Bear Newark Delabear

Delabear eulogized in resolution urging wildlife awareness

Betsy PriceCulture, Headlines

Delabear, the black bear spotted in Newark Saturday and killed Tuesday night on Route 1 in New Castle, was memorialized Thursday in resolution which urged drivers to be on the lookout for wildlife. House Resolution 33, sponsored by Rep. Sophie Phillips, D-Christiana, and Speaker of the House Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, said the House “mourns the loss of this majestic creature” also …

Hospitals deal hospital

Hospital bill passes Senate on party lines, heads back to House

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

The bill to create a Delaware hospital budget review board, as expected, passed the Senate today after nearly one hour of comments by Republicans opposed to the state stepping into private businesses. House Bill 350 will now return to the House, which must vote on a Senate amendment that changed several points in the original bill. If it passes there, …

housing

Hearing: Nothing but love for affordable housing bills

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

The words “love fest” and “legislative hearing” rarely appear together, but that was the tone  during a Delaware Senate Housing & Land Use committee hearing this week on a five-bill affordable housing package submitted by Sen. Russell Huxtable (D-Lewes). Sen. Marie Pinkney, D-Bear, even said she’s never seen such minimal opposition to legislation like the housing package. It was promoted …

Bujdget

Carney’s proposed $6.1 billion 2025 state budget up 9% from 2024

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

Gov. John Carney‘s proposed 2025 state budget of $6.1 billion pours $2.1 billion into education, $2 billion on healthcare for employees, retirees and Medicaid recipients, and $129 million into environmental initiatives. It’s another record state budget, up nearly 9% from 2024’s $5.6 billion. Nearly 65% of the growth in the budget over last year’s is salary policy and health-related costs, …

disabled submininum wage

Bill banning paying disabled less takes effect this month

Betsy PriceBusiness, Headlines

  Laura Randa started her search for a new headquarters with a list of 232 possible locations across the country before Delaware jumped to the top of the list. “Our final decision to move Toivoa and Toivoa Coaching’s headquarters to Delaware was made when Delaware passed legislation to eliminate subminimum wage for people with disabilities,” Randa said. “We hope to …

TSD Review Dec 28 YearInReview

TownSquareLIVE Weekly Review – December 28, 2023

Sonja FreyTown Square Live, Weekly Review

This Year’s Top Headlines Include Oaths of office open most diverse General Assembly ever EastSide breaks ground on $25 million community STEM hub Delaware House passes bill to make EpiPens more affordable Marijuana legal in Delaware Sunday; Carney won’t sign, veto Division of Alcohol starts process to create legal pot industry First new Wilmington school in 50 years topped off …

Special election District 37

Special election to replace Ruth Briggs King will be Dec. 21

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

A special election to fill the now-vacant 37th Delaware House of Republicans seat in will take place Dec. 21. The seat represents Georgetown and Millsboro in Sussex County. The former occupant of that seat, former Rep. Ruth Briggs King, resigned last week after receiving a certificate of occupancy for a house she was building just over the district line. Briggs …

GOP delaware 1

2022 Rewind: Republican Party must change to win, leaders say

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

This story was originally published in November 2022. Republicans did not fare well in Delaware’s Nov. 8 election. Democrats widened their majority in the state Senate, maintained the balance of power in the House, and won every election for statewide elected offices. In the wake of the Republican wallop, some party leaders are hoping the party will begin to move …

Kowalko Schwartzkopf

2022 Rewind: Kowalko says House Speaker killed IG bill

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

This story was originally published in July 2022. An outgoing Democratic member of the Delaware House of Representatives says House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf blocked his bill to create an office of the inspector general.  Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, said the move was typical of Schwartzkopf’s leadership style. That leadership style can be characterized by “coercion, intimidation, incentivizing and reward,” Kowalko …

Leg Hall hospital board CPI

Senate Dems pick up committee seats with larger majority

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Leaders in the Delaware Senate have revealed the body’s committee assignments for the 152nd General Assembly which begins in January. Senate President Pro Tempore-Elect Dave Sokola announced the assignments Monday. “Legislative committees are an essential part of the legislative process where senators gather public input and determine which bills should move forward,” Sokola said in a news release. “The assignments …