The Green

Delaware continues to debate whether it wants to allow large data centers to set up shop in the First State - and if they do, what kind of regulation and oversight will govern then and their potential impact.In recent weeks, the state's Public Service Commission heard public comment as it mulls a large load tariff for operations like data centers. State lawmakers held a hearing where a variety of experts offered their perspectives on data centers and their impact. And New Castle County passed an ordinance enacting some data center regulations.Delaware Public Media contributor Jon Hurdle has been tracking this discussion and debate – and this week offers a snapshot on what's being said.

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement operations are happening in Delaware. And The Community Legal Aid Society (CLASI) serves as an advocacy group that is monitoring those operations.CLASI's immigration program says it's recorded a rise in ICE operations statewide, including a combination of targeted enforcement and general enforcement.Delaware Public Media's Abigail Lee sat down with the CLASI Immigration Unit's supervising attorney Emily Houde to talk about ICE presence in Delaware and what to do if you run into their agents.

As the days get longer and warmer, the busy spring and summer housing season is ramping up.If you are among those looking to buy or sell a home in the First State in the coming months. what can you expect? Is it a buyers or sellers' market?This week, contributor Eileen Dallabrida examines the housing market in Delaware.

The Delaware Symphony Orchestra's next concert, coming up next weekend, takes audiences "Across the Galaxy" with music from sci-fi and space movies.To learn more, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny grabbed his tricorder for a conversation with the DSO's music director, Michelle Di Russo in this week's Arts Playlist.

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Delaware's Supreme Court recently upheld a law passed by the state's General Assembly last year, designed to keep companies from leaving the state to incorporate elsewhere. A trend dubbed “DExit.”State Senator Bryan Townsend sponsored that legislation - Senate Bill 21 - which was challenged by a company stockholder arguing it violated the state's constitution.This week, Townsend reflects on SB 21 and where the state stands almost a year later with Delaware Public Media politics reporter Bente Bouthier.

A University of Delaware professor is part of a team that's come up with a test for artificial intelligence programs.Humanity's Last Exam tests how fast AI's capabilities are advancing. The exam was created by experts from around the world to figure out if AI programs can figure out solutions independently.Delaware Public Media's Joe Irizarry recently spoke with Humanity's Last Exam contributor Manuel Schottdorf, a neuroscientist in the University of Delaware's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences about this AI test.

American artist Elizabeth Catlett spent much of her career as an expatriate. While beloved by artists for her captivating portrayals of Black women, she was also marginalized by academia and for a time, even her own government.Now, the works of this compelling, politically-aware artist are on display at the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover.In this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny is joined by the Biggs's Curator of American Art, Laura Fravel to learn more.

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have ramped up their activity since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Delaware saw ICE arrest rates nearly double between May and October 2025, according to the Prison Policy Initiative.University of Delaware recently published a quick reference page in case students, faculty or community members come into contact with ICE on campus.Delaware Public Media's Abigail Lee went through those guidelines before sitting down with ACLU of Delaware Executive Director Mike Brickner to discuss campus safety and whether these guidelines go far enough to protect the UD campus community.

Georgetown Town Council recently passed an ordinance change explicitly allowing for a new type of home, cottage homes, to be built in the community. It's a move that supporters call a step forward for housing access in the area.But some in Georgetown remain against this type of housing – specifically a proposed 20-unit project along Market Street.Delaware Public Media's Isreal Hale has been following this story and offers a look at where things currently stand.

Sean Daniels's play The White Chip is a darkly funny and poignant look at battling substance use disorder and the journey to sobriety. New Light Theatre presents the play, opening March 6 at the OperaDelaware Studios in Wilmington, with a preview night March 5.In this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny speaks with three members of this New Light Theatre production to learn more about the play and what audiences can expect.

Sports can be a unifier even in the most divisive of times.As we just saw with the recently completed Olympics – there are some instances sports can still bring people together.In this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media's Joe Irizarry sits down with Univ. of Delaware Sports Management professor Matthew Robinson to discuss how the Olympics and even your favorite professional sports team can bridge divides and unify people.

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Advocates point to inclusive and comprehensive sex education as one way to counter skewed risks LGBTQ+ people face in the U.S.There isn't a national standardized sex ed curriculum. Requirements at the state level vary, with some having laws in place that stigmatize and/or exclude material involving LGBTQ+ people, relationships and safety.Delaware schools are required to teach sex ed, but state standards don't match nationally recognized standards and must stress abstinence.With that in mind, Planned Parenthood of Delaware is set to start offering IN·clued, an inclusive sex ed program, starting in April.And Delaware Public Media's Abigail Lee sat down with the organization's Patricia Hartman and J. Green to talk about the program.

Newark's Chapel Street Players' performances of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion open this weekend. This staging takes a new look at the theatrical classic, setting it in 1968.On this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny speaks with the show's director, Gwen Armstrong Barker, about the show, the choice of the swinging sixties as a setting, and the possibility that curmudgeonly character Henry Higgins is actually neurodivergent.

The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States is fueling an interest in the history of that time period.And the Delaware Public Archives is trying to tap into that interest in some non-traditional ways. Earlier this month, the Archives held its first game night with games designed in-house by Archives staff and the Delaware Historical Society to help attendees to learn about the Revolutionary era and Delaware's role in it.In this edition of History Matters, Delaware Public Media's Isreal Hale chats with Delaware Public Archives Reference Archivist Maria Myer and Delaware Historical Society Experience and Education Manger Garrett Hastings about these games and how they can generate interest in First State history.

Gov. Matt Meyer issued an executive order in late January seeking to take steps to deliver ‘smart growth' in the First State – balancing affordability and economic gains with environmental protection - all while avoiding onerous restrictions on where developers can build.How does the Meyer administration plan to do that?Delaware Public Media contributor Jon Hurdle digs into the executive order this week to offer some answers.

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Gov. Matt Meyer's State of the State address and budget proposal called for huge investments in early childhood education– about $50 million in state and federal monies.Part of the federal money comes from a federal grant, meant to bolster childcare infrastructure in the First State.Gov.Meyer tapped Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay to take the lead managing this grant and the state's larger effort to improve access to early childhood education and the results it produces.This week, Delaware Public Media State Politics reporter Bente Bouthier sat down with Lt. Gov Gay to discuss the state's plans.

If the recent frigid temps are getting you down, maybe taking some time to plan your summer vacation will cheer you up.If that plan involves getting away to the Delaware beaches later this year, there's a few things you may want to know before you get started.Contributor Eileen Dallalbrida takes a closer look at the beach rental market in 2026.

Literacy rates are falling in the U.S. Reading scores for high school seniors nationwide saw their lowest levels since 1992 last year. And Delaware's unfortunately on par – students saw another stagnant year for reading proficiency in 2025.But this doesn't mean reading culture and book clubs are dead. U.S. publishing revenues totaled $32.5 billion in 2024.And Wuthering Heights is about to hit movie theaters, prompting long loan lines in Delaware libraries.On this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media's Abigail Lee looks into Delaware's many book clubs and the benefits their members reap.

First State Ballet Theatre returns to the stage at the Baby Grand next weekend for a performance featuring a pair of contemporary works. The show is called "Dreams in Motion."On this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny speaks to the ballet's Claire McGregor to learn more.

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Like many states, Delaware is grappling with what to do about data centers and their potential impact – especially on electric rates. In Delaware, much of the effort to address data centers is currently focused at the state level as lawmakers and Gov. Matt Meyer weigh a number of proposals to regulate data centers. And beyond those efforts, just this week, the controversial Project Washington proposal near Delaware City was dealt a blow when DNREC ruled it is prohibited from operating at its planned site under Delaware's Coastal Zone Act.Delaware Public Media contributor Jon Hurdle takes a closer look at the First State's work to regulate data centers and their impact.

Two branches of Delaware government are facing off over regulation of legal cannabis businesses as the state's sluggish roll-out of legal marijuana sales continues.The General Assembly passed Senate Bill 75 last year along party lines. It nullifies ordinances passed in the last two years by county government bodies like Sussex County Council that place heavy restrictions on where cannabis businesses can set up shop.Gov. Matt Meyer vetoed the bill in August and now lawmakers are working to override it.This week, DPM State Politics reporter Bente Bouthier sat down the bill's State Senate sponsor Trey Paradee to get his thoughts on why he feels a veto is necessary.

The stories of World War 2 can be epic - full of courage and compassion. One of the lesser-known stories is that of Gino Bartali, an Italian cyclist and Tour de France champion who used his position as one of Italy's most famous athletes to help refugees escape Mussolini's Fascist Italy.Now, that story is coming to the stage in Wilmington, when the Delaware Theatre Company presents the US premiere of Glory Ride, a new musical by Victoria Buchholz and Todd Buchholz.To learn more about the show, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny talked to Delaware Theatre Company's Producing Artistic Director, Mimi Warnick for this week's Arts Playlist.

Depending on your view of football and specifically the Super Bowl, the most important part of the broadcast this Sunday could very well be the commercials.Super Bowl commercials remain big business, and in some years talked about just as much as the game or the halftime show.With ad time going for $8 million and more in some cases for this year's game, Sunday will be no different.In this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media's Joe Irizarry chats with Colleen Masters, executive creative director at Aloysius, Butler & Clark, about this year's Super Bowl commercials.

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Delaware invested over $8 million dollars across more than 60 development projects through the state's Downtown Development District program in FY 2025 with an additional $5.5 million set aside for another 15 large projects.The Delaware State Housing Authority administers the program and earlier this week, Delaware Public Media's Isreal Hale sat down with DSHA director Matthew Heckles to learn more about how those dollars ar working and plans for the program's future.

So called “Granny crafts and hobbies” are seeing a surge in popularity, but not where you might expect.Young people, including high school- and college-aged students, are turning toward knitting, baking and painting and away from screens in their free time.Crafts can have immediate benefits for adults, including a decline in symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression. They can also significantly increase life satisfaction.Delaware Public Media's Abigail Lee sat down with University of Delaware's Center for Counseling and Student Development associate clinician Brooke Kohler to talk about the growing interest in granny crafts among young people.

Art and beauty can be found all around. You don't necessarily need a sweeping landscape; sometimes a simple dumpster can spark joy.That's the thesis behind "For Granted," a new exhibition of works on display now at the Delaware Division of the Arts' Mezzanine Gallery in Wilmington.The photographer behind the exhibition is Delawarean Christopher Starr, and in this week's Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny talked to Starr about finding beauty in the scenes we often take "for granted."

This week, we head back to UD – but this time if for more in-depth piece produce by a student journalist as part of their semester-long independent study project.It comes from Katie Santoro, who set out to understand something many of us feel but rarely talk about, how social media is shaping the way we think, feel, and see ourselves.Katie spoke with a principal, a digital culture professor, a TikTok creator, and someone who stepped away from social media completely.What she found is a story about identity, pressure, and the search for something real in a world that's always watching.

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Delaware recently released its updated Climate Action Plan, building on the first version of the plan unveiled five years ago.Among the issues the plan revisits is sea level rise – its impact in Delaware and how the state can respond.One possible response added to this version of Climate Action Plan is a recommendation to start planning to retreat from areas most vulnerable to chronic flooding from sea-level rise and the bigger storms coming with climate change.This week, contributor Jon Hurdle takes a closer look at this part of the Climate Action Plan and what it could look like.

The best way to improve student learning is in the classroom. But the second best way is through school leadership, according to a report on decades-worth of research on principals.The University of Delaware's Principal Preparation Program keeps that in mind when training educators for school leadership.The 18-month program combines coursework and on-the-ground learning to best serve adult learners and their future students and colleagues.It includes at least two internships, a research project and mentors that remain accessible after the program's completion.Delaware Public Media's Abigail Lee sat down with program leader Alison Travers to talk about the powerful effects principals can have on their schools, like improving student outcomes, absenteeism and teacher retention.

The Delaware Symphony Orchestra returns to the stage at the Grand next week for a concert titled "Waltzing through Winter."On this week's edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny speaks to the orchestra's conductor Michelle Di Russo about the program and the wealth of musical diversity that can be found in a fairly simple dance.

The Delaware Public Archives has a new director.Maegan Peterman is now in charge of leading the Archives' mission to preserve, provide access to and promote the understanding of the state's public record and history.Peterman is familiar with the Public Archives. She's worked there since 2015 when she began her career as a processing archivist.In this edition of History Matters, Delaware Public Media's Joe Irizarry speaks with Peterman about her vision for the Delaware Public Archives as well as plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States' founding.

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Last week, a buzz was generated when a sales listing appeared for Concord Mall. Was the end near for the retail mainstay on Concord Pike that opened in the late 1960s? Its owner says not so fast, claiming the listing was a mistake – but the mall seems a shell of its former self these days.This week, contributor Eileen Dallabrida takes a closer look at where things stand with Concord Mall and what could be next for it as many malls around the country face extinction.

The bulk of HIV prevention and support services in the nation are funded through the federal government. Delaware is no different.And the First State has seen a substantial reduction in federal funding for HIV prevention services since 2023. Experts say if the government doesn't fund the public health sector, the U.S. will see a rise in HIV.Delaware Public Media's Abigail Lee sat down with the Delaware HIV Consortium Executive Director Tyler Berl to talk about HIV in Delaware and the Consortium's next steps – with or without federal funding.

After a 44-year-long career at Wilmington's Hagley Museum and Library, Jill MacKenzie is stepping down as the museum's executive director.On this installment of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny sits down with MacKenzie to talk about her career, the museum, and the future of the humanities.

ChristianaCare researchers make a breakthrough in lung cancer care.The breakthrough reverses chemotherapy resistance, and the hope is this research will help develop the same results for other cancers in the future.In this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media's Joe Irizarry talks with Kelly Banas, the lead author of the study and associate director of research at the ChristianaCare Gene Editing Institute about the importance of the findings and what might come next.

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The Tharros Tent Village, or Camp Tharros, near Lewes recently closed for the winter as Code Purple shelters open to serve those facing homelessness in that area.This week, Delaware Public Media's Isreal Hale sits down with Mike Agnew, executive director of the Tharros Tent Village and partner of St. Jude Code Purple, to discuss the village project and what they have planned for next year.

The homeownership rate in Delaware decreased by 3% in the last decade, from 74% to 71%, as of 2023. And that's still higher than the national rate, which sits at 64%.So, about a quarter of the state's housing units are occupied by renters. There are state and municipal laws to protect renters, but sometimes it's difficult to dissect those rules.Delaware Public Media's Abigail Lee recently sat down with the Community Legal Aid Society's Deputy Director Sarah Spangler Rhine to go over tenant rights in Delaware.

The work of Delaware-born artist Renita Coursey melds the traditional crafting of her native Nanticoke tribe with the style of vintage streetwear.Her art, including intricate beadwork, is on display this month at the Delaware Division of the Arts' Mezzanine Gallery in Wilmington.In this week's Arts Playlist, Coursey joins Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny to chat about her work, the importance of community and tradition, and her journey as an artist.

Holiday happiness might seem easy, but that's not always the reality.Many can struggle finding the joy expected during the holiday season. While receiving gifts can be great, true happiness during this time of the year is often found in giving to others.In this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media's Joe Irizarry sits down with University of Delaware Lerner College of Business and Economics asst. professor of marketing Amit Kumar to discuss strategies for finding happiness during the holidays.

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As 2025 comes to a close, efforts to address a plan to build one of the largest data centers in the country near Delaware City in New Castle County and its potential impact on electric rates in the First State remain a work in progress.This week, Delaware Public Media contributor Jon Hurdle takes a look at where things stand on the multiple fronts in this ongoing battle.

The 2025 college football season was one of transition in the First State.The University of Delaware made its debut in the major college Football Bowl Subdivision – going 6-6 overall and 4-4 in Conference USA. More importantly, it managed – with a little help - to earn bowl eligibility and will play in an upcoming bowl game.Meanwhile, Delaware State made a remarkable turnaround in its first season under its new head coach, former Philadelphia Eagle great DeSean Jackson. Jackson took the Hornets from 1-11 last year to 8-4 this year and DSU fell just one win shy of its first MEAC title since 2007 and its first ever bid to the Celebration Bowl.News Journal/Delaware Online sportswriter Kevin Tresolini stops by this week to discuss the how the Blue Hens and Hornets made waves this season and what the future might hold for each.