured TeleOnce TV in San Juan, highlighting media’s role in strengthening communities. Language & Learning: A new report warns that an “English-only” proposal for Head Start could set kids back by removing bilingual support for dual language learners. Sports as Culture: Team USA’s Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Aliyah Boston are set for the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, with Clark reflecting on her path from Puerto Rico qualifying to the global stage. Viral Libraries: Hoover Public Library’s staff are turning book shelves into viral videos by matching popular song lyrics to titles—now drawing major national attention. Food & Health: A nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak is still reporting cases even as the “season” ends, with Florida continuing to see the highest totals.

Puerto Rico on the World Stage: The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup rosters are set, with Puerto Rico drawn in Group C alongside Belgium, Australia and Türkiye—tip-off in Berlin begins Friday. Sports & Identity: Opals forward Ezi Magbegor talks about battling back from injury and says Australia can match top rivals if they advance deep. Local Impact: The Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce launched “Economic Development on the Road,” sending services like permits, incentives, workforce support and business guidance to all 78 municipalities. Culture & Community: Wisin unveils “Universidad del Perreo,” a new album framed as a reggaetón masterclass with collaborations across the genre. Lifestyle Watch: TJ Maxx is opening a new discounted-fashion store in Carolina on Sept. 10, expanding its Puerto Rico footprint. Tech & Youth Safety: Attorneys general push Meta’s child-safety reforms after a major settlement, with critics warning about how new age controls could affect teens and users.

Puerto Rican Pride & community memory: A new look at the history of Puerto Rican parades in Connecticut shows how families keep ties to the island while building political and cultural visibility in the diaspora. Court & identity: A legal fight over Puerto Rico birth certificate rules continues, with a federal court ruling challenged on whether the policy has a rational basis for nonbinary applicants. Local retail: TJ Maxx is set to open a new store in Carolina on Sept. 10, bringing more discounted fashion and home goods to the island. Culture & music: Menudo marks its 50th anniversary with a reunion tour that ends in San Juan at Coca-Cola Music Hall on Dec. 12. Sports with Puerto Rico in the mix: The FIBA Women’s World Cup begins Friday in Berlin, with Puerto Rico in Group C and Team USA starting against China. Food culture: Recipe spotlight: Puerto Rican-style beef empanadas. STEM for youth: Society for Science names the Top 300 Junior Innovators for the 2026 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, including students from U.S. territories.

Puerto Rico Culture & Heritage: Puerto Rican quartet Chuwi is riding the momentum of its Bad Bunny collaboration, bringing a “taste of home” to Hiram Bithorn Stadium after a world tour. Arts & Identity: “Gipsy Legacy Tour” lands at Cuartel de Ballajá in Old San Juan on Oct. 17, pairing flamenco and Catalan rumba with Mediterranean-style staging and local sponsors. Local Culture Spotlight: Puerto Rican conservator-restorer Héctor J. Berdía Hernández, 31, was elected a fellow of the International Institute for the Conservation of Historical and Artistic Works—an international milestone for island heritage work. Community & Lifestyle: A Puerto Rico–linked sports and youth thread shows up in volleyball coverage featuring Kamila Colon (Caguas) as Mercy University starts strong. Sports (Puerto Rico tie-in): In Masters race walking, Puerto Rico’s Melvin Mercado is mentioned alongside Kenya’s Eric Shikuku as the competition heats up in Daegu. Social Media & Youth Safety: Meta’s up-to-$17.1B settlement with U.S. states includes new teen protections—age limits, late-night restrictions, and age-verification tools—shaping the conversation around online culture and minors.

Meta Child-Safety Settlement: A landmark multistate deal forces Meta to add new protections for teens on Instagram and Facebook, including limits on time and access—while critics call the agreement a surveillance-heavy “bad deal” for young users. Puerto Rico Culture & Community: A new documentary, “West Side Familia,” spotlights Puerto Rican flag rituals on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and the Black and Puerto Rican history shaped by community activism and gentrification. Sports & Identity: Team USA women’s basketball heads into the FIBA World Cup in Berlin with fresh faces after A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum withdraw for health reasons, with replacements including Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. Local Foodways: Chef Raul Thomas shares a Puerto Rican-style beef empanadas recipe, putting sofrito and careful frying technique at the center of the tradition. STEM for the Next Generation: WRO India winners will represent India at the WRO Championship in Puerto Rico, underscoring hands-on robotics learning. Agroecology in PR: IALA-PR launches a “Science for (and with) the People Fund” to back agroecological research led by and for Puerto Rican communities.

Workforce & Education: Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón signed an executive order to roll out Puerto Rico’s Workforce Pell Grant Program, setting up a committee to evaluate short, in-demand training programs and expand access to federal education funds. Disaster Recovery: FEMA obligated $81.9M for 59 reconstruction projects across Puerto Rico, including major work in Caguas and the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources building. Youth & Digital Life: Rep. José Aponte wants part of Puerto Rico’s Meta settlement ($124.7M) to fund an anti-addiction program for minors, with AMSSCA leading prevention and parent support. Culture & Community: Coca-Cola Music Hall celebrated its one millionth visitor, underscoring San Juan’s growing live-music scene. Arts & Healing: Teatro LATEA brings back “Dominant Animals,” a Puerto Rican family drama about machismo, trauma, and accountability, running Oct. 2–4. Sports (PR ties): USA Basketball named Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron to replace A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum for the FIBA Women’s World Cup, with Iriafen previously playing in Puerto Rico during a World Cup qualifier.

FIBA Women’s World Cup (Sports): Team USA confirmed A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum will miss the 2026 tournament for health reasons, with Washington Mystics teammates Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron stepping in for the roster. Puerto Rico Reconstruction (Public Life): Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón announced FEMA obligated $81.9M for 59 recovery and reconstruction projects across Puerto Rico, spanning roads, the electrical grid, public facilities, and emergency measures. Puerto Rico Economy & Jobs (Industry): Sabana Grande’s Pentaq Manufacturing expanded via a new PRIDCO industrial property, supporting textile production tied to U.S. Army physical training uniforms and adding 50 jobs. Health & Equity (Community): BlackDoctor held its inaugural Thought Leadership Summit in San Juan, focusing on epilepsy care, patient education, and closing gaps in treatment access. Culture & Entertainment (Events): Coca-Cola Music Hall celebrated its one millionth visitor, Natalia Laguna, during a Jorge Drexler concert—marking the venue’s fifth anniversary. Travel Lifestyle (Deals): A Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico offer puts a Sept. beach stay at 20,000 World of Hyatt points per night. Meta & Youth Safety (Policy): Kentucky announced a proposed $358M share of a landmark multistate Meta settlement tied to child safety claims, with Puerto Rico included among the affected jurisdictions.

Volleyball & National Pride: Puerto Rico’s women fell to Cuba in straight sets in the NORCECA Olympic qualifier finale in Santo Domingo, despite strong service pressure and standout scoring from Decelise Champion and Adriana Rodríguez. Classical Music in PR: The Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra kicks off its 68th season Sept. 5 with Maximiliano Valdés returning for his 19th year, plus a parade-style opening and guest podiums featuring international and Puerto Rican-trained talent. Arts Education: Poetry Out Loud school registration is open through Oct. 30, giving high school students a chance to memorize and perform classic and contemporary poems, with state and national finals ahead. Health & Research: ASCO released its first living guideline for recurrent ovarian cancer treatment, outlining platinum-based options and biomarker-selected therapies like Elahere for certain patients. Culture Picks: This week’s podcast spotlight includes Francisco Garcia’s true-crime “The Mindhunter,” plus other buzzy listening picks. Weather Watch: Tropical Storm Dolly’s remnants are still expected to bring showers and possible thunderstorms across the region, including Puerto Rico. Big Tech & Youth Safety: Meta’s landmark child-safety settlement continues to reshape rules for Instagram and Facebook for minors.

Cancer Care Update: ASCO released its first living guideline for recurrent ovarian cancer treatment, laying out platinum-based options for platinum-sensitive disease and a sequence of non-platinum choices for resistant cases. Puerto Rico Culture & Food: A new “mofongo” pizza concept turns the island’s garlic-salt-chicharrón plantain classic into a playful crossover, spotlighting the pilón’s Taíno, West African, and Spanish roots. Pageantry Spotlight: Miss America 2027 kicks off in West Palm Beach with Puerto Rico among the delegates, while Miss Universe Cuba 2026 crowns Mia Dio in Florida and Miss Universe Mexico 2026 names María Vargas. Hurricane Watch: Forecasters are tracking Tropical Storm Dolly remnants near Puerto Rico and another Gulf disturbance, with rain chances and slow development noted. Local Community & Safety: Florida’s “Operation Statewide Shield” recovered 163 missing children across multiple states including Puerto Rico, with investigations ongoing. Media & Accountability: The Miami Herald and WLRN won top honors at Florida’s Sunshine State Awards for “Killer Train,” a Brightline safety investigation. Sports (Women’s Basketball): The WNBA pauses play as teams head to the World Cup, with Puerto Rico listed among qualified squads.

Hurricane & Weather Watch: Tropical Storm Dolly’s remnants are still stirring up showers and thunderstorms as forecasters track a weak tropical wave near the Lesser Antilles, with heavy rain possible for parts of the northeast and north Caribbean. Pageantry & Representation: Mia Dio was crowned Miss Universe Cuba 2026 after a facial paralysis ordeal, and the win sets up her run at Miss Universe in San Juan this November. Culture & Community Spotlight: The Miami Herald and WLRN won top honors at Florida’s Sunshine State Awards for “Killer Train,” an investigative series on safety issues along the Brightline corridor. Sports (Puerto Rico ties): Canada secured an LA28 Olympic berth in women’s volleyball by beating the Dominican Republic, while Puerto Rico’s Decelise Champion is mentioned in the qualifier coverage. Local Lifestyle Note: Miss America Week kicked off in West Palm Beach with 52 delegates including Puerto Rico, blending scholarships with community service. Youth Safety Policy: A major multistate Meta settlement is driving new rules aimed at protecting minors online, with limits and safeguards for teen use of Facebook and Instagram.

Miss USA in Puerto Rico spotlight: Justus Kelley made history as the first married woman and mother to win Miss USA 2026, with the new titleholder set to represent the U.S. at Miss Universe in Puerto Rico later this year. Sports & national pride: Canada opened the NORCECA women’s volleyball Olympic qualifier by sweeping Puerto Rico 3-0 in Santo Domingo, setting up a high-stakes path to an Olympic berth. Culture & community leadership: Ponce Health Sciences University named Dr. Kenira J. Thompson García as its new president, highlighting her long internal career and focus on research growth and health disparities. Local diaspora story: Phillies reliever Alex McFarlane carried his Virgin Islands roots into MLB after hurricanes Irma and Maria reshaped his hometown and his path. Youth online safety (Puerto Rico included): A landmark multistate Meta settlement—covering Puerto Rico among others—requires major changes to Instagram and Facebook features for children and teens. Weather watch: Tropical Storm Dolly’s remnants are still producing showers and thunderstorms as forecasters monitor impacts across the Caribbean.

Education & Leadership: Ponce Health Sciences University named Dr. Kenira J. Thompson García as its new president, elevating a long-time internal leader known for expanding research, infrastructure, and biomedical opportunities in Puerto Rico. Sports & National Pride: Canada swept Puerto Rico in the NORCECA women’s volleyball Olympic qualifier opener in Santo Domingo, setting up a key next match for an Olympic berth. Youth Safety & Policy: Meta’s landmark multistate settlement over Instagram and Facebook youth harms includes Puerto Rico, with new limits and protections aimed at reducing addiction and mental health risks for minors. Migration & Community Safety: The U.S. Coast Guard repatriated 16 Dominicans intercepted in the Mona Passage near Puerto Rico after an overloaded crossing. Culture & Music: Puerto Rican breakout Clarent and Omar Courtz dropped “Ojos Brujos,” adding to the island’s growing electronic/urbano momentum. Weather Watch: Tropical Storm Dolly weakened into an open tropical wave, with monitoring for possible rain impacts across the Caribbean including Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rican Baseball & Education: A new report spotlights the Albergue Olimpico Baseball Academy in Salinas, where teens train for the diamond while living on campus and studying—framed as a modern path shaped by Puerto Rico’s long baseball legacy. Food Safety: A major lettuce-related cyclospora outbreak is discussed alongside broader U.S. foodborne illness trends, with reminders on how outbreaks spread and why prevention matters. Storm Watch: Tropical Storm Dolly has weakened into an open tropical wave, with forecasters tracking possible heavy rain impacts for parts of the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Youth Online Safety: Meta’s landmark child-safety settlement is highlighted, including limits on teen Facebook/Instagram use and new protections tied to Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories. Culture & Memory: The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance is set to open a ChicagoRican photo exhibit by Carlos Flores, preserving diaspora life, activism, and community history through decades of images. Pageantry & Representation: Miss USA 2026 crowned Justus Kelley—first mother and first married woman to win—adding fresh attention to how rule changes are reshaping mainstream culture.

Food Safety: Colorado’s salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeno peppers has sickened 431 people, and Puerto Rico is among states hit by multiple cyclospora outbreaks since May—raising fresh questions about eating raw foods and protecting kids, pregnant people, and older adults. Big Tech & Youth Culture: A landmark multistate deal forces Meta to change Instagram and Facebook for minors, including daily time limits and nighttime blocks, with Puerto Rico included in the coalition. Puerto Rico on Screen: The anti-colonialist road-trip film “Esta Isla” (from Puerto Rican couple Lorraine Jones Molina and Cristian Carretero) is now available on VOD, building on its Independent Spirit and Tribeca wins. Sports & Identity: Decelise Champion’s 34 points helped Puerto Rico rally past Mexico in NORCECA, securing World Cup and Olympic qualifier spots. Arts & Spirituality: Newark Arts Alliance spotlights Puerto Rican artist Angelica Leonor Vidro’s acrylic portraits rooted in Santeria/Ifa/Palo and spiritual practice. Community & Learning: DOE says 150+ undergrads, including Puerto Rico students, will join lab research and training this fall.

Puerto Rico Water Relief: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced 26 emergency pallets of drinking water—1,900 cases with 45,000 bottles—headed to San Juan and nearby municipalities to help nearly 500,000 residents amid the island’s drought and aging water infrastructure. Youth Online Safety: A sweeping multistate Meta settlement (including Puerto Rico) would require new Instagram/Facebook child protections like daily time limits, “productive pauses,” nighttime blocks, and tighter age verification—aimed at reducing addictive design and mental-health harms. Justice & Community Safety: The U.S. Justice Department charged more than 80 people in a federal takedown of the Puerto Rican gang “Los Baja Deo,” alleging fentanyl and cocaine trafficking plus violent crimes. Culture & Sports: Puerto Rico’s women’s NORCECA run continues in the spotlight, with the island earning key results as qualifiers and regional competition build momentum. Arts & Reading: A roundup of music-focused reads and cultural picks keeps the weekend vibe going, from the Grand Ole Opry’s legacy to broader music history.