A WGMD Local News Article
Rep. Smyk Co-Sponsor’s HB 109 – A “Budget Stabilization Fund”
State Rep. Steve Smyk is co-sponsoring a new constitutional amendment – House Bill 109 – that would limit state spending and replace the “Rainy Day Fund” with a more robust mechanism to protect Delawareans from the consequences of an economic downturn. The measure would limit the annual growth of state spending, linking it to factors…
Read MorePositive Coronavirus Tests Reach 90,000 in DE; Vaccine Now in Over 329,000 DE Arms
While vaccine is being administered – to now over 329,000 Delawareans, people are still testing positive for coronavirus. Delaware reached the 90,000 mark with an additional 239 positive tests on Friday – 23 of them from Sussex County. The number of hospitalizations remains below 100 – but increased by 6 on Friday to 89 –…
Read MoreVIDEO: Pre-Registration Now Being Taken for Mass Vaccination Sites in Maryland
The State of Maryland has launched a new platform for eligible Marylanders to pre-register to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at one of the state’s mass vaccination sites. Once pre-registered, Marylanders will be notified once an appointment is available, and will be able to verify their pre-registration status and reserve an appointment. Marylanders in Phase 1 eligible populations…
Read MoreCoronavirus Pop-up Testing Sites for Sussex & Kent Counties Next Week
Governor John Carney, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) announced the list of community testing sites throughout Delaware next week. Testing locations listed below include pop-up and Curative trailer sites, as well as community sites hosted by New Castle County and Henrietta Johnson Medical Center. “We need to stay vigilant to prevent…
Read MoreDel. Jury Trials May Resume In June
Jury trials in Delaware may resume in June, as courts prepare to move into Phase Three of reopening. Chief Justice Collins Seitz Junior said Friday that with COVID-19 health metrics improving, the courts hope to resume more normal court operations in June. Courts also plan to schedule vaccination clinics for members of the judiciary and…
Read MoreDel. Opportunity Funding May Become Permanent
The Delaware State Senate has passed legislation that expands and makes permanent the Opportunity Funding program that boosts schools with a high population of students from lower-income families or who are still learning English. Under the two-year-old Opportunity Funding program, schools have been able to offer additional support through individualized coaching and mentoring, or appropriate…
Read MoreDel. Bill Looks To Make Voter Registration Easier
More Delawareans may get registered to vote through the DMV under a bill introduced Thursday in the State Senate. Drivers already have the option when they conduct a transaction with the DMV to register or re-register as voters, but many decline because they are in a rush. Senate Bill 5, sponsored by Senator Kyle Evans…
Read MoreEastern Shore Vaccination Clinic Nears Opening
The Wicomico County Health Department is relocating its vaccination clinic and testing operations, as the State of Maryland prepares to open a mass vaccination clinic serving the Eastern Shore at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center in Salisbury. The local health department will operate vaccination clinics at the Centre of Salisbury at the former Tuesday…
Read More‘Ghost Guns’ Targeted With Del. Legislation
Manufacturing or possessing a ‘ghost gun’ could become a crime in Delaware. Ghost guns are made at home with kits, can be sold by unlicensed dealers and can be purchased without a background check.They have no serial numbers and cannot be traced, and they can often get through metal detectors. House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst,…
Read MoreMd. House Approves Police Reform Package
The Maryland House of Delegates has approved a much-debated package of police reforms which includes limitations on no-knock warrants and addresses other matters of law enforcement conduct. Provisions in the Law Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights would also be curtailed. The amended legislation goes back to the State Senate. The vote of 96-40 came one…
Read MoreDel. Elementary School Students’ Mental Health Addressed With Legislation
The mental health and well-being of Delaware elementary school students is a concern addressed with legislation in the General Assembly. The measure would allow schools to hire counselors, social workers, psychologists or other mental health professionals based on the numbers of students enrolled. House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, is the sponsor of House Bill…
Read MoreUpdate: Missing 83-Year-Old Woman Located
An 83-year-old Salisbury woman who went missing Thursday morning has been located. According to Maryland State Police, Mary Lee Pusey was found safe later in the day.
Read MoreMd. State Police Plan Saturation Patrols
Maryland State Police have advised people who are thinking about celebrating St. Patrick’s Day to not test their luck of the Irish by driving impaired. State Police at the Berlin Barrack said DUI saturation patrols will take place Saturday and Wednesday in partnership with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocean City Police Department.…
Read MoreWhat’s In The $1.9-Trillion COVID Rescue Package?
What is in the $1.9-trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021? Plenty for Delaware, according to Senator Chris Coons. Coons said Wednesday that the measure which received final approval in the House of Representatives will deliver about $1.36-billion to The First State, including $1,400 direct checks to most people. It also supports vaccine distribution, school…
Read MoreDel. Introduces Mobile ID App
The Delaware DMV plans to roll out a digital ID credential through a new app, which will allow licensed drivers and identification card holders to use their smartphones as a form of ID. Motor vehicles officials say Delaware Mobile ID will have security features that will protect against identity theft. Users will also be offered…
Read MoreDel. Releases 5-Year Plan To Address Road Safety
DelDOT has rolled out a five-year Strategic Highway Safety Plan, which seeks to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries on Delaware roadways by 15-percent. Longer-term, DelDOT, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Office of Highway Safety, State Police and federal agencies hope to reduce serious incidents and deaths by 50-percent by 2035.…
Read MoreUpdate: Police ID Victim Of Fatal Motorcycle Crash
Delaware State Police have released the name of a Delmar, Maryland man who died in a motorcycle accident over the weekend. 22-year-old Stewart Northan the Third was pronounced dead at the scene of Sunday’s accident in the area of Allen’s Mill Road and Route 13. An SUV at a stop sign pulled into traffic and…
Read More‘Digital Transparency’ Addressed In Del. Bill
As the Delaware General Assembly continues to meet virtually, two lawmakers are introducing legislation that would require audio and video archives of Senate and House sessions and committee meetings, as well as live streaming. Republican Representatives Bryan Shupe of Milford and Mike Smith of Pike Creek are reviving a House Concurrent Resolution that was introduced…
Read MoreDel. CARES Act Spending Pace Picks Up
Spending of Delaware’s allocation under the federal CARES Act picked up last week. According to the CARES Act Fund Tracker developed by State Auditor Kathy McGuiness, $12-million were spent last week, $10-million which were spent by the Delaware Emergency Management Agency. “The CARES Act resulted in an unprecedented amount of federal funding to our state,”…
Read MoreCape May – Lewes Ferry Contemplates New Vessel
The Delaware River and Bay Authority is working with an engineering firm to review and revise the Cape May – Lewes Ferry’s 13-year-old Master Plan. The project will also result in the design concept for a new vessel for the fleet. The existing ferry vessels will be thoroughly assessed as Seattle-based Elliott Bay Design Group…
Read MoreDelaware Numbers Continue to Trend Lower & Those Fully Vaccinated to See More Freedom
Since mid-January Delaware’s coronavirus numbers have begun to reverse – and on Monday Delaware’s hospitalizations dropped below 100 for the first time since last fall. During this week’s coronavirus update Governor John Carney had good news. Delaware’s coronavirus numbers are trending lower as the number of positive tests are lower and hospitalizations have dropped below…
Read MoreSussex County Council Approve Budget Amendment and Dog Control
The Sussex County Council was back in chambers this week after meeting at Delaware Tech for land use public hearings last week. The council heard a presentation from Atlantic General Hospital CEO, Michael Franklin, VP of Medical Affairs and Family Practitioner Dr. Sally Dowling and Director of Emergency Services, Andrea West-McCabe. The presentation covered how…
Read MoreGovernor Hogan Announces Lifting of Capacity Limits, Masking and Distancing Protocols Maintained
With sustained vaccine progress and significant improvements in all of the state’s key data metrics, Governor Larry Hogan today announced new actions to further ease the COVID-19 mitigation measures currently in place. “With the pace of vaccinations rapidly rising and our health metrics steadily improving, the lifting of these restrictions is a prudent, positive step…
Read MoreTest-Openings Scheduled At Lewes & Rehoboth Drawbridges
Motorists who utilize the Lewes Drawbridge or the Rehoboth Drawbridge should plan for test openings and closings. According to DelDOT, its contractor plans to perform test openings of the drawbridges between 8:00 p.m. Tuesday and 6:00 a.m. Wednesday. The Lewes Drawbridge connects Savannah Road and Anglers Road. The Rehoboth Drawbridge crosses Lewes-Rehoboth Canal on Route…
Read MoreMd. State Employees Could Get $1,000 Bonus
Maryland state employees could get a $1,000 bonus. Governor Larry Hogan has submitted a supplemental budget of $74.1-million for the next fiscal year. If approved by the General Assembly, most employees would get the bonus effective April 14th. University System of Maryland employees would receive the bonus April 21st. “This supplemental budget recognizes the hard…
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