Chita Rivera honored by U.S. leaders

President Biden was among those paying tribute to Chita Rivera, who died last week at the age of 91. Biden called the Broadway legend “an all-time-great of American musical theater” who “captured the grit and grace of America.” Biden added that “Chita knew what great Americans know – it’s not how hard you get knocked down, it’s how quickly you get back up.” Rivera was born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero in Washington, D.C. to a Puerto Rican father who played in the U.S. Navy band; her mother was a clerk at the Pentagon. She was known for many iconic roles, including Anita in the original production of West Side Story. She won three Tony awards and was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama in 2009. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) said that Rivera “took pride in her Puerto Rican heritage and helped pave the way for other Latina artists.”

Clinical trial tests drug to treat advanced-stage breast cancer

Medical researchers in Puerto Rico have launched a clinical trial to test a drug that represents a alternatve therapeutic option to treat and control advanced-stage cases of breast cancer. So far, two breast cancer patients on the Island have participated in the tests. “The trial seeks to treat the most aggressive type of breast cancer,” according to Dr. José Rodriguez-Orengo, CEO of San Juan-based MBQ Pharma. Rodríguez-Orengo said that the first phase of the trial will test the safety of MBQ-167, a dual inhibitor which prevents the tumor from growing and spreading. A third patient is soon scheduled to join the trial. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Puerto Rico. Approximately 2,205 women on the Island are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, according to the American Cancer Society of Puerto Rico. Additionally, company representatives hope that MBQ-167 might be used to treat brain and pancreatic cancer, as well.

Retailers argue against higher electricity rates

Arguing that Puerto Rican businesses have already experienced significant increases in operating expenses, a group representing Island retailers is urging the government and the Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) to avoid raising electricity rates in the coming months. The Puerto Rico United Retailers Center (CUD, in Spanish) said that a recent survey of small and medium-sized businesses showed production costs increased by 5 to 10 percent between 2022 and 2023. The group cited high energy costs among the reasons for the hike in expenses. Gustavo Vélez, president of Inteligencia Económica, the firm that carried out the survey, warned that “if costs continue to rise, bankruptcies will continue. The statistics validate that bankruptcies have shown an upward trend for four consecutive months.” The survey results were presented to the FOMB during a meeting in mid-January.