Delaware

Delaware’s most powerful take questions at town hall in Wilmington

Published

8 months ago

April 26, 2025

Delaware’s most powerful take questions at town hall in Wilmington

Hundreds of people joined Delaware’s most influential political figures at Cab Calloway School for the Arts in Wilmington for a town hall, where resistance to the Trump administration and the war in Gaza took the spotlight.

Around 900 tickets were moved for this event, which took place in the school’s theater. The All-Democratic lineup of U.S. Sens. Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester, U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride, Gov. Matt Meyer and Attorney General Kathy Jennings spoke a lot about being united in strong opposition against the Trump administration.

Not everyone got their question in, but the over two-hour event addressed how each figure would oppose President Trump and his administration most controversial policies, like cuts to federal funding and mass deportations. The war in Gaza and the related stances of the First State’s federal delegation was another hot topic, with multiple people interrupting the town hall to press them about their stances.

“I’ve never been through 100 days like the ones we are going through right now,” Coons said in his opening remarks.

McBride and others describes their resistance strategy

McBride, in her first term as the state’s lone representative in the House of Representatives, gave a rundown on how she will resist Trump administration policies she disagrees with.

When asked whether she would support Articles of Impeachment against Trump, she said she believes he has violated the law but did not commit to it. She said turning the public against the current administration is more important than impeaching him within his first 100 days. She called persuading the public is an art form that takes time and requires her to “fight smart.”

“I’ve got to be honest with you,” she said in response to a question on impeachment, “the worst thing we can do is slow down public opposition to this President.”

A little while after, one man questioned the federal delegation on their protesting techniques, asking if they would even get arrested at a protest. Blunt Rochester said it’s all about finding a way to protest in a way that works for you. She said she supported Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, in his 24-hour Senate floor marathon by praying with him beforehand and monitoring his health throughout.

Coons said he does his best to serve in Delaware and be able to fulfill his duties in Washington D.C., but has no plans of getting put in handcuffs.

“I don’t think it is a great idea for me to get arrested on your behalf, because I don’t trust this president to let me out,” he said.

AG Jennings has joined other Democratic state attorneys general in countless lawsuits against Trump administration policies.

“There are attorneys general in our country who believe in the rule of law, and they have been so courageous,” she said.

Pro-Palestine protesters disrupt town hall, rattle crowd and politicians

In a scene that has become familiar to political figures who have spoken in favor of Israel and their current operation in Gaza, protesters have interrupted regular proceedings to press them on their stance on the ongoing conflict.

Overall, three protesters were removed by police officers, after some warning, for their disruption. They were not arrested or taken away in handcuffs, rather they were simply thrown out of the building. The congressional delegation answered their concerns but supported Israel’s “right to exist and defend itself” while calling for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid in devastated Gaza. They also supported “self-determination” in Palestine.

“There are deep and strong feelings about Israel, Hamas and Gaza in our community, but frankly, screaming at me doesn’t move me in a positive way,” Coons said.

McBride spoke about her opposition to people getting arrested or deported for supporting Palestine in the conflict.

“They should not face deportation when they peacefully express that opinion,” she said. “And I will not let anyone disingenuously use a conflict in Middle East to abridge the rights of anyone in this country.”

Meyer makes commitments on state level on aid in dying, voting rights and reproductive freedom

Not everything asked at the town hall was for national or international problems. Some were for controversial topics on the state level.

Meyer committed to signing House Bill 140, which would allow medical aid in dying. That bill is past both chambers of the state legislature.

He supported two other bills that would amend the state’s constitution, which he has no vote in. One expands access to absentee voting ballots, and the other would enshrine reproductive freedom into the state constitution.

He was also asked about high energy prices in Delaware. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Delaware consumes 100% more energy than it produces. He said he is working on a plan to get Delaware running on renewable energy.

“We have a plan that we’re finalizing now so that not tomorrow, not next year, but within a decade, it will go to 100% renewable Delaware produce energy,” he said at the town hall.

He has made affordable housing a large part of his platform, but disagreed with enacting rent control caps on lease renewals at the town halls.

“I’m open to creative solutions,” he said. “I think putting a straight up cap will limit the amount of affordable housing that developers want to build, and will create more problems than it actually solves.”

Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@delawareonline.com.

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Delaware

How DE delegation is responding to US military action in Venezuela

Published

6 hours ago

January 3, 2026

Press Room

How DE delegation is responding to US military action in Venezuela

Delaware’s congressional delegation condemned the overnight military strikes in Venezuela, which resulted in the capture of the country’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, on Jan. 3.

Following the capture of Venezuela’s president and his wife, President Donald Trump told reporters the U.S. would “run” Venezuela.

Trump didn’t rule out having the military contribute to running the country, but said U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will run the country alongside Venezuelan leaders, USA TODAY reported.

Rubio said the administration did not notify members of Congress about the strike ahead of time.

Trump stated Maduro and his wife will be taken to New York to face charges of drug trafficking in an indictment.

Delaware’s congressional delegation, all Democrats, expressed criticism of the Trump administration’s actions and questioned the legal authority to intervene without congressional approval.

U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, called the military action “incoherent” and an “illegal” operation in a statement on Jan. 3, criticizing the Trump administration for not notifying members of Congress until after the strike had concluded.

“The Trump administration owes our country transparency and a clear strategy,” Coons said in the statement. “The administration must promptly brief Congress on its plan to ensure stability in Venezuela and the region, its legal basis for this action, and its plans for any further use of military force. Our Constitution requires the administration to seek congressional approval, in the form of an Authorization for the Use of Military Force, before they take any further action to commit U.S. troops or take military strikes against Venezuela.”

U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester said in a statement on social media that the president carried out the operation without congressional approval because he knew Congress wouldn’t approve it.

“If this continues, nothing stops him from sending American troops around the world to carry out his own reckless foreign policy decisions, which thus far have already negatively impacted our standing on the global stage and continue to erode further the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution,” Blunt Rochester said in the statement.

“The administration must immediately brief Congress on its legal justification for this decision and its plan going forward,” Blunt Rochester added. “Congress must take action on Senator Kaine’s bipartisan war powers resolution to prevent further escalation.”

In a statement on X, U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride said the Trump administration routinely ignores the Constitution and misleads Congress.

“I have fidelity to our Constitution even if I do not have sympathy for Nicolás Maduro,” McBride stated.

McBride criticized the actions. “At a minimum, these individual actions legally and substantively demand Congressional action and public consultation,” she said on X. “But collectively, the military operations we have seen in the Caribbean, the Pacific, and, now, on land in Venezuela, present a significant escalation of unilateral action that betrays a larger goal by this administration. Beyond arguments for or against any individual action, the Trump Administration is clearly seeking to remake the global order in a way that will, ultimately, benefit authoritarians and adversaries.”

“Our values and principles as a nation matter most when we have seemingly altruistic reasons to violate them. I oppose a ‘might makes right in my neighborhood’ foreign policy. It is amoral, illegal, dangerous, and lays the foundation for bad actors like Russia and China,” she added.

Coons added in his statements that the president lacks a clear plan for what comes next for Venezuela.

“This raid risks creating more instability in the region, putting U.S. service members and civilians in the hemisphere at risk, and dividing us further from our regional partners,” he said.

Sophia Voight is a growth and development reporter. Reach her with feedback and story tips at svoight@delawareonline.com.

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Health care changes and other new Delaware laws taking effect in 2026

Published

6 days ago

December 29, 2025

Press Room

Health care changes and other new Delaware laws taking effect in 2026

The countdown to 2026 begins.

Several new Delaware laws, including health care initiatives and public utility protections, are slated to go into effect in the new year.

Here’s a look at what goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2026 – alongside other new changes Delawareans should expect in the year ahead.

Medical aid in dying law soon to take effect

This legislation had been long in the making.

Signed into law by Gov. Matt Meyer earlier this spring, the Ron Silverio/Heather Block End of Life Options Law will allow terminally ill patients who have six months or fewer to live access to medication that will “end the individual’s life in a humane and dignified manner,” according to the law’s text.

The legislation also has several guardrails in place.

Qualified patients must be “adult” residents of the First State and have at most six months to live – a prognosis that must be confirmed by an attending doctor or an advanced practice registered nurse and a consulting doctor or nurse.

Practitioners must also present eligible patients with the opportunity to rescind their request for medication before writing a prescription and inform them of other end-of-life options available, including hospice and palliative care.

The law is set to go into effect either when regulations are finalized and published or on Jan. 1, 2026, whichever happens first.

As of Dec. 8, a federal lawsuit filed by a coalition of disability and patient advocacy organizations hopes to block the law. Plaintiffs argue that such a change could “single out” individuals with disabilities and other vulnerable communities and put them at risk for untimely death, instead of necessary care.

As written, the law does not allow individuals to qualify for the life-ending medication due to age or disability.

Paid family medical leave coming online

Paid family and medical leave is also making its way to Delaware next year.

First signed into law back in 2022, the Healthy Delaware Families Act provides First State employees 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave through a designated state trust fund.

This initiative specifically applies to life events, like caring for and bonding with a new child; taking care of a parent, child or partner “with a serious health condition”; or addressing one’s own serious injury or illness.

Employees can begin to submit claim applications starting Jan. 1, 2026. More information can be found on the state Labor Department website.

Delaware seeks public utilities payer relief

Delawareans are also set to see some potential accountability from public utilities.

This and other efforts followed sudden spikes in energy bills across Delaware last winter, a topic that became a chief concern among lawmakers last session.

Backed by Sen. Stephanie Hansen, another law coming into effect adjusts the standards for what costs can be included in “a utility’s rate base” and presented to the Public Service Commission.

This means the commission would have the power to reject certain costs or expenses put on ratepayers, which could lead to less impactful or frequent increases.

Special enrollment period for Medicare

Back in health care, one bill that establishes a “special open enrollment period” for residents currently enrolled in a Medicare supplement policy will also take effect at the top of the calendar.

This gives Delawareans the opportunity to cancel their current policy and purchase another “that provides the same or lesser benefits,” according to the law’s description. That window begins roughly a month before an eligible individual’s birthday and will stay open for no less than a month afterward.

This change would only apply to those enrolled in a supplement policy under Medicare.

As written, anyone switching from one plan to another during this period “cannot be denied coverage,” nor can rates or coverage be determined by one’s medical history.

Offshore wind set to fly

Delawareans will also see an effort related to one of last session’s most controversial bills take effect later this month.

Also backed by Hansen, the bill overturns Sussex County Council’s rejection of a permit needed for US Wind to build a substation critical to plans to erect more than 100 wind turbines off the Delmarva coast.

Several Republicans fought against the bill’s passage. Many argued that bringing this decision to the hands of state government would strip local leaders of autonomy over what happens in their county, while some pushed for the courts to make the final decision.

State GOP members even spent the last night of session holding up necessary support for Delaware’s billion-dollar bond bill, which helps fund several projects, renovations and improvements across the state.

However, after a few hours of deliberation, lawmakers were able to reach a compromise. And the offshore wind legislation will go into effect Jan. 31, 2026.

And it didn’t end there. A state Superior Court judge ruled in early December to pause US Winds’ challenge in light of this new effective date.

“This is the result we wanted,” Hansen said in a statement following the decision, adding this marks “a key step in our efforts to increase Delaware’s energy supply and ensure energy reliability for all ratepayers in our state.”

What other bills will go into effect in 2026?

Another once-Senate bill aiming to expand the criteria for those incarcerated to petition for early release based on serious illness or rehabilitation – also known as the Richard “Mouse” Smith Compassionate Release Act – will go into effect on Jan. 10.

Another law providing First State tenants “new protections” by allowing specific eviction records to be restricted from public view will also come online Jan. 29.

Two additional health-centered bills signed by Meyer earlier this year will take effect this coming July. One creates a breastfeeding and lactation program for individuals in custody of the Delaware Department of Correction, while the other helps provide equipment and telecommunications assistance to Delawareans who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Joining them is a law to bar public and charter schools from selling or serving food containing the synthetic food dye Red No. 40, which is set to be implemented same month.

The wait will also soon be over for those longing to have wine shipped right to their doors, as a bill allowing wine producers to obtain a license and ship wine directly to Delawareans will go into effect in August 2026.

Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@delawareonline.com.

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Delaware

State legislators target deals with Delaware’s only commercial airline

Published

6 days ago

December 28, 2025

Press Room

State legislators target deals with Delaware’s only commercial airline

Delaware’s only commercial airline continues to find itself in hot water with elected officials, and not because of any flights from Wilmington.

Members of the state Senate have introduced a resolution calling for more scrutiny over contracts and incentives with companies that work with ICE. Avelo Airlines has a charter agreement with the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement to run deportation flights out of the country. The flights do not leave from Wilmington Airport.

The airport is run by the Delaware River and Bay Authority, which also runs the Delaware Memorial Bridge and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. DRBA is a two-state operation where the Delaware legislature has limited power, but this resolution sends a message of discontent around Avelo’s continued service and deportation flights.

The Delaware Senate is not the first public body in Delaware to send this message. Wilmington City Council approved a similar resolution urging the city to avoid companies who work with ICE’s elevated deportation campaign under the Trump Administration. The city does not have contracts with Avelo or companies who operate with ICE, but the resolution passed regardless.

Avelo’s agreement with ICE led to multiple protests outside of Wilmington Airport in early 2025. Dozens of people would line up on Dupont Highway with signs to show passing drivers their displeasure with the airline.

“We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic. After significant deliberations, we determined this charter flying will provide us with the stability to continue expanding our core scheduled passenger service and keep our more than 1,100 Crewmembers employed for years to come,” Avelo’s founder and CEO, Andrew Levy, said in an April statement.

Despite the rancor from elected officials, Avelo continues to expand its service from Wilmington. It recently announced new routes from Delaware to Atlanta and to Chicago O’Hare starting in 2026. That expansion makes it 14 destinations.

Avelo benefits from a fuel-tax exemption and has a marketing incentive from DRBA. The agency does not receive money from financial support or tax receipts from either the State of Delaware or New Jersey, its website says. Most of its revenue is generated by tickets, fees and tolls. A DRBA spokesperson old the News Journal/Delaware Online in April that they are “disappointed” in the ICE deal.

The resolution simply urges DRBA to prohibit deals with companies who work with ICE deportations “without sufficient due process.” For now, it is “laid on the table,” and will not be considered until the legislature starts up again in 2026. It was introduced by Sen. Raymond Seigfried, a Democrat representing Claymont.

Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback about reassessment and property taxes at slbrennan@delawareonline.com.

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