Delaware
Will plan to revamp incorporation law protect or damage Delaware’s $2B kingdom?
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In the parlance of Delaware political and legal insiders, “the franchise” is king.
Without the franchise, the state couldn’t pay for public schools, police, prisons, social and health programs, beach replenishment, farm preservation or so much more.
Without the franchise, taxes would be significantly higher, or the state would need to slash services.
The franchise is Delaware’s system, which currently has 2.2 million businesses — and two-thirds of the Fortune 500 — incorporated in the nation’s second-smallest state. Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Nvidia and the corporate parents of Google and Facebook and Instagram are among about 1,350 Large Corporate Filers who fork over $250,000 apiece in franchise taxes.
All told, those “incorporation revenues” are projected to directly generate $2 billion for the state treasury this year. That accounts for 29% of the state’s general fund revenue.
But today, fear is rampant in Delaware that the business-friendly franchise that some also call the “golden goose” is in serious danger of being cooked — that a mass corporate exodus or “DExit” is imminent.
Trepidation has grown over the last year since Elon Musk pulled Tesla and SpaceX out of Delaware and castigated the Delaware Chancery Court, which has long been considered the franchise’s crown jewel for its deft and reliable resolution of complicated business disputes.
“Absolute corruption,” Musk tweeted in December after the court’s chief judge rejected his $56 billion pay package from Tesla for the second time. The file-sharing platform Dropbox has announced it’s divorcing from Delaware, and other major companies such as Meta Platforms, the parent of social media giants Facebook and Instagram, say they might do the same.
So this month, new Gov. Matt Meyer, legislative leaders and a cadre of legal luminaries decided to neutralize the perceived threat before it gains ground.
Together, they crafted a complex proposal to revamp Delaware corporate law by essentially making it tougher for shareholders to sue founders and top executives for perceived conflicts.
They did so, Meyer and others involved in the process say, to alleviate concerns they are hearing from the nation’s corporate community that Chancery Court has grown increasingly unfriendly to top execs like Musk in mega-dollar cases.
Meyer, a Democrat and lawyer who took office Jan. 21, echoed other supporters when the bill was introduced Feb. 17. “We will protect our reputation and continue Delaware’s tradition of a balanced and measured approach, and we will do so relentlessly,” Meyer said.
Meyer’s concern is magnified by the impact a DExit would have on balancing the $6.8 billion state budget and maintaining public services during his four-year term, especially at a time when President Donald Trump is trying to cut critical federal funding to states.
Delaware needs and wants those $2 billion in incorporation revenues every year, plus a related $420 million the state gets from abandoned financial accounts at banks and other companies registered in the state, Meyer said.
“When one-third of your state’s budget is on the line and you’re eyeing down untold federal budget cuts, you have to make a choice: protect your residents or not. And I choose Delawareans every day,” Meyer said in an interview last week. “Any bill that helps improve our financial stability needs to be considered fully.”
Lawrence Hamermesh, professor emeritus at Widener University’s Delaware Law School and one of the bill’s drafters, said it will restore eroding confidence in corporate circles and prevent “catastrophic” cuts to the state budget.
“Unlike as long as I’ve been practicing and teaching corporate law, there is no longer the inclination to tell clients and to conclude that Delaware is the place to set up your corporation,” Hamermesh said. “That is potentially the source of a tipping point that would be devastating for the state and its taxpayers and workers and everybody here.”
The bill, which has bipartisan support that includes the Senate and House leadership, could become law within a month, said Delaware Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, the chief sponsor.
While the bill currently has no effective date — spurring speculation that it could be retroactive and change the result of cases involving Musk and other executives — state Sen. Townsend said it’s being modified so the effective date would be after it’s signed into law.
A former Delaware and Maryland police officer was charged with rape following a sexual assault investigation, according to the Delaware State Police.
On May 5, William Paskey, 33, was arrested and charged with second-degree rape after officials said he sexually assaulted a woman he met on an online dating app in 2022.
The investigation began in May 2025, when the Delaware State Police Troop 3 Criminal Investigations Unit began looking into allegations against Paskey.
According to officials, detectives learned that in September 2022, Paskey met the victim on a dating app anad invited her to his home in Harrington, Delaware. The woman told investigators that during the date, Paskey became aggressive and engaged in nonconsensual acts with her, refusing her multiple requests to stop.
Troopers said Paskey was employed as a law enforcement officer at the time of the incident, but was not on duty.
After consulting with the Delaware Department of Justice, troopers obtained a warrant for Paskey’s arrest.
The man was released after posting a $20,000 secured bond, officials said.
According to the Delaware State Police, between 2014 and 2021, Paskey worked for several police departments in Delaware, including the Dagsboro, Ellendale and Blades police departments. Most recently, Paskely worked as a police officer for the Town of Ridgely Police Department in Maryland.
Detectives believe there may be additional victims and ask anyone with information or who may be a victim to please contact Sergeant P. Taylor by calling (302) 698-8547. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.
Slithery intruder makes appearance on beach
A huge snake was spotted making its way across the beach in Ocean City, Maryland. Luckily, the reptile was not venomous.
It could be one of your worst nightmares.
You’re enjoying a summer day in the water when you feel something brush past your leg. You turn, and there’s a snake.
While the chances of that scenario playing out are highly unlikely, there is a good chance the waters you enjoy playing in are also inhabited by snakes.
The danger level might not be as high as Florida’s, but it’s still something to be aware of when you go into the outdoors.
Here’s a look at the snake-infested lakes and ponds in Delaware, according to worldatlas.com.
Nanticoke River
The Nanticoke River runs 64 miles from southern Delaware to the Chesapeake Bay, winding through marshlands, forests, and farmland along the way. The habitat is perfect for the Northern watersnake. The snakes are nonvenomous, but they will defensively strike if you corner them or try to hold them.
The Brandywine
This is where you need to be very careful. The Eastern copperhead is a confirmed and documented presence, and a small group exists at Alapocas Run State Park along the water near Wilmington. The snakes won’t chase you, but if you step too close or don’t see them, they will strike. You should watch your step near log piles and rocky outcrops.
Millsboro Pond
Millsboro Pond is the home to perch, black crappie and frogs, which is the perfect food for snakes including northern water snakes, plain-bellied water snakes, queen snakes and common ribbon snakes.
The Eastern copperhead lives in southern Sussex County, which includes the pond. However, sightings are rare. It’s something to watch out for when you are at the pond.
Lums Pond
The pond, located in Lums Pond State Park, has numerous varieties of snakes. However, the inlets and small islands are perfect for northern water snakes to bask in the sun. The snakes thrive on fish and amphibians and benefit from the surrounding forest and wetlands.
One snake to watch for is the ringneck snake. It has a mild venom and its teeth have trouble puncturing human skin, but for those with venom allergies, you should treat it like any other venomous species.
Trap Pond
Trap Pond, located in Trap Pond State Park, is noted for its cypress swamp. The bald cypress trees and the tree’s root structure provide a great hiding place and basking spot for eastern garter snakes and northern water snakes.
Silver Lake
Located in Dover, Silver Lake is lined with trees and vegetation, making it a great place for snakes. The northern water snake is seen here, but eastern kingsnakes are also occasionally seen in the wooded areas of the lake.
Garrison Lake
Garrison Lake is a popular spot in Kent County for fishing and boating. The marshy areas and dense vegetation are perfect habitats for northern water snakes, eastern garter snakes and eastern rat snakes. The wetlands are attractive to snakes due to the abundance of prey and the availability of cover.
Red Mills Pond
Red Mills Pond, located near Lewes, has a rich biodiversity supporting numerous amphibians and small mammals, which attract snakes. Among the snakes you may see in and around the pond are the northern water snake, eastern ribbon snake and eastern ribbon snake.
Del lawmakers discuss bill requiring teachers work with valid licenses
The bill is a response to revelations a school therapist fabricated his credentials before he was charged with sexual abuse of a child.
Delaware Online/The News Journal won the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism for its reporting revealing hundreds of invalid teacher licenses in Delaware.
The work by reporters Kelly Powers and Esteban Parra led to lawmakers proposing a bill that would tighten licensing requirements for public school employees and penalize districts that retain unlicensed staff.
The judges cited the work for “meticulous and thorough reporting” and “a fair and balanced presentation of the situation.”
The A‑Mark prize honors excellence in watchdog and accountability reporting. It is backed by The A‑Mark Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit supporting investigative and unbiased social‑issue journalism, in partnership with the Maryland‑Delaware‑DC Press Association.
“The reporting from Kelly Powers and Esteban Parra reflects the very best of investigative journalism in Delaware – thorough, fair and impactful,’’ said Mike Feeley, executive editor of The News Journal and Delaware Online. “We are proud to see their work awarded with the inaugural A-Mark Prize in a highly competitive field.
“I congratulate all of Delaware Online’s award winners in this year’s MDDC Awards for their commitment to journalism that strengthens our communities,’’ Feeley said.
Delaware Online/The News Journal won a total of 18 awards May 8 at the MDDC Press Association’s annual conference.
The MDDC Awards recognizes news publications from Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. For each category, a first- and second-place winner is chosen based on circulation divisions. A part of the largest-circulation division, Delaware Online/The News Journal competes against news sites like the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Banner and Washington Post.
Here is the list of winners, with links to the stories that took home the prizes.
Best of Show
- News-Driven Art or Illustration: Luis Solano, “American’s deadliest habit”
First Place
Second Place
- Feature Story: Non-Profile: Xerxes Wilson, “Why this Delaware prison is making tattooing part of its educational programming”
- Sports Feature Story: Brandon Holveck, Martin Frank, “Eagles’ Saquon Barkley’s historic season built on selflessness, generational athleticism”
- Local Column: Critical Thinking: Xerxes Wilson, “Broken bones, brick walls and searching for accountability”
- Sports Photo (Feature): Benjamin Chambers, “Delaware wins 61-31 against UTEP in Conference USA regular season finale”
- Public Service Reporting: Krys’tal Griffin, “While these Delaware riders depend on Paratransit, the service still lags post-pandemic”
- Breaking News: The News Journal staff, “Delaware State trooper killed by shooter prevented other deaths, state officials say”
- News Page Design: Luis Solano, “American’s deadliest habit”
- Page 1 Design: Stephanie Lindholm, “Musical haven in Delaware”
- Continuing Reporting: Kelly Powers, Shane Brennan, “Your property taxes are changing. What Delaware homeowners should know about new laws”
- General Website Excellence, The News Journal
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