WDEL | by Mark Fowser Three Delaware lawmakers – with the backing of the President of the NAACP Delaware State Conference – are seeking a legal opinion on legislation that addresses the enrollment process of charter schools. A house substitute for a bill that passed last Thursday in the House of Representatives would allow charter schools to give preference for students in a portion of a school district that’s geographically contiguous to the charter school. It would eliminate the five-mile radius preference charter schools had been granted. Critics say the […]

Delaware Public Media | by James Dawson Charter schools may soon no longer be able to use a five-mile radius surrounding the location as a screening tool for their student body. Instead, a charter would be able to use the school district in which it resides as an enrollment preference. But the bill explicitly excludes the part of the Christina School District within the city of Wilmington, which critics say lets Newark Charter continue to duck enrolling poor, minority students. Rep. Stephanie T. Bolden (D-Wilmington East) called it simply discriminatory during […]

Delaware Public Media | by James Dawson Gov. John Carney is ready to hand Delaware’s Economic Development Office a pink slip. Carney’s proposal would trade in parts of the 36-year-old DEDO for a public-private partnership. It would be made up of a 15-member board filled with business leaders, nonprofit heads and university researchers. “The heart of it is going to be in an innovation, entrepreneurial, startup economy so we need a more entrepreneurial approach to compete, in my view, and in the view of a lot of the business leaders in […]

Delaware State News | by Matt Bittle DOVER — With 47 days left before the fiscal year ends, the General Assembly still has a way to go to erase a gap of nearly $400 million between projected revenue and spending. Lawmakers recently took another step toward solving the problem by introducing legislation raising the corporate franchise tax, but the legislature still has hurdles to overcome before it can balance the budget. The franchise tax measure, which has bipartisan support, is a key part of Gov. John Carney’s budget proposal, bringing […]

Newsworks | by Zoë Read Delaware took another step toward becoming the ninth state to approve recreational marijuana up to an ounce for those over 21. The General Assembly’s House Revenue and Finance Committee voted 10-2 Wednesday to release legislation to legalize recreational cannabis. However, it could take much longer to get a full House vote, as the bill’s sponsors work to improve the legislation over the next several weeks. “I want to get as many people at the table so we’re not going back and piece-mealing changes to the […]

Newsworks | by Zoë Read Delaware is on its way to restoring the death penalty after the state’s high court ruled it unconstitutional last year. The House voted 24-16 Tuesday to reinstate capital punishment. The legislation must now pass in the Senate before it hits Gov. John Carney’s desk. Last year, Delaware’s Supreme Court declared the death penalty unconstitutional because it leaves the final sentencing decision to a judge and not a jury. The measure sponsored by Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton, calls for a unanimous jury decision, and a judge’s […]

The News Journal | by Matthew Albright Despite the impassioned pleas of several of its members, the House of Representatives passed legislation Tuesday that would bring the death penalty back to Delaware. The bill now heads to the Senate, where supporters of capital punishment face a tougher vote. And it remains uncertain whether Gov. John Carney would sign or veto it. The House voted 24-16 to pass the Extreme Crimes Protection Act, which requires that juries unanimously agree that aggravating circumstances in a murder merit a death sentence. The bill’s […]

WDEL | by Staff Writer A bill regarding the reinstatement of the death penalty in Delaware passed the state House Tuesday by a vote of 24 to 16. There was one absent vote May 9, 2017. The bill exited the House Judiciary Committee on May 3 by a vote of 7 to 4. “Keeping people safe is not the same as ensuring that our laws provide an avenue to satisfy the appetite for vengeance,” said Representative John Kowalko (D-Newark). Some critics of the bill have said House Republicans are wrongfully […]

WDEL | by Joe Izizarry The death penalty bill voted out of committee yesterday is on today’s House Agenda. “An irresponsible move by leadership by Pete Schwartzkopf putting that on the agenda with little to no notice to the general public,” said Representative John Kowalko. “It is an important issue.” Representative would rather see another week before the legislation goes to the full House. He accuses leadership of trying to take advantage of Corporal Stephen Ballard’s killing to try and fast track this bill. Another reason Kowalko would like to […]

WDEL | by Joe Izizarry Two lawmakers agree with many educators that the Governor John Carney’s budget hits education too hard. Representative J.J. Johnson would like to see the issue with Wilmington schools be resolved. “This latest proposal with WEIC was the best,” said Johnson. “I’m very disappointed that the state can not set aside money to address it.” Representative John Kowalko is also disappointed WEIC isn’t part of Carney’s budget, and he added if any cuts should be made to education, they should be at the State level. Secretary […]