Delaware
Delaware lawmakers vote to remove death penalty from state Constitution
State Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, said his constituents were still scarred by the 2009 murder of local police officer Chad Spicer. Defendant Derrick Powell, who had been sentenced to death for the killing, was resentenced to life in prison.
“Our community, by and large, wanted that person put to death because of what they took from our town, what they took from his family, one of which is upstairs right now,” Pettyjohn said. “So when you speak about being on the right side, the right side is for accountability. The right side is to ensure that that individual does not commit another murder again.”
Legislation signed into law last year by then-Gov. John Carney eliminated the death penalty and instructed that any adult convicted of first–degree murder was to be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. But future General Assemblies could pass legislation reviving the practice. A constitutional amendment would prohibit its use.
Chief Public Defender Kevin O’Connell, who opposes the death penalty, said a firewall is needed because the state has a long history of ending and then reviving the death penalty, dating back to 1958. He also said Delaware’s historical use of capital punishment has been racially discriminatory.
“For a long time in Delaware and in other states, it was Black people who are most deserving of the death penalty, and Black people who kill white people are most deserving of the death penalty,” he said. “It’s not so much about whether or not some people may deserve to die. It’s whether or not we deserve to kill and whether or not we can set up a system that is truly fair in determining who those people are.”
A constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote in each chamber in two consecutive General Assemblies. It does not require the governor’s signature. The next time it could come up for a vote is after a new General Assembly is elected in November 2026.
This story was supported by a statehouse coverage grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Is Jersey Mike’s the new fast‑food king? How it beat Chick‑fil‑A
Jersey Mike’s beats Chick-fil-A for top customer satisfaction in ACSI study; praised for fresh, made-to-order subs.
Plans for one of the nation’s most popular fast-food chains to open a location in the city of Delaware are moving forward.
Chick-fil-A is planning a new 5,033-square-foot restaurant with a double drive-through lane on a nearly 2-acre site on Delaware’s east side.
The development plans are headed to Delaware City Council after the city’s Planning Commission approved them July 1.
This location would be the first Chick-fil-A in the city of Delaware, but not in the county. The chain has a location in Lewis Center and three in the Polaris area, according to the company’s website.
The popular chicken restaurant, a Chipotle location and other to-be-announced restaurants and retail are part of a new Trailhead Crossing development planned on the eastern edge of Delaware near Sunbury Road (State Route 36) and Sky View Lane, documents indicate. City council approved rezoning the site in February.
Get more Delaware County news: Subscribe to The Dispatch’s free weekly Delaware County newsletter, The Delaware Dispatch.
The restaurant will include 92 indoor seats, an outdoor patio with 20 seats and 68 parking spots, planning documents show.
An internal access drive connecting to Sky View Lane from the west and Biltmore Drive from the north will be built within the site and will connect to all the lots within the Trailhead Crossing development. The access from Sky View Lane will be right-in/right-out only. The site will not have access directly from Sunbury Road, city documents state.
Chris Tebbe, an engineer with the Dublin-based firm Tebbe Civil Engineering, didn’t know an exact opening date for the restaurant, but said once plans are approved by the City Council, crews will be working on the location this year into next year.
Delaware County and eastern Columbus suburbs reporter Maria DeVito can be reached at mdevito@dispatch.com and @mariadevito13.dispatch.com on Bluesky and @MariaDeVito13 on X.
Wednesday, July 8, 2026 10:19PM
ASTON, Pa. (WPVI) — Summer camps are in full swing, and on Wednesday the Action Cam was in Aston, where kids are getting some hands-on learning at Delaware County Technical School.
Middle school students are exploring career pathways as they build, cook, design and create in state-of-the-art classrooms.
They are doing everything from carpentry to cosmetology.
By the end of camp, the kids will create STEAM-based projects that they can take home.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Across the State Trained AmeriCorps VISTA members will be on-site at 21 Delaware Libraries providing walk-in assistance for digital literacy
DOVER, Del. — The Delaware Libraries today announced the launch of a 10-week summer program aiming to support Delawareans on digital literacy.
The AmeriCorps Digital Literacy Specialists assist the public with computer and technology questions, including completing online applications, navigating websites, and building basic digital skills. As patrons become more comfortable, specialists can introduce them to the many free computer training programs and learning resources available through Delaware Libraries including in-person classes. This project is an initiative of the Division’s Social Innovation Team.
“Libraries are proud to expand their digital literacy specialist supports this summer with a presence in 21 Delaware Libraries,” said Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian of Delaware. “The digital landscape is ever evolving, and the Delaware Libraries stands at the ready to help Delawareans navigate AI, software skills, social media concepts, and more.”
There is no appointment needed for a meeting or to ask a question to a Specialist.
The Specialists are trained to support many concepts, including:
- Essential Software Skills
- Personalized Assistance
- Workplace Technology
- AI – Understanding & Help
- Basic Computer Skills & Classes
- Social Media Help
- Navigate Internet, Avoid Scams
- Using Tech in Daily Life, Device Help
- Learning Express, Northstar Certification
- And Much More!
Visit DelawareLibraries.org/Digital to view a full schedule of Specialists. For more services visit DelawareLibraries.org/GetConnected!
Delaware Libraries offer specialty library cards for every age group, including a My First Delaware Library Card for birth to age 5, a Super Library Card for children ages 6–12; a Teen Delaware Library Card for ages 13-17 and Delaware Library cards for everyone.
Sign up for a Delaware Library Card today! It’s Easy! It’s Free! It’s Online!
Instructions in Spanish are also available. (En el sitio web de las bibliotecas de Delaware se pueden encontrar instrucciones en español para obtener una tarjeta de biblioteca gratuita de Delaware)
Programming celebrating the Delaware Libraries’ 125th anniversary will continue throughout the year.
-
Tennessee31 seconds agoTennessee State men’s hockey cancels 2026-27 inaugural season for second straight year
-
Texas6 minutes agoTed Cruz warns Talarico has ‘real chance’ to flip Texas’ U.S. Senate seat
-
Utah13 minutes agoMan suspected in 2006 Utah murder left suicide note in Las Vegas jail cell: police
-
Vermont16 minutes agoOUTDOOR ACCESS FOR DISABLED IN VERMONT
-
Virginia21 minutes ago4 indicted in Virginia double homicide; second victim ID’d as grandmother of 6
-
Washington28 minutes agoWashington Commanders are retiring Hall of Famer John Riggins’ No. 44
-
Wisconsin31 minutes agoWisconsin State Patrol rides with truck and bus drivers to spot violations in five areas
-
West Virginia36 minutes agoWest Virginia town fires entire police force after chief resigns, sergeant alleges evidence room break-in
