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Ruh-roh: Bill filed to fine barking dogs in Delaware

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Image: Getty Images Pro Delaware dog owners could soon be slapped with barking tickets if their pups don’t shut up. A bill filed in the House of Representatives would ban dogs from terrierizing communities by barking, whining or howling for a period of 15 minutes — or intermittently for 30 minutes or more. The bill is set to be considered by …

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Bentz, Dems refuse to allow public comment on marijuana bill

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Multiple lawmakers walked out of the House health committee Wednesday in protest of a vote to release a marijuana legalization bill without hearing public comment.  After facing backlash from Republicans, House Democrats announced the bill will be reassigned to the committee and members of the public will be permitted to provide comments after the legislature returns from recess in May. …

Substitute Teacher

Full-time substitute teacher bill could add 208 permanent subs

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

Delaware schools are one step closer to being able to hire permanent substitute teachers.  House Bill 315, which would provide funding for schools to hire substitute teachers as full-time employees, has been released with bipartisan support by the House Education Committee.  Dozens of subs are needed each day across the state.  The issue became critical in December and January when …

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Republican lawmakers to Carney: ‘End the mandates, restore normality’

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Twelve Republican state representatives on Tuesday sent an open letter to Gov. John Carney asking that he reconsider mask mandates in state buildings and schools and stop advocating for COVID-19 booster shots. They encouraged the Democratic governor to promptly end all pandemic-related restrictions, return state workers to their normal places of employment, and “restore normality” for all Delawareans. The legislators …

a group of people standing in front of a building

Female lawmakers launch Delaware Legislative Women’s Caucus

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Left to right: Sen. Kyle Evans Gay (D-Brandywine Hundred), Sen. Marie Pinkney (D-New Castle) Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown (D-New Castle South), Rep. Valerie Longhurst (D-Delaware City). Facebook/Rep. Valerie Maglio Longhurst A group of female legislators on Wednesday announced the formation of a new caucus to focus on issues affecting women.  The Delaware Legislative Women’s Caucus will include lawmakers from both parties …

Brian G. Pettyjohn, Ruth Briggs King posing for the camera

Republicans give Carney’s $5 billion budget proposal a C+

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Left to right: Senate Minority Leader Gerald Hocker, R-Ocean View, Senate Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, House Minority Whip Tim Dukes, R-Laurel, Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown. House and Senate Republicans are generally pleased with Gov. John Carney’s $5 billion proposed state budget but argue more should be done to return money to taxpayers given the state’s rosy economic outlook. …

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Medical aid in dying bill narrowly advances to House floor

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines, Health

A bill to allow mentally competent adult patients with terminal illnesses to request a prescription for life-ending medications was narrowly released from the House Health and Human Development Committee Tuesday.  The practice is often referred to by supporters as “right to die” or “death with dignity” and by opponents as “physician-assisted suicide.”  “Medical aid in dying” is a neutral term …

map

Proposed House redistricting offers more changes than Senate

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Sussex County House districts will change a lot if proposed plan goes forward.   House Democratic leadership has released their proposed redistricting maps and Sussex County will pick up a seat — that of embattled Representative Gerald Brady, a Democrat from Wilmington. The House of Representatives will convene in a special session on Nov. 1 to finalize the maps that …

a group of people in a room

Patriots for Delaware says it found proof of election fraud

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

230-plus people file out of Tuesday’s Patriots of Delaware election fraud meeting in Milford.     Patriots for Delaware on Tuesday said they had evidence of dead people voting in the November 2020 election as well as nursing homes submitting more ballots than they had available beds. The group doesn’t believe the fraud they claim to have found would have …

a group of people standing in a room

State to invest $110 million in expanding broadband ‘the last mile’

Charles MegginsonBusiness, Headlines

Sussex County legislators gather to look at broadband maps. Clockwise from top, Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, Rep. Jesse Vanderwende, Rep. Ruth Briggs King, Rep. Charlie Postles and Sen. Dave Wilson.   COVID-19 funds will pay for a $110 million Delaware investment aimed at guaranteeing high-speed broadband internet access for every home and business in the state.  The expansion project, announced Thursday …