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Delaware agencies say only a small group of lawmakers will see embezzlement probe report

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Delaware agencies say only a small group of lawmakers will see embezzlement probe report


From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!

This story was supported by a statehouse coverage grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.


Delaware Director of Finance Rick Geisenberger said his department and the Department of Labor still plan to fulfill their promise to update state lawmakers this month on their investigation into a former DOL employee’s theft of taxpayer funds.

To make good on that vow, the agencies must submit their report to the General Assembly within the next week.

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WHYY News reported exclusively in May that former unemployment insurance administrator Michael Brittingham stole about $181,000 from the unemployment insurance trust fund last year. He took his own life in April 2023 shortly after he was told he was under investigation.

Lawmakers received letters in June from the DOL, the finance department and the auditor of accounts promising to give lawmakers an accounting of the embezzlement last month. Those letters came after groups like the Delaware Coalition for Open Government (DelCOG) began calling for investigations and hearings into what happened and why it was not made public until it was uncovered in WHYY News’ reporting. WHYY News obtained a copy of the letters, which were not made public by the agencies themselves.

DELCOG spokesperson John Flaherty said the group was planning to ask the U.S. Department of Labor to get involved because of the lack of transparency by Gov. John Carney’s administration about the theft.

“We have a known embezzlement of state funds from a fund that is so screwed up that the auditor says they can’t even audit that fund,” Flaherty said. “There’s a deep abiding interest in the public and making sure that the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund is being operated in the public good.”

In the June letters to lawmakers, DOL Secretary Karryl Hubbard and Geisenberger argued that not disclosing embezzlement of taxpayer funds was the right move while acknowledging state lawmakers’ supervisory role.

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“We fully understand the General Assembly’s important oversight responsibilities,” the administration leaders said. “We are committed to ensuring that you and your colleagues have accurate information and access to a full accounting of findings and actions to date and our recommended path forward.”

Hubbard and Geisenberger promised the General Assembly it would get “a full accounting of findings and actions to date and our recommended path forward.”

However, Geisenberger told WHYY News the report would only go to the legislative leadership, which consists of five Democrats and Republicans in the Senate and five in the House. He did not respond to a question about why it would not go to all lawmakers if he and Hubbard were committed to making sure all lawmakers had accurate information.

Flaherty said the Carney administration doesn’t get to decide who is entitled to information about the theft of taxpayer funds.

“Members of the Executive Cabinet — the Division of Accounting, Department of Labor — for them to say we’re going to pick and choose who gets to read a public document is outrageous,” he said. “This is a public document, about an incident that affected the public and everybody has the right to observe and monitor the actions of our public officials. That’s in the law.”

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Delaware

Snow coming to Delaware. How much will we get, will it impact commute

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Snow coming to Delaware. How much will we get, will it impact commute


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Winter is about to make another rush into Delaware, and it might include a little snow.

The First State is going to see highs drop from the mid- to upper-40s to the freezing mark by the end of the week, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

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After a pleasant Jan. 13, which will feature sunny skies and highs around 46 in New Castle and 50 in Sussex County. However, that will change on Jan 14 as colder temperatures and precipitation move into the area.

There won’t be much snow, but with temperatures at or below freezing the commute will be rough.

What’s the Delaware weather forecast?

New Castle County: The front will move into the county after 1 p.m. on Jan. 14 with a 30% chance of rain in the county. Highs will be in the mid-40s. Rain will continue through the overnight hours and chance over to snow as temperatures drop into the upper 20s. Little to no snow accumulation is expected, but roads could be icy Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Rain and snow are expected until 1 p.m. Jan. 15 with highs near 35.

Kent County: The county will enjoy a sunny Jan. 13 with temperatures hitting 51 degrees. The cold front will move in during the overnight with rain before 4 a.m. and a wintery mix after 4 a.m. with the lows dropping to 30. On Jan 14, there’s a chance of rain and snow before 1 p.m. with highs reaching 38. Little to no snow accumulation is expected, but roads could be icy Wednesday night into Thursday morning

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Sussex County: The county will enjoy a sunny Jan. 13 with temperatures hitting 53 degrees. The cold front will move in overnight with rain after 1 a.m. and a low around 30. On Jan 14, there’s a chance of rain and snow before 1 p.m. with highs reaching 39. Little to no snow accumulation is expected, but roads could be icy Wednesday night into Thursday morning

What is black ice?

If you are driving, you’ll need to watch out for black ice.

According to The Weather Channel, black ice is a thin layer of ice that forms on roads and is difficult to see. It’s generally found on bridges, overpasses and spots on the road shaded by trees or other objects.

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If roadways are wet from rain, snow or fog and temperatures drop below 32 degrees, black ice can form on roadways.

If you hit black ice, you should do the following:

  • Keep your steering wheel straight.
  • Do not brake
  • Take your foot off the accelerator to reduce speed



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Delaware fundraiser to feature Tito Paul, other ex-football players

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Delaware fundraiser to feature Tito Paul, other ex-football players


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  • Former NFL player Tito Paul is hosting a fundraiser for the Delaware County Historical Society.
  • The event, called Game On, will take place on Jan. 14 at the Meeker House and The Barn at Stratford.
  • Paul will be joined by other former Ohio State and NFL players to share stories and answer questions.

An Ohio State alumnus, a former Cincinnati Bengals player, a Super Bowl champ and an insurance agent walk into a room … but there’s no punchline because they’re all the same person.

Tito Paul is well-known for his gridiron past, which includes playing for Ohio State, where he was selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft in 1995, and winning Super Bowl XXXIII with the Denver Broncos in 1999.

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But some folks may not be aware that he’s also a superstar in Delaware County, where his State Farm agency receives consistently high reviews.

Football fans will have the chance to meet Paul at Game On, a fundraiser for the Delaware County Historical Society (DCHS) on Jan. 14 at the Meeker House and The Barn at Stratford, 2690 Stratford Road, Delaware. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

The event will begin with a meet-and-greet from 6:15-7 p.m. in the Meeker House before moving to The Barn for the rest of the evening. A pizza party and soft drinks are included in the admission price, and beer will be available for purchase.

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Paul will be joined by friends who also played for Ohio State, the NFL or both for an evening of football stories, NFL experiences and personal accounts of what it means to play in and win a Super Bowl. A Q&A period will follow the discussion.

In addition to Paul, guests will include:

  • Ty Howard: Ohio State, Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans
  • Michael Wiley: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Dee Miller: Ohio State, Green Bay Packers
  • Mike “Buster” Tillman: Ohio State

Adult tickets for Game On cost $50 for the full event or $35 for the pizza party only. Tickets for ages 10-18 cost $15. Members of the DCHS pay $45 for the full event or $30 for the pizza party only. Tickets are available at bit.ly/3N4frsg.

In the event of a Level 2 or Level 3 snow emergency, the event will be canceled, with a rescheduled date to be determined.

Contact features and entertainment reporter Belinda M. Paschal at bpaschal@dispatch.com.

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Young humpback whale washes ashore in Delaware after possible ship strike, officials say

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Young humpback whale washes ashore in Delaware after possible ship strike, officials say


A young 32-foot humpback whale washed up on shore along the Delaware coast last week after it may have been struck by a large ship, according to the MERR Institute, a rescue and care facility for marine mammals in Lewes, Delaware.

The whale, estimated to have weighed at least 20,000 pounds, washed up in the Bethany Beach community on Jan. 8 after it had been floating at sea for a couple of days.

Whale likely struck by a ship

The MERR Institute said the humpback whale was in the surf zone throughout Thursday night before heavy equipment moved it to the shore the next day. 

Marine officials said the tossing and churning in the surf caused gases to form and inflate the tongue. MERR Institute’s necropsy team then performed a post-mortem examination on Friday, Jan. 9. 

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Officials said the whale had subdermal hemorrhaging and a broken jaw on the right side, and that an injury of that nature is often associated with a large ship strike. Officials said the whale was likely still alive when it was struck by the ship.

MERR Institute officials said the whale was buried on the beach, which is “the most common practice for the disposition of the body. These large whales cannot be safely towed out to sea, so burying them on the beach allows them to become an important part of the beach ecosystem.”

“This was a tragic event, and we would like to thank everyone who helped to support us in our examination of this whale,” said MERR executive director Suzanne Thurman. “MERR’s volunteers were as wonderful as ever, and worked tirelessly to assist in examining the whale in a very short window of time. We would also like to thank DNREC for providing heavy equipment resources for towing and burial of the whale. They were able to tow the whale up onto the beach so we could safely examine it, and their staff was indispensable in helping us to position the whale so that we could get as much information as possible.”

Thurman continued, “And last but certainly not least, we would like to thank the very kind homeowners in Ocean Ridge. They looked out for our volunteers by sending down coffee and doughnuts, letting us use their bathroom, and for showing so much caring and compassion for this beautiful animal. We always appreciate the fact that we live in a community that cares so much about the ocean and its creatures.”

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