Delaware
Opioid commission approves more grants amid freeze request, $45 million settlement funds 'in limbo'
Delaware’s Behavioral Health Consortium approves opioid crisis abatement funding despite reports of Dover nonprofit Code Purple potentially misusing government funds.
After the State Auditor’s office flagged the Code Purple fraud concerns, all funding to the nonprofit was frozen and the Delaware Department of Justice began attempting to claw back $290,000 in distributed monies.
Attorney General Kathy Jennings also recommended freezing all grant awards until the distribution process could be evaluated by external contractor Social Contract — a decision she said her and Co-Chair of the Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long were in agreement on.
Jennings said the reports will make recommendations on how to install better guardrails to help prevent future fraudulent incidents, expecting one to be released in August and one in September.
But Tuesday, the consortium approved $1.9 million for the first two phases, Phase 1 A and Phase 1 B, of bridge funding for existing businesses and nonprofits in good standing, despite the Attorney General’s call for a freeze.
During Thursday’s Behavioral Health Resources Committee meeting, Executive Director of Delaware’s Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission (POSDC) Susan Holloway noted the third phase of the grant cycle, Phase 1 C, likely won’t happen until after the Social Contract reports are released.
“Phase 1 C, we do not have a date set yet – we haven’t had a date. I assume – it’s obviously up to the commission – that won’t happen until sometime later in the fall. And out of the $15 million, since $1.9 [million] was approved for bridge funding, the balance of approximately $13 million will be used as the budget for phase 1 C,” Holloway said.
She also remarked statewide fatal overdoses have largely been decreasing since September, which is when the settlement money began entering the community, and 2023 marked the first reduction of the aggregate number of fatal overdoses in Delaware in 10 years.
Although there has been a 1.8% decrease overall, she noted there has been a 147% increase in fatal overdoses among Black and Brown communities.
POSDC could also lose $45 million originally slated to help fund opioid treatment and prevention in Delaware following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
Jennings announced a tentative settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family in 2022 that was expected to bring the state close to $50 million to help abate the opioid crisis.
In late June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the bankruptcy court did not have the authority to release the Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, from legal claims made by opioid victims.
In the original settlement, the Sackler family had agreed to pay $6 billion that could be used to settle opioid-related claims, but only in return for a complete release from any liability in future cases.
The new ruling means settlement negotiations will restart while the separate Purdue Pharma bankruptcy proceedings continue, which Deputy Attorney General Jason Staib says could jeopardize Delaware’s portion of the funding.
“As of today, the $45 million that Delaware was slated to get under the prior settlement that was baked into the Purdue plan is in limbo,” he said.
A statement issued by members of the Sackler family said they “remain hopeful about reaching a resolution that provides substantial resources to help combat a complex public health crisis.”
Delaware Supreme Court Justice Karen L. Valihura announced Wednesday that she will lead a new corporate law institute at the Wilmington University Farnan School of Law.
She will step down from the bench of Delaware’s highest court in late July, after choosing not to seek reappointment at the end of her 12-year term. She revealed her plans for the next phase of her legal career in a special session of the court in Wilmington.
As well as joining the Wilmington University law school faculty, Valihura will be the founding director of the school’s new Corporate Law, Governance and Practice Institute. …
Wilmington Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy Tuesday night in Wilmington’s Hilltop neighborhood.
According to police, the shooting occurred at approximately 8:33 p.m. in the 1600 block of West 5th Street.
On their arrival at the scene, police say they located the 16-year-old with at least one gunshot wound and transported him to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
This incident remains under investigation.
Police did not share whether there have been any arrests in connection with the shooting or a possible motive.
Wilmington Police encourage anyone with information about this incident, contact Detective Justin Wilkers at (302) 576-3634. Information can also be sent to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, or Delawarecrimestoppers.com.
The Wilmington Police Department (WPD) Victim Service Unit and Youth Response Unit are available to provide information and support to victims, children, and families affected by this incident.
The Victim Service Unit can be reached at (302) 576-3622, and the Youth Response Unit can be reached at (302) 576-3183.
NEW CASTLE COUNTY, D.E, – Two 17-year-olds, Cara and Nathan, were struck and killed while walking on South Dupont Highway, according to Delaware State Police. Police say the driver did not stay at the scene, but investigators have now arrested a suspect.
Community mourns teens killed on South Dupont Highway
What we know:
Delaware State Police say the crash happened around 1:10 a.m. last Sunday while Cara and Nathan were walking an e-bike in or near the left lane of southbound Dupont Parkway near Denny Lynn Drive. Police say the driver initially stopped but then left the scene.
Troopers later arrested 23-year-old Nizaiah Ellis during a traffic stop and say the car had damage consistent with the crash.
Police say the two teens were headed to Cara’s house to leave for a trip with her family later that day.
Family and friends gathered Tuesday for a memorial to remember Cara and Nathan.
“It’s still new. It comes in waves but sometimes you just feel paralyzed and numb,” said Rachel Roderick and Heather Feeley, the teens’ mothers.
“I want others to hug their babies extra tight. Take so many photos you don’t know what to do to them. (Say yes to your kids more.)” said Roderick and Feeley.
“Forgiveness would have been easier had he not left our babies. Left. So senseless,” said Cara’s mother, Heather Feeley.
Roderick said, “It’s beautiful. The love is what’s keeping us going. The support of the community.”
The teens’ lives and dreams remembered
Cara graduated high school a year early and was a student at Del Tech, hoping to become a cosmetologist.
Nathan would have been a senior in high school this fall and wanted to own a mechanics business working on boats, motorcycles and cars.
Family and friends described the teens as kind and deeply loved.
“They were so kind. They loved everyone as is displayed here today. No one was not a friend and they loved each other immensely,” said Feeley. “They both touched so many lives and I don’t even think they realized how big of an impact they left on everyone,” said Roderick.
Kaelynn Miller, one of Cara’s best friends who helped organize the memorial, said, “Kara and Nathan never deserved this. If anyone is listening to this they weren’t just a person. The people you took were some of the most genuine souls out there.”
Today would have been Cara’s 18th birthday. Parents said the two were dating at the time of their deaths.
A GoFundMe has been set up for Cara’s family and Nathan’s family.
What we don’t know:
Police have not released further details about the investigation or any potential charges for the driver.
Additional information about the ongoing case has not been provided.
The Source: Information from Delaware State Police and interviews at the memorial.
-
North Carolina3 minutes agoGreat Horned Owl kills barn owl owlet on North Carolina Wildlife Live Cam
-
New Mexico5 minutes agoGovernor asks AG to investigate DEA agents over fentanyl in New Mexico
-
North Dakota13 minutes agoFargo woman convicted in North Dakota fraud case now faces charges in Minnesota: A deeper dive
-
Ohio20 minutes agoProperty transfers in Marion County, sales range from $40K to $415K
-
Oklahoma23 minutes agoWhat are the Oklahoma City Thunder getting in Kentucky star Otega Oweh?
-
Oregon28 minutes agoOregon Announces $49 Million Payout to Inmates for Handling of Pandemic
-
Pennsylvania35 minutes agoPa. sees growth in over-65 residents, but overall population stagnates
-
Rhode Island38 minutes agoGETTING SUPPORT AT THE FORT – Jamestown Press
