Latest news with #SpotlightDelaware
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Delaware House Rep. Stell Parker Selby submits letter of resignation, citing health reasons
Delaware state Rep. Stell Parker Selby is stepping down from her role for health reasons. House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown confirmed on June 24 that she had received Selby's letter of resignation. Selby, who represents residents from the Milton and Lewes area, officially took her oath of office in March for her second term after being unable to be sworn in on the first day of legislative session due to 'a medical event,' according to a previous statement. Parker Selby had been notably absent from Legislative Hall this session after suffering from an apparent stroke, sparking a debate among fellow lawmakers, according to reporting from Spotlight Delaware. Parker Selby wrote in her letter of resignation that, while she is 'proud of the strides' she has made following her medical event, she also recognized she 'can no longer serve [her] district with the full energy, presence and focus it rightfully deserves.' 'This district is my home. It raised me, shaped me and gave me every opportunity to serve,' she wrote. 'For decades, I showed up, spoke out and stood up for the values we share and the voices that too often go unheard,' she wrote. In other news: Needed housing for young adults leaving foster care or without homes opens in Sussex County 'This community has always been a part of me, and I've done my best to reflect its strength and spirit in everything I do. And while recent conversations have turned away from the substance of that work, I will not. I am stepping down not because of noise or pressure, but because I care too deeply about this community to offer anything less than my full capacity.' While Minor-Brown recognized 'this was not an easy decision' for the lawmaker and her loved ones to make, she hoped Delawareans would take time to acknowledge her story – a story 'of a true trailblazer.' 'There aren't many people around who have lived in the Lewes and Milton community without Stell's presence,' Minor-Brown said. 'Her deep, personal connection to her home was cultivated through her lifelong commitment to helping those around her.' Reps. Tim Dukes and Jeff Spiegelman – who serve as the House Minority Leader and House Minority Whip, respectively – also issued statements following Selby's decision. 'I recognize that her decision to resign was not an easy one,' Dukes said. 'I commend her for her honesty in assessing her situation and for prioritizing the needs of her constituents above her desire to continue in public service.' 'While we all thought she would continue her service in the current General Assembly, fate altered those expectations,' Spiegelman said. 'By choosing to step down, she can focus fully on her recovery without the added responsibilities of office, while giving the people of the 20th District an opportunity to select a candidate who will be able to fully represent their interests.' 'Public service was never about the spotlight,' Parker Selby wrote. For her, 'it was about the work.' Parker Selby entered civil service several decades ago, serving on the Cape Henlopen school board following her retirement from working as an educator and administrator in the Cape Henlopen School District for over 30 years. She eventually went on to serve as a councilwoman – and then vice mayor – for the town of Milton. Parker Selby was first elected to office in 2022, defeating then-GOP challenger Dallas Wingate and, at the same time, turning the 20th state House District blue and becoming 'the first Black State Representative from Sussex County' in the process. She narrowly won reelection over Republican opponent Nikki Miller this past fall. A special election for Parker Selby's seat will be governed by the Delaware code, according to the statement. Under the code, a writ for the special election will be issued by the Speaker 'within 10 days of the creation of the vacancy.' The writ would contain information regarding when the special election would take place, which must occur 30 to 35 days from the day the writ has been issued. (This story has been updated to add new information.) Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware House Representative Stell Parker Selby resigns from office
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Delaware House Rep. Stell Parker Selby submits letter of resignation, citing health reasons
Delaware state Rep. Stell Parker Selby is stepping down from her role for health reasons. House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown confirmed on June 24 that she had received Selby's letter of resignation. Selby, who represents residents from the Milton and Lewes area, officially took her oath of office in March for her second term after being unable to be sworn in on the first day of legislative session due to 'a medical event,' according to a previous statement. Parker Selby had been notably absent from Legislative Hall this session after suffering from an apparent stroke, sparking a debate among fellow lawmakers, according to reporting from Spotlight Delaware Parker Selby wrote in her letter of resignation that, while she is 'proud of the strides' she has made following her medical event, she also recognized she 'can no longer serve [her] district with the full energy, presence and focus it rightfully deserves.' In other news: Needed housing for young adults leaving foster care or without homes opens in Sussex County 'This district is my home. It raised me, shaped me and gave me every opportunity to serve,' she wrote. 'For decades, I showed up, spoke out and stood up for the values we share and the voices that too often go unheard,' she wrote. 'This community has always been a part of me, and I've done my best to reflect its strength and spirit in everything I do. And while recent conversations have turned away from the substance of that work, I will not. I am stepping down not because of noise or pressure, but because I care too deeply about this community to offer anything less than my full capacity.' While Minor-Brown recognized 'this was not an easy decision' for the lawmaker and her loved ones to make, she hoped Delawareans would take time to acknowledge her story – a story 'of a true trailblazer.' 'There aren't many people around who have lived in the Lewes and Milton community without Stell's presence,' Minor-Brown said. 'Her deep, personal connection to her home was cultivated through her lifelong commitment to helping those around her.' 'That's what made her such an effective advocate and trusted voice for the people of the 20th District. She's touched so many lives over the years, and I know the thousands of people she's served in her time feel as proud of her as we do.' Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware House Representative Stell Parker Selby resigns from office
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wilmington City Council pushes for later last call, plus a local cigarette tax
This story was produced by Spotlight Delaware as part of a partnership with Delaware Online/The News Journal. For more about Spotlight Delaware, visit The Wilmington City Council signed off on two new proposals Thursday that officials say would boost revenue for the city and improve its nightlife scene. In a pair of new resolutions introduced by City Councilman Coby Owens (D-1st District), the city is asking state legislators to grant Wilmington the authority to impose a local tax on cigarette sales, and to extend alcohol service at bars and restaurants until 2 a.m. – a full hour later than the state's current 1 a.m. cutoff. Owens said his proposal to extend 'last call' could bring more dollars into the city by boosting business revenue and attracting more visitors and young professionals to stay in the city. 'We must seize this opportunity to showcase Wilmington as a dynamic destination where people can come and spend their money and spend their time,' Owens said during Thursday's council meeting. WHAT ELSE HAPPENED AT THE MEETING: What's next for Wilmington renters after council rejects stabilization? Delaware is the only state in the mid-Atlantic region that cuts off alcohol service before the standard 2 a.m. last call. As Wilmington looks for ways to boost its appeal to young workers, it faces competition from neighboring states such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. — all of which allow bars and restaurants to serve alcohol later into the night, with some cities in the region extending last call to as late as 3 a.m. Owens said he has been in communication with various businesses and young professionals who want more to do in the city. He also created a petition to gather support for the resolution, which currently has over 230 signatures. Owen's proposal could boost city revenue by increasing collections from various taxes, including Wilmington's wage tax. But, it is unclear if any increase would make more than a marginal difference in the city's budget. Councilman Nathan Field (D-8th District) asked Owens to hold the resolution for further discussion after noting that residents in his district, which encompasses the lively bar strip in Trolley Square along with neighboring areas like Forty Acres and the Highlands, have raised concerns about activity outside of the bars in the area after midnight. 'Why use one of our chips with Dover on an ask or suggest to them that we want this when it's not clear that city residents want this?' Field said. Councilmembers Michelle Harlee (D-4th District) and Alexander Hackett (D-At-Large) also voiced concerns around whether the measure had enough support from residents and emphasized the need for public safety initiatives to ensure safe driving. Councilwoman Zanthia Oliver (D-3rd District), who supports the measure, said she passed a similar resolution last year, but couldn't find a state legislator who wanted to take the proposal to Dover. The council ultimately approved the resolution with seven members voting in favor. Field voted against it, while Harlee and Councilwoman Latisha Bracy did not take a stance. Councilmembers Shané Darby, Chris Johnson, and James Spadola were absent. The City Council also passed Owens' resolution asking lawmakers in Dover to allow Wilmington to create an excise tax on cigarettes. The state currently taxes wholesalers who sell cigarettes to retailers at $2.10 for a 20-pack of cigarettes. The resolution passed with nine in favor, while Darby, Oliver, Johnson, and Spadola were absent. The city must now secure state lawmakers to sponsor the proposals and introduce them to the General Assembly. Get stories like this delivered to your email inbox by signing up for the free newsletter at This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Wilmington City Council pushing for later last call for local bars
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Delaware approves $5M taxpayer grant for Aldi distribution center along Route 13
This story was produced by Spotlight Delaware as part of a partnership with Delaware Online/The News Journal. For more about Spotlight Delaware, visit Delaware's warehouse building boom that began during COVID is not over yet. German grocer Aldi captured a $5.3 million grant from Delaware taxpayers to help fund its construction of a new robotics-assisted distribution center south of New Castle on March 31. The two-story, 1.1 million-square-foot complex is planned for a site next to an existing Amazon warehouse on U.S. Route 13, according to plans submitted to New Castle County in January. Those plans were filed despite Delaware's market for big warehouses cooling in recent months, with at least one big project sitting without a tenant just a few miles away. They also came a year after a backlash against massive warehouse projects – and the truck traffic they bring – became the biggest political controversy in New Castle County under then-Executive Matt Meyer, who now is Delaware's governor. Aldi's plans call for a warehouse with spaces for 184 tractor-trailers. Company officials said Monday, March 31, during a meeting of Delaware's Council on Development Finance that the project would be the company's biggest ever in the United States. They estimated the construction costs at $550 million – a substantial sum for the warehouse market, due in part because Aldi plans for the facility to lead a new age of robotics-heavy distribution centers. By comparison, Amazon's largest facility in Delaware – its Boxwood Road plant near Newport – was built at a reported cost of $250 million. That five-story building, which opened in 2021, is more than three times larger than Aldi's planned facility. When operational in 2030, Aldi's distribution center would employ 225 people who would earn between $45,000 and $90,000 annually, according to county filings. Those employees will work alongside an 'automated storage retrieval system,' according to Megan Kopistecki, business development manager at the Delaware Prosperity Partnership. The Delaware Prosperity Partnership is a state-chartered, public-private entity tasked with negotiating taxpayer grant awards with private businesses, including the one with Aldi. Those negotiated deals are then presented to the state's Council on Development Finance, which has final authority on whether to grant taxpayer-backed funds to projects. At the end of its March 31 meeting, the council voted to approve a $5.34 million grant to support Aldi's project. The meeting was the second to occur under the administration of Gov. Matt Meyer, with February's featuring the approval of a $30 million grant to pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. on the condition it expands operations to a location near Wilmington. Early this year, Meyer pledged to direct Delaware economic development officials to award smaller-dollar awards to private companies. The negotiations of Merck's and Aldi's relatively large grants both began before Meyer came to office in January. The Council on Development Finance has approved every request for taxpayer dollars from companies brought by the Delaware Prosperity Partnership since it was created in 2017. Before that time, state grants to businesses were negotiated by state employees, whose activities could be publicly scrutinized through the Freedom of Information Act. Beyond its permanent jobs, Aldi's warehouse project also would temporarily create work for between 500 and 700 construction workers, said Adam Kastl, Aldi's director of warehouse development, during Monday's meeting. Following Kastl's comments, Council on Development Finance member Rep. Ed Osienski, D-Newark, asked if Aldi's construction contract would be awarded to firms that use Delaware unionized workers. Repeating a frequent refrain from Delaware labor advocates, Osienski said, 'We want to make sure that we don't see a construction contract full of out-of-state tags.' Several members of Delaware trade unions were in attendance at the March 31 meeting to show support for Osieski's call for the warehouse to be built by organized labor. In response, Kastl did not commit to using organized labor, saying instead that 'we are openly committed to allowing all Delaware subcontractors to incorporate bids into the project.' In an interview with Spotlight Delaware following the meeting on March 31, Jim Ascione, treasurer of the Delaware Building and Construction Trades Council, said in-state workers should benefit when construction is aided by taxpayers' grants. The way to ensure that, he argued, is for companies to hire workers through local union halls. Toward the end of the March 31 meeting, Aldi's local attorney Shawn Tucker testified to the council that he expects New Castle County to approve Aldi's building plans by the end of this summer. He said there is already a land-use approval for a warehouse at the site after another company had considered building there two years ago. In January, Aldi's engineering company submitted a minor redevelopment land development plan to New Castle County regulators for approval. Get stories like this delivered to your email inbox by signing up for the free newsletter at This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware approves $5M taxpayer grant for Aldi distribution center
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Delaware hospital review board holds first meeting as lawsuit looms
This story was produced by Spotlight Delaware as part of a partnership with Delaware Online/The News Journal. For more about Spotlight Delaware, visit A controversial state government board tasked with reining in costs at Delaware hospitals held its first meeting on Tuesday with members discussing how and when they will require health care providers to hand over their sensitive budget information. The meeting occurred even as a lawsuit brought by ChristianaCare, the state's largest hospital system, threatens to dissolve the oversight group's authority. It also occurred while negotiations to amend the law that created the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board are ongoing between lawmakers and a hospital lobbying group, according to Brian Frazee, the president of the Delaware Healthcare Association who is involved in the talks and a non-voting member of the review board. Last month, a Delaware Chancery Court judge heard arguments for and against the state's motion to toss out ChristianaCare's lawsuit. At the time, hospital lawyers called the hospital review board 'draconian,' saying it strips away hospital officials' ability to control their own budget decisions. The state's lawyers argued the lawsuit has no place in Delaware's business court. Last year, state lawmakers who approved the creation of the new regulatory board said it was needed to slow the growth of health care costs in the state. BOARD MEMBERS: Delaware's hospital review board, at center of lawsuit, sees first members approved At this point, the review board is incomplete as two members nominated by Gov. Matt Meyer await State Senate confirmation. The two prospects each previously worked at ChristianaCare. One was a doctor, while the other was an executive. Last June, then-Gov. John Carney signed House Bill 350, which created the board tasked with reducing health care costs for Delawareans at a time when the state ranks as one of the highest for hospital costs in the nation. Before the bill passed, hospitals put up a major lobbying front, with staff flooding into Dover wearing white coats while speaking in opposition. Ultimately a compromise version of the legislation was reached last summer and quickly signed into effect. Just weeks later though, ChristianaCare filed its lawsuit. And in November, Meyer, who had been more ambivalent in his support of the board, was elected as Delaware's next governor. LEGAL CHALLENGES: ChristianaCare files lawsuit over controversial health care cost oversight law Shortly after the election, Frazee said Meyer had shown a willingness to make changes to the new law. Frazee declined at the time to reveal details of those potential changes. But he did state that among his group's primary contentions is the review board's legal authority under the new law to modify hospital budgets if certain costs are not brought down. In 2026, if the board determines a hospital's spending exceeds a benchmark set by the state, it could require a hospital to send in a 'performance improvement plan.' If the board finds the plan to be 'unacceptable,' it may require a hospital to submit its annual budget for approval by the review board for at least three years. At the end of his term in December, Carney nominated five of the seven voting members of the new board, rather than leave it to Meyer, who took office a month later. Tuesday's review board meeting was uneventful and closer to an orientation for the members, where much of the conversation centered around what will be expected of the board. The review board has seven voting members, as well as Frazee, who is a non-voting member. REVIEW BOARD BACKGROUND: How a hospital cost review board in Delaware aims to rein in health care costs Frazee said there was confusion around timelines and exactly what the board was supposed to do and what documents they'd seek from hospitals. He blamed that on what he called a 'lack of stakeholder process that led to now a very messy, complicated and complex and confusing charge.' 'There was clearly a lot of confusion around timelines and some other logistics around the legislation,' Frazee said in an interview after the meeting. On Wednesday, the Senate Executive Committee held a hearing to consider confirming the nominations of the remaining members of the board. During the meeting, they did little to question the two ChristianaCare veterans nominated by Meyer last month. The committee did not move the nominations forward for a full vote by the Senate on Wednesday evening, despite considering other nominees for other roles that were heard the same day. It is typical for nominees to receive confirmation votes on the same day as their Executive Committee hearing. When asked, a spokesperson for the Senate Democratic Caucus, which controls the chamber, did not elaborate as to the delay in the health board nominees. She said the appointees would go up for a confirmation vote in the Senate this week. Transparency notice: David Singleton, who is a review board member, serves on the board of advisors for Spotlight Delaware. Advisors have no role in the editorial decision-making of Spotlight Delaware. For more information, see our Boards page. Get stories like this delivered to your email inbox by signing up for the free newsletter at This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware holds first hospital review board meeting as lawsuit looms
