Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez's homily on how drug traffickers and criminals hide illicit money set off debate among lawmakers, with some urging caution in linking politicians to crime and others arguing the problem reaches far beyond cash to property, businesses, and major investments.

The Honduran Labor Ministry announced temporary openings in Spain, Canada, and the United States for citizens who meet the requirements—including a clean criminal and migration record—with jobs in agriculture, hospitality, logistics, and other sectors.

Honduras's Supreme Court ordered a new trial for former judge Wendy Caballero Reyes on charges of abuse of authority over her handling of an asset-laundering investigation involving a minor, with the hearing set for November 26.

Congresswoman Alía Kafati withdrew her proposal to limit Honduran presidents to one reelection and bar them from running again after two consecutive terms.

Transport leaders from five major cities said they will stage a nationwide strike next week unless the government pays a pending compensation bonus and addresses security threats facing the sector.

Housing Minister Francis Argeñal announced a $400 million National Comprehensive Housing Plan, funded by the Latin American Development Bank and run by the state housing bank Banhprovi, to offer mortgages to eligible families starting in September.

Tegucigalpa residents can now check when water will reach their neighborhood through a new UMAPS digital platform, and the city has set fines of L500 (about $20) for a first water-waste offense and L1,000 for repeat offenders.

The national power company ENEE will carry out maintenance outages in parts of Francisco Morazán and Olancho on July 28 to improve service reliability.

Six hospital projects show a split picture: facilities in Choluteca, Tocoa, and Bay Islands are 24–58% complete and funded by international development banks, while hospitals in Santa Bárbara, Ocotepeque, and Olancho face investigations, contract disputes, and budget shortfalls that threaten completion.

An analysis of 2024–2025 data shows Tegucigalpa residents face seasonal health threats: heavy air pollution and smoke in the dry season (the first half of the year) push up respiratory cases, while falling temperatures in the rainy season (July–September) bring a second surge.

The Honduran Armed Forces reforested two hectares with 2,000 red mangrove seedlings at Las Pelonas on Isla del Tigre, Valle, to restore the ecosystem and protect coastal zones and marine biodiversity.

Education Minister Arely Argueta said the ministry is deciding which support staff to cut from schools, citing excess administrative personnel; about 2,000 civil-service employees have already been dismissed nationwide, drawing protests from parents, teachers, and unions.

Honduran rider Lara Gabrie won individual and team bronze in equestrian competition at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, the country's first medals in the sport in 36 years.

Motagua coach Javier López warned his team not to underestimate Belize's Verdes in their Central American Cup opener on July 28, saying regional football has grown more competitive and no rival should be taken lightly.

Also reported by: TuNota (Canal 5 / TSI)

María Gregoria Martínez, from Las Lajas in Comayagua, was struck and killed by a vehicle on July 27 in the Dos Caminos sector of Villanueva while visiting family; authorities have not yet determined the driver's responsibility.

Also reported by: HCH

The body of a woman was found unclothed in a vacant lot in the Cabañas neighborhood of El Progreso, Yoro; authorities are investigating the circumstances and a possible motive.

Also reported by: Once Noticias

Former deputy security minister Semma Julissa Villanueva did not show up Monday for scheduled testimony before the Special Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office in the investigation of missing woman Angie Peña, whom Villanueva had publicly commented on.

Also reported by: HCH

Shelters for women fleeing domestic violence across Honduras are scraping by on international donations despite a 2024 law that requires state funding, while a new Tegucigalpa facility sits half-built eight months on.

A proposal from Congressman Erik Alvarado would eliminate the sales tax (ISV) on orthopedic equipment, wheelchairs, medical supplies, and breastfeeding products to lower costs for people with disabilities, those in ongoing medical care, and nursing mothers.

Honduras's Constitutional Court agreed to hear a challenge to a 2026 law that sharply broadened the definition of terrorist association, which critics warn is so vague it could criminalize legitimate protest, strikes, and indigenous land rights.

The ENEE director and the energy regulator briefed the National Congress on annual contract renewals for 30, 50, and 80 megawatts of electricity, as lawmakers split over whether the cash-strapped state utility can afford to pay for the supply.

The Central Bank of Honduras allotted $95.6 million in its July 27 currency auction, setting a weighted average exchange rate of L26.7885 per US dollar for July 28.

The government, agro-industry, and producer associations agreed on a bulk price of 680 lempiras per quintal (about $27 per 100 lb) of white corn for the 2026–2027 crop cycle, with agro-industrial buyers committing to purchase 880,000 to 1.4 million quintals.

Also reported by: Radio América, Radio América Honduras

The National Financial Inclusion Strategy (ENIF) 2025–2030 aims to open up bank accounts, digital payments, and formal credit to rural Hondurans, women, and small businesses long shut out of the formal system.

A northern Honduras fuel distributor says crude-oil prices will keep climbing for at least two weeks amid Middle East tensions, though he notes that price controls set under international rules should prevent sharp spikes in the basic basket and inflation.

The National Housing Bank (BANHPROVI) plans to begin disbursing L11 billion (about $440 million) in new financing from the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) for housing projects starting in late September 2026.

Also reported by: Radio América Honduras

COHEP's July 2026 regional competitiveness bulletin projects 3.4% economic growth in 2026 on the strength of remittances, but notes that Honduras ranks 95th globally in economic freedom, 119th of 139 countries in innovation, and third worldwide in climate vulnerability.

Also reported by: Radio América Honduras

Honduras's basic food basket has climbed to about L16,000 (roughly $640) a month, more than the average minimum wage of L14,917 and forcing many families to put at least two people to work just to cover food.

San Pedro Sula has no working wastewater treatment plants despite rapid growth, and with the water utility's concession ending in 2030, the construction industry is pressing the city to secure and develop treatment sites before it is too late.

A severe water shortage across Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela has pushed the city to deploy 52 tanker trucks that have delivered more than 2.3 million gallons free of charge, while longer-term fixes including the San José dam and new wells move ahead.

Also reported by: Once Noticias, Radio América Honduras

The Infrastructure Ministry formally took over the El Tablón multipurpose project from the national utility, a scheme meant to generate electricity, supply water, and control flooding, while keeping technical, administrative, and contracting work on track.

Honduras has confirmed 246 human screwworm infestations and three deaths — all adults over 70 with underlying conditions in Olancho and Francisco Morazán — prompting health authorities to step up prevention and urge prompt care for open wounds.

Joseph David Vuelto, 16, vanished Friday after his fishing boat capsized near Cayos Cochinos in the Caribbean; his companion was rescued, but searchers have found only his fishing gear.

Also reported by: Radio Cadena Voces (RCV), Infobae – Honduras

Congress is considering a bill to limit cellphone use during school hours, and Education Minister Arely Argueta said the ministry backs measures to cut classroom distractions while keeping phones available for emergencies and safety.

The 2026 Central American Concacaf Cup kicks off today with 20 clubs from seven countries, including Honduras's Olimpia and Motagua, competing through December for six spots in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.

Marathón says it will file a complaint with the National Football Arbitration Court against player Cristian Sacaza, who walked out of training on July 24 without permission days before the season opens, seeking the maximum sporting sanctions and compensation for financial losses.

Congress secretary Carlos Ledezma introduced a bill to strengthen the law protecting Honduran migrants returning from any country, extending tax-exempt benefits to returnees and relatives up to the fourth degree of kinship.

A community advocate said more than 25,000 Hondurans are in ICE custody and that those with Temporary Protected Status are now being sought at their homes, faulting the Honduran government's response to migrant hardship in the United States.

Arlin A. Bustillo, 34, was arrested in an abandoned St. Louis hospital in July 2025 carrying a machete, a stolen pistol, and a sawed-off .22-caliber rifle, and pleaded guilty to illegal firearm possession and fraudulent immigration documents; a federal judge sentenced him to 46 months in prison before deportation to Honduras.

The anti-extortion and counterterrorism division arrested a man known as "El Matata," an alleged MS-13 leader in the Sula Valley, seizing a firearm and cocaine worth more than 750,000 lempiras (about $30,000) on the illicit market.

Also reported by: Policía Nacional de Honduras

Police arrested a 19-year-old man accused of rape, robbery, and other sexual assaults against a child in Comayagua.