Delaware

Delaware lawmakers consider new bill for probation reform – 47abc

Published

2 years ago

June 8, 2024

Delaware lawmakers consider new bill for probation reform – 47abc

DELAWARE – Delaware lawmakers are considering a new bill that would make changes to the state’s current probation system. It would direct courts and the Bureau of Community Corrections to use the least restrictive probation conditions to achieve proper community supervision.

Senate Substitute 3 for Senate Bill 4 has been in the works for a long time now. It’s been three years of writing, re-writing, and compromise–but finally, it’s ready to see the senate floor.

“You know, we pride ourselves on being the first state, and I think we need to take ownership of what that means, being the first to do things and being unique in how we do things,” said Delaware State Senator Marie Pinkney, the primary sponsor of the bill. She said its well past time for Delaware to update its probation system.

“I get a lot of outreach from people who are either in prison, people who are on probation, or their loved ones talking about the difficulties that they have had with probation. [They feel] like probation has got them caught up in kind of like a ‘gotcha.’”

In its current form, the bill focuses on making sure additional conditions and programs that probationers have to comply with are actually relevant —
rather than extraneous or overly burdensome for the individual: “It’s focused on making sure that whatever additional conditions someone gets tasked with are related to their criminogenic needs…related to the crime they committed, or why they may have committed a crime”

The bill would also strike from Delaware code a clause that makes it more difficult for someone on probation to obtain a marriage license. Senator Pinkney said that their initial goal in this reform was much more ambitious, trying to limit the rates of re-incarceration for those on probation. But some community stakeholders–like victims of domestic violence–feared that it would put them in danger: “There were some who felt like there wasn’t going to be enough protection for victims if we were not able to utilize reincarceration for violations of probation.”

After 3 years of conversations and compromise, Senator Pinkney thinks that this bill is a strong start for probation reform, but she still feels that there’s work to do, saying, “We are definitely not done with probation. We’re going to continue to look at how we address the use of reincarceration moving forward.”

Along with the bill, there is also Concurrent Resolution 175, which would establish the Probation System Task Force, comprised of lawmakers and other stakeholders, who would recommend additional reforms to the general assembly in July of next year.

In a statement to WMDT, the Delaware Department of Correction said:

“Over the past year, the Delaware Department of Correction has worked in good faith and in a spirit of collaboration to actively engage with legislators who seek statutory changes to Delaware’s probation and criminal justice system. The DOC leadership team has participated in numerous discussions with lawmakers to better understand the intent of the legislation, and we have provided detailed written responses to the initial language and every revision to the proposed legislation that highlight the intended – and unintended – impacts, affirm provisions that the DOC supports, and identify opportunities for further data-driven analysis. The DOC remains engaged in this dialogue, framed by a deep commitment to our dual mission to protect the public and promote successful reentry through safe and secure facilities, effective supervision, and rehabilitative services.

At this time, the DOC is carefully reviewing Senate Substitute 3 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 175, which were introduced yesterday. We will be able to provide comment and feedback when that review is complete.”

Senate Substitute 3 for Senate Bill 4 is currently out of committee, and on the ready list for consideration.

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Delaware

Delaware Valley wrestling powers past Hopewell Valley

Published

5 hours ago

February 7, 2026

Press Room

Delaware Valley wrestling powers past Hopewell Valley

HOPEWELL TWP. — The powerhouse Delaware Valley High School wrestling team appears to be right where it wants to be in pursuit of a fourth Group 1 state championship in five years.

Ranked fourth in The Trentonian’s Public School state rankings, Delaware Valley upped its record to 17-0 on Friday night when it beat Hopewell Valley, 61-12, in the so-called “Dawg Brawl in the Valley.”

The fact DelVal won easily was, of course, no surprise. What was a positive was the way it got the job done, particularly from 175 through 215 against three of Hopewell Valley’s better wrestlers.

“I felt really good about how we wrestled tonight,” said Delaware Valley coach Andy Fitz after his team handed Hopewell just its second loss of the year. “We were (recently) off the mats for a week, but we are really rolling again. We want to be our best in February and March. We wrestled very well against a well-coached team tonight. I was really happy with some of those results in the upper weights.”

Hopewell Valley held its own in the early going when Luca Schiavon had a nice 5-2 win at 120, Parker Humphrey prevailed, 4-3, at 126 and Dylan Hersh pinned at 138.

The problem for Hopewell was DelVal is stacked in the middle and four straight pins quickly gave the Hunterdon County team a 39-12 lead.

One of the best bouts of the night followed at 175 where Hopewell Valley’s Ethan Barker hit a Peterson Roll and led Olivier Paul, 7-6, after one period. From there, however, Paul wisely elected to wrestle mostly on his feet and the result was takedown clinic en route to a 20-10 major.

Hopewell Valley 190-pounder Scott Mangan has a record of 23-2, but he proved to be no match on this night for Matthew Sencher. The result was a Sencher pin in 1:31 with a cradle as the lead ballooned to 49-12.

DelVal’s Luke Cyphert then hammered home another victory when he pinned Gavin Barker in 2:52 at 215 pounds. This left Gavin Barker at 15-6 on the season afterolder brother Ethan Barker earlier fell to 21-3.

When Luken Alberdi pinned at heavyweight, it meant DelVal was able to record nine pins on the night.

With the regular season rapidly winding down, it’s reaching the point where DelVal’s focus will center on the sectionals, which get underway on the Monday of Feb. 16. DelVal’s biggest challenge in Group 1 could very well come from Manville (25-0) in its own Central Jersey section.

“We do a lot of with Manville during the summer and we are as familiar with each other’s opposing lineups as we are with our own,” said Fitz. “We also actually do a lot with Hopewell Valley too. Manville is a very well coached program. It should be a fun night (in the expected sectional final).”DelVal certainly looks ready.”

Delaware Valley 61, Hopewell Valley 12

f106: Vincent Rainey (DVR) over Said Jan Rahmani (HVH) (Dec 9-3)113: Jaxon Bingert (DVR) over (HVH) (For.)120: Luca Schiavon (HVH) over Tristan Fawthrop (DVR) (Dec 5-2)126: Parker Humphrey (HVH) over Tanner Donaruma (DVR) (Dec 4-3)132: Julian Bednar (DVR) over Dylan Somma (HVH) (Fall 2:42)138: Dylan Hersh (HVH) over Jacob Maddalena (DVR) (Fall 3:58)144: Tye Falkenstein (DVR) over Jace Kalina (HVH) (Fall 1:25)150: Michael Hasson (DVR) over Louis Decibus (HVH) (Fall 1:28)157: Hunter Taffera (DVR) over Max Pollara (HVH) (Fall 3:32)165: Kieran Sutter (DVR) over Ben Franco (HVH) (Fall 1:12)175: Olivier Paul (DVR) over Ethan Barker (HVH) (MD 20-10)190: Matthew Sencher (DVR) over Scott Mangan (HVH) (Fall 1:31)215: Luke Cyphert (DVR) over Gavin Barker (HVH) (Fall 2:52)285: Luken Alberdi (DVR) over Ken Pineda (HVH) (Fall 0:54)

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Delaware

DelDOT designing Route 9 pedestrian bridge

Published

17 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Press Room

DelDOT designing Route 9 pedestrian bridge

After years of debate, a pedestrian bridge over busy Route 9 could be coming to Cool Spring.

Sen. Chris Coons recently shared congressionally funded projects included in the appropriations package passed by the Senate. In total, $68 million was secured for Delaware projects.

Among the recipients is the Delaware Department of Transportation for completion of the Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail, including a new pedestrian bridge and approaches.

According to Charles “C.R.” McLeod, DelDOT’s director of community relations, the funds will go toward design of a pedestrian bridge over Route 9.

“The funding will be used to move forward with design for an elevated trail crossing on Route 9 at Cool Spring,” McLeod said. “We don’t have dedicated project funding yet or a timeline – the design work will help determine the exact layout and rendering of the structure, and provide us with an estimate of what the project will ultimately cost to build, so a lot of details are still to be determined.”

The final phase of the trail is projected for completion in late 2026. This six-mile stretch, running from Airport Road in Georgetown to Fisher Road in Milton, will complete the 17-mile, $17.4 million project, making it Delaware’s longest continuous trail. The first phase in Lewes opened nearly a decade ago in October 2016.

In 2017, the section of railroad that runs from Cool Spring to Lewes was decommissioned after it was determined that repairs to the swing bridge over the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal in Lewes would be too costly. While the trail’s first phase was built adjacent to the railroad, future phases between Lewes and Cool Spring were built on the former railroad track after it was removed. Railroad tracks remain from Georgetown to the Harbeson area.

It’s unclear if DelDOT has decided to move forward with a bridge for the trail. In December, the Delaware Bicycle Council approved a grant of $35,000 to Sussex County for a feasibility study for a tunnel under Route 9 at Cool Spring at the same location.

“Sussex County has been in contact with DelDOT representatives and will coordinate efforts to ensure we are working together to determine the feasibility of either crossing, whether it be a bridge or a tunnel,” said Chip Guy, Sussex County’s communications director.

The Stephen P. Hudson Park trailhead sits on the south side of Route 9. Trail users are discouraged from crossing Route 9 at the park. Instead, the safest way to cross Route 9 now is to travel to Fisher Road, cross Route 9 at the signal and then head back east.

McLeod said DelDOT is committed to the pedestrian bridge.

“Yes, [we are] committed to the project; however, the project is not currently in our six-year capital transportation program, so it will need to be added and funded once a preliminary concept and estimate are completed,” he said.

Other funded projects in Sussex

• Better Homes of Seaford – $716,000 for construction of affordable housing in Seaford

• Children and Families First Delaware Inc. – $632,000 for renovation and expansion of a foster youth home in Seaford

• Interfaith Community Housing of Delaware Inc. – $2.5 million for construction of affordable housing in Milford

• Milford Housing Development Corp. – $750,000 for construction of affordable housing in Kent and Sussex counties

• NeighborGood Partners – $2 million for construction of affordable housing in Laurel

• Sussex County Habitat for Humanity – $1 million for construction of affordable housing in Sussex County.

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Delaware

Camden firefighter killed in Delaware River identified

Published

1 day ago

February 5, 2026

Press Room

Camden firefighter killed in Delaware River identified

Howard Bennett, a veteran Camden firefighter, has been identified as the man who lost his life in a work incident on the Delaware River on Feb. 5.

According to a statement from the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey, Bennett was a longtime member of the Camden Fire Department. He fell through the ice at the Wiggins Park Marina in Camden and was later pronounced dead.

“Today, the city of Camden and the entire state of New Jersey lost a hero,” Mathew Caliente, president of the firefighter association, said in the statement.

“This tragedy is a stark and painful reminder that the dangers of this profession do not only exist within a burning building. Our members put their lives on the line every single day.”

Camden County Commissioner Jonathan Young released the following statement on on behalf of all the county commissioners.

““I extend our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the fallen Camden City firefighter as well as the men and women of the Camden City Fire Department,” Young said. “Every day, our first responders leave the comfort and safety of their homes without knowing for sure if they will return after their shift,” the statement read.

“The sacrifice of these dedicated individuals, as well as the sacrifices of their loved ones, affords all of us the opportunity to live in a safer community. This loss is felt not only in the City of Camden and Camden County, but reverberates throughout the state. We grieve alongside our first responders and are dedicated to ensuring this loss was not in vain.”

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill also shared her condolences.

“Devastated by the tragic passing of a veteran firefighter today in South Jersey. My thoughts are with his family and the Camden Fire Department during this difficult time,” Sherrill said.

The incident occurred sometime between 11-11:30 a.m. Camden City Mayor Victor Carstarphen confirmed the death during a press conference following the accident.

Bennett, previously unidentified, was reportedly on a fire boat doing a routine maintenance check when he somehow fell into the icy waters.

Firefighters from multiple departments, including some from Philadelphia, responded to the incident to help with the rescue attempt.

Jesse Flax, chief of the Camden Fire Department, said that all members of the department are grieving the incident.

“He was a dedicated firefighter who understood and knew his job very well,” Flax said during the press conference earlier in the day.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

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