emergency order

Carney to end public health emergency order in May

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

  Playing follow the leader, Gov. John Carney announced Tuesday he will end the State of Delaware’s COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order on May 11. That will coincide with the plans of President Joe Biden, who announced months ago that he would end the national public health emergency May 11. “Consistent with the ending of the federal public health emergency, and …

a bus that is parked on the side of a road

Masks no longer required on DART buses

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Dough4872/Wikimedia Commons Masks are no longer required on Delaware’s public transit buses.  A federal judge in Florida on Monday ruled the CDC overstepped its authority and failed to follow proper procedure when it extended the mask mandate for planes and other forms of public transportation. Shortly after, the White House announced the Transportation Security Administration would no longer enforce the …

Brian G. Pettyjohn, Colin Bonini posing for a photo

GOP senators to state: Don’t follow Philly’s mask mandate

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Delaware’s seven Republican senators have asked the state’s top doctor not to reinstitute a statewide indoor mask mandate. The letter came after the City of Philadelphia last week announced its mandate would be coming back due to a rise in cases there.  Restaurants, museums, businesses, offices, government buildings and arenas in Philadelphia began requiring masks Monday morning.  Dr. Karryl Rattay, …

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Judge denies motion to stop school mask mandate after case becomes moot

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A Chancery Court judge denied a Hockessin mom’s motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the governor’s statewide school mask mandate after the governor announced the mandate would be lifted Tuesday. Vice Chancellor Paul Fioravanti late Monday said he could not find sufficient evidence that leaving the mandate in effect until 6 p.m. on Tuesday would cause the plaintiff irreparable …

Mask mom 2

Hockessin mom sues to end Carney’s school mask mandate

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

JANICE LORRAH A Hockessin mother has filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery challenging Gov. John Carney’s extension of the state’s school mask mandate. The universal indoor mask mandate for the general public expired on Feb. 11 following a sharp decrease in cases since the height of the COVID-19 omicron variant surge. Although that mandate was lifted, Carney …

a group of people posing for a photo

As COVID cases rise, Del. Dept. of Education hosts mask-free party

Charles MegginsonEducation, Government, Headlines

Delaware Department of Education (DDOE)/Facebook On the same day that the first four cases of the highly contagious COVID-19 omicron variant were confirmed in Delaware, staff from the state’s Department of Education hosted a mask-free party for outgoing education secretary Susan Bunting.  The department is now facing growing outrage after images of the event posted on its own Facebook account …

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Permanent school mask mandate is on hold – for now

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines, Health

Some interpreted a DOE regulation to mean masks would be permanently required in schools. Photo by Rodnae Productions on Pexels. A regulation that many interpreted to mean Delaware schools would indefinitely require mask-wearing is on hold — for now.  A proposed amendment to Delaware Administrative Code 815 — the rule schools follow for health examinations and screenings — would have …

a dining room table

Resolution condemning federal government for school board overreach fails in Senate

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Photo by MChe Lee/Unsplash A Republican resolution to condemn federal action against parents at school board meetings and reaffirm their rights to bring grievances to local boards of education failed Monday in the Delaware Senate along party lines. On Oct. 4, the federal Department of Justice issued a one-page memo instructing the FBI and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to meet with …

(MilfordLive photo)

Carney to lift state of emergency on July 13

Betsy PriceGovernment

(MilfordLive photo)   Gov. John Carney announced Tuesday that he intends to lift the COVID-19 State of Emergency Order on July 13. He first signed the order on March 12, 2020, and today he also signed a modification that makes technical changes to the 29th emergency order. Ending the State of Emergency also will end mask and other COVID-19 related mandates such …