WILMINGTON, Del. — Today, the Delaware Department of Labor announced a rise in the number of providers participating in the workers’ compensation system following the passage of SB164, which became law this past June.
Sponsored by State Senator Walsh and State Representative Ed Osienski, and signed into law by Governor Matt Meyer, SB164 amended the evaluation and management reimbursement rate for workers’ compensation cases after they had fallen below the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services rates. This led to an increase of more than 200 providers available to treat workers’ compensation cases since the passage of the law, with an expectation that the number will continue to rise.

“This critical reform expands the number of providers willing to accept and treat workers’ compensation patients,” said Delaware Department of Labor Secretary LaKresha Moultrie. “This was an all-hands-on-deck effort between our department, the dedicated members of the Workers’ Compensation Oversight Panel, and the legislature to get this across the finish line. I’m encouraged to see this legislation delivering immediate results and improving access to high-quality care for Delaware’s workforce.”

“For years, I’ve worked to make sure Delaware’s workforce has the fair treatment and access to care they deserve when they’re injured on the job. SB 164 is about restoring that balance – ensuring workers’ compensation system supports both those who power our economy and the providers who care for them,” said Sen. Jack Walsh, prime sponsor of SB 164. “I’m glad I was able to share this vision with my colleague Rep. Ed Osienski who ushered this legislation through the House. It is gratifying to see these results so quickly, with providers stepping up to serve Delaware’s workers and strengthen the system that protects them.”

“This is just another example of how Delawareans work together to identify and solve problems which improve our Workers’ Compensation system, of which our health care providers are an integral part,” said Joseph J. Rhoades, Chair of the State of Delaware Workers’ Compensation Oversight Panel.

To learn more about the workers’ compensation program, or for providers to become certified as a new provider, go to https://industrialaffairs.delaware.gov/workers-compensation.

Watch Em Win won a $110,000 DSBF Final in a stakes record-tying 1:51.2 on Thursday at Bally’s Dover.

DOVER — Watch Em Win made every call a winning one in the $110,000 final of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund series for 2-year-old colts and geldings at Bally’s Dover, asserting his dominance up the backstretch en route to a career-best and stakes record-tying 1:51.2 score on Thursday, Nov. 20.

In line to Tim Tetrick for trainer Ron Burke, Watch Em Win yielded briefly to C Millertimeagain (driven by Corey Callahan) upon entering the first turn before brushing to control through a :26.3 opening quarter. Once clear, Watch Em Win backed the half down to :56 before sprinting clear of his seven rivals up the backstretch through a :27 third split. The He’s Watching-Winners Over colt had built up a four-length lead on C Millertimeagain off the corner for home before Tetrick took him in hand with 70 yards to go and measured his margin of victory to 1-1/4 lengths. Slugger On Deck (Allan Davis) finished third after stalking the top pair throughout the entire mile.

Watch Em Win, who paid $2.10 to win as the 1-20 favorite, has won eight of 12 races and earned $185,558 for Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Phil Collura and Weaver Bruscemi. His 1:51.2 win time tied the DSBF stakes record for rookie male pacers set in 2016 by Bags To Riches.

The $20,000 DSBF consolation saw Iheartmum and driver Art Stafford Jr. forge clear of K D’s Song (Montrell Teague) at the end of a :27.1 first quarter before steadily drawing clear late to stop the timer in 1:54 and win by 3-3/4 lengths for owner/trainer/breeder Janet Davis. The Badlands Hanover-Iheartquestionmark gelding paid $3.40 to win as the 3-5 favorite.

Rookie trotting fillies will contest their DSBF series championship on Monday, Nov. 24, with the $110,000 Marv Bachrad slated as the eighth race on a 15-race program at Bally’s Dover. First post is 4:30 p.m.

DOVER – On Wednesday, November 19, following his nomination by Governor Matt Meyer, Mark Hudson was confirmed by the Delaware State Senate as Sussex County Family Court Commissioner. He was immediately sworn in by Family Court Chief Judge Michael K. Newell.

“A dedicated public servant, Commissioner Hudson has spent much of his career advocating on behalf of Delaware’s children and their families,” Governor Matt Meyer said. “His wealth of experience and deep understanding of our Family Court system have prepared him well to serve Sussex County in this new role.”

Commissioner Hudson most recently served as the Chief of Legal Services at the Office of the Child Advocate, overseeing staff and volunteer attorneys in Delaware’s statewide child representation system and advancing child-welfare policy and training initiatives. He previously served in the Department of Justice’s Child Protection Unit and spent eight years as a Deputy Child Advocate representing children in foster care.

For questions, please email govcomm@delaware.gov.

ABOUT THE NOMINEE:
Mark H. Hudson, Esq., CWLS
Commissioner, Sussex County Family Court

For the last fifteen years, Mark Hudson has been working diligently on behalf of children and families across Delaware. From 2010 to 2016, he represented indigent parents whose children were in the custody of the Division of Family Services. Then, from 2016 to 2024, as a Deputy Child Advocate at the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) in Georgetown, Hudson represented children in the custody of the Division of Family Services and advocated for policy and legislative changes to improve child welfare within the state.

Hudson became a Deputy Attorney General in the Child Protection Unit of the Delaware Department of Justice in 2024, where he represented the Division of Family Services in cases including but not limited to dependency and neglect, termination of parental rights, and Child Protection Registry hearings.

Hudson returned to the OCA in 2025 as the Chief of Legal Services. His responsibilities included managing and assisting the attorneys appointed to represent children in child welfare proceedings. He was also responsible for coordinating OCA’s legal services training offered to members of the Delaware Bar.

Early in his career, Mark clerked for various offices and firms including the Sussex County Office of the Public Defender and the Sussex County Court of Common Pleas. He is also former Sussex County Bar Association President and Vice President for the Delaware Bar Association—he held both positions from 2016-2018. He holds a Juris Doctor from the Roger Williams University School of Law and is certified as a Child Welfare Law Specialist by the National Association of Counsel for Children and serves as a member of the National Counsel of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

Delawareans are invited to put their First State knowledge to the test during a Statewide Delaware Day Trivia Night on Thursday, December 4, from 7–8 p.m. The virtual trivia game is easy to join from anywhere using a mobile phone — at home or alongside friends at one of several community gathering sites across the state.

A direct link to play will be posted on the Delaware 250 website before the game starts: https://de.gov/deday25trivia.

Six host locations will be open for those who want to celebrate together:

Sussex County
• Del Tech – Georgetown Campus
• Dewey Beer Company – Harbeson

Kent County
• Rail Haus – Dover
• Delaware State University MLK Student Center, Parlor C – Dover

New Castle County
• Autumn Beer Project – Newark
• University of Delaware STAR Campus, FinTech 301– Newark

In-person gatherings will open at 6:30 p.m., with the trivia game running from 7–8 p.m. for all participants.

The first 50 participants to arrive at each site will receive a Delaware 250 swag bag. College campuses will offer free pizza and soda, while brewery locations will feature food and drink specials created for the occasion.

Gameplay is simple — participants answer questions individually on their phones or computers, making the contest accessible, fast-paced, and fun. The host sites offer an additional opportunity to connect with neighbors, classmates, and enthusiasts of Delaware history.

Prizes include:
• 1st Place: $1000
• 2nd Place: $500
• 3rd Place: $250
Plus four random $50 door-prize drawings during the game.

Whether joining from home or gathering in person, Delawareans are encouraged to take part in this statewide celebration of history, community, and Delaware pride.

For more information about Delaware 250 or to learn more about events and other items of interest, visit delaware250.org/.

Laurel’s Nowotny named Eastern Region Vice President for 2025-26

INDIANAPOLIS – Delaware displayed strong leadership and earned awards at the 98th National FFA Convention and Expo earlier this month. First State members joined a record-breaking crowd of more than 73,000 from across the nation.

Highlights for Delaware FFA:

Delaware Representation in National Leadership

• Joey Nowotny, a former Laurel High School member, was elected to the National Officer team.  Joey will serve as the Eastern Region Vice President for 2025-26.  This is a significant achievement as only six national officers are elected each year.

Professional Growth and Leadership

• Members had the opportunity to meet with 300 exhibitors, ranging from colleges and universities to industry representatives across agriculture. These exhibitors represented more than 350 career paths.

Recognition and Awards

• Members from across Delaware represented their prospective chapters in career and leadership development events. These events ranged from public speaking and networking to content specific demonstration skills such as livestock evaluation and welding.

Top career and leadership develop award areas and recipients:

• Spanish Creed Speaking – finalist: Miely Medina Rizo, Appoquinimink High School 
• Floriculture – Gold placing individuals: Ashton Evans and Brooke Ryan, Middletown High School
• Food Science and Technology – Gold placing individual: Lana Manzo, Middletown High School
• Horse Evaluation – Gold placing individual: Brooke Taylor, Woodbridge High School
• Forestry, Top-five team placing with all members placing as Gold individually: Joseph Delaney-Finalist (fifth place individual), Zachary Binnie, Nathaniel Sutton, Keith Schmid, Odessa High School
• Agronomy, Top-10 team placing, Gold placing individual: Faith Downs, Odessa High School
• Environmental Science and Resources, Gold placing individual: Luke Brown, Odessa High School
• Employment Skills, Eighth-place individual: Kalena Diaz, Odessa High School

Agriscience Fair Awards areas and recipients:

• Plant Systems, Seventh place: Jazzlynn Herscher and Brooklyn Hysan, Laurel High School
• Social Systems, Sixth place: Brynnen Thompson and Destinie McCrea, Laurel High School

American Degree recipients:

Twenty members received their American degree, requiring at least three years of membership, high school graduation, supervised agricultural experience hours and community service commitments.

About Delaware FFA:

Delaware FFA is a state association committed to empowering students in agriscience education through leadership development skills, practical experience, and community engagement. With more than 4,000 members, Delaware FFA operates in high schools and middle schools across the state and connects students to a broad network of agricultural, educational, and professional opportunities.

For more information about opportunities in Delaware FFA, please visit https://delawareffa.org/ or contact the Office of Career and Technical Education at 302-735-4015.