Mila Jasper is a reporter for Medill News Service.

Posts By This Author

FEMA Extends Temporary Housing Assistance for Evacuated Puerto Ricans

by Stavros Agorakis, by Mila Jasper, by Anna Laffrey 03-20-2018

A house destroyed during Hurricane Maria in September 2017 is seen in Utuado, Puerto Rico February 1, 2018. Picture taken February 1, 2018. REUTERS/Alvin Baez

In Washington, many lawmakers have criticized FEMA as having too lenient standards for determining whether Puerto Ricans’ homes damaged by the hurricane are livable. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said one home FEMA defined as “hospitable” doesn’t have a secure roof, doors, or windows, and may not have access to power or clean water.

How Florida Schools Adopted Puerto Rican Students After the Hurricane

by Stavros Agorakis, by Mila Jasper, by Anna Laffrey 03-19-2018

Hillsborough County, where Sickles High School is located, serves about 260,000 students and is the eighth largest school system in the United States. (Stavros Agorakis)

Carlos Velazquez, 14, who attends Howard W. Blake High School in Hillsborough County, doesn’t read or write in English. But all of his courses, including physics, math, and literature, are taught by English-speaking teachers, while only one teacher is available to help Spanish-speaking students understand their coursework.