Plastic bags from DNREC facebook page

Attention shoppers: No more plastic bags as of July 1

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

“Bags, wallet, keys and phone” are some new lyrics suggested for the old children’s exercise song “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” as Delaware moves to a plastic bags ban. The new words come from some creative folks at the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to promote a broader and deeper ban on plastic bags that starts Friday, …

House Administration Committee meeting

Bill to create Delaware inspector general moves forward

Ken MammarellaGovernment & Politics, Headlines

A bill to establish an “independent and nonpartisan” inspector general’s office moved forward Wednesday in a Delaware House committee. The House Administration Committee also moved along a bill to encourage filming in the state by offering tax credits. The committee started discussion to create a constitutional right of a clean environment, but, citing time, continued discussion to Thursday’s committee meeting, …

Downtown Wilmington library (McGhiever photo from Wikimedia)

Wilmington library called one of America’s most beautiful

Ken MammarellaCulture, Headlines

  The downtown Wilmington library is No. 3 on a new list titled “the 11 Most Beautiful Libraries in the United States.” “Visitors will encounter a massive, symmetrical white-gray façade designed in the Neoclassic style by well-respected architects Alfred Githens and Edward Tilton,” Fodor’s Travel writes of the Wilmington Public Library. “There are intricate fixtures to admire, including terra-cotta frieze …

censusbygettyimages

There aren’t as many Delawareans as the census counted

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

  The 2020 census counted 967,000 Delawareans, but a new followup analysis by the U.S. Bureau includes Delaware as one of 14 states with statistically significant miscounts, concluding there are really only maybe about 917,000 Delawareans. The bureau’s traditional followup involved a survey of 161,00 housing units and a lot of number crunching. And in Delaware’s case, adjusting the count …

del mem bridge

Memorial Day events honor those who gave their lives

Ken MammarellaCulture, Headlines

Veterans Memorial Park, near Delaware Memorial Bridge Events to recognize Americans who lost their lives in service to the country will occur in several spots in Delaware this month, not just on Memorial Day (May 30). Here’s a roundup. The Delaware Memorial Bridge Memorial Day service starts at 10:30 a.m. May 30 at the Veterans Memorial Park, near the New …

A problem with the supply of paper delayed the printing of Delaware personal income tax booklets.

Del. tax booklets delayed in delivery to libraries

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

A problem with the supply of paper delayed the printing of Delaware personal income tax booklets. A problem with paper supplies has delayed the printing and distribution of Delaware’s personal income tax booklets. Public libraries got their first copies on Tuesday. The state ordered 30,000 resident tax booklets and 10,000 non-resident tax booklets. “Paper copies of Delaware tax forms were …

Vials of Life are available at New Castle County libraries. (Ken Mammarella photo)

Vials speak to first responders when you can’t

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines, Health

Vials of Life are available at New Castle County libraries. Photo by Ken Mammarella     A refrigerator magnet and a filled-out piece of paper inside the fridge could be a lifesaver. They’re part of the Vial of Life, a program just launched by New Castle County. “The Vial of Life is a simple tool that can be used during …

Vactor 2100i

NCCo touts upgraded sewer cleaning trucks

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

The Vactor 2100i recycles water while it cleans sewer lines. (New Castle County)   Two new sewer cleaning trucks promise to save water, energy and time by recycling cleaning water, New Castle County says in a flyer accompanying its annual sewer bills. The new vehicles use hydraulic jets to dislodge debris, and they vacuum up debris and liquid from the …

pexels karolina grabowska 4386370 1

M&T, WSFS, PNC reducing, easing overdraft fees

Ken MammarellaBusiness, Headlines

Delaware’s largest banks are addressing concerns about overdraft fees (Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels)   Delaware’s three biggest banks are changing their rules on overdraft fees. M&T Bank this month is joining a nationwide movement to reduce or eliminate overdraft fees. WSFS Bank in December eased its overdraft rules. PNC Bank last year expanded its app to give customers …