Delaware

Delaware House OKs bill to review hospital budgets

Published

8 months ago

April 27, 2024

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Delaware House OKs bill to review hospital budgets

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

Legislation creating a hospital cost review board passed the Delaware House Thursday after a long and contentious debate that frustrated members of both sides of the aisle.

Speaker Valerie Longhurst’s bill passed 21-16 on a near party-line vote, with three Democrats, Reps. Sean Lynn, Stell Parker Selby and Sean Matthews voting in opposition. After more than three hours of debate, Democrats took a short break, came back into session and then used a procedural maneuver to end debate and force a vote on the bill. Some lawmakers said they were disappointed with how the debate on the bill was handled.

“It’s an embarrassing day,” House Minority Leader Michael Ramone said. “It’s a sad day, and I’m very sad to be a part of this legislature.”

The measure aims to rein in increasing health care costs in the First State by requiring hospitals to submit their budgets to ensure they’re in compliance with government spending benchmarks. The hospital cost review board bill is based on a similar board Vermont created to curb health care costs.

Under Longhurst’s proposal, the board would review each hospital’s budget annually. If a hospital fails to meet spending benchmarks, it would be required to develop a performance improvement plan. Once a hospital meets spending targets for three consecutive years, the board would release it from the performance plan oversight. When a hospital successfully meets its budget goals for three consecutive years, it would no longer be required to participate in the budget approval process.

“This legislation is not about punishing hospitals, but rather ensuring our constituents are able to access quality and affordable health care and to put a system into place to slow down the skyrocketing costs that we have experienced in Delaware,” she said.

The board would consist of seven members, six of whom would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. The executive director of the Delaware Healthcare Association would be the seventh “non-voting” member.

Longhurst argued that the only year the benchmark had been met was in 2020 due to COVID, when fewer people were accessing regular medical care.

“Every other year, health care spending has far surpassed the benchmark we set for this date, including years with over 11% growth in health care costs,” she said.

2021 saw an 11% increase as more people resumed health care visits they had put off during the pandemic, according to the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services’ third annual benchmark trend report.

Gov. John Carney set a spending benchmark in 2018, which was an aspirational goal for annual per-capita-rate health care spending growth. The 3.8% benchmark took effect in 2019. It’s since fluctuated to various percentages below 4%.

Opponents of the legislation have said it substitutes political judgment for hospital experts’ expertise and doesn’t focus on cost drivers such as prescription drugs, workforce shortages, and insurance companies. Newark-based ChristianaCare, Dover-based Bayhealth and Lewes-based Beebe Health have recently spoken out in opposition to the board.

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Delaware

Bob Dylan’s ex-wife is from Delaware? He has family history with the First State

Published

5 hours ago

December 25, 2024

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Bob Dylan’s ex-wife is from Delaware? He has family history with the First State

Bob Dylan’s new biopic, “A Complete Unknown,” is a reminder that an ex-wife of the music legend is from Delaware, although she doesn’t appear to be in the film.

But more than that, Dylan, who is now 83, has also performed in the Small Wonder multiple times, and his son has gigged here, too.”A Complete Unknown” hits theaters Christmas Day. Whether or not you plan to see the film, here’s a look at Dylan’s history with Delaware.

Bob Dylan takes Firefly record from Paul McCartney

Most Delawareans probably recall Dylan’s last concert in the First State, held at Firefly Music Festival in The Woodlands of Dover on June 17, 2017. Dylan became the oldest performer to headline the festival at age 76, a title previously held by Sir Paul McCartney, who played Firefly on June 19, 2015, just one day after his 73rd birthday.

Bob Dylan’s ex-wife Sara Dylan is from Delaware

Just like Dylan’s new movie is titled “A Complete Unknown,” very little is “known” about his ex-wife Sara Dylan. But we do know she was born in Wilmington as Shirley Noznisky and married the folk legend in 1965. The couple divorced in 1977, according to People.com. The pair had four children together, including The Wallflowers frontman Jakob Dylan and director Jesse Dylan.His ex-wife inspired songs such as “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” from Bob Dylan’s landmark double-album “Blonde on Blonde” and “Sara” from 1976’s “Desire.”

Sara Dylan was directed by Bob Dylan in his movie

Sara Dylan played the role of Clara in the 1978 film that Bob directed and starred in titled “Renaldo and Clara.” The film is described on IMDB as “Bob Dylan on tour with the Rolling Thunder Revue in 1975; concert footage, documentary interviews and bizarre improvised character scenes.”

Jakob Dylan followed in Bob Dylan’s Delaware footsteps

Like father like son, Jakob Dylan’s band The Wallflowers also performed on the main stage at Firefly (although they didn’t headline it as the elder Dylan did). But Jakob has bragging rights for being the first Dylan in the family to play Firefly because he was there in the festival’s inaugural year, which is the first and only year it was held in July. The Wallflowers played Firefly on opening day: July 20, 2012.

Bob Dylan played other Delaware concerts before Firefly

Although Firefly was Dylan’s biggest concert in the First State, it certainly wasn’t his first rodeo here. The superstar graced the stage at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark on Nov. 20, 1999, and April 12, 2013. Sandwiched between those shows, he played a concert at the legendary Kahunaville in Wilmington on June 8, 2004, per Setlist.fm.

What is Bob Dylan’s ‘A Complete Unknown’ about?

“A Complete Unknown” is a biopic about Bob Dylan starring Timothée Chalamet and Elle Fanning. The film follows Dylan’s four key years from 1961-1965. According to IMDB’s cast list, it looks like Sara Dylan isn’t featured in the film.

The project includes footage shot nearby in Cape May, New Jersey, this past May. Vintage cars took over the streets for the film, and signage changed the Jersey city into the scene of the 1965 Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island.

That Folk Festival scene was inspired by Dylan’s historic moment when he famously flipped the script and played an electric set at the festival, a move that was met with a chorus of boos from the crowd, History.com reported.

Where can I watch Bob Dylan’s ‘A Complete Unknown?’

For theater locations, visit fandango.com.

News Journal reporter Ryan Cormier contributed to this report, and so did Kaitlyn McCormick of the Cherry Hill Courier-Post, a sister publication of The News Journal.

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.

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Delaware

Fire heavily damages logistics business in Newark, Delaware

Published

13 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Fire heavily damages logistics business in Newark, Delaware – CBS Philadelphia

Watch CBS News

Fire ripped through a logistics business in Newark, Delaware Tuesday afternoon.
Chopper 3 was over Main Street around 2 p.m.
Firefighters arrived to find flames shooting from the two-story building that was heavily damaged.
No one was injured.

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Delaware

What time does Walmart close and what are grocery store hours on Christmas Eve in Delaware?

Published

23 hours ago

December 24, 2024

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What time does Walmart close and what are grocery store hours on Christmas Eve in Delaware?

Christmas has arrived, which for millions of Americans means gathering with family and friends to celebrate the holiday.

Most grocery, retail and restaurant chains will remain open on Christmas Eve, albeit with adjusted hours, and most will shut their doors on Christmas Day.

If you need to make a last-minute run to the grocery store to pick up something for your holiday gathering, Walmart will be an option for you this year, as the company told USA TODAY their stores will be open on Dec. 24 until 6 p.m.

Walmart stores will be closed on Dec. 25, the company confirmed to USA TODAY.

What grocery stores are open on Christmas Eve?

In addition to Walmart, the following grocery stores will be open on Christmas Eve. Hours are listed for the companies that provided them.

Acme closing at 6 p.m.
Aldi closing at 4 p.m.
BJ’s Wholesale Club closing at 6 p.m.
Costco closing at 5 p.m.
Food Lion closing at 6 p.m.
Giant/Super G stores closing at 6 p.m., pharmacies at 4 p.m.
Harris Teeter closing at 7 p.m.
Meijer, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Publix closing at 7 p.m.
Redner’s closing at 5 p.m.
Safeway closing at 6 p.m.
Sam’s Club closing at 6 p.m.
ShopRite; First State and Brandywine stores close at 6 p.m. Christina Crossing store closes at 4 p.m.
Sprouts closing at 7 p.m.
Whole Foods closing at 7 p.m.
Trader Joe’s closing at 5 p.m.
Wegman’s closing at 6 p.m.
Winn-Dixie closing at 9 p.m.

What retail stores are open on Christmas Eve?

In addition to Walmart, the following retail stores will be open on Christmas Eve. Hours are listed for the companies that provided them.

Kohl’s: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
TJ Maxx: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
HomeGoods: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Marshall’s: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
JCPenney: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Home Depot: Stores will close at 5 p.m.
Lowe’s: Stores will close at 6 p.m.
Ace Hardware
REI: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Bass Pro Shop: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cabela’s: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sephora
Burlington: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Belk: Regular stores and outlet stores attached to regular stores will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Other Belk outlets will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Big Lots: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Dollar General: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Ikea: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Staples: Stores will close at 6 p.m.
Office Depot: Stores will close at 5 p.m.
OfficeMax: Stores will close at 5 p.m.
PetSmart: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
PetCo: Stores will close at 7 p.m.
Target: Stores will close at 8 p.m.
Tractor Supply Co.: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com. Ben Mace from the Delaware News Journal contributed to this story. Reach him at rmace@gannett.com.

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