Rep. Debra Heffernan, the bill’s House sponsor, holds SS1 for SB 1 after it was signed by Gov. John Carney Tuesday. (Charlie Megginson/Delaware LIVE News) Delaware has become the 11th state to offer a paid family and medical leave program to new parents, caregivers, and those with serious illnesses. Flanked by lawmakers and activists, Gov. John Carney on Tuesday signed …
Mental health curriculum bill heads to Senate floor for vote
A bill that will require the state to provide mental health education in every grade level passed through the Senate Education Committee and will now go to the Senate floor. If it passes there, it will go to Gov. John Carney for his signature. House Bill 301 asks the Department of Education to establish and implement mental health educational programs …
Delaware schools to turn to science of reading to improve literacy rates
State education officials, legislators are moving to be sure the science of reading is used when teaching public students. Delaware’s once highly ranked reading scores now are worse than those in Mississippi. Much worse. In 2002 Delaware fourth graders outperformed Mississippi’s by 21 points on national scores, with the First State well above the national average. Today, after a …
Paid leave passes in Senate, heads to House
Paid family and medical leave in Delaware moved one step closer to becoming a reality Tuesday after the Senate passed a bill to create the program along party lines. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington North, will now advance to the House of Representatives. The Healthy Delaware Families Act would create a statewide insurance program to provide up …
Sunset Committee backs reorganizing Delaware Motion Picture Commission
The state Sunset Committee would like to see the Delaware Motion Picture and Television Commission reorganized and funded. A powerful state committee voted Tuesday to ask for the Delaware Motion Picture & Television Development Commission to be reconstituted, saying it could be an economic and public relations boost. The Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee also asked its staff …
Permitless concealed carry bill fails in committee
A bill to allow Delawareans to carry concealed firearms without a permit failed to be released from the five-member Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday. The lengthy committee meeting drew dozens of public comments on either side of the issue, with some members of the public taking offense to Wilmington Sen. Sarah McBride’s characterization of permitless concealed carry as a “justice system …
Roundtable to focus on proposed paid family, medical leave bill
State Sen. Sarah McBride will hold the first in a series of roundtable conversations Thursday focused on 12-week paid family and medical leave and the effect it would have on Delawareans. The Nov. 17 event at the Trolley Square Brew HaHa! will address Senate Bill 1, also known as the Healthy Delaware Families Act. The event will begin at 4:30 …
Chinese American groups, state senator pressure Brady to resign
Rep. Gerald L. Brady Calls are mounting for embattled State Rep. Gerald Brady’s immediate resignation after the lawmaker was caught last month using a racist slur to refer to women of Asian descent. The Delaware Chinese American Association and Chinese American Community Center called on Brady to step down Monday in an email sent to Gov. John Carney and …
FAME Inc’s $2.8 million state grant will support new STEM training lab
This rendering depicts FAME Inc.’s planned new $6.5 million Learning Lab to support STEM education and jobs. A non-profit that encourages minority students to pursue education, training and work in STEM fields is poised to build a $6.5 million learning lab in downtown Wilmington. The 17,000-square-foot lab will provide spaces for students to learn through hands-on experiential learning. …
New bill would create $100 million trust fund to offer paid family, medical leave
Workers must have been on job for 120 days and earned more than $3,000. They will be paid 80% of pay, up to $900 a week.