DNREC regulations electric vehicles

DNREC finalizes EV regulations. Critics are not impressed

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

DNREC has finalized state regulations about electric and other zero emission vehicles it says will help Delaware achieve lower air pollution caused by light- and medium-duty cars,. Instead of demanding that by 2035 all new car sales in Delaware must be electric, the program will end in 2032 when sales are expected to hit 82%. That will address many of …

The PECC has finalized its suggestions on increasing educator pay in Delaware.

Pay panel to give Carney educator salary proposals next month

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Raises seem likely to be on the way for all Delaware educators, from teachers to bus drivers to custodians and everything in between. The state Public Education Compensation Committee will submit its recommendations to Gov. John Carney’s office by Nov. 15. Whatever salary recommendations he includes – the committee’s or another version – in his proposed budget for fiscal year …

stand with israel

More than 500 Delawareans turn out to ‘Stand with Israel’

Betsy PriceHeadlines, Culture

Hundreds of arms shot into the air Wednesday night at the packed “We Stand With Israel Solidarity Rally” at Wilmington’s Siegel Jewish Community Center. Caryl Marcus-Stape, chairman of the board of the Jewish Federation of Delaware, had just asked, “How many of you have parents, children, grandparents, loved ones, families or friends in Israel?” Then, “How many of you know someone …

police dog K-9

Police dogs to receive more state benefits when working, retired

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

  Working and retired police dogs will have extra care and services paid for by the state now that two Republican bills have been signed into law. Both received wide bipartisan support, passing the General Assembly unanimously. One bill signed Thursday by Gov. John Carney allows working police dogs to be transported by paramedics and other emergency medical service providers. …

housing

State gives $6 million to groups helping with housing

Staff WriterCulture, Headlines

Four Delaware nonprofits that focus on housing problems in Delaware will split $6 million of the state’s federal COVID-19 funding That includes: $350,000 to The Home of the Brave in Milford to renovate the facility to serve more homeless veterans and provide services to homeless veterans in Delaware including individual case management, mental health counseling, life skills training and educational services. …

issues

Kitchen table issues expected to be focus of 2024 election

Sam HautHeadlines, Government

With three Democrats already announcing a run for statewide offices in 2024, politicians say they expect the election’s main issues to be familiar to most voters. “It’s the cost of things going up and kind of wages being stagnant,” said Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, minority leader in the Delaware State Senate. “More and more I’m hearing from people, especially our …

commissioners

Carney names marijuana commissioner, other cabinet officers

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

Delaware is putting a name to the role of state marijuana commissioner. On Monday, Governor John Carney nominated Robert Coupe as marijuana commissioner. He will serve within the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, a division he once headed. Coupe was among a group of nominations released by Carney. They included: Josette Manning as Secretary of the Department of Health …

rescue dog picture, Sam Haut

Rescue dog made Delaware’s official state pup

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

In front of the Delaware Humane Animal Partners building in Wilmington and a crowd of 45 people, Governor John Carney made the rescue dog the state’s permanent official state dog. The bill to do it was sponsored by Sen. Jack Walsh, D-Stanton/Newport.  “It only takes one visit inside to tug at your hearts, right? And it’s not just dogs, it’s …

Erik Mclean, electric vehicles

Car dealers: So far, electric vehicles not popular in Delaware

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

As DNREC is closing the public comment period for its new electric vehicle regulations, car dealerships across the state aren’t seeing an uptick in buyers. Sticker shock plays a role in that, dealers say. Many who are interested finally choose a hybrid vehicle that uses both gasoline and an electric battery. James Ursomarso, the vice president of the Union Park …

Delaware still expects $963.5 surplus for 2024 budget

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

Delaware heads toward the final moves in creating its 2024 budget, which starts July 1, with a projected $963.5 surplus. It will be the third straight year in a row of extraordinary revenues that hit right at $1 billion, and a turbulent economy it’s expected to be the last for a while to reach that stratospheric height. Revenue estimates rose …