The proposed Bill of Rights would help protect and assist the nearly 130,000 student loan borrowers in Delaware. (Photo by designer491/Getty Images)

Student loan borrowers could get Bill of Rights

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

Laws that would establish a Bill of Rights for student loan borrowers and adjust the transfer of leave days for educators garnered support in a Senate Education Committee hearing Wednesday.  Senate Bill 132, sponsored by Sen. Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington, would make Delaware the 19th state to have a Bill of Rights for student loan burrowers.  Of the 18 states who …

The proposed law would place penalties on pornography sites who fail to conduct a required age verification.

Committee wrestles with porn site content sent to minors

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

The discussion in a House committee Tuesday got testy in response to a bill that would hold porn websites liable for showing graphic content to minors. “You’re getting a little snippy, and I’m trying to support your legislation, but I can stop…would you prefer that?” said Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, D-Newark, after asking a series of clarifying questions to Rep. Mike …

Milford's literacy plan is focused on four main goals.

Milford school leaders encouraged by district literacy plan

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

Officials in the Milford School District answered questions and gave updates Monday night about the progress of the district’s literacy plan. Kelly Carvajal Hageman, Milford’s chief academic officer, pointed out in the district’s monthly board meeting that Gov. John Carney and Education Secretary Mark Holodick have urged the state in the past two years to focus on literacy. A 2022 …

Governor John Carney's State of the State Address has been moved to March 5 at 2 p.m.

Carney’s State of the State address rescheduled for March 5

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

The annual State of the State Address has been rescheduled after Gov. John Carney had to cancel last week’s originally planned event due to illness. Carney now will deliver his 2024 address from the House of Representatives Chamber in Legislative Hall on Tuesday, March 5, at 2 p.m. The event will be livestreamed on de.gov/sots and on the governor’s YouTube …

The assessment tool will help gauge the health and safety of school facilities.

State releases online tool to help schools evaluate facilities

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

The Delaware Department of Education released a new tool to establish an evaluation and assessment system to determine whether a school facility is in good repair.  The facility assessment tool will help school districts review and assess conditions in a standardized way.  Structured like a rubric, the assessments will help identify areas in need of attention, so school facilities are …

80,000 children in Delaware are expected to take advantage of the federal allocations for food.

Delaware part of national pilot of summer food stamps program

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

About 80,000 Delaware children are eligible to receive $120 extra in federal food benefits this summer to replace free lunches at school. Students who will get the benefit must come from families who are already qualified for the benefits, or meet income guidelines and qualify before summer.  The state’s cost for the program will be about $1.5 million to administer, …

Gov. Carney's State of the State address will be rescheduled to a later date.

Carney’s illness delays State of the State Address

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

The annual State of the State Address from Delaware Governor John Carney has been postponed. Thursday’s 2 p.m. meeting is cancelled due to Carney being sick. A statement from the Governor’s Office says that Carney “has a fever and mild symptoms, but is in good spirits.” The address will be rescheduled at a later date, to be determined. 2023 Address: …

Proposed bills would create funding for school athletic trainers and allow students to participate in extracurriculars even with lunch debt. (Photo courtesy of Nick Halliday)

Law would create funding for every school to have athletic trainer

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

Extracurriculars ruled the day in Wednesday’s House Education Committee meeting.  House Bill 244, sponsored by Rep. Mike Smith, R-Pike Creek, would provide funding for every public high school in the state to have a full-time athletic trainer. The funding would be phased over the next three fiscal years. Both the state and local districts would allocate money for the athletic …

The proposed bill would adjust how the pensions are calculated in the county and municipal police and firefighter pension plan.

Financial burdens cause opposition to pension bill

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

A bill that would adjust the pension calculations for Delaware’s police officers and firefighters faced opposition from those very groups in Wednesday’s House Judiciary Committee meeting. House Bill 266, sponsored by Rep. Cyndie Romer, D-Newark, would add wages earned as a result of required additional work hours to the definition of “compensation” for purposes of calculating pensions in the county …

Rep. Mike Smith's bill would establish the Office of Legislative Ethics for the General Assembly.

Republicans push bill to allow Delawareans to file ethics complaints

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

A proposed law that intends to hold state legislators accountable for unethical behavior was showcased in the second of a series of press conferences each Wednesday by the Republican Party. House Bill 261, sponsored by Rep. Mike Smith, R-Pike Creek, would establish the Office of Legislative Ethics for the General Assembly to ensure that valid allegations of wrongdoing by state …