While retail theft continues to increase in Delaware, according to state police records, it doesn’t seem to be happening at the level reported in some cities. “I am not aware of any widespread looting or any type of cases where there’s just been storming, just an overpowering into an establishment,” said Jason Hatchell, public information officer for the Delaware State …
Nepotism law shot down in Wilmington City Council
A Wilmington City Council ordinance that would prevent nepotism failed to pass Thursday night after initially garnering strong support in a committee last month. The ordinance got five yes votes, five no and two “present” votes, meaning it lacked the numbers it needed to succeed. Ordinance 0273, sponsored by Councilman James Spadola, would prohibit members of the council from hiring …
State campaign to encourage use of library privacy kiosks
The state plans a marketing campaign to encourage more residents to use Social Service Kiosks that now exist in some libraries to access medical and other private services. The soundproof booths are located in 13 different libraries across the state. Health and library officials hoped they would help some of Delaware’s more disadvantaged populations get the help they needed to …
Draft bill would strike all references to gender in state law
A legislative council voted Wednesday to create a bill that would allow all references to gender to be removed from Delaware law. The Joint Legislative Council, a bipartisan committee, unanimously approved a draft bill that would remove terms like he, she, his, hers with a noun that does not express gender. For example, in Title 14, Section 170, a student …
Carney says state has “spent too much time” on marijuana
Gov. John Carney dodged a question about whether he’ll sign the two marijuana bills now sitting on his desk. “I’m not going to make any news tonight,” he told a woman at the New Castle Airport Tuesday night, where he was holding the first of a series of Town Halls. The presentation in front of 60 people who packed the …
DelDOT rethinking area around Augustine Cut-Off bridge
Plans are under way to make roadways around the Augustine Cut-Off bridge over the Brandywine safer and better for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. And slower for drivers. The Delaware Department of Transportation project extends from Brandywine Hundred down to Lovering Avenue in the northern edge of Wilmington. The most prominent change involves reconfiguring the triangular intersection of Lovering Avenue and N. …
Delaware Sportsmen take aim at handgun permitting bill
The Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association took to social media Monday to condemn a bill that would create a permitting process for getting a handgun. “We knew it would be coming back and it’s finally here,” the Facebook post said. “In the wake of the violent criminal actions of the last few weeks in Delaware, our single partly overlords have decided …
Benefits subcommittees examine rising costs of health care
Two state health subcommittees focused Monday on the rising cost and utilization of health care. Those costs are the basis of predictions about how many healthcare services employees and retirees will use and are used to determine insurance premiums and more. At a joint SEBC Financial and Health Policy & Planning Subcommittee meeting Monday, Chris Giovannello of Willis Towers Watson …
Will Carney let marijuana bills become law without signing?
The state representative who has been pushing the legalization of marijuana for years sent out a press release Friday that broadly hints Gov. John Carney will allow that to happen without signing two bills that hit his desk this week. Both House Bill 1 and House Bill 2 passed the General Assembly in March. HB 1 would legalize the possession …
McGuiness appeal: Rights violations started before trial
Delaware auditor Kathy McGuiness has filed an appeal in Delaware Supreme Court, claiming she did not get a fair trial when she was convicted of two misdemeanors related to hiring her daughter because her rights were violated before trial. The redacted – public only version of the appeal says that Delaware Department of Justice prosecutors ignored their obligations under Brady …