Delaware
Legislative Hall ‘moving forward’ with renovation, expansion plans, despite opposition
Gov.-elect Matt Meyer stresses education in school visit after election win
Matt Meyer visited Glasgow High School the day after winning the race to be Delaware’s next governor. 11/6/24
Delaware’s Legislative Hall may soon look a little different.
Plans to expand and revamp the Statehouse are “moving forward,” beginning with a new parking garage, said Richard Puffer, who chairs the legislative committee overseeing the project.
The $150 million project has raised renewed concerns over the expense and need for the renovations.
Here’s what Delaware needs to know.
When has Legislative Hall last changed?
Legislative Hall has been Delaware’s state capitol building since 1933.
In addition to House and Senate chambers, the building houses offices belonging to members of the state General Assembly and is home to several committee rooms and the formal office of the state governor. It also has many murals, portraits and exhibits.
Plans to renovate and expand Legislative Hall began in November 2021. The last time Legislative Hall was renovated and expanded was in the 1990s.
There is “a great need” for more meeting and office space, both for employees and the public, said Puffer, who also serves as the chief clerk of the state House of Representatives.
What is included in the project?
A costly part of the project will be the new parking garage.
The current design will include approximately 350 parking spaces, including 240 for public access and 97 for state legislators and employees.
Once the garage is finished, construction will then begin on an underground tunnel connecting the garage to the capitol, Puffer said.
Additional work will include building up to four new large meeting rooms and moving the entrance from the west to the east side of the building across the street from the new parking garage.
How long will this project take?
The budget for the project should be finalized in June 2025, Puffer said.
If all goes smoothly, construction for the garage will begin in July 2025 and conclude by the end of December 2026 – with additional work set to begin in the summer or fall of 2026 and be completed by late 2028.
How much will this project cost?
As of now, roughly $40 million has already been invested into the project, with an additional $10 million from the FY 2025 Bond Bill, which was passed in June.
Puffer also said an additional $110 million has been requested for renovations and expansions.
Cost of the project questioned
John Flaherty, Delaware Coalition for Open Government board member, recently told the Office of Management and Budget, the project is “self-serving” and does not serve the public.
“How busy is the General Assembly” to warrant such an expensive change, given that the state legislature will convene for nearly 42 days out of the year this upcoming session, Flaherty said.
Other individuals who oppose this project, including Delaware Black Commission founder Jakim Mohammed, also call this a “wasted, taxpayer-funded” expenditure.
Mohammed also feels that attention should instead be focused on pressing issues facing the state, including education, infrastructure and housing.
Former state senator Karen Peterson recalled how parking and meeting space at Legislative Hall had “never been an issue” before, and how these renovations will be “taking money away.”
“We should be funding the needs, not the wants,” Peterson said.
While Puffer said he understands these concerns, he also mentioned how these expansions will help allow people “to participate in the legislative process.”
The Legislative Hall Committee is scheduled to hold its next meeting on Dec. 10 at 12:30 p.m.
For more information on how to attend or tune in virtually, visit the state General Assembly website.
Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. You can reach her at omontes@delawareonline.com.
Date Posted: Monday, June 29th, 2026
The Delaware State Police is investigating a shooting that occurred Saturday evening in Newark.
On June 27, 2026, at approximately 6:30 p.m., troopers responded to a local hospital for a report of two individuals who arrived with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. The Criminal Investigations Unit responded and took over the case.
Through investigative efforts, detectives determined the shooting may have occurred on Otts Chapel Road near Elkton Road in Newark. Detectives responded to the location and located multiple spent shell casings.
The Delaware State Police Criminal Investigations Unit continues to investigate this incident. Detectives ask anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information relevant to the case to contact Detective J. Lucyk at (302) 365-8446. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or has lost a loved one to a sudden death and needs assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.
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Which famous people have visited Hotel du Pont in Delaware?
Athletes, world leaders, actors and other famous people have visited the Hotel du Pont in Wilmington over the years.
Fans of the intense first-responder series “9-1-1 Nashville” on ABC will have an extra reason to tune in when Season 2 starts, thanks to the addition of Delaware star actor Ryan Phillippe.
The New Castle native is cast in the role of a detective from New York who’s no stranger to drama. Season 2 is slated to premiere in late September or in early October, according to TV Insider.
Phillippe hasn’t been messing around this year, as he starred in the two-part action thriller “One Mile,” released in two parts: “Chapter One” and “Chapter Two” across streaming platforms including Prime Video and Apple TV.
Here are six facts to know about the 51-year-old Phillippe, including some things that might surprise long-time supporters.
Ryan Phillippe seen with Post Malone in Delaware
There’s a legendary photo of rapper Post Malone and Phillippe standing in front of a beer-pong table in a backstage location at Firefly Music Festival, which Phillippe posted to Instagram on June 24, 2019. Posty headlined the festival June 23. That year was precious because it marked the last pre-pandemic Firefly, an event that’s been dark since late 2022.
“Post-show beer pong – the family and i had such a great time at #firefly,” Phillippe posted on IG. “i highly recommend the festival & am proud of my home state for how killer it is.”
How did Ryan Phillippe get famous?
While Phillippe first got attention for his role as Billy on the daytime soap “One Life to Live” (1992-1993), his breakout role would come a few years later when he starred as Barry Cox in the horror film “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (1997). The film followed a group of friends (including Cox) who were haunted by a hook-wielding villain seeking revenge.
The cast featured Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. The fame from that film put Phillippe on the map and it led to major films and TV shows like “Cruel Intentions” (1999) and “Crash” (2004) and the USA Network TV series “Shooter” (2016-2018).
Where did Ryan Phillippe go to school in Delaware?
The actor attended high school at New Castle Baptist Academy in New Castle. He also graduated from the modeling and acting school Barbizon in Wilmington.
Ryan Phillippe shows rap skills on ‘Sway in the Morning’
In 2017, Phillippe visited Eminem’s Shade 45 studio, where he was a guest on the “Sway in the Morning” radio show, hosted by Sway Calloway and co-host Heather B.
Phillippe, who is a big rap fan, dropped a freestyle on the radio show, much like actor Shia LeBeouf, who made waves when he rapped on the show.
In the Delaware actor’s freestyle, he name-dropped his movies “Cruel Intentions” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer” with some sexually themed bars, before choosing to switch gears:
I’m tryna keep it clean ‘Cuz I’m a father and a daddy if you know what I mean A poly-mather machine I can still get inspired Like when an actor gets on Sway and starts spittin’ some fire like Shia Shia was nice, man LeBeouf was a beast And there will be do disrespect ‘cuz I don’t want no LeBeef
SNL and WWE hosted Ryan Phillippe
Not everyone can say that they hosted both “SNL” and the WWE’s “Monday Night Raw,” but Phillippe made it happen. He was on a tear and both episodes aired in 2010.
Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe used to be married
The Delaware native is a single dad with three children. His first two kids are Ava and Deacon, a son and daughter he shares with his ex-wife, Reese Witherspoon.
Phillippe and Witherspoon, who both appeared in the 1999 film “Cruel Intentions,” married that same year, and their relationship lasted nearly a decade before they divorced.
Phillippe’s third child is his daughter, Kai, born in 2011. Her mother is Phillipe’s ex-girlfriend and actor Alexis Knapp.
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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Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said he is expected to make a full recovery after suffering minor injuries in a multi-vehicle crash in Delaware on Sunday that was triggered by a driver experiencing a medical emergency.
The Delaware Democrat said he was riding in one of several vehicles struck during the crash and was transported to Beebe Hospital for treatment. In posts on X, Coons thanked first responders and medical staff, adding that he was relieved that, by all accounts, no one was seriously injured.
HEART-STOPPING VIDEO SHOWS MIDDLE SCHOOLERS SAVING THEIR BUS AFTER DRIVER PASSES OUT AT THE WHEEL
Sen. Chris Coons was taken to a hospital and treated for minor injuries after a car crash in Delaware.
“Earlier today, a Delaware driver experienced a medical incident and collided with several cars, including one in which I was a passenger,” Coons wrote on X. “I was transported to Beebe Hospital and treated for minor injuries. I’m now home and expected to make a full and swift recovery.
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He later posted that he was grateful to the first responders for their prompt and professional response, as well as medical personnel at Beebe Hospital, where he was transported to.
“I’m feeling relieved and blessed that by all accounts no one was seriously injured during the crash,” Coons wrote.
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