Proposed bills would create funding for school athletic trainers and allow students to participate in extracurriculars even with lunch debt. (Photo courtesy of Nick Halliday)

Law would create funding for every school to have athletic trainer

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

Extracurriculars ruled the day in Wednesday’s House Education Committee meeting.  House Bill 244, sponsored by Rep. Mike Smith, R-Pike Creek, would provide funding for every public high school in the state to have a full-time athletic trainer. The funding would be phased over the next three fiscal years. Both the state and local districts would allocate money for the athletic …

The proposed bill would adjust how the pensions are calculated in the county and municipal police and firefighter pension plan.

Financial burdens cause opposition to pension bill

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

A bill that would adjust the pension calculations for Delaware’s police officers and firefighters faced opposition from those very groups in Wednesday’s House Judiciary Committee meeting. House Bill 266, sponsored by Rep. Cyndie Romer, D-Newark, would add wages earned as a result of required additional work hours to the definition of “compensation” for purposes of calculating pensions in the county …

Rep. Mike Smith's bill would establish the Office of Legislative Ethics for the General Assembly.

Republicans push bill to allow Delawareans to file ethics complaints

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

A proposed law that intends to hold state legislators accountable for unethical behavior was showcased in the second of a series of press conferences each Wednesday by the Republican Party. House Bill 261, sponsored by Rep. Mike Smith, R-Pike Creek, would establish the Office of Legislative Ethics for the General Assembly to ensure that valid allegations of wrongdoing by state …

road sign

DelDOT has no plans to end its humorous road signs

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

It wasn’t considered funny when the feds told the states that their road signs can no longer be humorous. The new standard – described on Page 519 of the 11th edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways – made the front page of The Wall Street Journal on Jan. 11. Ever since, writers have …

A library branch is named after its prominent Brandywine Hundred location. (Ken Mammarella photo)

Roof, HVAC work to close Brandywine library for 3 months

Ken MammarellaCulture, Government, Headlines

  The Brandywine Hundred Library is closing for three months to replace its roof and its heating, ventilating and cooling system. New Castle County is planning to close the library from Feb. 1 through May 1. During that time, it will open the Claymont and Woodlawn libraries seven days a week, with extended hours. “This project has been needed for …

Pink Electrical Services in Clayton is a recent winner of an EDGE grant for small businesses. (Courtesy of Kathy Collison)

EDGE grants give Del. entrepreneurs money – and advice

Ken MammarellaBusiness, Government, Headlines

  When businesses run by Kathy Collison and Donny Legans won EDGE grants from the Delaware Division of Small Business, they got more than a lot of money. They got a lot of good advice. “The biggest takeaway is that the application process forces you as a new business owner to think through a lot of things that you didn’t …

tunnel

State should consider dropping plan for tunnel, designers say

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

Designers involved in the construction of a $22 million parking garage across from Legislative Hall have recommended the state cancel plans to build a private underground tunnel  connecting the structures. The tunnel originally was estimated to cost $2 million but will be closer to $3.7 million, partly because its base would lay only 6 feet above sea level in an …

insurance

State worker health insurance to rise 22%, add $50M cost

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

The state of Delaware will need at least an additional $50 million dollars in fiscal 2025 to pay for increases in the cost of employee health insurance, which is expected to see premium rises of up to 22%. Ruth Ann Miller, controller general, said the program will have a shortfall of $15 million by April 1 and will need $22 …

Delaware legislators Thursday were presented the recommendations from a state educator pay committee.

Educator pay report gets mostly warm welcome from legislators

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

Delaware state senators and representatives didn’t revolt when they got their first bite at recommendations for higher educator pay that would cost the state hundreds of millions in coming years. But questions did arise in Thursday’s joint House And Senate Education committees meeting that lasted about 1 ¼ hours. They included concern about poorer districts’ ability to pay their 30% …

LegHallEvening

House, Senate Republicans showcase bills they plan to push

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

House and Senate Republicans on Wednesday showed a new spirit of cooperation — and a determination to get proposals they consider common sense out in front of the public — by holding a joint press conference. The focus Wednesday was on GOP bills that would curb future governors’ unrestricted use of emergency powers by requiring legislative review and give the …