Republicans have held the position of wanting to give Delawareans the choice of having an EV or not. (Photo by sarawuth702/iStock Getty Images)

Senate Republicans back Governor Meyer’s rejection of EV mandate

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

Delaware Senate Republican leaders are applauding Governor Matt Meyer’s recent stance against the state’s controversial electric vehicle (EV) mandate, signaling renewed efforts to block the regulation first introduced under former Governor John Carney. Senate Republican Whip Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, has circulated an updated version of Senate Bill 96, which aims to halt the adoption of the regulation modeled after California’s …

Thomas Berry Sussex Firefighter

Sussex County mourns death of firefighter at crash site

bshupeCulture, Government, Headlines

A Georgetown man who was a firefighter and Sussex County employee was killed Tuesday afternoon after he stopped on his way back to county offices to help at an accident. Thomas Wilson Berry III, 23, died just before 4:30 p.m. at a vehicle crash on U.S. 9/Lewes-Georgetown Highway. Some reports say he was struck and killed, but others said he …

The audit request comes after a series of educator arrests for inappropriate contact with students in recent years. (Photo by bialasiewicz/PhotoDune)

Senator calls for audit of credentials for school counselors

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

One state legislature is looking to bolster the verification process for the credentials of educators. Senate Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, is specifically calling for a comprehensive audit of the credential verification process for child counselors. Among a number of recent arrests due to educators having inappropriate contact with minors, Pettyjohn cited a recent report by WHYY in which a …

DSU's ECIC higher education graduates, from left: Ayesha Jamison, Michelle Spangler, Luz Quiroga, Evelyn Cubbage, Patrice Jones Cornish, Julissa Valerio and ECIC Scholarship Coordinator Jennifer Seo.

DSU’s early ed. center awards 13 degrees, 223 credentials in first year

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

At the conclusion of its first year, a new program at Delaware State University focused on training professionals to serve the state’s youngest learners, graduated 13 people with degrees and gave credentials to hundreds more.  DSU’s Early Childhood Innovation Center aims to empower and cultivate a highly skilled, educated and diverse workforce by providing holistic, comprehensive and evidence-based supports. Its …

If SB 224 becomes law, some employees would be able to have firearms on private school property.

Some private school workers may be allowed to carry guns 

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

Private schools will be exempted from parts of Delaware’s Safe School Zone law, which focuses on who is allowed to have a firearm on campus, under a bill that seems headed to the Senate floor. Senate Bill 224, sponsored by Senate Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, exempts certain employees of a private school from the Safe School Zone law. Only …

School safety, and competing resolutions that would create task forces to improve it, sparked debate in the Senate Tuesday.

2 senators battle over dueling school safety resolutions

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

On the day Gov. John Carney preached the impact of working together in his State of the State address, the Senate watched a tense interaction divided by party lines that one legislator called “childish behavior.” The interaction between Sen. Eric Buckson, R-Dover, and Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark/Glasgow, and their similar education task force resolutions were enough to cause comment from …

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 RutzHeadlines, Government

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 …

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 RutzHeadlines, Government

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 …

The PECC has been working over the past year on recommendations for pay adjustments for Delaware educators.

Educator pay raise proposals to get joint hearing Jan. 11

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Delaware’s General Assembly will have its first public look and discussion about proposed educator pay raise recommendations next week. At 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, the House and Senate education committees will come together to listen to a presentation on the final report from the Public Education Compensation Committee. Watch the meeting here. The 15-person compensation committee – made of …

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School test scores dismal again despite new math, reading plans

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

There was little cheering news Tuesday when Delaware released its 2023 state assessment results. The numbers are still grim, with the majority of students across the board failing to reach proficiency in math and reading.  “I can’t imagine anyone looking at these test results and saying they are good enough,” said Julia Keleher, the new executive director of First State …