Curbside residential EV charger bill released from House committee

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A bill heard by the House Energy Committee Tuesday would require Dover, Wilmington and Newark to set up a permitting process for curbside residential EV chargers/Getty Images A bill released from the House Energy Committee Tuesday could soon require Delaware’s three largest cities to make it easier for residents to install personal electric vehicle charging stations.  Senate Substitute 1 for …

Wells among concerns at first clean water committee hearing

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A new committee focused on improving water quality in Delaware offered a glimpse into some of the projects it hopes to tackle during the first of three public meetings Tuesday. The Delaware Clean Water Trust Oversight Committee has a broad list of objectives, including improving flood resilience, repairing failing sewer pipes, improving drinking water quality, removing pollution from Delaware’s waterways …

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Wilmington residents sign petition in support of police chief

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines, Police & Fire

Chief Robert Tracy/Wilmington Police Department A petition expressing support for the Wilmington Police Department has gathered more than 600 signatures after the Wilmington City Council on Thursday passed a “vote of no confidence” in Chief Robert Tracy. The vote happened after a nearly three-hour-long Public Safety Committee meeting Tuesday during which Tracy and others defended the department’s practices amidst claims …

Clean water committee seeks ideas on how to spend money

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

DNREC Photo Six months after being signed into law, DNREC officials have shared their plans to solicit public input on priorities for the Delaware Clean Water Trust Oversight Committee. The agency will host three virtual public information sessions to hear from Delaware residents and businesses about how the trust should support water quality improvements. House Bill 200, or the Clean …

As revenues rise, Republicans say taxpayers should get some money back

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Republicans in the General Assembly have introduced six bills to decrease Delawareans’ tax burden. (Getty Images) Republicans in the House of Representatives have introduced six new bills to return surplus state revenue to Delawareans. With a windfall of cash from federal stimulus bills and the bipartisan infrastructure bill, Republican lawmakers say there’s no better time to give Delawareans some needed …

Wilmington Rep. Gerald Brady announces resignation

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Rep. Gerald Brady Democratic State Representative Gerald Brady, a Democrat, will resign from office in early February. He said in a press release that he has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from his service in the Delaware Army National Guard and must take time to “address these issues directly.” “I do so with deep regret and sadness, but …

Carney ready to spend money in 2022; GOP wants tax relief

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Photo by Daniel Sato The state of the state is strong, said Gov. John Carney during his annual address before a joint session of the General Assembly Thursday. Much of Carney’s speech focused on the fallout of COVID-19, including its impact on the state’s economy and the work that still needs to be done to confront new variants and surges. …

Medical aid in dying bill narrowly advances to House floor

Charlie 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 …

GOP bill to change civics curriculum stalls in committee

Charlie MegginsonEducation, Government, Headlines

A Republican-backed measure that would require Delaware schools to teach that communism and totalitarianism conflict with freedom and democracy was shot down by the Senate Education Committee Tuesday. Senate Bill 206, sponsored by Sen. Bryant Richardson, R-Seaford, would have required school districts and charter schools to provide instruction in comparative political ideology for students in tenth grade. The bill specifically …

Delaware animal groups see surge of Betty White challenge donations

Charlie MegginsonCulture, Headlines

Delaware animal welfare groups brought in well over $100,000 in honor of actress and longtime animal rights advocate, Betty White. On what would have been Betty White’s 100th birthday, animal lovers from around the country donated tens of thousands of dollars to three of Delaware’s largest animal rescue and shelter groups. After White died on Dec. 31, fans began encouraging …