The state will invest $160 million for school projects in six districts and $100 million in deferred maintenance and capital improvements in state buildings, according to the $1.1 billion capital budget introduced Monday. The $160 million for school construction projects is the largest amount of money designated and will go to Smyrna, Red Clay, Colonial, New Castle County Vo-Tech, Polytech …
New school entryways may be required to use ballistic resistant glass
The state legislature is looking for more ways to increase the safety and security of school buildings. In Wednesday’s Senate Education Committee meeting, a look at the entryways of buildings and how schools – especially new ones or those making upgrades – could be safer was the heart of a new bill. Senate Bill 279, sponsored by Sen. Jack Walsh, …
Changes afoot for Polly Drummond yard waste site
Changes are in the offing for the Polly Drummond community yard waste site, a popular site east of Newark for residents to drop off yard waste for free. Maybe it will close, with a nearby replacement. Maybe it will close, with a replacement further away. Maybe it will get dedicated funding. And for two out of those three alternatives, people …
Colleges, DOE ask for hundreds of millions for capital projects
The big three institutions of higher education in the First State along with the Delaware Department of Education on Thursday asked for a combined $300 million from the state for capital improvement projects. As the state’s General Assembly prepares its budget for fiscal year 2025, which starts July 1, the University of Delaware, Delaware State University and Del Tech all …
Home delivery of wine, beer, cocktails clears another hurdle
A Delaware Senate bill that will allow state residents to have home delivery of alcohol in the form of wine, beer and mixed cocktails from restaurants, brewpubs and taverns is one step closer to becoming a law, despite opposition from Delaware’s liquor stores. Senate Bill 166, sponsored by Sen. Jack Walsh, D-Wilmington, blew through the House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce …
Hunting game birds on Sunday one pen stroke away from legal
Sunday fun day for outdoor sportsmen and women may soon include hunting game birds, if House Bill 271 is signed by Gov. John Carney. Currently, section 712 of Title 7 of the Delaware Code prohibits the hunting of any game birds or game animals, except deer, on Sundays. It passed the Senate Tuesday with 20 votes. One senator was absent. …
Police dogs, animal shelter bills pass Senate committee
Furry friends took over the conversation in the Senate Health and Social Services Meeting Wednesday. Senate Bill 117, sponsored by Senate Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, aims to protect and treat police dogs who are injured in the line-of-duty. SB 117 would authorize paramedics and other EMS providers to provide medical care to police dogs who were hurt at the …
Rise in unemployment pay heads to Carney’s desk
A bill that would increase unemployment payments by $50 a week is headed to Gov. John Carney’s desk after essentially skating through the General Assembly. The Delaware Senate passed House Bill 49 Thursday. It also will allow the state to use the Delaware Unemployment Trust Fund to pay employer shares of that raise, but only for 2023. The rise will …
Del. minimum wage to increase Jan. 1 and not everyone is happy about it
Delaware’s minimum wage will increase to $10.50 per hour Saturday. (Getty Images/Darren415) With Delaware’s minimum wage set to increase from $9.25 per hour to $10.50 per hour beginning Jan. 1, some are still sounding the alarm bell for the impacts such a move will have on small businesses — and consumers, too. The adjustment is the first of four gradual …