9 Indicted In Takedown Of Eastern Shore Drug Ring

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A ‘significant’ drug trafficking organization on the Eastern Shore has been broken up following an investigation lasting several months, which has led to the indictments of nine people.According to Maryland State Police, the Caroline County Drug Task Force began investigating distribution of large amounts of cocaine, opioids, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamines in Caroline and Dorchester…

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H5N1 Avian Influenza Detected At Kent Co. Broiler Operation

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A case of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been confirmed in a Kent County commercial broiler farm.This is the first confirmed case in central Delaware, following earlier positive test results in New Castle County, Queen Anne’s County and Cecil County.Testing activity has increased since the recent discoveries and poultry farmers and growers have been…

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Del. COVID-19 State of Emergency Revised, Extended

Delaware Governor John Carney has formally extended the COVID-19 State of Emergency, as required for it to remain in effect for another 30 days. The State of Emergency was implemented January 3rd to allow for members of the Delaware National Guard to be trained as Certified Nursing Assistants and to grant Delaware Public Health some…

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Del. Recreational Marijuana Bill Clears House Committee

A state House committee has cleared legislation that would allow adults in Delaware to legally use marijuana for recreational purposes, while setting up a legal framework to regulate cultivation, sale and possession of marijuana. “Today, we heard from numerous members of the public – advocates, veterans, retired law enforcement officers, educators and even faith leaders…

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Del. Auditor Announces Creation Of National Unemployment Insurance Audit Template

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Early in the pandemic, when jobs were lost by the millions and unemployment benefits were enhanced, the door to potential fraud was opened. Now, a group of state auditors, including Delaware’s Kathy McGuiness, want to determine the extent of the problem and develop proposed solutions. McGuiness recently told WGMD News that a national unemployment insurance…

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Del. Lawmakers Consider Constitutional Carry Proposal

A Delaware legislative committee has heard testimony on a proposal to eliminate the requirement of a concealed carry permit for someone 21 years of age or older and not prohibited from having a firearm. State Senator David Lawson, R-Marydel said 20 states have similar provisions, which he says help law-abiding citizens carry a firearm for…

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BREAKING: Gov Carney Revises SOE to Include Indoor Mask Requirements Beginning Tuesday at 8am

Governor John Carney on Monday signed a revision to the State of Emergency declaration, requiring Delawareans to wear masks in indoor public settings, including convenience stores, grocery stores, gyms, restaurants, bars, hair salons, malls, and casinos. The mask requirement takes effect at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 11. Also on Monday, Governor Carney announced plans to extend the school and child care…

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More Hunting, Trapping Seasons Open In Del. This Month

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December brings more opportunities for hunting and trapping seasons in The First State. The state’s third duck hunting season starts Friday and lasts through January 31st. Antlerless deer may be hunted between Saturday December 11th and Sunday December 19th. Hunters are encouraged to harvest does to help manage the size of Delaware’s deer population. The…

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Gov Carney Extends Public Health Emergency Order Another 30 Days

Governor John Carney on Friday formally extended the Public Health Emergency order another 30 days to allow the State of Delaware and medical providers to continue COVID-19 vaccination and testing programs, and issued the following statement:  “There’s no better way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 than getting vaccinated,” said Governor Carney. “Children ages 5 and older are now eligible…

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Delaware Must Now Dial 10 Digits for Local Calls

Federal communications officials are reminding all Delawareans that they will need to dial the area code and 7-digit phone number on local calls starting this Sunday, October 24.  The change is due to a decision made by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) last summer when the agency adopted rules to establish 9-8-8 as the new, nationwide phone number…

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Bridgeville Junior Appointed to State BOE

Governor John Carney on Friday announced he has appointed a high school junior from Bridgeville to serve on the State Board of Education. Shelby Farris, a former Woodbridge High School student who now attends Positive Outcomes Charter School, will join the board for its November meeting and serve through the end of the 2021-2022 school…

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DE Redistricting Public Hearings Next Week

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The General Assembly will host public hearings later this month to allow residents to comment on its proposed legislative redistricting maps. The House will host a hybrid hearing on Monday, October 18. The Senate will host a virtual hearing on Tuesday, October 19, and an in-person hearing at Legislative Hall on Thursday, October 21. All…

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Gov. Carney Extends Del. Public Health Emergency For 30 Days

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Delaware’s Public Health Emergency Order has been extended another 30 days. Governor John Carney took the action Thursday. It allows the State of Delaware and medical providers to continue COVID-19 vaccination and testing programs. State law requires that the Public Health Emergency be renewed every 30 days to remain in effect. “There’s no better way…

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VIRTUAL DE Redistricting Public Hearing Tonight at 6pm

A reminder – there is a public hearing on redistricting this evening beginning at 6pm. Redistricting is the process of drawing new district boundaries for congressional, legislative and state school board districts based on each State’s resident population. Every ten years, the Delaware State Legislature redraws district boundaries based on the results of the most recent…

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DE Vaccine Providers Can Begin Pfizer Booster Vaccines for Certain Populations

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) today announced that the state’s vaccine providers can begin administering booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to certain populations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) formally voted to expand the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to…

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Delaware Seeing Increased West Nile Virus Activity

An increase in mosquito-transmitted West Nile Virus (WNV) activity is occurring in many areas in Delaware as indicated in sentinel chickens used by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to monitor for certain mosquito-transmitted diseases. Twenty sentinel chicken stations are sampled weekly throughout the state each summer and fall to help track WNV and…

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DE House Ethics Committee Dismisses Ethics Compliant Against Rep. Gerald Brady

The House Ethics Committee announced Monday that it has dismissed an ethics complaint filed against Rep. Gerald Brady.  The complaint, filed last month, called into question an email Rep. Brady sent using his state email that used racist and sexist terms to discuss human trafficking. The email was publicized through the media and condemned by numerous…

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Delaware Redistricting Process to Begin-Public Input Will be Taken As Well

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As the Delaware General Assembly begins its constitutionally mandated redrawing of legislative districts, legislative leaders on Friday announced multiple ways for the public to view the available data and participate in the redistricting process. Every 10 years, states must redraw their legislative districts based on the most recent federal Census data. This process, known as…

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Delaware’s Coronavirus Numbers Going Up

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While the week began with Delaware’s coronavirus new positive test numbers falling – Tuesday and Wednesday they again increased from 196 on Monday to 437 on Wednesday. The bulk of the positive tests are in New Castle County – and Sussex County dropped 2 to 111. Hospitalizations have again gone over 200 – the last…

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Carper Highlights Infrastructure Bill’s Clean Water Provisions

Photo courtesy of Sen. Tom Carper (Twitter account)
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Passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 could result in cleaner water in Delaware, according to Senator Tom Carper. Carper visited the Kent County Wastewater Facility in Milford Friday, saying that the bipartisan legislation will provide funding to update drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. Communities and water system operators would have access…

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Del. Vaccine Policy Announced For State Employees, Long-Term Care Staff

The following news release was issued by the office of Delaware Governor John Carney Thursday: Governor Carney and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) on Thursday announced that ​beginning on September 30, staff in long-term care and other health care facilities will be required to provide proof of vaccination or to undergo regular testing to prevent the transmission of…

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VIDEO | Sussex COVID Case, Vax Rates Draw Concern

The Delta variant is driving up COVID-19 case numbers in Delaware, and hospitalizations have been going up recently as well. Governor John Carney and Delaware Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay outlined the current situation facing The First State in a virtual presentation Thursday. Rattay said several ZIP Codes in western Sussex County are being…

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