Severe Weather Conditions & Emergencies Alert
On Tuesday, January 16, 2024, State of Delaware offices in New Castle and Kent Counties will open at 10 a.m. Non-essential employees in New Castle and Kent Counties do not report until 10 a.m. Essential employees designated for severe weather are to report as scheduled.
Flags to be lowered on day of interment
WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor Carney issued the following statement on the passing of former Wilmington City Council President Ted Blunt:
“Tracey and I were saddened today to learn of the passing of Ted Blunt. Ted was a devoted husband and father, and a true public servant who cared deeply about his community.
He committed his life to service and was a giant in the City of Wilmington. Ted served on City Council for 16 years and led the council as President for eight. Throughout his time in public service, he developed strong relationships with countless Delawareans, and I was proud to count him as one of my friends.
We both shared a love of basketball, Ted having been a star guard at Winston-Salem State, where he played in the backcourt with Hall of Famer Earl “The Pearl” Monroe. When I was in high school, Ted invited me to play on a summer basketball team he organized that toured the East Coast.
He and my father also worked together in Wilmington public schools, and they spent countless hours dedicated to the education of city children.
Most of all, Ted was a loving and devoted family man. He married his high school sweetheart, Alice, and they built a life together for 62 years. He was an incredibly proud father of Lisa, Thea, and Marla, and his eyes lit up whenever he talked about them. We join with everyone in his community in expressing our condolences to the Blunt family. Tracey and I will keep in them our prayers during this difficult time.”
In honor of Ted Blunt, Governor Carney has ordered Delaware flags to be lowered to half-staff at state facilities on the day of interment.
137 fatalities were recorded on Delaware roads in 2023, a 16 percent decrease from 2022 when 164 fatalities occurred.
Fatalities were down across all modes of transportation with a 13 percent reduction in pedestrian fatalities; 29 percent reduction in bicyclist fatalities; and a 32 percent reduction in motorcyclist fatalities from last year.
“Reducing fatalities on our roads has been a primary focus of DelDOT and our partner agencies and there is more work to do. We are working every day to make our roads safer for everyone,” said Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski.
“We all have a responsibility for safety on our roads, whether we are traveling by car, public transit, on foot, or bike,” said Governor John Carney. “Paying attention, obeying speed limits and planning sober rides all make a difference. Let’s continue the trend so we can avoid these preventable tragedies.”
“While we are encouraged by the overall decline in traffic fatalities, substantial work remains ahead. As we acknowledge this progress, let it reinforce the potential impact achievable through collective action. Let’s continue to prioritize safety and promote responsible driving habits. Together, we can forge a future where our roads become safer and secure for everyone,” stated Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Nathaniel McQueen, Jr.”
“To achieve the goal of having zero fatalities on our roads, we are taking steps to form meaningful partnerships and actively engage within the community to spread our safety message more effectively,” said Sharon Bryson, Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS). “Additionally, OHS will continue to work closely with our traffic safety partners and state and local law enforcement to provide additional enforcement, distribute educational materials, and raise awareness to keep the number of fatalities down. By working together, we can make Delaware roadways safer for everyone to arrive alive.”
DelDOT, Delaware State Police, and the Office of Highway Safety will be holding a safety summit on April 17, 2024, at the Chase Center in Wilmington to discuss ongoing efforts and new initiatives to address crashes and fatalities on Delaware roads.
Three fatalities have occurred on Delaware roads to date in 2024.
Deadline to Submit Nominations is Midnight on March 28, 2024.
WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney and the Office of Women’s Advancement & Advocacy (OWAA) announced today that the nomination process is open for induction into the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame and the She’s on Her Way Award for 2024. Nomination forms are available online at de.gov/women. The deadline for nominations is midnight on March 28, 2024.
“The Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame and the She’s on Her Way awards recognize remarkable Delaware women for their contributions to our state,” said Governor Carney. “I encourage everyone to nominate a leader or changemaker in their community. I’d like to thank the Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy for their continued efforts to honor women who are making a difference in Delaware.”
Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame
The Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame was established in 1981 to recognize the achievements of outstanding Delaware women and their contributions to communities across the state. The induction ceremony is the oldest annual celebration of its kind commemorating Delaware women. The award honors Delaware women who have made an important and lasting impact on the lives of Delawareans and have resided in the state for at least 10 years during their lifetime. Nominees both living and deceased are eligible. An induction ceremony for those chosen in 2024 will be held in the fall.
In 2022, the Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy launched a website that features portraits and biographies of all members of the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame. The Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Art Exhibit, featuring portraits of each member of the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame, is currently on display at the Delaware Tech Community College Owens Campus in Georgetown until January 31, 2024. The exhibit is free and open to the public during regular business hours.
She’s On Her Way Award
The She’s On Her Way Award, organized by the Delaware Commission for Women, recognizes the achievements and celebrates the contributions of talented young women leaders making a difference in Delaware. All nominees must be young women between 18 and 40 years of age by June 30, 2024. Nominees must be native-born Delawareans or have resided in the state for at least five years. Nominees must show that they have made a positive impact upon the lives of Delawareans and have exhibited characteristics of good character, promise and hope; as well as have information and or examples that illustrate the nominee’s positive reputation and/or leadership among her peers, and/or her community. The Delaware Commission for Women reviews, rates, and deliberates each nomination and selects the awardees. An award ceremony will take place in May or June at the Buena Vista estate in New Castle, Delaware.
Event details for both the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame and She’s On Her Way will be available in the coming months at de.gov/women.
DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday announced the State of Delaware has implemented changes to mandatory bachelor’s degree requirements, among other criteria, for several positions to provide a pathway for more individuals to enter the state workforce. The Delaware Department of Human Resources (DHR) recently removed the bachelor’s degree requirement for critical positions within the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families and the Department of Health and Social Services, encompassing six Family Service classifications and impacting more than 350 positions.
In lieu of a bachelor’s degree, DHR will focus on related work experience. The department also simplified the application process to expand the applicant pool.
“These important and practical changes will expand our talent pool and give more qualified individuals an opportunity for a career in state government,” said Governor Carney. “By aligning job requirements with professional experience, and placing more attention on the skills of an individual candidate, we will better serve Delawareans.”
Specific changes include:
“Over the past couple of years, DHR has been reviewing the bachelor’s degree requirement for hundreds of state positions in all state agencies,” said Claire DeMatteis, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Human Resources. “During the 1990s, the state added a bachelor’s degree requirement to dozens of positions, however, our review and practical experience show a bachelor’s degree can be an unnecessary barrier to employing otherwise qualified professionals.”
Since revising the job requirements for Family Service positions, DHR reported receiving four times the number of qualified candidates for these positions.
In addition to the changes for the Family Service positions, the state previously eliminated a mandatory bachelor’s degree requirement for 210 positions in the Probation Officer, Human Resource Advisor, and State Human Resource Analyst series. Overall, approximately 560 positions have been impacted by eliminating the bachelor’s degree. The state continues to conduct regular job description reviews to ensure that job requirements align effectively with the needs of the state’s workforce.
To explore career opportunities available with the state, visit statejobs.delaware.gov.