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Delaware Lawmakers Wind Up Legislative Session This Week

delaware state park

The clock is ticking down for this year’s legislative session in Delaware at the end of June.

The lawmakers are facing a $32 million reduction in funding for capital projects as well as non-profits and charities from the forecast at the beginning of the year.

So they will have to decide which capital improvement projects will get state money that range from construction to infrastructure.

Under the Grand-in-Aid legislation they must choose which charities and non-profits will get funding from the Grant-in-Aid bill.

State Senator Gerald Hocker told WBOC that many state facilities are at risk for funds including the Family Courts in Sussex and Kent Counties as well as school like DelTech.

State Dog

Credit creative commons
Golden Retriever

DOVER, De. (AP)  -  The Delaware state Senate is set to vote Tuesday on a bill naming the golden retriever as Delaware's official state dog, a proposal that cleared the House unanimously in April.

The bill outlines a host of attributes for the golden retriever, such as its intelligence and friendliness, its love for hunting, and its ability to be trained for search and rescue work.

Lovers of other breeds should not despair. The golden retriever would be Delaware's official dog for only one year, meaning fans of other breeds could also seek the state's official imprimatur for their favorite.

Snow

Credit Don Rush

It may summer but Delaware lawmakers are already looking at snow.

In this case they are concerned about the snow that accumulates on the top of vehicles during the winter time.

The Wilmington News Journal reports that state Senator Greg Lavelle is sponsoring a measure that would impose a fine of $25 to $75 dollars for a driver caught with snow on the top of his vehicle.

The Delaware Republican said that it is a real safety issue and could blind a driver momentarily while on the road.

In addition, the measure would impose fines of $200 to a thousand dollars if the ice or snow comes off during an accident involving another vehicle, a pedestrian or property damage.

The News Journal reports that lawmakers are also thinking about upping the fines for texting while driving.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.