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  • Artist Q&A with Rockin' Jake
    Feb 23, 2010 — Dover Post
    I just wanna play what I wanna play. If I wanna play some Mardi Gras, some Cajun, some zydeco, I wanna do it because I love it. The Rockin’ Jake Band’s performance is a fundraiser for the group.
  • Committee balks at Markell's school bus cuts
    Feb 23, 2010 — Dover Post
    There simply is no more to cut.”A few of Gov.
  • Legislation introduced to protect educationl rights of students with disabilities
    Feb 19, 2010 — Dover Post
    Dover, Del. - State lawmakers unveiled proposed legislation Thursday, Feb. 18 that would protect the educational rights of public school students with disabilities. The legislation, which would prohibit schools and schooldistricts from using an artificially low standard in assessing the needs ofstudents with disabilities. Quinton Johnson IV (D-Middletown) and State Sen.
  • Moyer Academy's charter is not renewed
    Feb 19, 2010 — Dover Post
    Wilmington, Del. - The Delaware State Board of Education has voted not to renew the charter of the Maurice J. Moyer Academy Charter School. In November, the CSAC met with Moyer Academy representatives to discuss the renewal process. Based on these findings, the CSAC recommended that the charter not be renewed.
  • Philadelphia group walking to D.C. for health-care stops in Wilmington
    Feb 19, 2010 — Dover Post
    Different versions of legislation were passed in the House and Senate, respectively. But, in a stunning political development, Republican Scott Brown won the Senate seat left open in Massachusetts by the death of Democrat Ted Kennedy.
  • Students may -- or may not -- have to make up all those lost days of school
    Feb 16, 2010 — Dover Post
    This practice also allows students to have a full spring break, which is important because many families already have trips planned for that week, beginning Friday, April 2.Dr.
  • Diamond State publishes another list of delinquent taxpayers online in effort to collect money
    Feb 12, 2010 — Dover Post
    PradoDover, Del. -The Delaware Division of Revenue posted another list of the top 100 delinquent individual and business taxpayers on its website.The new lists will name individuals and businesses that, combined, owe nearly $6 million to the state, Division of Revenue Director Patrick Carter said Friday, Feb. 12.Since the Delaware Delinquent Taxpayers website went live in February 2007, the state has collected more than $6.5 million in back taxes from taxpayers whose...
  • Michael Winship: Lobbyists retreat but never surrender
    Feb 5, 2010 — Dover Post
    The other day, the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics reported that more than 15,600 companies spent at least $3.2 billion on federal lobbying last year. Guess who else was there?The House Republican Caucus chose to stay near Washington at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel.
  • Joint Finance Committee starts hearing process
    Feb 2, 2010 — Dover Post
    Doug DenisonDover, Del. -The once secretive Joint Finance Committee of the Delaware General Assembly cracked into Gov. For fiscal year 2010, those taxes only are projected to bring in $47.5 million. Colin Bonini, R-Dover South.If early retirement were offered, Visalli said approximately 3,000 state employees would be eligible.However, JFC co-chair Sen.
  • Table games bill passes, signed by governor
    Jan 28, 2010 — Dover Post
    Doug DenisonDover, Del. -Gov.
  • Bind bill revision would fund route 301, pay for sports betting appeal
    Jan 27, 2010 — Dover Post
    ...they'll pay.Amendments to the bond bill, passed last June 30 alongside the fiscal year 2010 budget, are common and usually reflect the acquisition new funding avenues for state projects.Transportation Secretary Carolann Wicks explained that the new funds for route 301 will come from federal GARVEE bonds, which essentially are loans taken out against the state's future federal highway funding.Wicks said two dozen states already use GARVEE bonds for federally eligible highway...
  • Haiti relief donations qualify for immediate tax relief
    Jan 27, 2010 — Dover Post
    Taxpayers who itemize deductions on their 2009 return qualify for this special tax relief provision, enacted Jan. 22, said Delaware's IRS spokesperson Gregg Semanick. Taxpayers should be sure their contributions go to qualified charities. Most organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible donations are listed in a searchable online database available on IRS.gov.
  • Kent Bush: State of the Union speech shows change in course - and discourse
    Jan 27, 2010 — Dover Post
    Many Americans still haven't felt the impact of what we've done. In 1994, Clinton didn’t have any warning of what might be on the horizon. Let us find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people.
  • Table games vote set for Jan. 28
    Jan 27, 2010 — Dover Post
    Del. -Legislators set the stage today for a vote Thursday to approve the establishment of table games at the state's three casinos.The Senate Judicial Committee cleared the House bill authorizing table games and setting the rules by which revenue from the games would be split between the state and the casinos.A short time later, the House Gaming and Parimutuels Committee approved a companion Senate bill that lays out criminal definitions and penalties for cheating on table...
  • State asking for $107M in Race to the Top grants
    Jan 26, 2010 — Dover Post
    Doug DenisonDover, Del. -Gov.
  • Bob Tremblay: Blue Massachusetts turns red with Brown
    Jan 21, 2010 — Dover Post
    Bob TremblaySomewhere in heaven Ted Kennedy is weeping, while somewhere on Earth Rush Limbaugh is rejoicing. Scott Brown, the Republican state senator from Wrentham, ran a great campaign. Voters wanted to derail President Barack Obama's health care plan.
  • Dan Mac Alpine: A funny thing happened on her way to the Senate
    Jan 20, 2010 — Dover Post
    Your party opposed extending health care for children. They can smell candidate arrogance like a shark smells blood.And you, Martha, wreaked of arrogance. For you, voters were a mere annoyance on your way to the Senate.Oops.Dan Mac Alpine is senior editor of the Ipswich Chronicle.
  • State files Race to the Top application
    Jan 19, 2010 — Dover Post
    Doug DenisonDover, Del. -Gov.
  • State leaders recognize local businesses for mentoring in Delaware
    Jan 15, 2010 — Dover Post
    Matt Denn honored the businesses that have stepped up to provide adult mentors to hundreds of Delaware schoolchildren during a ceremony Friday, Jan. 15 at Warner Elementary School. Denn mentors a third grade student from Wilmington once a week. Carper also mentors a student each week in Wilmington.
  • Delaware's education plan approved by State Board
    Jan 14, 2010 — Dover Post
    Dover, Del. - The Delaware State Board of Education approved key elements of Governor Jack Markell’s education reform plan Jan. 14. The first, which includes Regulations 106A and 108A, reforms the teacher and administrator evaluation system by redefining the component of performance evaluations that focuses on student improvement. Approximately 40,000 Delaware students attended schools that did not meet targets for educational progress in 2008-09.
  • Benjamin Wachs: Fix education; nix test scores
    Jan 12, 2010 — Dover Post
    I don’t agree with every part of everything, but on the whole it’s desperately needed reform.The single problem I have is, how do we measure success? Understanding math and science is critical, as is the ability to apply them to the world. But most of the math and science that are tested for on standardized evaluations are replaceable in the real world with a calculator and a Google search.
  • Delaware Earns an A for smoke-free air, an F for helping smokers quit
    Jan 12, 2010 — Dover Post
    “Smokers and non-smokers alike in Delaware are realizing the health benefits. No state earned straight As in the State of Tobacco Control 2009. Another 50,000 Americans die from exposure to secondhand smoke.
  • Dr. Gwenn Schurgin O'Keeffe: Healthy life begins with individual changes
    Jan 12, 2010 — Dover Post
    Kids deserve to enter their adult lives as healthy as possible, so be honest with them about their health issues -- whatever they may be. Help kids overcome health issues today so they can be more healthy tomorrow. A graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine, O'Keeffe completed her residency training at New England Medical Center.
  • Senator drafts bill to cap 2011 budget
    Jan 12, 2010 — Dover Post
    George H. Bunting Jr., D-Bethany Beach, and Rep. Dennis E. Williams, D-Talleyville, other leading legislators were not receptive to the idea.Sen.
  • Commentary: A Delaware Paradox
    Jan 8, 2010 — Dover Post
    I’m happy about it,” Oberle said.Oberle’s tenure is noteworthy because of his longevity. Oberle beat a Democratic incumbent by 24 votes and set up shop for the long haul. That was not the environment to be self-medicating,” Oberle said.Oberle returned to the back row, where he was more comfortable.
  • Dave Ramsey: What kinds of insurance does Dave recommend?
    Dec 29, 2009 — Dover Post
    That’s why health insurance is a vital part of any good financial plan.It’s also important to have auto and homeowner’s insurance. Don’t forget about life insurance, either. This kind of insurance can make sure you get the kind of care you want in your declining years.
  • Jim Fall: Proof that the truth is strange
    Dec 29, 2009 — Dover Post
    Sounds pretty swift to me, but Maren Zanker of Germany did it wearing swimming flippers. With 7,300-plus turbibes, it is spread over an area twice the size of Manhattan Island. The highest capacity wind farm is the Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center in Texas.
  • Panel says current revenues OK, warns of decline in 2011
    Dec 28, 2009 — Dover Post
    ...gained from tax increases, like the franchise tax, also tend to skew perceptions of underlying trends.A higher tax rate means fewer taxpayers can generate the same amount of revenue. But with economic conditions eroding the tax base, increases spurred by the tax increase begin to diminish quickly.“We’ve been increasing tax rates, so when you look at these numbers a lot of times you’re looking at lower base activity with higher tax rates,” Gregor said.
  • Rick Holmes: The best books read in 2009 ...
    Dec 28, 2009 — Dover Post
    Rick HolmesA confession: The small table by my bedside holds a stack of reading material that grows and grows. For the third year in a row, I've asked colleagues on the MetroWest Daily News staff and our associated blogs to share a few words on the best book they've read this year. There's nothing wrong with reading a good book, whatever its age.
  • DSTP replacement will go into effect next school year
    Dec 24, 2009 — Dover Post
    The DCAS will become fully operational for the 2010-2011 school year. The total cost of the five year contract is $24.6 million effective until June 30, 2014. The DDOE reserves the right to extend the contract for as many as five additional one-year extensions if it is deemed to be in the best interest of the State of Delaware.
  • Washington firm wins state contract for new student test
    Dec 23, 2009 — Dover Post
    AIR will begin the immediate development and piloting of the new statewide test, the Delaware Department of Education said Wednesday, Dec. 23. The test is called the Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System (DCAS). It will replace the Delaware Student Testing Program, commonly known as the DSTP, Department of Education spokesman Ron Gough said. The total cost of the five year contract is $24.6 million effective until June 30, 2014.
  • Making Cents: Many need long-term care insurance
    Dec 20, 2009 — Dover Post
    One of the latest offers from insurers is a policy combining life insurance and long term care policies. If the insured passes away with unpaid benefits from the LTC policy, a designated beneficiary will receive a check to refund all premiums paid on the contract. Premiums paid for some long-term care policies may qualify for a federal tax deduction.
  • State board of education offers support for education reform plan
    Dec 15, 2009 — Dover Post
    Doug DenisonDover, Del. -The state Board of Education last week took its first crack at reviewing a collection of proposals put forward by Gov. Lillian Lowery reported that the regulations, drafted after a series of meetings over the summer with education stakeholders statewide, would be revised and refined even further over the next month.
  • State plan shoots for Race to the Top funding
    Dec 8, 2009 — Dover Post
    It is based on an education reform package proposed by Gov.
  • Delaware unveils education plan to win millions in stimulus funding
    Dec 2, 2009 — Dover Post
    The U.S. Department of Education is conducting the $4.35 billion competition as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009’s allocation of $100 billion for education. Markell and Secretary of Education Lillian M. Lowery will attend community forums in local districts to discuss the plan in depth and how the plan aligns with efforts to compete in Race to the Top. The Delaware State Board of Education is expected to hold two public meetings where the plan will be discussed.
  • President-designate wants state scholarships, focus on academics
    Dec 1, 2009 — Dover Post
    Doug DenisonDover, Del. -Delaware State University’s president-designate has a lot of catching up to do.Dr. Half a mile down the road is Del Tech, that’s what they do.
  • Delaware Arts Alliance members support each other
    Nov 24, 2009 — Dover Post
    Sarika JagtianiDover, Del. -The state’s arts community has a new support system. The non-profit Delaware Arts Alliance formed as a response to the fiscal downturn of 2008, when it looked like the state’s arts funding might be cut.
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