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Delaware lawmakers revise wetland legislation amid concerns from farmers, developers

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Delaware lawmakers revise wetland legislation amid concerns from farmers, developers


Delaware lawmakers are amending a newly introduced measure that aims to provide greater protections for the state’s nontidal, or freshwater, wetlands.

The legislation, sponsored by state Sen. Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown, comes more than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled certain wetlands are not protected under the federal Clean Water Act.

Delaware is the only state in the mid-Atlantic that does not have a nontidal wetland protection program. Since 1988, there have been six failed legislative attempts to protect these resources in the state.

During a legislative hearing Wednesday, environmental groups said state regulations for nontidal wetlands are long overdue. However, developers and farmers voiced concerns that Hansen’s bill could impact anyone who wants to build on wetlands, or whose property contains wetlands.

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Hansen said she believes a substitute bill will address those concerns.

“We already have been able to bring together disparate groups that previously had not been able to come to an agreement, and had not come to the table with a willingness to successfully work together,” she said.

“What we heard today with some of the testimony is we need to bring a few more people to the table, as well, which we are certainly happy to do. And we have a head start on it now.”

Also known as freshwater wetlands, nontidal wetlands are found near inland areas and do not have tidal influxes of water. They can be found in several forms, including depressions, rivers and swamps.

Nontidal wetlands make up more than half of Delaware’s wetlands. However, their acres have reduced over time because of threats such as sea level rise, development and agricultural practices.

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Delaware law protects saltwater wetlands. However, the state has relied on federal regulations to manage freshwater wetlands with fewer than 400 contiguous acres.

Since the most recent Supreme Court decision, almost half of Delaware’s nontidal wetlands have been vulnerable to development without oversight.

Hansen’s current legislation would allow nontidal wetlands to be managed under the same program as the state’s saltwater wetlands regulations. Under the bill, developers would be required to prevent impacts to freshwater wetlands.

Hansen introduced similar legislation in 2020 after the federal government rolled back protections for freshwater wetlands, but it did not receive support from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.



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Delaware

Reading man arrested for shooting in Delaware

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Reading man arrested for shooting in Delaware


A Reading man was arrested last week for a shooting earlier this month at a Red Roof Inn & Suites in New Castle, Delaware.

Erickson Acuapa, 21, of Reading, was arrested in Wyomissing for the shooting that took place June 16, Delaware state police said.

Acuapa was arrested by Wyomissing police and later extradited to Delaware and taken into custody by Delaware state police.

He was charged with assault, possession of a firearm while committing a felony, and reckless endangerment.

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According to a press release:

At 3:33 a.m. troopers responded to reports of the shooting at 1612 N. Dupont Highway.

When troopers arrived on the scene, they learned that a 20-year-old male victim had been taken to a local hospital for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the arm.

A preliminary investigation revealed that several people gathered at the motel after attending a local concert.

During this gathering, the victim and unknown suspect engaged in an argument. The altercation escalated, and the suspect fired a shot at the victim before fleeing the scene.

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An investigation by detectives identified the suspect as Erickson Acuapa.

On June 19, Acuapa was located in Wyomissing and taken into custody by the Wyomissing Police Department.

Following his extradition to Delaware, Acuapa was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $138,000 cash bond.



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Del. Supreme Court restores early voting access and permanent absentee voting

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Del. Supreme Court restores early voting access and permanent absentee voting


Delaware Supreme Court justices heard arguments in the case earlier this month.

Former judge and chair of the Delaware Republican Party Jane Brady argued the case on behalf of Hocker and the elections inspector. She said the state’s constitution specifies only one day that the election can be held, making early voting unconstitutional. She also argued that the language in the constitution requires voters to apply for an absentee ballot for each election.

“We claim that the statutes on their face are unconstitutional. They don’t comply with the language in the constitution,” she said. “Clearly, the drafters intended to address two issues: the time of the election and the manner of the election.”

Former U.S. Solicitor Donald Verrilli, representing the state, countered by arguing that both permanent absentee and early voting are employed in many other states across the U.S. and are consistent with Delaware’s Constitution and within the power of lawmakers to enact.

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“Article Five, Section One [of the state constitution] provides an express delegation to the General Assembly to prescribe the means, methods and instruments of election to further a whole set of important goals,” he said. “That seems to me to be a structural indication that the Legislature has broad power here to set the means and methods of elections.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.



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How bank fraud suspects targeted man in Delco grocery store parking lot

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How bank fraud suspects targeted man in Delco grocery store parking lot


UPPER CHICHESTER, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — Upper Chichester police hope the public can help them identify two people they believe targeted a man for bank fraud in Delaware County. There’s also concern there could be other victims.

On June 4, around 12:30 p.m., police say the pair followed the man out of the Giant in Aston and approached him in the parking lot.

One suspect claimed he dropped a $20 bill while the other was recording the interaction.

Police say the victim pulled out and opened his wallet and said the money wasn’t his. In the process, cards fell to the ground and the man’s personal information was possibly caught on video.

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A short time later, thousands of dollars were swiped from the man’s bank account, according to police.

“It’s horrible, there’s all kinds of things that are happening all different kinds of scams that are going around and people just need to be really, really careful,” said Jackie Kane of Aston Township, who was walking her dog near the Village Green Shopping Center.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, in the first quarter of this year, more than 30,000 cases of bank fraud have been reported nationwide. The tri-state ranked 8th overall for fraud, and people 70 to 79 were the most targeted.

“They’re too trustworthy too, older people,” said Cindy Robertson, of Ridley Park, who was shopping nearby.

“They should be careful, especially if they’re by themselves and they don’t have somebody with them.”

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Residents say it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and they’re also thankful the only injury in this case was financial.

“It’s frustrating, it’s frustrating people do that kind of stuff. That guy worked for whatever he has his whole life and somebody gonna steal it, that is not a good thing to do,” said Dave Bonavita of Upper Chichester.

Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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