Delaware
Delaware governor's race heats up ahead of primary
What seemed like a quiet race for Delaware governor has turned into a bitter fight ahead of next week’s primary election after the frontrunner has been mired in accusations of improperly handling campaign money.
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
What seemed like a quiet race for Delaware governor has turned into a bitter fight ahead of Tuesday’s primary election. The front-runner has been mired in accusations of improperly handling campaign money. From Delaware Public Media, Sarah Petrowich reports the contest has devolved into accusations of fraud and outside influence.
SARAH PETROWICH, BYLINE: Delaware’s Democratic lieutenant governor, Bethany Hall-Long, appeared to be the likely successor to term-limited Governor John Carney, immediately receiving his endorsement last year after she announced her candidacy.
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JOHN CARNEY: I know Bethany Hall-Long as well as anybody, and she’s remarkably ready to be the next governor of Delaware.
PETROWICH: She served for nearly two decades in the legislature and as Carney’s second-in-command since 2017. But just two weeks after kicking off her campaign, her staff began to raise questions about financial reporting. They found between 2016 and 2022, more than $200,000 in campaign funds was paid out to Hall-Long’s husband, who was her campaign treasurer at the time. She says the money was a reimbursement for loans.
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BETHANY HALL-LONG: If there are inaccuracies or misreporting – mistakes, they will be fixed, and that’s where we are. We’re working on making sure those are fixed. But at the end of the day, you know, I want to be crystal clear that we are confident. You know, we have loaned more to this campaign than we’ve ever been reimbursed.
PETROWICH: But the Delaware Department of Elections said the couple paid themselves over $30,000 more than they should have. Delaware’s Democratic Attorney General Kathy Jennings agreed with election officials’ decision to not pursue charges, saying state campaign finance law is too narrow to prosecute.
KATHY JENNINGS: The analysis that was done by the Department of Election is spot-on, and that is – it’s very difficult to prove.
PETROWICH: The cloud around her campaign has opened up the door for Democratic candidate Matt Meyer, an attorney and former teacher who, since 2017, has led New Castle County, home of Wilmington.
MATT MEYER: I’ve been astounded by the level of corruption we’ve seen from my opponent. And it’s a reminder to me of why I got into politics in the first place.
PETROWICH: He says Hall-Long is emblematic of the so-called Delaware way, a political tradition that relies on personal relationships, and he proclaims himself as an outsider to the longstanding custom. Hall-Long argues Meyer has done far worse than her reporting errors, criticizing him for benefiting from out-of-state money and large-scale corporate donors.
HALL-LONG: Dark money is trying to buy this governorship. Delaware is not for sale.
PETROWICH: Two PACs have spent $2.4 million combined either attacking Hall-Long or supporting Meyer this year. But Meyer says he wants nothing to do with the groups.
MEYER: There is a level of outside money in this race like Delaware has never seen before, and it’s wrong.
PETROWICH: University of Delaware professor Paul Brewer says it’s a challenge to get campaign messages out to Delaware voters in the first place, making it hard for candidates to differentiate themselves in primary elections.
PAUL BREWER: So they tend to run on things like biography, experience, personal stories or, in this case, potential scandals.
PETROWICH: Colin O’Mara, the current CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, is the third Democrat in the race. He says he’s running to address Delaware’s low literacy rates, high health care and housing costs and vulnerability to climate change.
COLIN O’MARA: Yet what I’ve found is that this race hasn’t really been about that. It’s been about negative attacks. It’s been about massive dark money. It’s been about kind of everything but the things that we need to be fixing in our state.
PETROWICH: While polling has been scant, internal surveys have shown the race tightening in recent months. Three candidates are running in the Republican primary as well, but Delaware hasn’t had a Republican governor since 1993. For NPR News, I’m Sarah Petrowich in Dover.
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Delaware
Delaware County Sheriff's Office investigating murder-suicide involving mother and two children
The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office reported they found an abandoned vehicle with a deceased woman and two children inside on the morning of Nov 23.
The Sheriff’s Office said the vehicle was found near Highway 85 and East 340 Road.
Delaware County Sheriff’s Office
They said a preliminary investigation identified the woman as Alisia Pena of Tulsa and two children belonging to her. Both children are under the age of ten.
The Sheriff’s Office said it believes the deaths are the result of a murder-suicide on the part of the mother, but the Medical Examiner will determine the official cause and manner of death.
2 News is working to learn more and will update this story as we learn more.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere —
31,000 LED lights and Christmas carols invite holiday cheer
Middletown resident Manny Duarte talks about the annual 31,000 LED lights display he mounts in his front yard to celebrate the Christmas season.
Benjamin Chambers, Delaware News Journal
From walks to drive-thrus, there are plenty of opportunities to catch a holiday light show this season.
Various shows and events are taking place throughout Delaware and across the Philadelphia region this year.
Here are nine holiday light shows to check out:
Longwood Gardens
Spectators of the holiday light show at Longwood Gardens are in for a special treat this year as “A Longwood Christmas” kicks off amid the opening of “Longwood Reimagined.”
The expansion features new spaces like the West Conservatory, which will offer new areas to deck out for the holidays.
Longwood Gardens, located near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, launched its holiday light display on Friday, Nov. 22, and it will run daily through Jan. 12. To make a reservation, visit the sprawling garden’s website.
Address: 1001 Longwood Road, near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Website: longwoodgardens.org
Yuletide at Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library
Holidays at the Winterthur Museum on Route 52 features twinkling lights adorning the woodlands, a large-scale gingerbread house and an 18-room dollhouse, according to the museum’s website.
The holiday display will be open to the public starting Saturday, Nov. 23, and will run through Sunday, Jan. 5.
You can purchase tickets online or by calling the museum at 800-448-3883.
Address: 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware
Website: winterthur.org/
Holidays at Hagley
Get a glimpse of Hagley Museum and Library around the holidays with a holiday home and garden tour.
The site features a gingerbread house contest, Santa day, holiday night tours and more.
The holiday experience at Hagley runs from Sunday, Nov. 29 through Wednesday, Jan. 1. Purchase tickets online to schedule your holiday tour.
Address: 200 Hagley Creek Road, Greenville, Delaware
Website: hagley.org/
Drone show at the Riverfront
The Wilmington Riverfront during the evening hours of Friday, Dec. 6, will host a drone holiday light show.
The free holiday light show will take place on the Riverwalk. For more information about the event, visit the Riverfront’s website.
Address: Michael S Purzycki Riverwalk in Wilmington, Delaware
Website: riverfrontwilm.com/event/drone-light-show
Shady Brook Farm
If you are willing to take a drive for a holiday light display, look no further than Yardley, Pennsylvania’s Shady Brook Farm.
You can drive through the holiday show yourself or take a wagon ride through. The holiday festivities begin Saturday, Nov. 23 and run through Jan. 5, 2025. Ticket prices are per vehicle and vary depending on the day of your visit.
The farm also features Santa’s Village with gifts, treats, firepits and a Candy Cane Lane walk-through.
Address: 931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, Pennsylvania
Website: shadybrookfarm.com
Gift of Lights Dover
The Dover Motor Speedway will once again host its drive-thru holiday light show this year.
Tickets are priced per carload at $35 per car and $60 per bus or limo.
Address: 1229 Persimmon Tree Lane, Dover, Delaware
Website: giftoflights.ticketspice.com/gift-of-lights-dover
The Brandywine Railroad
Since 1972, the Brandywine Railroad has displayed model trains, including locomotives, passenger and freight trains, and trolleys as part of its annual holiday display.
The display also features interactive options like “push buttons and foot pedals” so visitors can engage with the train setup.
The holiday display began on Saturday, Nov. 16, and runs through Jan. 5. For more information visit the Brandywine Museum of Arts’ website.
Address: 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania
Website: brandywine.org/museum
Holiday Lights Express
Take a festive ride on 100-year-old heated coaches through the Red Clay Valley to see homes decorated for the holidays.
The Wilmington & Western Railroad hosts one-hour evening train rides during the month of December. To purchase train tickets, visit the venue’s website.
For a visit from Santa Claus, be sure to reserve train tickets for the Santa Claus Express.
Address: 2201 Newport Gap Pike, Prices Corner, Delaware
Website: wwrr.com/ride/events/holiday-lights
NOËL at Nemours Estate
Experience the holidays at the Nemours Estate by touring the 77-room mansion, chauffer’s garage and gardens adorned in twinkling lights.
The estate also will feature live music performances throughout the season.
The festivities at the Nemours Estate began Tuesday, Nov. 19 and will extend through Sunday, Dec. 29. Purchase tickets on the estate’s website and reserve your visit.
Address: 1600 Rockland Road, Rockland, Delaware
Website: nemoursestate.org
Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com. Follow her on X at @mandy_fries.
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