A former Milford man has been arrested and charged after he failed to reregister as a sex offender.  36 year old Aroldo Rodriguez is a tier II or moderate sex offender who left the area in 2006 and has never registered his sex offender status.  He was arrested in Texas and extradited to Milford. Rodriguez was also wanted out of Kent County Superior Court.  He’s being held at SCI in default of $700 secured bond.

A Scranton, Pennsylvania man has been charged by Milford Police in connection with an assault in the parking lot of the Park Place Bar on May 4^th.  40 year old William Kittrell was identified as the suspect and turned himself in to police on Monday.  Police say Kittrell left the bar at closing time and even though people told him the man was a police officer, approached the off-duty police officer and yelled profanities at him – and then punched him from behind in the head.  The officer suffered minor injuries.  Kittrell is charged with 3^rd degree assault of a Law Enforcement Officer and disorderly conduct and is free on $1100 unsecured bond.

Applications are being accepted by the Delaware Department of Education for a 6-week summer program for promising future leaders who are passionate about education and want to gain hands-on exposure to policy work.  Current students, recent grads and junior teachers are encouraged to apply – the program begins on July 1 and ends on Friday, August 9.  This is an unpaid internship.  The deadline to apply is 5pm, Friday, May 31. 

Click here for application information

If you’re visiting in Ocean City – bring your laptop or tablet or other wi-fi-enabled devices along!  Beginning this weekend through July 4^th visitors, residents and others will have access along the boardwalk to free Xfinity wi-fi.  The service will be open to non-customers as well as customers.

Over $1.3-billion in mortgage relief from the National Mortgage Settlement has been handed out to help Marylanders to stay in their homes.  Between March 1, 2012 and March 30, 2013, 16,627 Marylanders have benefited from the mortgage relief.  Initially Maryland was to receive about $957-million from the National Mortgage Settlement, but received about $400-million more in relief and assistance for distressed homeowners than was originally estimated.

When school ends for the summer, so does lunch for many youngsters in Delaware. With the approach of summer vacation near, the Food Bank of Delaware is encouraging community partners to help serve free meals to children in need through the Summer Food Service Program.

Beginning June 10, the food bank, with help from thousands of volunteers, will prepare and distribute free meals to qualified children’s feeding sites throughout the state. Sites include faith-based organizations, summer camps, daycares and other centers where children congregate during the summer months. Neighborhoods are also qualified to serve meals through the program.

To host a neighborhood program, an adult must contact the food bank for an application to determine eligibility, attend a training session and submit weekly paperwork.

Delaware State Police are advising Dover residents of a homeless sex offender today.

Police say 21-year-old William Abbott is NOT wanted; he is a Tier II or medium-risk sex offender.

If you have any information that Abbott is occupying a residence, please contact them at 672.5306.

A 27-year-old Bridgeville woman is dead following a crash between a motorcycle and pick-up truck Monday afternoon.

Seaford Police say they observed a motorcycle on Middleford Road around 5 p.m. where Nicole Santee had NO helmet on and there was NO helmet attached to the bike for her to use.

The officer followed the motorcycle which accelerated to a high rate of speed towards Blades. A short time later, the officer came upon a crash where the motorcycle had collided with the rear of a pick-up, driven by a 58-year-old Seaford man on southbound Route 13-A.

The driver of the Honda motorcycle, Curtis Fletcher was swearing a helmet; he was taken to Christian Hospital in critical condition. Santee was taken to Nanticoke Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead. The driver of the pick-up was NOT hurt.

The Sussex County Government has released a proposed operating budget of just over $117.7 million for Fiscal Year 2014, which will begin on July 1. That's 2.8 percent smaller than last year's budget, thanks to reductions in sewer assessment rates and paying off debts for sewer systems. The General Fund is up $3.7 million, up to just over $50.1 million. For the 24th year in a row, there will be no increase in county property taxes.

The county property tax rate will remain at 44.5 cents per $100 of assessed value. That means the average county tax for a single-family home would be $107.74, which breaks down to 30 cents a day. The average county tax for a manufactured home would be $40.66, which amounts to 11 cents a day. Property taxes make up 29 percent of the funding for the General Fund. The largest source of funding is real estate transfer tax revenue, which comprises 32 percent of the budget. Real estate transfer taxes came in at $18 million for this past year, well above the expected $13.2 million. However, the county has budgeted for $16 million in transfer taxes.

Intergovernmental grants have been increased by 9.5 percent. 79 percent of those grants are for public safety, going towards fire companies, ambulance services, local police departments, and the State Police subsidy. The fire companies and ambulance services get $3.3 million in grants, while the State Police get $1.9 million for 44 troopers in the county. Public safety grants in the FY '14 budget total $21.9 million. One of the capital projects the county is planning for is building a new station away from Route 1 for the Sussex County EMS' Medic 104, which serves the Midway area. County Administrator Todd Lawson says having the station on Route 1 isn't ideal for providing the best service.

Sewer and water assessment fees would be reduced overall in this year's budget through bond refinancing and paying off debts. Sewer district fees will be either kept the same, reduced, or even eliminated altogether. Rates in a few sewer districts will increase between six and 15 dollars, while other districts will see rates decrease. The county is in the fourth year of working towards a uniform sewer rate. The county has budgeted just over $17.9 million for water and sewer projects over the next year, and nearly $158.5 million in funding for capital improvement projects over the next five years.

Several nonprofits are collecting donations for tornado victims. Many indicated that financial donations are preferred over supplies.

Red Cross:

The Oklahoma Red Cross is asking people to donate by texting Red Cross to 90999 which will be a $10 donation, spokesman Ken Garcia said.

Garcia said the donations allow the Red Cross purchase needed supplies.

Those who are looking for family members can visit www.safeandwell.org, Garcia said. Local Red Cross units will be dispatched throughout the damaged area.

Salvation Army:

The Salvation Army Arkansas-Oklahoma Division has dispatched disaster response teams.

Donations can be made to:

• The Salvation Army Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 12600, Oklahoma City, OK 73157. Designate Oklahoma Tornado Relief on all checks.

• Donate by phone: (800) 725-2769

• Donate online: donate.salvationarmyusa.org/uss/eds/aok

Feed the Children:

Feed The Children is preparing emergency disaster relief supplies and will be accepting donations from the public on Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the McCormick Distribution Center, 29 N McCormick.

Items that will be accepted are diapers, canned goods, nonperishable food and snack items, water and sports drinks.

Feed The Children is coordinating with other organizations and authorities at the scene to deliver disaster supplies as requests are received.

Cash donations to help with relief efforts can be made by phone at 800-627-4556 or online at www.feedthechildren.org/disaster.

Regional Food Bank: 

The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, in partnership with Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, is asking that the public support all rescue, recovery and disaster relief efforts with donations of cash to your favorite responding charity.

Donations of items such as clothing and supplies are strongly discouraged.

Financial donations will allow disaster relief agencies to purchase whatever items are deemed necessary without resulting in the additional burden of securing warehouse space and volunteers to work donated product.

To make a tax deductible donation to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, go to www.regionalfoodbank.org or call 604-7111 or text FOOD to 32333 to give $10 to relief efforts.

Here's a live look at the aftermath of deadly tornado in Moore: http://video.foxnews.com/v/1155606219001/ …

Governor Jack Markell will make remarks this morning as GE Aviation, a world-wide leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components, announces a plan to expand its facility and add 70 jobs.

Gov. Markell will join DEDO Deputy Director Bernice Whaley, government leaders and representatives from GE Aviation as they announce a $27 million investment that will transform the Newark plant into a LEAN laboratory to support increased production of ceramic matrix composites.

The Delaware Economic Development Office invested in the project through the Delaware Strategic Fund.

The Evendale, Ohio-based company is committed to staffing 151 people at the 110,000-square-foot plant in Newark by the end of 2016.

The National Weather Service says patchy fog has developed across Delmarva this morning.

Some locally dense fog with visibilities less than one mile MAY occur along the Delaware beaches, inland Sussex County, as well as in Kent and New Castle Counties.

Forecasters say the fog should begin to burn off around 8 a.m.

A 28-year-old Delmar man is behind bars at the Wicomico County Detention Center, being held in lieu of $50,000 bail for allegedly throwing a bottle of bleach at a Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office deputy Sunday afternoon.

A deputy was called to a home on Woodcreek Parkway just before 3 p.m. for a reported 911 hang-up call. Upon entering the home, a woman told the deputy that she had been arguing with Terrance Walker when he assaulted her. At that point, Walker ran out of the house and was confronted by the deputy on the front lawn; the Sheriff’s office says Walker then threw a bottle of bleach at the deputy when he was ordered to remove his hand from his pocket; the deputy later found a knife in Walker’s pants pocket.

Walker was arrested and charged with numerous offenses, including 2^nd degree assault and resisting arrest.

The Maryland State Fire Marshal today is continuing to try and determine what caused a house fire in Salisbury Saturday morning.

The blaze broke out in the home on Santa Fe Drive around 1:30 a.m.; firemen from Salisbury and Hebron got to the scene quickly and say smoke alarms were present in the home and were working.

One person however did have to be taken to PRMC for treatment of smoke inhalation.

Damage to the home has been estimated at $110,000. The Fire Marshal's Office says it looks as if the fire started in the living room.

A drug haven in New Castle is closed today after Attorney General Beau Biden used the state’s criminal nuisance abatement law.  Continued arrests at 21 Memorial Drive in New Castle didn’t stop the drug and violent criminal activity at that address.  For the past 3 years the property has been a safe haven for prostitutes and drug dealers as well as for drive up drug sales.  The owner of the property, 68 year old Paul Bembry has been cited for illegal conduct 5 times since 2011 – 3 of them this year.  A lawsuit has been filed in Superior Court against the owner of the property seeking the immediate closure because of the ongoing violent criminal activity.  While this action closes just one problem property – it gives notice to others that this kind of activity will not be tolerated.

On Wednesday there will be a new Fixed-Based Operator at the Cape May Airport.  The Delaware River and Bay Authority, Cape May and county officials will welcome FlightLevel Cape May as the new fixed-based Operator at the Cape May Airport.  They will provide aviation services – including fueling, hangaring, tie-down and parking, aircraft maintenance and more.  The ribbon cutting ceremony to welcome the new FBO, FlightLevel Cape May is Wednesday morning.

State budget writers will have a little more to work with.  State Finance Secretary, Tom Cook tells WGMD there was a $20.2-million increase in revenue since the April meeting.  This time there was really only one revenue source – the April 30th personal income tax – and that showed a slight decline.  Cook says there was a slight increase in the Corporate Income tax.  The last Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council meeting in mid-June will include several more payments that are due – including the LLC payment, Corporate Franchise Tax and Corporate Income Tax payments. 

Beginning Tuesday – a new traffic signal at the intersection of Routes 113 and 12 in Snow Hill will begin to flash – red on the Route 12 side – yellow on Route 113.  Then on Wednesday, the signal will fully functional going into red-yellow-green phases.  This traffic signal is the end result of an effort by residents for many years to have a light installed there and is being activated 2 months ahead of schedule.  

Charlie Gischlar of the Maryland Highway Administration says that J-turns were first recommended, but residents petitioned for the light.  The intersection has seen many serious crashes – and in the past 6 years 2 people have died in crashes at that intersection.

Caesar Rodney Institute Communications Coordinator Sam Friedman gave a presentation on the mechanisms behind ObamaCare during the final meeting of the Eastern Sussex Republican Club at the Hampton Inn in Rehoboth for the offseason.

Friedman presented a report written by Dr. Christopher Casscells, the director of the CRI's Center for Healthcare Policy. He explained how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act won't work because it's even more insolvent than Medicare. Dr. Casscell's report also explained how the law will make healthcare less affordable, more difficult to access, and how supporters of the law are even looking to abolish private and employer-sponsored health insurance altogether in favor of a single-payer system. Friedman says that's likely to happen within the next three to four years. The presentation also documented how there's currently legislation in the General Assembly (House Bill 74) to create single-payer healthcare in Delaware. Friedman warned that the sponsor of the bill, Rep. John Kowalko (D-Newark) may try to pull a "June surprise" and try to push the bill through before the end of the session, much like he did at the end of last year's session. Senator Ernie Lopez (R-Lewes) attended the meeting, and said he'd vote against the bill if it ever reached the Senate.

Friedman explained how the IRS will have 47 different responsibilities in enforcing the law. He described how the Obama Administration plans to fund the law by implementing numerous taxes on incomes above certain levels, along with capping some medical expense deductions. The taxes and caps drew gasps of astonishment from those in attendance. 16 of the 20 taxes for funding the law have already gone into effect, with the last four kicking in on January 1 of next year. Club members were also concerned about the ever-increasing cost of the law, which Dr. Casscells says is now heading up to five times its original cost as estimated by the Congressional Budget Office. The insurance exchanges are behind schedule in being set up, Friedman says, because the Obama Administration didn't think any states would refuse them, or the expansion of Medicaid (25 states have). Friedman described how a quarter of general-practice doctors are over the age of 60, and many of them are retiring because of the law, which will create a critical shortage of doctors for Delaware's increasing elderly population.

Dr. Casscells says there are solutions to fixing healthcare outside of the current law: raise the Medicare eligibility age up to 68; make health insurance tax deductible; allow people and business to form buying groups, and allow them to purchase health insurance policies across state lines; allow state and local governments to choose what's best for their specific populations, and return Medicare and Medicaid to financial strength. Friedman says Medicare is likely to become insolvent within the next 10 years. According to the CRI, Delaware is the fourth-least competitive state for health insurance.

A Bel Air, Maryland woman has been charged after she struck a pedestrian in the crosswalk at 28^th Street and Philadelphia Avenue in Ocean City on Saturday.  Police say the 25 year old pedestrian was crossing with the signal in the crosswalk when she was struck by 21 year old Tess Ann Marianetti as she turned off Robin Drive.  The pedestrian was taken to PRMC with non-life threatening injuries and police say alcohol was not a factor in the incident.