Melissa Steele

Delaware

Reporter at Cape Gazette

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Articles

Highway tolls to increase in Delaware

1 week ago | capegazette.com | Melissa Steele

Drivers will pay more to travel on state toll roads when the Delaware Department of Transportation raises prices as part of its revenue plan. “The toll increase and larger revenue package is needed by the department to fund our infrastructure needs in the years ahead,” said C.R. McLeod, director of community relations for DelDOT.
Parker Selby remains absent from legislature in final days

1 week ago | capegazette.com | Melissa Steele

Questions about Rep. Stell Parker Selby’s absence this entire legislative year are ramping up as the session comes to a close. With only seven days remaining, the Milton representative has not attended a single day of the 2025 legislative session. Parker Selby, a Democrat, was elected in a closely contested race in November to represent the 20th District, which covers Milton and greater Lewes. She was sworn in to her seat in March in a private ceremony attended by a few at her Milton home.
Marriage equality amendment moves through Senate

1 week ago | capegazette.com | Melissa Steele

The first leg of a constitutional amendment to protect marriage equality passed the Senate June 10, with a 16-5 vote, the required two-thirds vote needed to pass. It now heads to the House. Senate Bill 100, sponsored by Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes, and Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, D-Rehoboth Beach, would enshrine marriage as a fundamental right that may not be denied or abridged on the basis of gender or any basis protected under the Delaware Constitution.
Senate backs wind project despite county denial

2 weeks ago | capegazette.com | Melissa Steele

The fight for a Sussex County land-use decision to remain local lost in a state Senate vote June 10, as senators voted 15-5 with one absent in favor of bringing offshore wind power to a southern Delaware site. The upstate senator sponsoring Senate Bill 159 to override a Sussex County denial of a wind power substation next to the NRG plant near Dagsboro dug in, insisting that wind power is a state energy issue and should not be controlled by a county decision.
Peak summer electric usage could require demand decrease

2 weeks ago | capegazette.com | Melissa Steele

The regional power grid operator’s summer 2025 forecast is optimistic about meeting typical energy demand, but warns that extreme conditions may require decreased electricity use. PJM Interconnection, the power grid operator for the eastern part of the country that includes 13 states and the District of Columbia, released its Summer Outlook 2025 report May 9, stating the power grid should have adequate reserves to maintain reliability throughout the summer.
Commission weighs in on public school funding

2 weeks ago | capegazette.com | Melissa Steele

A commission working since September to address funding of public schools released several recommendations June 2. “We have met regularly and made significant progress, including a review of Delaware’s current system, alternate funding models and the impact of Delaware’s local revenue framework,” said Sen. Laura Sturgeon, D-Brandywine, chair of the Public Education Funding Commission, in a press release.
State override of Sussex wind plan advances

3 weeks ago | capegazette.com | Melissa Steele

State legislation designed to bring wind power to the region by overriding a Sussex County Council decision to deny it moved out of committee June 2, setting up a Senate vote when the General Assembly returns. Senate Bill 159 would allow US Wind to operate off Maryland’s coast with lines running into a substation next to the Indian River power plant in Delaware. It would bring 1700 MWs of power to the regional grid. Regional grid operator PJM Interconnection estimates 1 MW can power 800 homes.
Inspector general bill unanimously passes Senate

3 weeks ago | capegazette.com | Melissa Steele

A bill to create an independent Office of the Inspector General unanimously passed the Senate May 22. Sponsored by Sen. Laura Sturgeon, D-Brandywine, who sponsored similar legislation last session that did not advance, the bill would create an independent Office of the Inspector General. The bill is supported by Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown; Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes; and Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, D-Rehoboth Beach.
Chancery Court gives greenlight to lawsuit against hospital budget oversight board

3 weeks ago | capegazette.com | Melissa Steele

The one and only count a Chancery Court judge has allowed to continue in ChristianaCare’s lawsuit against a newly created state board to oversee hospital budgets questions the simple majority used when the General Assembly passed the bill. In an opinion released May 30, Vice Chancellor Lori Will ruled that only one of the eight counts brought by ChristianaCare against state proponents of the law can move forward in court.
Revenues tick up as final state budget deadline looms

3 weeks ago | capegazette.com | Melissa Steele

As the General Assembly moves into its final weeks of session, revenue numbers are up a bit for next year’s budget. Revenues posted May 19 by the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council show a nearly $17 million increase in fiscal year 2026 revenues posted from March – a total of $6.77 billion in net receipts. Revenue from personal income tax, realty transfer tax, gross receipts tax and fees from limited partnerships and LLCs were all up from March numbers.