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UPI
a day ago
- Politics
- UPI
Former Delaware Gov. Michael Castle dies at 86
1 of 3 | Former Congressman and Gov. Michael N. Castle, R-Del., has died at the age of 86, the politician's family confirmed in a post online. File Photo (2009) by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Former congressman and Gov. Michael N. Castle, R-Del., has died at the age of 86, the politician's family confirmed in a post online. The moderate Republican served two terms as governor between 1985 and 1992 before being elected to Congress in 1993. "Congressman Mike Castle was a founding member of the Republican Main Street Partnership, a leading organization for centrist Republicans, and worked in a bipartisan manner to help move people from welfare to work, support fiscally responsible government, improve public education, and protect the community," his family said in the statement. "He served on the House Committee on Financial Services, Committee on Education and Workforce and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence." Castle, who is survived by his wife of over 33 years, Jane DiSabatino, ultimately became the longest-serving member of Congress from Delaware in the state's history. He also served as the lieutenant governor of Delaware from 1981 to 1985 prior to being elected governor, and in the state legislature before that. "Over the arc of the more than 40 years that I knew him - I met him when I was 16 - he repeatedly provided his knowledge and expertise to help me along my own way," Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said in a statement, calling Castle an "incredible man." "When we eventually ran against each other, I did my absolute best to run a respectful, positive, policy-based campaign. As we campaigned against each other, I only liked him more." Castle was known as a backer of educational and environmental reforms. As a member of Congress, Castle was a major proponent of the 2001 "No Child Left Behind," legislation that was an effort to improve test scores among U.S. school children. "Governor Castle understood there is no greater legacy we leave to future generations than the quality of our environment. As Governor, his administration's Environmental Legacy program to protect and preserve forests, wetlands, and beaches won recognition for its foresight and impact," his family said in the statement. In addition to DiSabatino, who he married in 1992, Castle is survived by his "many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews." Visitation will take place August 21 at a funeral home in Wilmington, Del. Notable deaths of 2025 Astronaut Jim Lovell, commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission to the moon, died August 8, 2025, in Illinois, his family announced. He was 97. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Michael Castle, former Delaware governor and congressman, dies at age 86
WASHINGTON - Republican Michael N. Castle, a fixture in Delaware politics for a half-century who previously served as governor and a member of Congress, died Thursday at age 86. "During his time as governor, Mike Castle visited every single school in our state, including mine, where he spoke to my high school class with the same warmth, humility, and commitment to public service that defined his career," Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer, a Democrat, said in a statement directing that flags be lowered to honor Castle. "That moment, among others, demonstrated what a good man he was and how deeply he cared about Delaware's future." Castle served as governor for two terms before being elected to the House in 1992, where he went on to serve nine terms. In 2010, he entered the Republican primary for a special Senate election to fill the remainder of Joe Biden's term after Biden became vice president. But amid the anti-establishment "tea party" fervor in the Republican Party at the time, the moderate Castle lost the primary to Christine O'Donnell, who proved to be an unsuccessful general election candidate, with a campaign ad proclaiming that she was "not a witch." Democratic Sen. Chris Coons won the general election and continues to hold the seat. "Over the arc of the more than 40 years that I knew him - I met him when I was 16 - he repeatedly provided his knowledge and expertise to help me along my own way," Coons said in a statement. "When he was a congressman and I was county executive, we worked together often, including some important investments into the C&D Canal greenway. When we eventually ran against each other, I did my absolute best to run a respectful, positive, policy-based campaign." In Congress, Castle was a senior Republican on what's currently known as the Education and the Workforce Committee. He was a lead sponsor of the 2001 education law known as "No Child Left Behind," initiated by President George W. Bush to tie federal education aid to improvements in student test scores. Also a senior member of the Financial Services Committee, Castle long fought for his home state's banking industry. He also promoted the creation of new, collectible U.S. coins. He was the lead House sponsor of a 2005 law that authorized the minting of a series of $1 coins bearing the likenesses of all the U.S. presidents, and he was a leading champion of initiatives like the 50-state quarters program. The 6-foot-4-inch Castle was a basketball star in high school. He graduated from Hamilton College in upstate New York in 1961 and went to Georgetown University Law School, "sort of because I didn't know what I was doing," he said at a Hamilton College commencement address in 2004. In private practice, he worked for a former Delaware attorney general who encouraged him to take the part-time position of deputy attorney general, a post he assumed at age 26. In 1966, he ran for the state House in a Democratic-leaning district. He won and later ousted an incumbent state senator. After 10 years in the General Assembly, he won election as lieutenant governor for one term and governor for two terms. "There's one word that comes to mind when I think of Mike Castle: dignity," former President Joe Biden posted Thursday on X. "Riding the train back and forth together to Washington for nearly two decades, I got to know Mike as a thoughtful and kind man - a colleague who became a true friend." Speaking at his undergraduate alma mater's commencement ceremony in 2004, Castle looked to the future - and some of his prognostications have already come true. "Broadband will take us places we cannot even imagine," Castle said. "Will we have in-person meetings or will telecommuting become the norm? Instead of a 20-hour plane ride to Tokyo, we will see planes that 'skip' in and out of the atmosphere." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
2 days ago
- Politics
Delaware ex-Gov. Mike Castle, who championed 50 State Quarters Program while in Congress, dies at 86
WILMINGTON, Del. -- Former Delaware Gov. Mike Castle, a Republican moderate who championed creating the popular 50 State Quarters Program of commemorative coins while he served in Congress, has died. He was 86. The Delaware Republican Party announced that Castle died Thursday in Greenville but shared no other details. Castle was among Delaware's most successful politicians, never losing a race until his stunning upset in a 2010 primary for the U.S. Senate seat Democrat Joe Biden held before becoming vice president. 'Mike was defined by his integrity, and for that reason, you couldn't find another member of Congress who would say a bad word about him,' said Biden. 'All of us in Delaware owe Mike a debt of gratitude.' During his 18 years in Congress, Castle became a leader of centrist Republicans, earning a reputation as a fiscal conservative and social moderate not afraid to challenge the party line on issues ranging from government spending to environmental protection and abortion. As Delaware's lone representative in the U.S. House from 1993 to 2011, he supported a pay-as-you-go policy for both spending and tax cuts. Castle played roles in improving child nutrition programs and establishing the No Child Left Behind education reform program. His signature issue in Congress was the commemorative quarters program that featured coins honoring each state, starting with Delaware. He was dubbed by the coin grading service Numismatic Guaranty Company as 'The Coinage Congressman.' The quarters boosted federal revenues as they were taken out of circulation. He also helped establish a similar program honoring U.S. presidents with dollar coins, beginning in 2007, and an 'America the Beautiful' quarter program honoring national parks, monuments and nature areas starting in 2010. 'The Honorable Michael Castle embodied the best of public service — moderation, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to all Delawareans,' Delaware GOP Chairman Gene Truono said in a statement Thursday. Castle had been a state lawmaker and lieutenant governor before becoming governor in 1985. Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer ordered flags flown at half-staff for the next week in Castle's honor. 'During his time as governor, Mike Castle visited every single school in our state, including mine, where he spoke to my high school class with the same warmth, humility, and commitment to public service that defined his career,' said Meyer, a Democrat.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Delaware ex-Gov. Mike Castle, who championed 50 State Quarters Program while in Congress, dies at 86
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Former Delaware Gov. Mike Castle, a Republican moderate who championed creating the popular 50 State Quarters Program of commemorative coins while he served in Congress, has died. He was 86. The Delaware Republican Party announced that Castle died Thursday in Greenville but shared no other details. Castle was among Delaware's most successful politicians, never losing a race until his stunning upset in a 2010 primary for the U.S. Senate seat that Democrat Joe Biden held before becoming vice president. During his 18 years in Congress, Castle became a leader of centrist Republicans, earning a reputation as a fiscal conservative and social moderate not afraid to challenge the party line on issues ranging from government spending to environmental protection and abortion. As Delaware's lone representative in the U.S. House from 1993 to 2011, he supported a pay-as-you-go policy for both spending and tax cuts. Castle played roles in improving child nutrition programs and establishing the No Child Left Behind education reform program. His signature issue in Congress was the commemorative quarters program that featured coins honoring each state, starting with Delaware. He was dubbed by coin collectors as 'The Coinage Congressman.' The quarters boosted federal revenues as they were taken out of circulation. He also helped establish a similar program honoring U.S. presidents with dollar coins, beginning in 2007, and an 'America the Beautiful' quarter program honoring national parks, monuments and nature areas starting in 2010. 'The Honorable Michael Castle embodied the best of public service — moderation, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to all Delawareans,' Delaware GOP Chairman Gene Truono said in a statement Thursday. Castle had been a state lawmaker and lieutenant governor before becoming governor in 1985. Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer ordered flags flown at half-staff for the next week in Castle's honor. 'During his time as governor, Mike Castle visited every single school in our state, including mine, where he spoke to my high school class with the same warmth, humility, and commitment to public service that defined his career,' said Meyer, a Democrat.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Campaigning Liverpool kids celebrate free school meals success
A group of campaigning schoolchildren arrived on the steps of No 10 Downing Street earlier to hand over a special thank-you message. Four pupils from Monkstown Primary School in Liverpool had joined the campaign to extend eligibility for free school meals to children of families on Universal Ahmed, Max and Josie, all aged 11 and in year six, were joined for the No Child Left Behind Coalition, a campaign organised by the National Education Union (NEU).The four wanted to thank the government for extending the free school meal entitlement and handed over a card to staff at Downing Street. Earlier this month Sir Keir Starmer announced an extension of the programme, which will cover the daily cost of school lunches to an additional half a million children from six teacher Anne-Marie Ferrigan runs a project called Pupil Voice at Monkstown, which aims to let the children have a say in what the school does. She told BBC Radio Merseyside: "When they researched it, they decided that actually it wasn't acceptable that we were not getting free school meals for all the children and all the families who couldn't afford it." Josie, who made the trip to London, said: "Some of our friends in school and in our classes have struggled with that and we wanted to make it fair." Ms Ferrigan said: "We're so, so proud of all the children here at Monkstown, the fact that they can put themselves across and they can put themselves in somebody else's shoes and understand what that might feel like. "And then the fact that they want to do something about it, the fact that they want to give up their time to make change for something that doesn't even affect some of them." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
