NEW Appoquinimink basketball Christian Barksdale 4 takes a jump shot against Cape Henlopen photo by Nick Haliday 1280x720 1

Cape, Appo doubleheaders produce two quality games

Glenn FrazerHeadlines, Sports

(Middletown)  The Cape Henlopen Vikings and Appoquinimink Jaguars scheduled a “rare” boys and girls varsity basketball double header Thursday. The two teams provided those in attendance with close and dramatic games.  The boys game featured No. 7 Appo with a record of 9-3 versus unranked Cape with a 9-4 mark. Appo jumped out to an early 8-0 lead thanks to …

Delaware will close its COVID-19 call centers Tuesday, Jan. 31.

Public Health to close COVID-19 call centers Tuesday

Betsy PriceHeadlines, Health

In another sign that COVID-19 is becoming a part of ordinary life, the Delaware Division of Public Health will close its COVID-19 call center and vaccine call center Tuesday because the number of calls has dwindled. It’s one more indication that the state and the federal government are starting to consider how to handle the ebbing of the pandemic as …

Maddie Barry, green top, showing off her gallery on opening night. (Jarek Rutz/Delaware LIVE News)

Cab senior Maddie Barry curates art show focused on hands

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Maddie Barry said getting accepted into Cab Calloway School of Arts in 9th grade after being rejected the previous year was the biggest win of her life.  “From there I’ve just been able to grow because I’ve been surrounded by so many amazing artists,” she said.  Now a senior, her high school experience hit a peak Thursday night when Barry …

Delaware Senate mini-Bond bill Ruth Briggs King

Mini-Bond bill heads to Carney; pilot labor projects intact

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

Despite four attempts by Republicans to amend it, the mini-Bond bill was voted out of the House Thursday and will head to Gov. John Carney to be signed into law. Passing the bill usually is  a routine matter, will add 17 projects to the state’s Bond and Capital Improvement fund. Nobody objected to that. What did draw a lot of …

Delaware mini-Bond bill

Construction exec: Mini-Bond will hurt non-union, minorities

Shannon C. KeithHeadlines, Government

A Delaware construction executive says that Senate Bill 35, scheduled to be heard today in the House  will effectively block non-union contractors from state contracts. Edward J. Capodanno, president of the Associated Builders and Contractors Delaware says a bill to add 17 projects to this year’s Bond and Capital Improvements funding, will hurt the more than 500 members ABC represents. …

A bill headed to the governor would raise unemployment rates $50 a week.

Rise in unemployment pay heads to Carney’s desk

Shannon C. KeithGovernment, Headlines

A bill that would increase unemployment payments by $50 a week is headed to Gov. John Carney’s desk after essentially skating through the General Assembly. The Delaware Senate passed House Bill 49 Thursday.  It also will allow the state to use the Delaware Unemployment Trust Fund to pay employer shares of that raise, but only for 2023. The rise will …

Richard J. “Rick” Geisenberger Delaware Secretary of Finance. Gov. John Carney 2024 budget

Carney budget cuts income tax, focuses on education, workers

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

Cutting straight to the “what does it mean to me” point: Gov. John Carney’s $5.5 billion budget proposal for 2024 will let Delawareans keep more of their hard-earned cash. The budget, which the governor detailed in an 11 a.m speech Thursday, will increase the standard deduction on Delaware income tax by 75% to $5,700 ($11,400 filing jointly) from $3,250 ($6,500 …

St. Georges Bridge (EaglesFanInTampa photo from Wikimedia)

St. Georges Bridge to close for 18 months for repairs

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

The St. Georges Bridge, which carries U.S. 13 over the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, will close for approximately 18 months for major repairs. The bridge will close to all traffic starting on April 4. The contractor will begin to close bicycle lanes in February, but at least one bicycle lane will remain open until April 4. A $45.8 million contract, …

HB 33 would increase funding for preschool students with special needs. (Unsplash)

Preschool special ed. funding bill draws staffing, money concerns

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A bill that would increase funding for preschool students with disabilities was released by the House Education Committee Wednesday, but not without some concerns.  House Bill 33, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, D-Marshallton, would increase funding for those students by revising the current ratio of 12.8 students per education unit to 8.4 students per unit for preschoolers 3 years and …

Delaware Memorial Bridge deck replacement (Delaware River and Bay Authority photo)

2 lanes of Delaware Memorial Bridge to close for 4 months

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

Two lanes of the Delaware Memorial Bridge into New Jersey will be closed from early February through near the end of May for rehabilitating the 72-year-old bridge. The Delaware River and Bay Authority, which owns and operates the bridge, warns drivers to expect delays, particularly during rush hour and peak weekend travel times. Delays could be bad. A repainting project …