A WGMD Local News Article
Fire causes heavy damage to Bridgeville home
The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fire that heavily damaged a home in Bridgeville. The blaze broke out around 2 am, Thursday in the 10000 block of Seashore Highway near Cannon Road. The Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Company was first to the scene and was assisted by other fire companies in the area.…
Read MoreDelaware Senate passes bill allowing dogs on outdoor restaurant patios
Senate lawmakers passed a bill Thursday allowing restaurant owners to permit leashed dogs on their outdoor patios and in beer gardens after a controversial stance from the Division of Public Health (DPH) stated otherwise. Passed by the House unanimously earlier this month, the bill now heads to Governor Carney for his signature. The legislation was…
Read MoreOcean City assesses impact of minimum wage increase
The Ocean City Human Resource Director and Budget Manager gave a presentation on Maryland’s recently enacted legislation that increased Minimum Wage to $11 this year and will continue to raise it to $15 an hour by 2024. The presentation covered the impact of the cost to the City and the proposed adjusted pay grade scale…
Read MoreLt. Governor releases report on 3-year action plan for Behavioral Health Consortium
Lt. Governor Hall-Long, along with members of Delaware’s Behavioral Health Consortium, community advocates, and elected officials released the updated progress report for the three-year action plan to help tackle Delaware’s addiction treatment system and mental health services in the state. After holding community forums throughout Delaware, the Behavioral Health Consortium released a three-year action plan…
Read MoreDUI enforcement ramped up ahead of Super Bowl Sunday in Salisbury
Maryland State Police in Salisbury are encouraging all football fans to celebrate Super Bowl LIV responsibly by not driving impaired, or letting other fans get behind the wheel when they should not. In an effort to flag impaired driving, Maryland State Police will increase patrols on Super Bowl Sunday, adding additional troopers to look for…
Read MoreGOP lawmakers want to reinstate the death penalty in Delaware
Republican State lawmakers want to move ahead with legislation to reinstate the death penalty in Delaware. The Egregious Crimes Accountability Act limits the aggravating circumstances attached to a murder to four categories where prosecutors could consider capital punishment, including mass murder, repeat offenders previously convicted of murder, horribly inhumane and hate crimes. In January 2016,…
Read MoreSenate Republican Caucus Speaks on Unionization Talk
On January 14th, the day that the 150th Delaware General Assembly session began, a press release was circulated about legislative employees looking to form a union. WGMD released a statement from the Republican Caucus of both the House and Senate which said their staffs had only learned of the Unionization plan that day and there…
Read MoreBoy attacked, seriously injured by pack of dogs in Dover
A boy was seriously injured in Dover after he was brutally attacked by a pack of dogs on Tuesday. Officers arrived and located a severely injured 12-year-old boy while the dogs remained at large in the area. A Dover officer fired shots at the dogs due to their continued aggressive behavior but did not strike…
Read MoreMD Gov Hogan Announces All Lanes of Bay Bridge Will Be OPEN this Summer
Governor Larry Hogan today announced that all lanes at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge will be open this summer as deck work on the westbound right lane is completed a year ahead of schedule and all-electronic tolling goes live. The governor was joined by Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Executive Director James F. Ports, Jr. and MDTA…
Read MoreUPDATED: Sussex County Council Names Jamie Whitehouse Acting Director of P&Z
Today’s Sussex County Council meeting was short on agenda topics but long on content. The Council heard from Delaware Electric Cooperative President and CEO, Bill Andrew, who came bearing a check for the County. DEC has recently retired capital credits from 2008. That resulted in an over $18,000 check to the County. A public hearing…
Read MoreMarylander being tested for coronavirus
A Maryland resident is currently being tested for coronavirus. The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) is reporting that a Maryland resident met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria for testing of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The person is currently in good condition and is being monitored while awaiting test results, to…
Read MoreSussex County Council to Hold Public Hearing on MOU Between Sussex County & DelDOT
The Sussex County Council will meet Tuesday morning in Georgetown. The Council will hear a presentation by Delaware Electric Cooperative President & CEO, Bill Andrew. Then at 10:30, the Council will hold a public hearing on a proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the County and DelDOT regarding the process of land use applications. The current…
Read MoreUPDATED: Lewes Drawbridge Closes Thursday for 2 Weeks
UPDATED 1-27-20 – The drawbridge in Lewes over the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal on Savannah Road will close Thursday, January 30th for two weeks of repair work. DelDOT officials say the work needed requires the full closure of the span – detours will be set up for drivers. For pedestrians a shuttle service will be available –…
Read MoreMD Senator Carozza in Support of Balloon Release Ban Measure
Last week, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce heard from a bipartisan Senate Small Business Workgroup, which includes Senator Mary Beth Carozza, who has two small business initiatives included in package that was presented. Those initiatives would expand the agricultural exemption in the minimum wage law to include farmers markets and produce stands – and to…
Read MoreDr. Wilma Mishoe a DSU Trustee Again
A familiar face has returned to the Delaware State University Board of Trustees. Last week, former University President, Dr. Wilma Mishoe was sworn in during the board’s regular public meeting. Mishoe retired as the University President at the end of last year. When Mishoe was named University President, the Board of Trustees left her seat…
Read MoreDE Flu Deaths Now Total 4
Delaware Public Health officials report two more flu deaths in the First State – bringing the total number to four this season. Both deaths were in New Castle County – a 29 year old man diagnosed with influenza B and a 65 year old woman with influenza A who passed due to complications from the…
Read MorePublic Comments on Off-shore Wind Turbines off MD & DE Coast Still being Taken
A week ago, Ocean City and area residents packed the Roland E. Powell Convention Center for a public meeting on the offshore wind turbines planned for off the coast. While many support clean, renewable energy – they don’t want the turbines to be seen from the beach – and this is for both Maryland and…
Read MoreDE Unemployment Up for December – Lower for 2019
Delaware’s unemployment rate continues to inch up. Unemployment in Delaware in December increased to 3.9% from 3.8% in November. In Sussex County, unemployment also increased from 3.9% to 4.0%. However for all of 2019 the state’s unemployment rate averaged 3.5% – which is the lowest average annual rate since 2007. CLICK HERE FOR THE DECEMBER…
Read MoreHouse Republican leaders react to Governor’s State of the State Address
CLICK FOR GOVERNOR CARNEY’S STATE OF THE STATE VIDEO Governor John Carney delivered his annual State of the State Address to a joint session of the General Assembly in the House of Representatives Thursday afternoon. The State of the State broadly outlined the Carney Administration’s accomplishments thus far, and provided a peek at the governor’s…
Read MoreCarper calls for witnesses in impeachment trial to sway Republicans
Entering the third day of the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump, Delaware’s Senior U.S. Senator Tom Carper is continuing to call for witnesses. Speaking to PBS Newshour, Senator Carper said his hope is that to hear from witnesses during the trial would sway some of his Republican colleagues. “If there’s a juror, there’s a…
Read MoreDEC and Constellation Complete Expansion of Sussex County Solar Farm
Delaware Electric Cooperative and Constellation have completed work to nearly double the size of the Co-op’s Bruce A. Henry Solar Farm in Sussex County. Seventeen acres of new solar panels began producing clean, renewable energy for DEC members in early January. Constellation, an Exelon company, built the 4.2 MW addition to the Cooperative’s Sussex County…
Read MoreDelaware bill would attract new primary care doctors to the state
Delaware lawmakers are hopeful that a bill to provide a Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program will attract more primary care physicians to the state. House Bill 257, a bipartisan led effort, would help pay off student loan debt for new primary care physicians who practice in the state of Delaware. Over the course of…
Read MoreCoons concerned, disappointed in Republicans over impeachment trial rules
The rules for the Senate impeachment trial are set and Delaware’s U.S. Senator Chris Coons is concerned, expressing disappointment in his Republican colleagues who he suggested would rather have a coverup than a fair trial. “I’ve been deeply disappointed in my Republican colleagues who are voting in lockstep and straight party-line votes not to accept…
Read MoreGovernor Carney, lawmakers announce major investments in clean water
Governor John Carney was joined by lawmakers on Tuesday to announce new investments in clean water across the state of Delaware. The Clean Water for Delaware Act — sponsored by Representative Longhurst and Senator McBride — will create a Delaware Clean Water Trust to help rebuild Delaware’s drinking water infrastructure, prevent flooding in vulnerable communities,…
Read MoreLa Quetzalteca restaurant in Georgetown closed for roaches, rodent droppings, and other food safety hazards
La Quetzalteca restaurant in Georgetown has been closed for gross unsanitary conditions following a complaint that led to the discovery of roaches, large rodent droppings, and numerous food safety hazards. Following a complaint, inspectors with the Delaware Division of Public Health’s Office of Food Protection ordered the immediate closure of the restaurant last week after…
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