Vote by mail

Vote by mail bill heads to Delaware governor

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Gov. John Carney has taken possession of a bill to allow Delawareans to vote by mail in all future elections. Carney has 10 days, excluding Sundays, to either sign or veto the bill. Senate Bill 320 creates an opt-in vote-by-mail system wherein voters will have to request a ballot before one is sent. Ballots and ballot applications will not be …

John Carney wearing a suit and tie

Carney to sign gun bills today

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Democratic Gov. John Carney will sign multiple gun control bills Thursday. The gun bills will ban the sale of assault weapons, raise the age from 18 to 21 to purchase most firearms, return background checks to state control, ban high-capacity magazines, open up the potential for lawsuits against gun manufacturers and dealers for gun violence, and ban the use of devices …

Carney Grass

Carney vetoes marijuana legalization

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Delaware Gov. John Carney on Tuesday vetoed House Bill 371, legislation that would have made it legal for Delawareans 21 years of age or older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana. In a statement to the House of Representatives, Carney said while he continues to support medical marijuana, he does not believe promoting or expanding the use of …

a group of people sitting at a table

Child care bonuses set at $1,000; registry to open soon

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The Department of Education is finalizing a registry that will allow child care workers in Delaware to apply for the direct financial relief they were promised six months ago. They may not get as much as initially expected. By estimating the number of providers who would qualify for assistance, Gov. John Carney and the Delaware Department of Education in Nov. …

Child Care 1

Child care workers still waiting for promised $1,500 state bonuses

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Three months after Delaware’s child care workers were promised direct financial relief in the form of $1,500 individual payments, they haven’t received a cent. Those workers may not receive any money until as late as June because the state is constructing a new registry to track who’s working in child care centers throughout the state. That registry will also be …

a sign on the side of a building

Delaware mask mandate to expire Friday, Feb. 11

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines, Health

Gov. Carney’s universal indoor mask mandate will expire Friday, Feb. 11/Getty Images Delaware’s universal indoor mask mandate will expire at 8 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 11. Gov. John Carney on Monday revised the State of Emergency order citing the sharp decrease in cases since the height of the omicron variant surge. While masks will no longer be required inside many …

Brian G. Pettyjohn, Ruth Briggs King posing for the camera

Republicans give Carney’s $5 billion budget proposal a C+

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Left to right: Senate Minority Leader Gerald Hocker, R-Ocean View, Senate Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, House Minority Whip Tim Dukes, R-Laurel, Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown. House and Senate Republicans are generally pleased with Gov. John Carney’s $5 billion proposed state budget but argue more should be done to return money to taxpayers given the state’s rosy economic outlook. …

John Carney wearing a suit and tie

Gov’s budget proposal nears $5 billion; includes raises for all state employees

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Gov. John Carney (D) on Thursday introduced his proposed FY 2023 operating budget/Stacey Hofmann Gov. John Carney’s $4.99 billion proposed budget for 2023 includes raises for all state employees, increased opportunity funding for schools in low-income areas, continued investment in clean water and economic development initiatives and funding for the construction of three new schools and two courthouses. What the …

Copy of Taxes 2

Wells among concerns at first clean water committee hearing

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A new committee focused on improving water quality in Delaware offered a glimpse into some of the projects it hopes to tackle during the first of three public meetings Tuesday. The Delaware Clean Water Trust Oversight Committee has a broad list of objectives, including improving flood resilience, repairing failing sewer pipes, improving drinking water quality, removing pollution from Delaware’s waterways …

Cupola 2

Pre-filed bills offer glimpse into legislature’s plans

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The General Assembly will meet in person for the first time on Thursday, Jan. 13. (Getty Images) A list of pre-filed House bills released Thursday offers a glimpse into some of the issues the General Assembly plans to tackle when it reconvenes next week. Proposals included on the list range from a measure to make gun ownership legal for medical …