Wetlands in Sussex County. Photo by Joann Kingsley/Delaware Community Lens A bipartisan bill aimed at addressing wastewater and drinking water issues in Delaware’s underserved communities was signed into law by Gov. John Carney Thursday after six years in the making. House Bill 200, the Clean Water for Delaware Act, creates a framework and funding source which lawmakers say will …
Bill to mandate police body cameras signed into law
Nate McQueen, secretary of the Delaware Department of Safety, leads applause for police officers during a ceremony that made police body cameras a state law. Delaware has become the eighth state in the country to mandate the statewide use of body cameras by police officers. Gov. John Carney was joined by members of the House Black Caucus, …
‘Walking the talk:’ Carney signs bill to raise minimum wage to $15
Gov. John Carney shows off minimum wage raise law he signed Monday. Delaware Gov. John Carney, a Democrat, signed a bill Monday which will incrementally increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. Senate Bill 15, sponsored by Sen. Jack Walsh, D-White Clay, and Rep. Gerald Brady, D-Greenville, passed along party lines in both the House and …
Public Health: Delta variant is dominant strain of virus in Delaware
The Delta variant of COVID-19 is causing a rising number of cases. The COVID-19 delta variant is now the predominant strain of the coronavirus in Delaware, The Division of Public Health said in a Friday press release. Variants are mutations of the virus, including changes to the spikes on the surface of the virus. Some variants are more transmissible …
State officials blame Delta variant for rise in COVID-19 cases
The number of COVID-19 cases attributed to the Delta variant jumped last week. State officials blamed the Delta variant Tuesday night for increased numbers of COVID-19 cases in Delaware. During an online town hall meeting, the officials also talked about a new type of testing, whether a vaccine booster shot will be needed and COVID-19 regulations that will be …
Delaware hits 70% vaccination mark before Fourth of July
Gov. John Carney and the state’s top public health officer on Thursday hailed Delaware hitting the federal goal of 70% of those eligible getting at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine before the Fourth of July. “That’s a big deal,” said Gov. John Carney in a press release. “It’s why we’re beating this virus and moving past this pandemic after …
House, Senate send largest bond bill ever to Carney for signature
The Delaware Senate says the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of Tuesday’s session. Delaware residents will soon see the effects of a $1.35 billion spending package was passed Tuesday by both houses of the General Assembly. Gov. John Carney is expected to sign it and a $63 million Grants-in-Aid bill Wednesday at 1 p.m. in his office, after it …
Carney ends weekly press conferences about COVID-19
In Gov. John Carney’s last weekly COVID-19 press briefing, state officials announced that the average life expectancy has gone down because of the virus and that pharmacies have been doing a larger part of vaccination over the last month. Carney said last week that with a rising number of vaccinations and declining number of cases, and with his emergency …
Pharmaceutical manufacturer could bring 500 new jobs to Middletown
A pharmaceutical company that contracts to develop and manufacture drugs is building a state-of-the-art campus in Middletown that is expected to open in 2020 and have about 500 jobs by 2026. The campus will be on 190 acres and is now in its initial phase, said a Monday press release from WuXi STA and the Delaware Prosperity Partnership. …
Carney unsure state can meet July vaccination goal; will end weekly COVID pressers
Gov. John Carney said Tuesday that he’s optimistic but not sure the state can vaccinate enough Delawareans before the Fourth of July to do its part to meet President Joe Biden’s goal of having 70% of Americans with at least one dose of vaccine. But the number of COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths are declining so steadily, Carney …