Rep. Valerie Jones Giltner

Giltner sworn in as sole Republican woman in Assembly

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

Safety and security on many fronts will be some of the main issues that Valerie Jones Giltner, R-Georgetown, will be paying attention to during her first session of the Delaware General Assembly. Giltner, who was sworn in Tuesday as the Delaware General Assembly’s sole Republican woman, won a special election in December to replace Ruth Briggs King. She resigned before …

Valerie Jones Giltner GOP candidate District 37

A new Republican woman returns to 37th District House seat

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

Thursday’s election to replace Representative Ruth Briggs King – the only Republican woman in the Delaware General Assembly – and fill the seat of the 37th district, has been decided. Republican Valerie Jones Giltner has defeated Democrat Jane Hovington Here are the results: Republican Valerie Jones Giltner defeats Democrat Jane Hovington to replace (R.) Ruth Briggs King’s vacant 37th seat, …

Georgetown Elementary School is one of the four schools in Indian River School District to be used as a polling place.

Indian River schools closed for special election; 4 poll sites

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Indian River School District, in the heart of Delaware’s 37th House District, will be closed for a special election in a few weeks. The district announced the closures Tuesday, citing that Delaware law requires public schools to be closed if they are being utilized as polling places for state elections.  Last week, Rep. Ruth Briggs King, a Republican representing the …

Valerie Jones Giltner GOP candidate District 37

Retired nurse Valerie Jones Giltner to run in House District 37

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

A Sussex County retired nurse will run for the Delaware House of Representatives District 37 seat vacated last week by the General Assembly’s only Republican woman. Valerie Jones Giltner, who will run as a Republican, said she plans to continue the work of former Rep. Ruth Briggs King, who resigned because she was moving into a new house that was …

Special election District 37

Special election to replace Ruth Briggs King will be Dec. 21

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

A special election to fill the now-vacant 37th Delaware House of Republicans seat in will take place Dec. 21. The seat represents Georgetown and Millsboro in Sussex County. The former occupant of that seat, former Rep. Ruth Briggs King, resigned last week after receiving a certificate of occupancy for a house she was building just over the district line. Briggs …

Ruth Briggs King

Ruth Briggs King, only Republican woman in General Assembly, resigns

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

The only Republican woman in Delaware’s General Assembly announced her resignation Wednesday morning. Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown/Millsboro, said she was moving out of her district just over the line into another one, after serving for 14 years. “To many, this is no surprise since I have been candid and open about the impending changes,” she said in a statement. …

guaranteed income Melissa Minor-Brown pregnant

Task force: Expand program giving pregnant women $1,000 a month

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

  A  pilot program that gave 40 pregnant New Castle County women $1,000 a month for 24 months had greater than expected health and other benefits, the sponsors said. The program saw a 324% return on investment, organizers said at a press conference announced the result. Among its outcomes: $229,520 in reduced hospital stays $21,600 in reduced emergency department visits …

Delaware's 2023 state test scores were again disappointing to many.

School test scores dismal again despite new math, reading plans

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

There was little cheering news Tuesday when Delaware released its 2023 state assessment results. The numbers are still grim, with the majority of students across the board failing to reach proficiency in math and reading.  “I can’t imagine anyone looking at these test results and saying they are good enough,” said Julia Keleher, the new executive director of First State …

House session

Climate bill passes House after vote on two amendments

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

Rep. Rich Collins on Tuesday begged House Democrats to join him in opposing a bill that set greenhouse gas emission limits in Delaware. “I have begged you to stand up one time and not just take this direction that apparently is so overwhelmingly powerful in this chamber,” the Millsboro Republican said. “And I know I’ve lost. I tell you it’s …

A proposed bill would task schools with teaching financial literacy.

State Rep: We must teach financial literacy in school

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A Republican legislature has made it his mission to educate Delaware’s youth on finances.  Rep. Jeff Hilovsky, R-Millsboro, has proposed a bill that would require public schools to teach financial literacy, which is essentially how to make smart decisions about money. “I’ve kind of taken this on as a badge of honor,” he said. Hilovsky said he has noticed his …