a view of a house with Delaware Legislative Hall in the background

Legislative Hall to reopen to the public

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The leaders of the Delaware House of Representatives and Senate plan to open Legislative Hall to the public effective immediately, they said during a committee meeting Thursday. Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf and Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Dave Sokola plan to announce the building’s opening later Thursday or Friday.  “My intent is open to building up, get …

an office with a desk and chair in a room

GOP bill to change civics curriculum stalls in committee

Charles MegginsonEducation, Government, Headlines

A Republican-backed measure that would require Delaware schools to teach that communism and totalitarianism conflict with freedom and democracy was shot down by the Senate Education Committee Tuesday. Senate Bill 206, sponsored by Sen. Bryant Richardson, R-Seaford, would have required school districts and charter schools to provide instruction in comparative political ideology for students in tenth grade. The bill specifically …

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General Assembly committee meetings to stay virtual

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Delaware House and Senate committee meetings will be held virtually throughout the month of January. Delaware House and Senate leaders announced Friday that all legislative committees will meet virtually throughout the month of January when the General Assembly returns to session Tuesday, Jan. 11.  House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth, and Senate President Dave Sokola, D-Newark, said the decision was made …

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Despite acquittal, Brown will still face Senate ethics inquiry

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Brown was found not guilty Thursday on charges of offensive touching and disorderly conduct. Despite being acquitted Thursday on charges of offensive touching and disorderly conduct, State Sen. Darius Brown will still face a Senate Rules and Ethics Committee review when the General Assembly reconvenes.  In a statement following news that the jury found the Wilmington Democrat not guilty on …

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Dem. leadership stops short of inviting public to in-person hearings

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

House and Senate committee hearings will be held in “hybrid format” in 2022. When the General Assembly reconvenes in January, it will begin to hold all of its committee hearings in a hybrid fashion, with legislators attending in-person and members of the public having the opportunity to watch and provide comments online.  But in a press release announcing the move, …

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House, Senate seek advice on McGuiness removal, but fail to finish job

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Two separate resolutions passed in the House and Senate requesting the Delaware Supreme Court issue an advisory opinion on the General Assembly’s authority to remove indicted State Auditor Kathy McGuiness.  The auditor was indicted in October on a slew of felony and misdemeanor corruption charges alleging nepotism, fraud, theft and witness intimidation. She has pled not guilty to all charges. …

a close up of a street in front of a house with Delaware Legislative Hall in the background

General Assembly passes redistricting bill; new district lines take effect next election

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Delaware Legislative Hall by Brian K. Leonard. September 2021. When Delawareans vote for their state representatives and senators a year from now, they could find out that they live in a new legislative district.  That’s because during a special session of the General Assembly on Monday, both chambers approved Senate Bill 199, which redraws those district boundaries. The bill passed …

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House Democrats publish final plan for House districts

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A look at the final proposed House Districts in New Castle County. Democratic leaders in the Delaware House of Representatives have published their final proposed House district maps in advance of a Nov. 1 special session to consider a redistricting bill. The special session comes just six days before the deadline for both parties to agree on redrawn districts, given …

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Delaware Senate publishes final proposed redistricting maps

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

Slaughter Beach was returned to District 18 in Sussex County rather than being grouped into a largely Kent County district.   Democratic leaders in the State Senate have published their final proposed Senate maps in advance of a Nov. 1 special session to consider a redistricting bill.  The special session comes just six days before the deadline for both parties …

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Democratic State Senate, House leaders announce redistricting plans

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

  This is what Delaware’s state House and Senate districts look like now.   Democratic leaders on Friday announced some of their plans to complete House and Senate redistricting by the Nov. 7 deadline the General Assembly set for itself in June.  They did not set a date for the special session, which will be required to approve the redrawn …