Delaware

Odessa High School invited to perform in London New Year's Day Parade for 2025

Quick Summary:

July 3rd 2023: Delaware is making grant money available to help reduce overdose deaths in the African American community.

According to health officials, the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health with make eight grants available for community organizations that promote awareness about the issue. Data shows that between 2021 and 2022, overdose deaths in the Black community grew by five-percent.

“Overdose deaths among African American/Black Delawareans rose from 22% to 29% between 2021 and 2022,” DSAMH Director Joanna Champney said. “We know that community-based organizations are the engines managing crises before people get to the hospital. That’s why it’s so critical for us to engage our community partners.”

In addition to the mini grants, DSAMH also seeks partnerships with community organizations and leaders that are interested in conducting education/awareness campaigns and refining them with a special emphasis on underserved populations. The campaigns will focus on reducing stigma around substance use disorder and the use of medications for Opioid Use Disorders, promoting awareness of and access to substance use disorder treatment and recovery services, preventing SUD among youth and adults, promoting access to Narcan, and highlighting recovery stories.

June 30, 2023: House Bill 201 is supposed to let a police officer to act immediately when they see or suspect that a someone has a gun in a Safe School and Recreation Zone.

In an effort to keep firearms from school property to minimize the possibility of a shooting, 201 exempts those that have a valid license and keep their guns either off school property, in their car, or locked up.

The bill gives regulations for schools to follow when a student has a firearm in a Safe School and Recreation Zone -- expulsion for 3 months is the average punishment but the school board can modify it.

Quick summary:

Jun 30, 2023: At a ceremony in Legislative Hall in Dover, Carney signed House Bills 92 and 120, HS 1 for House Bill 94, and Senate Bills 68, 86 and 89.

H.S. 1 for House Bill 94 sets up a five year pilot program for the use of speed cameras in work zones.

Bill 86 requires motorcyclists to wear a helmet for the first two years after getting their motorcycle license endorsement.

Other bills that Carney signed expand penalties for speeding over 90 miles per hour to a charge of reckless endangering, expansion of the current Move Over law, clarification of child car seat regulations, and installing flashing green lights on DelDOT snow plows for better visibility during winter weather.