Tax

2022 Rewind: History favors Ramone, numbers favor Burns in Pike Creek race

Charlie MegginsonHeadlines, Government

This story was originally published in October 2022 A suburban New Castle County race for state House is turning into one of most hotly-contested battles of this year’s general election. Incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Ramone, who has been in office since 2009, faces Democrat Dr. Frank Burns for the South Pike Creek seat — one of the last held by Republicans in the …

IN A LETTER TO LAWMAKERS EXPLAINING HIS VETO, CARNEY SAID IT’S ALREADY LAWFUL FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS IN DELAWARE TO POSSESS FIREARMS UNDER STATE LAW. (GETTY IMAGES)

2022 Rewind: Carney vetoes medical marijuana gun bill

Charlie MegginsonHeadlines

This story was originally published in October 2022 Delaware Gov. John Carney on Thursday vetoed a bill that would have allowed medical marijuana patients to possess firearms without fear of prosecution by the state. It’s illegal under federal law for medical marijuana patients to purchase or own firearms. That wouldn’t have changed under House Bill 276, but patients who are not …

Legislative hall livestreaming

2022 Rewind: Legislative Hall expansion far from a done deal

Charlie MegginsonHeadlines, Government

This story was originally published in August 2022. A committee assembled to draft plans for a potential expansion of Delaware’s state capitol building spent much of its Thursday meeting reiterating the tentative nature of its work.  The committee was established after the General Assembly unanimously voted in 2021 to study and recommend a plan to address Legislative Hall’s technological, security …

Vote-by-mail ruled unconstitutional by Delaware Supreme Court

2022 Rewind: Supreme Court strikes down vote-by-mail

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

This story was originally published in October 2022. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of Delaware has ruled the state’s mail-in voting and same-day voter registration statutes unconstitutional. Neither will be allowed in the Nov. 8 general election. The ruling, which came just one day after oral arguments, is a major defeat for Gov. John Carney and Delaware Democrats. …

GOP delaware 1

2022 Rewind: Republican Party must change to win, leaders say

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

This story was originally published in November 2022. Republicans did not fare well in Delaware’s Nov. 8 election. Democrats widened their majority in the state Senate, maintained the balance of power in the House, and won every election for statewide elected offices. In the wake of the Republican wallop, some party leaders are hoping the party will begin to move …

Kowalko Schwartzkopf

2022 Rewind: Kowalko says House Speaker killed IG bill

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

This story was originally published in July 2022. An outgoing Democratic member of the Delaware House of Representatives says House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf blocked his bill to create an office of the inspector general.  Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, said the move was typical of Schwartzkopf’s leadership style. That leadership style can be characterized by “coercion, intimidation, incentivizing and reward,” Kowalko …

Affordable Housing

2022 Rewind: Affordable housing crisis affects middle class, too

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

This story was originally published in April 2022. Evidence continues to pile up that Delaware is struggling to provide affordable housing: Data released in April by Housing Alliance Delaware says the state faces a shortage of more than 18,000 affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renters.  Also this April, Delaware State Housing Authority announced that eligible Delaware renters …

Santa 2

Get into the holiday spirit with these local craft brews

Charlie MegginsonCulture, Headlines

It’s official: Christmastime is here. But if you’re anything like many of our readers, you’ve been so busy working, shopping for presents and buying groceries that you’re just not feeling the holiday spirit yet. Not to worry. For such a small state, Delaware is chock-full of local craft breweries, and many of them have curated unique winter warmers that (after …

Superior Court Judge William Carpenter Jr.

Longest-serving Superior Court judge to retire

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Delaware’s longest-serving Superior Court judge will retire after 30 years on the bench, court administrators announced Wednesday. Judge William Carpenter Jr. will step down Dec. 31, 2022, he said in a letter to Gov. John Carney in October. “While it is always difficult to walk away from a job that you have found so rewarding, my time has come,” Carpenter …