Puerto Rico

Woman standing in doorway

A year after Maria, Puerto Rican college students find home – on the island and off

Rosamari Palerm transferred to a school in Miami last fall after her school shut down in the wake of Hurricane Maria. She’s returned home to San Juan, but some of her classmates have stayed, making new homes in Miami.

A year after Maria, Puerto Rican college students find home – on the island and off
A young woman stands in front of a gray building.

Puerto Rico's public university system is in disarray. But it's not just because of Hurricane Maria.

Puerto Rico's public university system is in disarray. But it's not just because of Hurricane Maria.
Woman in bandana leans over jars of green beans with permanent marker, writing on tops

Four months of food aid in Puerto Rico brought too much salt and sugar, say some recipients

Four months of food aid in Puerto Rico brought too much salt and sugar, say some recipients
Marc Noisette of Westchester County, New York fixes the cables on an electric post opposite the Cathedral of San Juan in the historic quarter of Puerto Rico's capital.

In San Juan, they're going street by street, house by house, turning the lights back on

In San Juan, they're going street by street, house by house, turning the lights back on
A family bathe and wash their car with mountain spring water after hurricane Maria hit the area in September, in Utuado, Puerto Rico.

In hurricane aftermath, Puerto Ricans get impatient with shortages

In hurricane aftermath, Puerto Ricans get impatient with shortages
Hospitals in the US mainland are facing shortages of IV fluids and medicine because of Hurricane Maria's damage to Puerto Rico.

Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. Then it caused a ripple effect in mainland hospitals.

There was already a problem with the supply of IV fluid bags at US hospitals. But the hurricane devastation in Puerto Rico made it much worse.

Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. Then it caused a ripple effect in mainland hospitals.
puerto rico

Some Puerto Rican college students displaced by Hurricane Maria have already started classes again — in Florida

Estimates range from the hundreds of thousands to a million who will leave Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

Some Puerto Rican college students displaced by Hurricane Maria have already started classes again — in Florida
Water falls from a pipe onto the street. A woman in the background is bent at the waist and washes her hair in the running water, while a man holds a child and watches the woman.

We asked Puerto Ricans about their future plans. Many want to stay and rebuild.

Hear directly from some of them.

We asked Puerto Ricans about their future plans. Many want to stay and rebuild.
Team

Meet the women combing through Puerto Rico, searching for veterans in need

The VA team goes from one hurricane shelter to another, assisting veterans.

Meet the women combing through Puerto Rico, searching for veterans in need
Dominica Hurricane Maria

After pummeling Dominica, Hurricane Maria forces Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands to brace for impact

“I am at the mercy of the hurricane. My roof is gone. House is flooding,” Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit posted on Facebook.

After pummeling Dominica, Hurricane Maria forces Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands to brace for impact
Hurricane Irma over Puerto Rico

After Hurricane Irma, Puerto Ricans and Virgin Islanders want more relief from fellow Americans

While Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands clean up after Hurricane Irma, many residents of these US territories say the challenge of storm relief is not just the devastation, but neglect from their fellow Americans in the continental US.

After Hurricane Irma, Puerto Ricans and Virgin Islanders want more relief from fellow Americans
Anole lizard

A little lizard in Puerto Rico is adapting quickly to big-city life

The crested anole is undergoing some remarkable changes — and fast.

A little lizard in Puerto Rico is adapting quickly to big-city life
Isaura Ramirez

From open fire to open mic: Comic and war vet Isaura Ramirez makes the transition

Isaura Ramirez came home from serving in Iraq only to battle depression. She turned a corner when her husband enrolled her in a comedy class.

From open fire to open mic: Comic and war vet Isaura Ramirez makes the transition
A man walks past a closed store with signs reading "Closing down sale" and "Everything goes, shoes, clothes, take advantage" in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, June 29, 2015.

To help Puerto Rico, we might want to think of it more like Detroit

Puerto Rico has a terrible economy. That's why some economists think that allowing it to file Chapter 9 bankruptcy might be a good idea.

To help Puerto Rico, we might want to think of it more like Detroit
After almost four hours of protest on May 13, students sit down while they await to hear the results of the conversation between student representatives and government officials.

For student protesters, a rare, decisive — and little-noticed — victory

Puerto Rican students forced Governor Alejandro García Padilla to abandon a plan to slash university funding by 20 percent, but the issue went largely uncovered in US media.

For student protesters, a rare, decisive — and little-noticed — victory