Del. Redistricting Heads Down The Home Stretch

The complicated task of redrawing legislative districts every ten years following the U.S. Census is nearing its close in Delaware. The State Senate and the State House are meeting today (Monday) in a special session devoted to redistricting. The Senate is scheduled to go into session at noon, and the House would follow at 2:00…

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Juneteenth Becomes An Official Delaware State Holiday

Legislation to designate June 19th as an official state Juneteenth holiday was signed Wednesday by Governor John Carney (photo courtesy of Delaware House Democratic Caucus)

Juneteenth is now an official state holiday in Delaware. Governor John Carney signed legislation Wednesday (House Bill 119) to establish June 19th as a legal holiday. It commemorates when the last enslaved African Americans were informed that they were free people on June 19th, 1865. “I believe the least that each of us can do…

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Del. Offers Tuition Waiver Program For Foster Students

Gov. John Carney signed a tuition waiver program that helps foster children Thursday (photo courtesy of Gov. John Carney's office)

Young people who age out of foster care may qualify for a tuition waiver at Delaware public universities and colleges. Governor John Carney signed legislation Thursday (House Bill 123) to create the program, which also waives room and board costs for students in foster care who pursue higher education at the University of Delaware, Delaware…

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Vax / Test Requirement For Del. Educators Formalized

An emergency regulation has been formally issued that requires Delaware educators, school staff, volunteers and contractors that work in Delaware schools to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing. Governor John Carney announced the requirement earlier this month. To read the emergency DHSS regulation, please CLICK HERE “There’s no better way to prevent the…

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Gov. Carney Submits Nomination For New Secretary Of Education

DE Dept of Education

Governor John Carney has nominated a former superintendent of the Brandywine School District to become Delaware’s next Secretary of Education. If confirmed by the State Senate, Dr. Mark Holodick would replace Dr. Susan Bunting. Bunting was superintendent of the Indian River School District before joining the Carney administration in 2017. She plans to step down…

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Mixed Results in Del. Cancer Mortality Study

Delaware is making some progress in reducing cancer mortality, but the state holds the 15th-highest rating for cancer mortality in the time frame of 2013-2017, unchanged from 2012-2016. The Division of Public Health presented its data report to the Delaware Cancer Consortium Monday. To read the report, please CLICK HERE Findings are mixed, but Health…

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ARPA Funds Available To Boost Del. Nonprofits

Governor John Carney announced a state investment of $110-million into broadband access, using federal rescue dollars (photo from Bridgeville, courtesy of Governor John Carney's Office)

Delaware non-profits will be able to apply for one-time funding to support major capital projects in communities that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Community Investment Recovery Fund is supported with $100-million dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act.Governor John Carney said Thursday that this will help community centers and other non-profits…

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

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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Del. To Invest $50-Million Into Job Training, Workforce Development

Governor John Carney gathered with students and others at Delaware Tech in Wilmington, where a $50-million ARPA job training investment was announced. (photo courtesy of Governor Carney's office)

Job training and workforce development in Delaware will get a $50-million investment, using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. The state’s Pathways program that allows students to gain real-world work experience while in school will grow through a $15.8-million public-and-private expansion. Also, the Forward-Delaware jobs-training program will continue to provide students with work experience…

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Del. Job-Bound High School Grads May Get Tuition Assistance

Delawareans who have obtained a high school diploma or GED who enrolled in an approved, non-degree credit certificate program could qualify for tuition assistance. Governor John Carney Thursday signed legislation to establish the FAST program -Focus on Alternative Skills Training.Senate Substitute 1 to Senate Bill 65 extends eligibility to 24 months after someone graduates from…

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Carney Announces Vax-or-Test Requirement For Educators, School Staff, Contractors And Volunteers

Delaware Governor John Carney, the Division of Public Health and the Department of Education Tuesday announced a COVID-19 vaccination requirement applying to educators, school staff, contractors and volunteers in K-12 public and private schools: get the vaccination or undergo weekly testing. The requirement will take effect November 1st and will be formally issued by emergency…

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Del. HR Secretary Resigns, Joins CR School District

Delaware’s Secretary of Human Resources is departing for a position with the Caesar Rodney School District in Kent County. Amy Bonner is being praised by Governor John Carney for her long record of distinguished service in state government and for helping the state through unprecedented state workforce challenges through the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Jessilene Corbett,…

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Del. Public Health Emergency Order Formally Extended

Governor John Carney Wednesday formally extended Delaware’s COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order for another 30 days. The extension allows the State of Delaware and medical providers to continue with COVID-19 vaccination and testing programs. Public Health Emergency declarations must be extended every 30 days under state law. “Getting all Delaware students back in the classroom…

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President Biden and State Officials on the Terrorist Attack in Kabul

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION As a mark of respect for the U.S. service members and other victims killed in the terrorist attack on August 26, 2021, in Kabul, Afghanistan, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States…

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Del. Expands Mental Health Services In Elementary Schools

Delaware elementary schools will be able to significantly expand mental health services. Legislation signed by Governor John Carney Thursday (House Bill 100) establishes a mental health services unit for elementary schools, allowing them to hire more full-time counselors or social workers. $8-million was included in the Fiscal Year 2022 Delaware budget to support additional mental…

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More Del. Small Business EDGE Awards Presented

15 Delaware companies have received grants in the third round of the Division of Small Business EDGE program, or Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion. The honors were presented Wednesday by Governor John Carney and Division Director Jordan Schulties at a Smyrna Distillery. STEM and non-STEM related businesses and entrepreneurs were eligible. “We need to make…

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Gov. Carney Announces School Mask Requirement

Delaware students in grades k-through 12, and child care homes and centers will be required to wear a face covering while indoors starting next Monday. Governor John Carney said Tuesday that the mask requirement is for everyone and is regardless of vaccination status and covers public and private schools. The requirement will be formalized later…

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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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Gov Carney, DPH & DEMA Updating Coronavirus Testing and Vaccination Programs

Governor John Carney, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) are providing updates to Delaware’s COVID-19 testing program.  COVID-19 vaccines are effective against severe disease and death from variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 currently circulating in the United States, including the Delta variant. Infections happen in only a…

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VIDEO | Gov. Carney Touts Job Potential Of New Legislation

Gov. Carney discusses site readiness legislation during a visit to a Middletown brewery Tuesday (photo courtesy of Gov. Carney's office)

Delaware will establish a ‘site readiness fund’ that Governor John Carney said will help create jobs and lead to economic growth. Carney signed legislation (Senate Bill 127) Tuesday at a Middletown brewery that provides grants, loans or other economic support to businesses that plan to build, renovate or improve infrastructure to attract new businesses or…

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