Get tuned into the First State of Mind
Plans to build one of the largest data centers in the country near Delaware City in New Castle County has sparked outrage from some nearby residents while prompting state and county lawmakers to raise concerns about its impact on the environment and the electrical grid.Delaware Public Media contributor Jon Hurdle recently offered an initial peek at the project – known as Project Washington, the reaction to it, and is tracking what's next in the process as it develops.
When Delaware's General Assembly reconvenes next week for a special session on property reassessment issues, there will be a new member in the House chamber.Democrat Alonna defeated Republican Nikki Miller in the House District 20 special election to replace former State Rep. Stell Parker Selby. Berry's victory in the Milton area district was a narrow one – a margin of just 121 votes. Tuesday night, Delaware Public Media state politics reporter Sarah Petrowich spoke with Berry about her win and what's next.
It's summertime in the First State, a time when many of us head to the beaches. But on your way to surf and sand, you'll likely pass through one of the state's most threatened habitats – its marshes and wetlands.DNREC recently released a map charting marsh migration - how wetlands are moving inland as sea levels rise - and how migrating marshes are bumping up against growing development.This week, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny chats with DNREC environmental scientist Allison Rogerson about the map and what it tells us.
Earlier this year, the Delaware Symphony Orchestra began writing a new chapter in its long history, announcing the appointment of Argentinian/Italian conductor Michelle Di Russo as the orchestra's new music director.In this edition of Arts Playlist, Di Russo sits down with Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny as she prepares to take the podium as the orchestra's music director for the first time in October.
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Delaware's Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission underwent a mass restructuring over the past year.The commission is in charge of distributing the funds awarded to the First State through legal challenges against opioid manufacturers and distributors.After a grant recipient was flagged for potential misuse of funds last year, the commission completely overhauled its grant program and welcomed a new Executive Director Brad Owens.Delaware Public Media's Sarah Petrowich spoke with Owens about the new-and-improved commission, the latest grant cycle and his plans for the commission.
Cooch's Bridge Historic Site, near Newark, is one of the state's most storied historic locations, known for being the site of the only Revolutionary War battle in the First State. It was also home to generations of African-Americans, both free and enslaved.Composer and percussionist Jonathan Whitney, a Newark native, is bringing those stories to life in a work called "Cooch's Bridge: The African-American Presence."In this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny chats with to Whitney about his music.
This week, we bring you the latest episode of the Delaware Humanities' podcast – ‘People and Planet.'On this episode, we focus on a pair of First State destinations that help connect people to their planet by educating them about the world around them.The Delaware Museum of Nature and Science and the Brandywine Zoo each offer windows into habitats in our own backyards and around the world and how we can engage with them in a meaningful and positive way.And to explain how they do that the podcast welcomes Delaware Museum of Nature and Science executive director Mandy Santiago and Brandywine Zoo director Brint Spencer.
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As July starts to slip away, summer break heads into the home stretch for students. That means families need to start getting the gear kids need for school this fall.What does the current economic climate mean for back-to-school shopping this year? Are retailers expecting the same boost to late summer sales? And are there deals to be found for families on a budget?Contributor Eileen Dallabrida takes a closer look at the back-to-school shopping landscape.
What does a meat brewery look like? And can scientists make better steaks than farmers? Delaware Public Media asks these questions and more in a conversation with Andrew Sayles, the COO and co-founder of a local start-up producing the building blocks of cultivated meat.
In this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny makes his way to Historic Odessa for a look at the immerse varieties of a commonplace object most of us have at home - the teapot.
The Lewes Junction Railroad & Bridge Association recently announced that the historic Steam Locomotive No. 60, initially built for the Pennsylvania Railroad, is going to be restored for display in Lewes with the goal of it being ready for next summer.In this edition of History Matters, Lewes Junction Railroad & Bridge Association board member David Ludlow discusses the restoration work and how this project helps bring the area's railroad heritage to life.
We often hear about the impact climate change, development, and other factors can have on the plants, birds and animals that live in the First State and the habitat that supports them.But the new edition of the Species of Greatest Conservation Need offers a much deeper dive into the risks faced and how serious they are – offering a picture of which species face the greatest threat. This week, contributor Jon Hurdle digs into the report – examining what it tells us and what actions it could prompt
Delaware is one of 12 states with a plastic bag ban, and while many places may not have a ban, some instead charge a fee to use them.Researchers from the University of Delaware and Columbia University conducted a study examining how effective these bans and fees are in reducing litter, especially along the shoreline.This week, Delaware Public Media's Joe Irizarry sits down with Kimberly Oremus, an associate professor in UD's School of Marine Science and Policy, to discuss if the policies are making a difference.
Summer is a busy time at Clear Space Theatre in Rehoboth Beach, with three big musical productions, a cabaret series, and weekly kids shows.In this edition of Arts Playlist, our Martin Matheny s sits down with Joe Gfaller, Clear Space Theatre Company's managing director to learn more about their summer offerings.
Art is everywhere we look, and Newark's Main Street is no exception.If you pay attention as you stroll down the sidewalk, you can be drawn into one of these pieces of public art and the story it tells.But the story of how these pieces make their way to the public sphere and their purpose is often overlooked.In this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media's University of Delaware summer intern Brenden Patterson takes some time to delve into public art and its place in Newark and beyond.
After over two years of turbulent efforts to launch Delaware's recreational marijuana market, the First State may finally see some legal cannabis products on the shelves starting next month.The Office of the Marijuana Commissioner announced last week that the state's 13 medical dispensaries that purchased conversion licenses may begin selling recreationally on August 1.Delaware Public Media's Sarah Petrowich spoke this week with Marijuana Commissioner Josh Sanderlin - delving into the competitive advantages for these medical dispensaries, how close other retailers are to coming online and the future of unregulated hemp-derived products in Delaware.
Delaware Shakespeare takes the stage at Wilmington's Rockwood Park for its annual series of summer shows starting July 18, with a preview the night before.The show is "Twelfth Night, O Lo Que Quieras," a musical, bilingual reimagining of the Shakespeare classic.In this edition of Arts Playlist, Martin Matheny sat down with DelShakes' Producing Artistic Director Mariah Gantt to learn more.
This week – we bring you the latest episode of the Delaware Humanities' podcast – ‘People and Planet.'In this episode, we focus on Indigenous Dance and its connections to the environment – as well its role in connecting Delawareans to the land and the history of indigenous people in the First State with Herman Jackson of the Nanticoke Tribe in Delaware where he serves as spiritual advisor. Jackson has performed tribal dances throughout the state and around the country since 2012.
State lawmakers have just one day of work left in the 2025 portion of the current legislative session – the first session under new Gov. Matt Meyer.As they work to get a few more bills to the finish line on June 30th, we take some time on The Green this week to look back at what Gov. Meyer and the General Assembly were - and weren't - able to accomplish.Earlier this week, Delaware Public Media state politics reporter Sarah Petrowich joined News Director Tom Byrne to dive into this year's legislative scorecard.
Affordable housing – specifically the lack of it – is an issue that's been in the headlines in Delaware and nationwide for a few years now.And there's no shortage of government agencies, lawmakers, nonprofits, and housing advocates trying to find new and creative ways to deliver solutions. This week, contributor Eileen Dallabrida takes a deeper dive into what issue looks like here in the First State and some of the responses to it.
The Southern Delaware Orchestra, or SODELO is hard at work preparing for a summer concert series featuring a guest conductor, a guest soloist, and the orchestra's debut appearance at the Freeman Arts Pavilion.In this edition of Arts Playlist , Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny gets a preview with violinist Steve Griefer SODELO co-founder and board president.
In this week's Enlighten Me, we head to the University of Delaware to highlight work from student journalists – pieces produced by UD Communications students for a class taught by Nancy Karibjanian, a long-time First State journalist, Director of UD's Journalism Program, and one of founders of Delaware Public Media. This week's featured student journalists are Olivia Hoover and Iyanna Register.
Delaware's fire companies operate as individual entities with limited oversight outside of criminal cases. Some in the service say that's working well, and others want to see a standardized code of regulations and a certification process put in place statewide.Delaware Public Media's Abigail Lee looks into new efforts to add stronger oversight for fire companies in the First State.
First State Ballet Theatre recently announced the line-up for its 2025-2026 season, including something scary for Halloween, a mixture of traditional favorites and innovative new choreography, and a classic Romantic masterpiece.In this edition of Arts Playlist , Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny spoke to the ballet's marketing director Claire McGregor about the upcoming season, as well as a trio of summer performances around the state.
In this week's Enlighten Me, we head to the University of Delaware to highlight work from student journalists – pieces produced by UD Communications students for a class taught by Nancy Karibjanian, a long-time First State journalist, Director of UD's Journalism Program, and one of founders of Delaware Public Media.This week's featured student journalists are McKenna Burke and Tyler Dodson.
It's been over two years since the First State legalized recreational marijuana, and Delaware has yet to open any dispensaries.Rob Coupe, the first leader of the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner, stepped down in January, and the governor did not tap a replacement until last month.That new commissioner - cannabis attorney Josh Sanderlin - says despite Delaware's challenges, he is confident in seeing a successful rollout.Delaware Public Media's Sarah Petrowich spoke with Sanderlin about the trials and tribulations marijuana business owners have faced - and what consumers can expect moving forward.
During the Biden Administration, the EPA enacted strict limits on a laundry list of PFAS chemicals – and a timeline to start enforcing those limits. But the Trump Administration is pushing that timeline back and scraping limits on some forms of the chemicals for now.Locally, some state lawmakers are taking steps they believe will help ensure Delaware manages any PFAS contamination issues in line with the Biden-era rules.This week, contributor Jon Hurdle examines what the Trump Administration's approach on PFAS means for the First State and Delaware's response.
Delaware could become one of the strictest states when it comes to disclosure requirements around multi-level marketing companies, commonly referred to as MLMs.These types of businesses operate under a model where individuals sell products directly to consumers while also recruiting others to join the company.State Rep. Melanie Ross Levin believes these companies are often misrepresenting how much an individual can profit, and her legislation would create stricter guidelines to ensure distributors are not being taken advantage of.Delaware Public Media's Sarah Petrowich spoke with Ross Levin, as well as legal experts and individuals who have been directly affected by MLM companies to better understand how this bill would work.
Delaware-based artist Jen Hintz Eggers' work is currently on display at the Mezzanine Gallery in Wilmington's Carvel State Office BuildingIn this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny speaks with Jen Hintz Eggers to learn more about her art and her current exhibition, "Seeds of Life."
In this week's Enlighten Me, we head to the University of Delaware to highlight work from student journalists – pieces produced by UD Communications students for a class taught by Nancy Karibjanian, a long-time First State journalist, Director of UD's Journalism Program, and one of founders of Delaware Public Media.This week's featured student journalists are Joe Cosmedy, Madison Gelmin and Cris Granada.
To kick off Pride Month, Gov. Matt Meyer announced the individuals who will comprise nine-member LGBTQ+ Commission to further the state's equity and inclusion efforts.Delaware Public Media's Sarah Petrowich sat down with newly appointed Chair Cora Castle to discuss her vision for the commission and what gaps need to be filled when it comes to resources for LGBTQ+ Delawareans.
For decades, the Delaware Division of the Arts has been helping artists of all kinds practice their craft with yearly fellowships that provide some financial support.This year marks the 25th annual showing of some of this year's fellows' work.And in this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny chats with Delaware Division of the Arts program officer for artist programs and services Roxanne Stanulis about the fellowship and its impact.
This week – we bring you the latest episode of the Delaware Humanities' podcast – ‘People and Planet.'In this episode, we focus on Delaware and oysters, exploring the history, science, and economic and cultural of oysters in First State with Ed Hale, Assistant Professor in the School of Marine Science and Policy and the Delaware Sea Grant Program at the University of Delaware and Morgan Krell, Science Technician at the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays.
Tick season may be ramping up, but in Delaware, the risk never really goes away.That's according to Ashley Kennedy – tick biologist for the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control – who says Delaware's mild winters, diverse habitat, and year-round activity are changing how we think about tick exposure.This week, Delaware Public Media's Joe Irizarry sits down with Kennedy to discuss tick season and how to protect yourself.
Saying goodbye to a beloved pet isn't easy.Most people turn to traditional cremation through their veterinarian, but there's a gentler, greener alternative called aquamation – a process that uses water, mild heat, and alkali instead of fire.Delaware Public Media's Kyle McKinnon speaks this week with Chris Philippou – owner of Delaware Pet Aquamation, the state's first standalone pet aquamation practice – about aquamation and the benefits of this alternative process.
A new exhibition at the Rehoboth Art League asks a simple but powerful question: What about the women?That's the title of Rehoboth-based artist Kim Klabe's latest show, which features a deeply personal collection of mixed media works exploring the stories, struggles, and strength of women across generations.In this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny catches up with Klabe for a closer look at the themes behind her work and the emotions she hopes to evoke through her art.
The University of Delaware was founded, built, and attended – at least for its first 140 years – by men.But it was Marian Coffin, one of the country's first female landscape architects, who designed the entire look and feel of UD's campus.Coffin left a lasting impression on both the university and the rest of Delaware. Her landscape designs and works include the Mount Cuba Center, the gardens at Winterthur Museum, and the grounds at Gibraltar mansion.In this edition of History Matters, Delaware Public Media's Kyle McKinnon is joined by Anna Wik – associate professor of landscape architecture and board member of the nonprofit Preservation Delaware – for more on Coffin and her indelible impact on the First State.
As state officials and lawmakers look for ways to help Delawareans facing rising utility prices, one long-term answer could be solar – specifically something known as net-metering for homes and businesses that install solar panels.A recent report produced for the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility, also known as Energize Delaware, suggests investment in net-metering produces significant benefits.This week, contributor Jon Hurdle takes a closer look at the report and what it could mean for the First State.
Colorectal cancer rates in adults over the age of 50 have been falling since the 1980s, but that's not the case for young adults. New research shows that colorectal cancer incidences and deaths are increasing in people under 50.If that trend continues, colorectal cancer is expected to become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among young adults globally by 2030.Delaware Public Media's Kyle McKinnon sits down with Bayhealth colorectal surgeon Dr. Assar Rather to examine the rise in colorectal cancer for young people and how it's being addressed.
John Sloan is one of the most important American painters and printmakers of the 20th century.However, his biggest impact came as an art instructor, something the Delaware Art Museum showcases in its ‘John Sloan and His Students' exhibition.In this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny catches up with curator Heather Campbell Coyle for a chat about Sloan and the exhibit highlighting his work and teachings.
The Zoar Methodist Episcopal Church in Odessa recently received grant funding for restoration work on the historic building.In this edition of History Matters, Delaware Public Media's Joe Irizarry is joined by The Friends of Zoar's Steven Johnson to learn more about the Zoar Church's restoration efforts and plans to preserve its history.
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