DOVER, DELAWARE (BNO NEWS) — Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden applauded the passage of Senate Bill 283 to address a long-running issue with the state’s Freedom of Information Act on late Tuesday.

“Since we took office we have looked for ways to make it easier for citizens to get information about their government and this new procedure is the latest step in that process,” Biden said.

Senate Bill 283 was promoted by Senate President Pro Tem Anthony DeLuca, House Speaker Robert Gilligan, and Sen. Karen Peterson in order to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

“It makes seeking information easier and less costly to obtain. President Pro Tem DeLuca and Speaker Gilligan are ensuring that citizens have even more access to information. We would also like to thank Senator Peterson for her leadership on an issue she has been devoted to for many years,” Biden said.

The new legislation will allow the Attorney General’s office to intervene on behalf of citizens in FOIA disputes with state agencies.

The bill was passed unanimously in the Senate last week. On late Tuesday, the legislation was passed in the House of Representatives.

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RAINELLE, WEST VIRGINIA (BNO NEWS) — Four people were seriously injured when their small plane crashed in a field at Rainelle Airport in West Virginia on Friday, federal officials said.

The Cessna 182 aircraft – which is capable of carrying four people – crashed at Rainelle Airport around noon local time. A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Jim Peters, said the four people on board were seriously injured in the crash. “One is being airlifted from the scene,” he said.

Another FAA spokesperson, Arlene Salac, said the aircraft crashed “for unknown reasons” at the airport.

Federal records show the 1976-build aircraft is registered to Sky King Aviation, Inc. in Wilmington, Delaware.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) — Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden — the son of Vice President Joe Biden — was hospitalized at Christiana Medical Center in Delaware on Tuesday morning after experiencing a mild stroke.

“This morning, Attorney General Beau Biden was admitted to Christiana Hospital,” said Jason Miller, a spokesman for Beau Biden. “He is alert and awake, and communicating with his parents and his wife, who are with him.”

Dr. Timothy Gardner, the Medical Director of the Center for Heart and Vascular Surgery at Christiana Care Health System, said Beau Biden was hospitalized after having ‘what we believe to be a mild stroke.’

“He is in good spirits and talking with his family at the hospital,” Gardner said. “He is fully alert, in stable condition and has full motor and speech skills.” He said he expects Biden to make a complete recovery.

Beau Biden previously considered running for the U.S. Senate seat his father held before becoming vice president, but in the end he decided against it.

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WILMINGTON, DELAWARE (BNO NEWS) – A Millsboro, Delaware on Friday man was sentenced to death by lethal injection for the 2007 murder of his fiancée, prosecutors announced.

Emmett Taylor III, 47, was convicted of beating Stephanie Mumford to death days before their planned wedding. Mumford was found dead at her residence after relatives called 911 on August 14, 2007, because Mumford and Taylor failed to appear at their wedding’s rehearsal. They were supposed to get married on August 18.

Police officers found a bloody frying pan inside the house. After investigating it was determined that Mumford was a victim of domestic abuse.

“Emmett Taylor’s conviction and today’s sentence ensures that justice for Stephanie Mumford will be served,” U.S. District Attorney Beau Biden stated. “I am proud of the excellent work on this case by prosecutors Paula Ryan and Peggy Marshall and their team, as well as the thorough investigation conducted by Detective Michael Maher and the Delaware State Police.”

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WILMINGTON, DELAWARE (BNO NEWS) – Delaware Governor Jack Markell on Friday declared a State of Emergency covering the entire state of Delaware, implementing an effective curfew in the State.

Vehicles have been ordered off the road in Delaware, effective as of 10:00 p.m. local time. Conditions are expected to intensify with heavy snowfall and strong winds that will make driving exceptionally dangerous. Given the anticipated strength of this storm, DelDOT crews are expected to concentrate on major areas of travel for plowing, initially leaving many secondary roads unattended.

The emergency declaration allows only emergency vehicles and essential personnel on the roads until further notice. The Governor will evaluate the conditions of the roads after the storm passes on Saturday morning to evaluate damage and determine how long this restriction will remain in place.

“For your safety, the safety of our emergency personnel, and the safety of all Delawareans, drivers should stay off the roads once this storm begins and intensifies,” Governor Markell said. “Our state agencies have been working together to prepare for and combat the effects of this storm. Remaining off the roads helps them in this effort and is important to public safety.”

The Emergency Operations Center of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency has been activated. National Guard personnel and equipment have been placed around the state to be used if needed for emergency transportation and rescues.

Plans are being made between emergency managers and the American Red Cross to open shelters throughout the state, should the need arise.

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WILMINGTON, DELEWARE (BNO NEWS) – Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden on Monday announced that the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that Delaware’s execution method of lethal injection is constitutional.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled in a class action case of Jackson v. Danberg that Delaware’s execution method of lethal injection is constitutional and the Court lifted the stay on executions statewide.

Biden stated that, “As a result of this ruling, executions in Delaware will move forward, and the Superior Court can now begin to schedule executions as appropriate.”

Beau Biden is the son of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. Biden was expected to announce his decision to run for the open Senate seat in Delaware in January, but later in the month confirmed that he would not be running.

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