AGP Executive Report

Delaware Courts & Business: A Delaware Chancery trial over WWE’s $21.4B merger with UFC’s parent was canceled after the parties reached a settlement in principle, underscoring how quickly major deal fights can end in court. Bankruptcy Watch: Two Delaware Chapter 11 filings drew attention—Simply Interior Homes sought protection with $100M+ in debt, and GoHealth filed with $762M in debt alongside a prepack plan tied to reimbursement pressure and litigation over alleged kickbacks. Energy & Grid Policy: Delaware lawmakers are moving on bills aimed at data centers’ power demand—one would require on-site generation to avoid being first cut off in a blackout, while another pushes developers to secure their own power supply over time. State Government & Jobs: Delaware’s DHR will host its third statewide 2026 career fair June 12 at Delaware Tech’s George Campus, connecting adult job seekers to state government roles. Elections & Voting Integrity: Delaware’s policy debate echoes national scrutiny after reports of noncitizens found on voter rolls in New Jersey, with some cases tied to DMV registration errors. Health & Public Service: The Red Cross issued an urgent summer blood-donor appeal, warning supply could destabilize heading into the hotter months.

Delaware Constitutional Reform: House Bill 440 would change how Delaware amends its constitution by requiring only one 2/3 vote in the General Assembly before sending the change to voters, replacing the current “successive General Assembly” requirement; it’s pending in the House Administration Committee. State Government & Elections: House Bill 317 would require the DMV to audit voter registration tied to certain non–Real ID-compliant documents and other timing/eligibility triggers tied to Automatic Voter Registration. Public Finance Oversight: A national watchdog says Delaware failed to secure clean audit opinions for federally funded programs, raising questions about how state auditors verify unemployment, Medicaid, and pension spending. Health Policy & Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously backed “skinny label” generic drug competition in Hikma v. Amarin, limiting brand-name claims tied to induced infringement. Local Nonprofit: Wilmington Alliance opened a Teen Wellness Youth Hub at the Hicks Community Center, aiming to expand youth-led wellness and social-emotional support in West Center City. Public Safety: Delaware’s Teen Wellness Hub launch comes amid broader national attention on gun violence, including a Toledo festival shooting that left 12 injured and sparked an active manhunt.

SNAP Fight in Court: A federal judge blocked the Trump USDA from enforcing new food-aid conditions tied to gender ideology, immigration, and women’s sports, pausing restrictions that could have disrupted SNAP for millions. Delaware Governance & Elections: Delaware lawmakers are weighing changes to how the state constitution can be amended, including lowering the hurdle for passage and shifting the final call to voters after a single General Assembly supermajority. Fiscal Oversight: A watchdog report says 13 states failed basic financial audits, with Delaware among those where auditors couldn’t issue an opinion—raising fresh questions about how federal-linked spending is tracked. Public Safety: Police are hunting suspects after a mass shooting near Ohio’s Old West End Festival left 12 people wounded, including two in critical condition. Community in Wilmington: The Wilmington Alliance opened a Teen Wellness Youth Hub at the Hicks Community Center, aiming to give West Center City teens a safe, youth-led space for wellness and leadership. Health & Politics: Jill Biden says Joe Biden’s stage 4 prostate cancer will be lifelong, though he’s slowed down.

Delaware Politics & Courts: A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from forcing states to comply with new USDA conditions tied to gender and immigration to keep billions in funding flowing, a fight led by 20 Democrat-led states plus D.C. Delaware Public Safety: Delaware State Police arrested 42-year-old Roberto Campusano-Campusano of Newark after a multi-month, multi-agency drug investigation spanning Delaware and Maryland, seizing heroin, crack, cocaine, scales, paraphernalia, and $6,000 in suspected proceeds. Delaware Elections/Rules: Delaware lawmakers introduced HB 448 to let candidates and officeholders use campaign funds for certain personal security measures, including monitoring systems and related equipment. Delaware Community Spotlight: A new non-profit coffee shop in Delaware County, Ryan’s Rise Up Cafe, opened to employ people with Down Syndrome and other abilities. National/Regional Flash: Police in Toledo, Ohio, are searching for suspects after at least 12 people were shot near the Old West End Festival; two victims were reported in critical condition.

Delaware Politics & Governance: Delaware lawmakers introduced HB 448, letting candidates and elected officials use campaign funds for reasonable personal security costs—like installing/monitoring electronic systems and hiring security—aimed at addressing threats and political violence. Public Safety & Justice: Dover man Tyleer Mills was sentenced to 22 years for habitual fentanyl and cocaine dealing, after a months-long investigation that included a Christiana Mall pickup and a dramatic fentanyl dump during a stop. Courts & Policy: The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Hikma v. Amarin that “skinny label” generic marketing didn’t create induced infringement liability, a win for generic competition that could ripple into Delaware’s pharma litigation landscape. Community & Culture: Rehoboth Beach raised its Pride flag for Pride Month, highlighting the city’s top Municipal Equality Index score. Civic Life: The 40th Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Delaware returns June 10-12, carrying the Flame of Hope from Fenwick Island to Newark.

Delaware Supreme Court: Gov. Matt Meyer nominated Vice Chancellor Morgan Zurn to fill a retiring justice’s seat, sending the pick to the state Senate for confirmation. Election Administration: Early voting for Delaware’s primaries begins June 13, with key ballot-request deadlines leading into June 23 voting day. State Courts & Law: A Delaware Chancery judge recommended Paramount Global turn over more board-level documents in a stockholder fight tied to the Skydance deal. Privacy & Workplace Tech: Delaware lawmakers are moving to expand the state privacy law, including new obligations for AI tools used in hiring and workplace analytics, with changes targeted for Jan. 1, 2027. Campaign Finance & Safety: House Bill 448 would let Delaware candidates and officeholders use campaign funds for security measures amid rising political threats. Public Safety: Dover man Tyleer Mills was sentenced to 22 years for fentanyl and cocaine dealing as a habitual offender. Environment & Water: Meyer issued a statewide drought watch, urging voluntary water conservation as precipitation drops. Community & Culture: The Delaware Division of the Arts earned 20 awards at the Delaware Press Association communications contest.

Energy & Permitting: As U.S. demand rises, advocates are pressing for more predictable offshore energy permitting, pointing to the House-passed SPEED Act and renewed talks after Interior reopened solar reviews. Delaware Utilities: Delmarva Power filed with the Delaware Public Service Commission to expand 2027-2029 energy efficiency programs, targeting tens of thousands of MWh in annual electric savings. State Budget: Delaware budget writers wrapped markups, fully funding FY27 and adding one-time supplemental money, including pay increases and education supports. Local Governance: Wilmington City Council leaders are pushing for clarity on what happens to residents when the Christina Park encampment closes June 15, with contract timelines and housing priorities in dispute. Public Safety: Delaware Capitol Police are investigating a death found near a Dover DMV; foul play isn’t suspected. Community & Culture: The Delaware Division of the Arts won 20 awards at the Delaware Press Association contest, while school gardens tied to Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids keep expanding. Economy & Federal Politics: Senate Democrats introduced a bill to fully restore CFPB funding, and the Senate advanced a roughly $70B immigration enforcement package after a marathon vote-a-rama. Consumer/Tech: A BoatUS Foundation free boating safety course is now approved in 15 additional states, including Delaware.

Wilmington Homelessness & Housing: Wilmington City Council President Trippi Congo says he’s ready to “throw a wrench” in city government over the Christina Park encampment, after Mayor John Carney’s budget plan didn’t spell out what happens to residents when the site is set to close June 15 and the Friendship House contract ends June 30. ACLU-DE Records Fight: The ACLU of Delaware settled its Dewey Beach body-worn camera lawsuit after the town agreed to release footage it had withheld following a public records request. Delaware Courts & Business Litigation: A federal judge trimmed two patents from Harbour Medical’s infringement case against an Amgen unit just before trial, while Forestar and D.R. Horton urged Delaware Chancery Court to toss a lot-deal shareholder suit and Rusoro pushed to dismiss Gold Reserve’s Citgo-bid challenge. Delaware Elections Litigation: The ACLU-DE is appealing a Superior Court dismissal of its Fenwick Island voter-dilution case, arguing only human persons should vote in state and local elections. Energy Prices (Delaware): GasBuddy reports the lowest regular gas in Kent County hit $3.80 in the week ending May 30, while Delaware’s statewide regular average was $4.26.

Delaware Open Records: The ACLU of Delaware says it secured Dewey Beach police body-camera footage after settling a lawsuit over a denied public records request, a move framed as a transparency win for cases without an active criminal investigation. Water & Environment: Gov. Matt Meyer declared a statewide drought watch for Delaware, with Kent and Sussex most at risk, urging voluntary water conservation and reiterating an open burning ban through Sept. 30. Statehouse & Courts: Delaware’s automated system is clearing thousands of backlogged Clean Slate cases, while separate coverage highlights ongoing Delaware litigation and court rulings tied to evidence handling. Housing & Taxes: Sussex County Council is set to vote on affordable housing reforms that could loosen rent caps and density rules, and lawmakers are also weighing changes to New Castle County’s split property tax rates after reassessments. Public Safety: Delaware County reports an arrest of a former EMS office manager on theft and official misconduct charges, and Delaware County also issued a warning about a phone scam. Everyday Costs: Gas prices in Delaware County and New Castle County dipped in the week ending May 30, with the lowest regular prices reported at $3.73 and $3.84 respectively. National Politics: New analyses warn Social Security could cut benefits by about $500 a month by 2032 if Congress doesn’t act, with Delaware among the hardest-hit states.

Clean Slate Automation: Delaware says its automated system has cleared more than 64,000 cases eligible for automatic expungement, speeding up a program that was previously handled too slowly by hand. Education & Health: The House approved a bill requiring school staff to complete mandatory epilepsy response training, while Delaware’s Department of Education expanded its Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids school garden program to 68 schools and about 28,500 students. Delaware in the Courts: Delaware Chancery Court declined to exclude disputed evidence ahead of next week’s WWE-related Chancery trial, and a Delaware-linked stockholder suit targets a $1.7B IAS sale. Higher Ed Access: A new Maryland law now lets Delmar High School graduates qualify for the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship, and Delaware’s medical school plan moves forward with Jefferson selected to run the state’s first medical school. Local Governance: A county planning commission recommended new countywide data center zoning rules (with a public hearing set for June 18). Social Security Warning: A national analysis warns Delaware retirees could face some of the biggest Social Security cuts if lawmakers don’t act before 2032.

Delaware Immigration & Labor Records Fight: Delaware lost its bid to block a federal subpoena for wage records from 15 businesses tied to an ICE-linked investigation, with Gov. Matt Meyer and AG Kathleen Jennings saying the state must comply after the Third Circuit refused to hear the appeal. Local Government & Courts: A judge rejected ACLU Delaware’s challenge to nonhuman voting in a Fenwick Island beach town, ruling Delaware law allows certain municipalities to let entity property owners vote. Workplace Discrimination Case: Fired Dover city manager Dave Hugg filed an age-based discrimination complaint with the state Department of Labor and the EEOC, setting up a potential lawsuit after agency review. Public Safety: Delaware County Sheriff’s Office warned residents about a phone scam using the “Deputy Hart” name and threatening federal arrest to extract personal and financial info. Education Leadership: A new report argues principals are the key lever for improving school outcomes and retaining teachers, linking leadership quality to better grades and stronger parent engagement. Delaware Courts & Business Law: Delaware corporate law’s “entities as persons” concept surfaced in the Fenwick voting ruling, underscoring how state governance rules can shape local elections.

Delaware Budget Watch: Delaware lawmakers wrapped up Joint Finance Committee markups for the FY 2027 operating budget and a one-time supplemental package, with added funding tied to May revenue forecasts, including 3% merit raises for state employees (teachers included) and $100 million for future education formula adjustments. Delaware Health Care: Delaware’s first medical school is set to be run by Thomas Jefferson University, with a consortium model that would train students in Delaware while clinical education focuses on Kent and Sussex systems. Food Access Grants: The Delaware Grocery Initiative and First State Food System Program awarded $712,500 to 28 groups to expand healthy food access, including cold storage, fresh produce distribution, and food rescue. Clean Slate Automation: Delaware cleared more than 64,000 low-level cases from public criminal background checks under its automated Clean Slate process, aiming to reduce barriers to jobs, housing, and education. Corporate Voting Rights Fight: The ACLU of Delaware says it will appeal a Fenwick Island ruling that allowed certain non-human entities to vote in municipal elections, arguing it undermines “one person, one vote.” Chancery Court & Business: Former Market Basket CEO Arthur T. Demoulas says he won’t appeal his Delaware Chancery removal, even as he continues to call it a “coup.”

Clean Slate Expansion: Delaware cleared more than 64,000 low-level offenses from public criminal background checks through automated “Clean Slate” processing, a major jump from 2025 and aimed at reducing barriers to jobs, housing, and education. AG vs. Climate Science Censorship: Attorney General Matt Tong led a coalition of 23 states in a letter to the Federal Judicial Center opposing removal of a climate science reference chapter from the federal judicial evidence manual. Delaware Courts & Patents: A U.S. District Court decision in Delaware found asserted CINVANTI® (aprepitant) patent claims invalid, though Heron says it will appeal. Homelessness Data Dispute: Delaware’s annual Point-In-Time count may understate the homeless population because this year’s survey reportedly counted only sheltered people, complicating comparisons for policymakers. Education Update: A national scorecard says Delaware made strong math and reading gains since 2022–2025, with Cape Henlopen standing out, but statewide performance still lags U.S. averages in key grades. Local Governance & Services: Delaware County (PA) announced a partnership to modernize domestic relations filings with electronic processing via GreenCourt’s GovLink.

Delaware Politics: Ayanna Khan-Flowers, president of the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce, filed to run for Delaware House District 9, aiming to steer fast-growing Middletown/Odessa/Townsend growth toward schools, roads, health care, and small-business opportunity. Local Governance: Rehoboth Beach’s mayoral race is heating up as four candidates filed for the seat, including two commissioners tied to a March dispute that raised allegations of misconduct and demeaning communications. Courts & Policy: A Delaware federal judge narrowed a dental patent fight involving Align Technology and Medit, refusing to toss the case outright. Public Safety: Pennsylvania SPCA and local/state police broke up a Chester cockfight, arresting 25 people and rescuing 52 birds. Elections Watch: New Jersey’s closed primary Tuesday will decide party nominees for key U.S. House races, including the contest that could set up a matchup with Jeff Van Drew. Business & IP: Nextpower sued GameChange Solar in Delaware over alleged infringement tied to solar tracker technology and energy management systems.

Retirement Rules Fight: Delaware’s AG Jay Jones joined a 24-state coalition opposing a Trump-era proposal that would loosen retirement plan guardrails, pushing more workers into riskier alternatives like crypto and private credit. Transit & Homelessness: DART is gathering input on an early plan for a Newport commuter rail station, while Wilmington weighs a pallet village proposal as the city prepares to close its sanctioned homeless encampment—neighborhoods are already pushing back. Local Governance: Trenton’s new city administrator laid out priorities on leadership development, internal support, and resident communication. Public Safety: Police arrested 25 people and rescued 52 chickens in a cockfight bust in Chester, Pennsylvania. Foreign Policy: The U.S. and Iran traded renewed strikes as ceasefire talks strain, with CENTCOM citing drone shootdowns and targeting Iranian radar and drone command sites. Infrastructure Watch: A delayed Delaware Aqueduct fix is tied to renewed concerns about lead in drinking water systems beyond Delaware.

Delaware Politics & Courts: A Delaware judge’s ruling keeps corporate voting alive in local elections, raising fresh questions about how much influence “more corporations than people” now have over town and county governance. Immigration Detention & Public Safety: Newark imposed a curfew around Delaney Hall after clashes with protesters; family visitation is set to resume following DHS agreement, while officials cite safety concerns around demonstrations. Gun Policy: Delaware Senate Bill 300 advanced a proposal to curb straw purchases by requiring firearm-dealer inspections and basic security standards, with State Police enforcement and no firearm registry. Elections & Voting Rules: Delaware’s party-change deadline is nearing ahead of the September primary, a reminder that ballot access decisions can still shape who shows up. State Government Records: Delaware leaders are responding to court orders requiring the state to release wage records tied to an ICE case, keeping immigration enforcement and transparency in the spotlight. Public Health & Preparedness: Sussex County urged residents to prepare for hurricane season now—make a plan and build a kit—rather than focus only on forecasts. Local Economy & Travel: Avelo hit its one-millionth passenger milestone at Wilmington Airport, underscoring continued growth in nonstop options from ILG.