Delaware

A Delaware auditor was convicted of corruption. Now she’s running for state House

Published

2 years ago

May 9, 2024

A Delaware auditor was convicted of corruption. Now she’s running for state House

2 primary foes ‘surprised’ McGuiness is running for office

Both of McGuiness’ primary opponents suspect voters will be skeptical of a convicted politician who resigned in disgrace.

“I have to say I’m a little surprised that Kathy McGuiness decided to run,’’ Snyder-Hall said. “I mean, we’ll see in September what voters think, but I’m betting they want an ethical and effective leader who was well-respected in Dover.”

Rendon said the bottom line is that a candidate with a conviction related to her elected office is on the ballot.

“I’m not trying to go negative on anybody, but people are really surprised she’s running again,’’ Rendon said. “That’s the reaction I get, but I’m trying to keep the focus off of her and just talk about the kinds of things that the people want to have done for them in Dover.”

McGuiness announced her candidacy Saturday in Dewey Beach, with Schwartzkopf offering supportive remarks. In an interview this week, she told WHYY News she paid her $10,000 fine and performed 500 hours of community service at the Food Bank, a soup kitchen and other venues during her year on probation.

Echoing Schwartzkopf’s sentiment that her conviction was for a “low-level misdemeanor” for hiring her daughter, McGuiness said she’s moving forward.

“I believe I’m the best person for this position,’’ she said. “I’m ready to hit the ground running and help the people of this district,” which also includes Dewey Beach and increasingly populated inland areas.

“I believe they need a strong voice, someone that knows the area, knows the people, has seen the change, seen the growth. We’re going to have growth, but we must direct it, and it has to be responsible,” she said. “I believe we need someone who is there to help assist and do it in incremental phases in a positive manner.”

She’s asking voters not to hold her legal troubles against her at the ballot box.

“I would hope that people can look at my record of decades of accomplishments and see all the good things that I’ve been involved in and helped with throughout the years, and know that I have the drive and the energy to serve my community.”

Schwartzkopf, who has represented the district for 22 years and was speaker from 2013 until stepping down last year, said residents can feel comfortable contacting McGuiness on any matter.

“She was raised here. She knows the district. She knows the people in the district and she knows what the issues are in the district,’’ Schwartzkopf said. “She’s going to try to help you with whatever issue you have.”

Snyder-Hall and Rendon also said that if elected, residents can count on them to address their concerns.

Snyder-Hall, who ran unsuccessfully for state Senate in 2014 against incumbent Republican Ernie Lopez, said she’s looking forward to being the first woman to represent the Rehoboth area.

“We’re facing a series of crises, with a shortage of health care providers, workforce housing needs, public schools bursting at the seams and climate resiliency needed,” Snyder-Hall said. “And so I just felt like I was doing very good work with Common Cause for the democracy agenda, but I can do that work and also work on other pressing problems in the General Assembly.”

First-time candidate Rendon mentioned population growth and services for seniors as major challenges for coastal Delaware.

“Overdevelopment is a big issue. The land use is an issue. The traffic here is an issue, obviously, coupled with environmental concerns. We’re worried about climate change, the effect of the oceans rising, environmental degradation of our inland waterways,’’ Rendon said.

“And then of course with an aging population here in the area, we’re concerned about health care, having good medical facilities here.”

Source link

Delaware

Delaware County’s 250th events aim to boost local economy

Published

11 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Delaware County’s 250th events aim to boost local economy

DELAWARE COUNTY – Delaware County is gearing up for a year-long celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary, bringing together community partners for a series of events and programs.

Delaware County’s plans for the semiquincentennial

The Delaware County America 250 Commission hosted a “We the People” party to unveil plans for the upcoming celebrations.

The events aim to educate and connect the local community while drawing visitors from outside Philadelphia to explore the area’s rich history.

What they’re saying:

“Delaware County is not just watching from the sidelines, we are proud to be an essential part of a massive regional and national celebration,” said Christine Reuther, Delaware County Council Vice Chair.

Andrea Silva, director of the Delaware County America 250 Commission, highlighted the diverse themes that will be showcased throughout the year.

Celebrating 250 years of history

The backstory:

Friday’s event celebrated Delaware County’s 250-year history, with different tables reflecting various themes.

Attendees included Colonial Farmstead, Penn’s Woods Winery, and Pathways to Freedom.

The programming will feature over 100 events, including the Battle for Independence: Amazing Race to Brandywine and the Irish America 250 Kick Off on Jan. 14.

The celebrations are expected to leave a lasting legacy, with hopes of boosting the local economy.

“We want to see real economic impact for our local businesses as visitors from around the world come to shop on our main streets and stay in our towns and eat in our restaurants,” said Reuther.

What’s next:

This year’s county event specifics can be found here.

The Source: Information from the Delaware County America 250 Commission.

America 250Delaware County

Source link

Delaware

Wilmington’s first homicide of 2026 claims life of 19-year-old

Published

23 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Wilmington’s first homicide of 2026 claims life of 19-year-old

A 19-year-old man was shot dead in Wilmington’s Southbridge neighborhood in the early hours of Jan. 9, police said.

Wilmington officers arriving to the 200 block of S. Claymont St. about 3:30 a.m. found the teen there.

The teen, whom police have not named, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Anyone with information about this shooting should contact Wilmington Police Detective Derek Haines at (302) 576-3656. People can also provide information to Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333 or delawarecrimestoppers.com.

Violence by the numbers

This is the first homicide reported this year in Delaware, which last year saw a slight drop in all violent killings.

Delaware police reported 52 people being killed in violent crimes in 2025, a drop of nearly 12% when compared with 59 people killed in 2024, according to a Delaware Online/The News Journal database.

While the number of people killed in homicides statewide is down, the number of people killed by gunfire in Delaware was up in 2025 for the third year in a row.

According to the Delaware Online database, 47 were shot dead in Delaware last year. That was one more victim (46) than in 2024, three more (44) than in 2023 and nine more (38) than in 2022.

Despite the increase in gun-related deaths, there were fewer people shot last year in Delaware for the second year in a row.

Police reported 164 people being shot last year in Delaware. The previous year saw 195 people shot and police reported 210 people being shot in 2023.

This was the fewest people shot in Delaware since 2018, when police reported 146 people being shot statewide.

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.

Source link

Delaware

MERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

MERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach

A dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach on Jan. 8, according to the nonprofit Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation Institute.

The juvenile male was first seen Jan. 6, floating at sea about 2 miles off the Indian River Inlet, a MERR Facebook post said. The bloated 30-foot whale ultimately beached near a private community in the early afternoon of Jan. 8, the post said.

MERR is attempting to coordinate with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to get equipment to move the whale out of the water and onto the beach to perform a necropsy, the post said. Right now, there isn’t enough information to determine a cause of death.

Delaware saw at least three dead whales last year, in the Indian River Bay, at Delaware Seashore State Park and at Pigeon Point. The first two were humpbacks, while the Pigeon Point whale was a fin whale.

A necropsy on the Delaware Seashore whale found blunt force trauma across its back, indicating it may have been struck by a ship, MERR Director Suzanne Thurman said.

Recently, on Jan. 4, a dead fin whale was found on the bow of a ship at the Gloucester Marine Terminal in New Jersey, which is located in the Port of Philadelphia on the Delaware River.

Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Facebook.

Source link