Sunday, July 12, 2026 — Evening Edition

Lawyer Reyna Rivera warns that Honduras's special economic zones (ZEDEs) are widening their territorial control despite a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that declared them unconstitutional and Congress's repeal of the law that created them, with 4% of Roatán now under their jurisdiction.

A Libre congressman said the opposition party supports modernizing the state power company ENEE but rejects splitting it into separate corporations, exposing a sharp divide between the parties over the utility's future.

Also reported by: Radio América Honduras

Economist Ismael Zepeda questions the performance of Honduras's Superior Court of Accounts, which drew a budget of more than 1 billion lempiras (about $40 million) yet referred only five cases of alleged illicit enrichment by officials to prosecutors in four years.

Defense Minister Enrique Rodríguez Burchard confirmed that revenue from the sale of Honduras's presidential aircraft, which fetched L137 million (about $5.5 million), will go to health, education, and the National Autonomous University of Honduras.

The Finance Ministry has completed transfers to all 298 Honduran municipalities through June, letting local governments keep carrying out projects and delivering services.

Honduras's vehicle fleet grew to 3.6 million in 2025, with motorcycles making up more than half the increase and now accounting for 50.12% of all registered vehicles, driven by lower prices, easy financing, and fuel efficiency.

Potatoes at the Farmer and Artisan Fair near the National Stadium in Tegucigalpa have climbed to 28 lempiras per pound (about $1.12), while dairy prices have fallen.

Honduras's monthly inflation fell to 0.19% in June 2026, the lowest for that month since 2020 and down 0.63 percentage points from May's 0.82%, a second straight monthly decline.

Honduras's banking and insurance regulator is warning the public about fraudulent messages that falsely claim to come from the CNBS and ask for identity verification, data updates, or biometric validation to unlock financial products.

Coffee producer Víctor Barahona projects Honduras's coffee exports will hit $2.5 billion this season.

Honduras's consumer-protection committee (CODECOH) will begin price-monitoring raids in Tegucigalpa this week, warning that shops charging above official prices will face legal penalties.

Construction of a new cargo terminal in Omoa, Cortés, is drawing concern from local tourism businesses and environmentalists over a lack of public transparency, possible harm to marine ecosystems and fishing, and threats to the region's tourism economy.

The state utility ENEE announced scheduled power cuts in several Choloma neighborhoods, in Cortés, from 8:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. on July 13 for transmission-line maintenance.

A group of swimmers were pulled from the sea after their tour boat sank off the coast of Tela on July 12.

Hospital Escuela has treated 65 snakebite patients from nine departments in 2026, ranging in age from 2 to 85, prompting health authorities to urge immediate medical care and warn against home remedies.

Also reported by: Criterio.hn

The mother of the student who filmed teacher Perla Díaz striking another student said she told her daughter to record it because the teacher had verbally attacked students before.

Also reported by: El Heraldo, Radio Cadena Voces (RCV), HCH, Once Noticias

Honduras will see mostly dry weather with light scattered rain in the east, center, and west, highs peaking at 39°C in Choluteca, and air-quality concerns from Saharan dust at 35 micrograms per cubic meter; authorities urge hydration and respiratory protection.

Rising waters on the Río Pataste have isolated communities including La Sabana and Hato Viejo in Olancho, leaving residents unable to move about and appealing to authorities for help.

Also reported by: Radio HRN, Radio América Honduras, Radio Cadena Voces (X)

National Police border agents seized merchandise worth more than 6 million lempiras (about $240,000) and arrested two suspects in El Paraíso department during a border operation.

A minibus overturned on the CA-5 highway near El Durazno on Sunday afternoon, injuring seven passengers when it hit a sedan; the cause remains unclear, though it was raining and the pavement was wet at the time.

Cristóbal Cortés Cartagena, 39, was arrested by US Border Patrol in Texas on July 4 after illegally reentering the country; convicted of child sexual abuse in California in 2010 and deported twice, he now faces up to 20 years in federal prison for felony reentry.

National Police say they recovered 277 stolen vehicles and arrested suspected leaders of car-theft rings operating in Tegucigalpa during 2026.

Also reported by: Radio Cadena Voces (X)

A man was killed by attackers on a motorcycle at a soccer field in Olanchito, Yoro, and died after being taken to a local hospital; authorities have not released his identity.