Good morning! ?? Here’s your roundup of Valencia news this Thursday. Weekend highlights coming soon!
Flood Recovery
- Residence Permits for Migrants: The Consell has approved residence permits for approximately 25,000 irregular migrants affected by the recent floods. Many were unable to receive public aid due to their residency status. Read more on A Punt.
- Political Controversy: The far-right party Vox has criticized the policy, saying it is “not comfortable” with the measure. More from Las Provincias.
- Investigation into Government Response: The Catarroja court continues to examine why the Generalitat did not request additional aid during the critical early hours of the crisis. El País reports on the latest findings.
Crime & Corruption
- Crime Rates Drop: Valencia’s crime rate fell by over 4% last year, according to new municipal data. Read more from the Ayuntamiento.
- Corruption Concerns: Spain has dropped several places in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, with concerns over the closure of anti-corruption agencies in Valencia and the Balearic Islands. More from El País.
- Public Housing Project Delayed: Allegations of improper influence have halted one of Valencia’s public housing projects. Valencia Plaza reports.
- Fraud at Palacio de Congresos: The city is searching for a new accountant after losing €200,000 to fraud last year. Details from Valencia Plaza.
Language Vote in Schools
Next week, public school parents will vote on whether their children’s primary language of instruction will be Valenciano or Spanish. The decision has sparked political debate. More from Las Provincias.
Changing City
- Revamping the Marina: Valencia’s mayor has unveiled plans for a major transformation of the city’s Marina. See renderings on Valencia Extra.
- La Fe Hospital Demolition: The old La Fe hospital is finally being torn down, 14 years after its decommissioning. Levante has the story.
- Hospital Expansion: Hospital General will be adding a new wing to increase capacity. Las Provincias reports.
Transportation News
- MetroValencia Returns to Full Service: By next week, MetroValencia will be operating in all areas after months of disruption due to flood damage. More from Valencia Extra.
- Strikes Continue on MetroValencia: However, there will be reduced metro service next week as strikes continue. More from Las Provincias.
- Free Transport Extended: The Generalitat has extended free public transport for flood-affected residents. Details from Valencia Extra.
- Scooter Accidents Rise: Scooter-related accidents have doubled in the past four years, prompting the city to introduce tougher regulations. More from the Ayuntamiento.
Scientific Discovery
- Fastest subatomic particle on Earth: Physicists, including a Valencia university research group studying astroparticles, have discovered an “ultrahigh energy” neutrino never before recorded. The discovery was made deep in the waters of the Mediterranean using a specialized telescope called KM3NeT. Nature has the full details of this extraordinary finding.
History & Culture
- Medieval Silk Farms Discovered: Excavation in the Pilar neighborhood has uncovered remains of Valencia’s medieval silk industry. Las Provincias reports.
- Stolen Sorolla Painting Recovered: Spanish and Italian police have recovered a stolen Sorolla painting, three years after it disappeared from a Madrid exhibition. Valencia Plaza has more.
That’s all for today! Stay tuned for the weekend roundup.
? Got tips or events to share? Let us know!