ABC 47 | by Camila Fernandez DELMARVA – The staff of the Delaware Public Service Commission and the Division of the Public Advocate are in the final phase of getting a rate reduction of 6.85 million dollars for Delmarva Power customers. According to the Delaware Division of the Public Advocate, the settlement resolves a pending rate increase request from Delmarva that initially included 31 million dollars in costs to be passed on to customers. The petition has been supported by 38 Delaware state legislators led by representatives John Kowalko and […]

The News Journal | by Jeff Neiburg Delmarva Power customers won’t be subject to a rate increase for their electricity after all. In fact, they’ll be paying a little less. The Delaware Public Service Commission and the Division of the Public Advocate executed a settlement Wednesday that will result in a rate reduction of $6.85 million for Delmarva Power customers, Instead of an initial $65, or 4.7 percent, hike proposed for typical Delmarva electric customers, they will see a more than $15 annual decrease in their electric costs, a drop […]

The News Journal | by Scott Gross A proposal to change how the Delaware General Assembly allocates tax dollars has died without a single vote being cast – marking another defeat for Gov. John Carney at the hands of his fellow Democrats. A Constitutional amendment that would force lawmakers to limit spending in good years and save that extra revenue for tight years will not be called up for a vote before the end of the legislative session on Saturday, despite being co-sponsored by half of the state’s lawmakers. “That’s […]

Delaware News | Press Release DOVER – Staff of the Delaware Public Service Commission and the Division of the Public Advocate executed a settlement Wednesday that will result in a rate reduction of $6.85 million for Delmarva Power customers. The settlement resolves a pending rate increase request from Delmarva that initially included $31 million in distribution costs to be passed on to electric consumers. Earlier this year, the Public Service Commission approved a petition from the Public Advocate requesting a reduction in Delmarva rates as a result of savings realized […]

Newark Post | by Randall Chase DOVER – The state House on Wednesday evening rejected a bill that would legalize marijuana for recreational use in Delaware, with the chief sponsor blaming continued opposition from the law enforcement community. The legislation, which included an amendment aimed at addressing concerns of opponents, failed on a 21-15 vote, falling four votes short of the required three-fifths majority. Five lawmakers, all members of the Democratic majority, declined to vote on the measure, ensuring its failure. Among the legislators who represent the Newark area, Paul […]

The News Journal | by Maddy Lauria For more than a decade, a portion of fines levied against Delaware’s worst polluters has been returned to impacted communities through a state grant program that funds projects like the Valley Community Garden in Wilmington’s West Center City. But the fund that supports community gardens, parks, trails and other environmentally minded projects has been dwindling for years, leading to disappointing news for a handful of nonprofits aiming to improve neighborhoods that have been overburdened by pollution. “The applications totaled almost $198,000 and I […]

Delaware State News | by Matt Bittle DOVER — Legislation introduced Thursday, five days ahead of the General Assembly’s return from the annual February break, would prohibit any settlement funds from being allocated by anything less than the full legislature. The bipartisan measure, sponsored by Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, is in response to a 2016 allocation of bank settlement funds approved by the Joint Finance Committee on the recommendation of Attorney General Matt Denn. The Democratic-controlled committee agreed to spend the money on a plan to reduce foreclosures, fix up […]

Bay to Bay News | by Matt Bittle Legislation introduced Thursday, five days ahead of the General Assembly’s return from the annual February break, would prohibit any settlement funds from being allocated by anything less than the full legislature. The bipartisan measure, sponsored by Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, is in response to a 2016 allocation of bank settlement funds approved by the Joint Finance Committee on the recommendation of Attorney General Matt Denn. The Democratic-controlled committee agreed to spend the money on a plan to reduce foreclosures, fix up vacant […]

WHYY | by Cris Barrish A divided Christina school board gave guarded blessings Tuesday night to a plan by the Carney administration to consolidate five of the lowest-performing schools in the state — all of them in Wilmington. The board voted 4-2 with one abstention to close three struggling and under-used Wilmington elementary schools and expand two other schools into buildings serving Kindergartners through eighth graders. Approval of the Memorandum of Understanding with the state unveiled in November paves the way for Stubbs, Elbert-Palmer, and Pulaski schools to shut their […]

The News Journal | by Jessica Bies Plans to close two elementary schools in Wilmington will move forward now that the Christina Board of Education has approved a partnership agreement with Gov. John Carney and the state Education Department. Preliminary timelines call for Pulaski and Elbert-Palmer elementary schools to close after the 2018-19 school year. Bancroft Elementary and Bayard Middle schools will likely house grades 1 through 8, while kindergartners will move to what is currently Stubbs Elementary School. Stubbs is also the likely site of a dual-generation center, which […]