SMYRNA, Delaware (WPVI) — It was a frightening moment for a mother over the weekend when another driver started shooting at her car in Delaware.

It happened Saturday night as she was driving back home from Rehoboth Beach with her 2-year-old in the backseat.

“That was the scariest time of my life. My nerves are still bad until this day. Driving makes me nervous,” said 30-year-old Kendra, who didn’t want to share her last name.

Five bullet holes in her trunk are a grim reminder of the dangerous incident that unfolded just before 10:30 p.m.

She said her 2-year-old daughter was sleeping in the back seat when the incident started.

“I could have lost my life over beeping the horn. My child could have lost her life over me beeping the horn,” said Kendra.

She said she honked when a driver in a white SUV, possibly a GMC Yukon, drifted into her lane while traveling northbound on State Route 1 in Smyrna.

Delaware State Police said the unknown driver responded by aggressively tailgating her, flashing high beams and shouting obscenities from the window.

“He waited for my car to pass by him and started shooting my vehicle while my child was in the back,” said Kendra. “I couldn’t stop crying. I couldn’t stop hyperventilating. I’m driving 90 plus mph checking on my child and making sure she’s okay.”

Kendra said the suspect fired five shots before getting off at exit 119.

Police said remarkably, a small item in the truck protected them.

“This is the bullet that would have struck my child, but luckily I had this — my laundry in the back and this $5 Walmart pillow saved my child’s life,” said Kendra. “I’m keeping this for the rest of my life.”

Kendra said she’ll continue to be mindful of drivers on the road.

Police recommend these tips to deal with aggressive drivers: Do not confront the driver. Instead, go to a safe location. Secure your windows and doors, and report the incident to 911 with detailed information.

“I’m just going to fall back and let you do whatever it is you’re going to do,” said Kendra. “You never know what type of day people are having, and God forbid I don’t want to go through that situation again, and I hope no one else would have to go through that type of situation.”

Police are investigating and reviewing surveillance video, but they urge anyone who witnessed the incident or may know the suspect, to contact them immediately.

State lawmaker Ed Osienski (D-Newark) continues pushing to allow current medical marijuana dispensaries, also known as compassion centers, to legally enter the recreational market early.

While the Marijuana Commissioner plans to begin accepting recreational license applications by this September, this bill would allow compassion centers to apply for a conversion license in August and open for business within months.

While the bill was narrowly voted out of committee due to business competition concerns and worries centers could not keep up with product supply for medical patients, Osienski added an amendment to remedy the latter concern.

“We decided to put much stronger language in the legislation to ensure we have a healthy supply of medical marijuana for medical patients while these compassion centers are converting over to also be able to sell, grow and manufacture recreational marijuana,” he said.

The new addition of the bill also increases the conversion license fee from $100,000 to $200,000 and ensures those funds assist the social equity license program – a grant program for individuals who have been affected by prohibition looking to enter the marijuana businesses.

Those interested in applying for the social equity license program must submit a validation form before July 15, 2024, to see if they qualify.

To qualify, an applicant must have either resided for at least 5 of the preceding 15 years in an area with high rates of arrest, conviction and incarceration for marijuana-related offenses, have been convicted of or an adjudicated delinquent of a marijuana-related offense under Delaware law or has a parent, legal guardian, child, spouse or dependent who was convicted of or adjudicated delinquent for any marijuana-related offense.

The Office of the Marijuana Commissioner recently launched the Disproportionately Impacted Area Map, which individuals can use to see if their address falls within a designated “disproportionately impacted area.” (DIA).

The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.

DOVER, Del. – The budget-writing Joint Finance Committee has introduced a $6.1 billion operating budget bill for Fiscal Year 2025.

We’re told this plan upholds the Delaware General Assembly’s commitment to state workers and retirees while also making new investments in the state’s public schools and other critical programs supporting some of the most vulnerable residents in the First State.

The committee also filed a $168 million supplemental spending plan of one-time expenditures on Tuesday. Contingency funds will also be held in the reserve to help prevent future economic downturns from disrupting core services, including a $50 million allocation aimed at helping cover future raises for educators. This is part of the ongoing effort to bring base starting salaries for teachers to $60,000.

Senate Bill 325, the operating budget bill, would fund a third year of state employee pay raises, with all merit employees set to receive a 2% increase. Additionally, negotiated collective bargaining units and statutory step increases would also be fully funded.

The 2% raise proposed for teachers and specialists means educators will have seen an 11% increase in base salary over the last two years. The base pay for paraprofessionals, custodians, secretaries, bus drivers, and food service workers will have increased by 6-18% during the same period.

SB 325 also includes $7 million in state funding for higher Medicaid reimbursement rates paid to long term care facilities, which will unlock another $10.5 million in federal funds.

Senate Bill 326, the one-time supplemental budget, would fund cost of living increases of up to 2% for most pensioners in the state, depending on their retirement date.

The operating budget bill for July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, would also make substantial investments in critical services used by vulnerable Delawareans, including seniors in skilled nursing facilities, people with intellectual and development disabilities, and families struggling to cover the costs of childcare.

More on these bills can be found here.