Get tuned into the First State of Mind
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.
The role of local law enforcement in federal immigration enforcement was center stage in Delaware after the Town of Camden quietly entered into – and then quickly ended – an immigration enforcement agreement with ICE known as a 287(g) agreement.These agreements allow local police to collaborate with ICE, but critics argue they can erode trust within immigrant communities. One of those critics is the executive director of the Latin American Community Center Maria Matos, who recently penned an op-ed calling for a statewide ban on these agreements.This week, Delaware Public Media's Tom Byrne sat down with Matos to discuss her concerns and the impact these agreements have on local communities.
A prenatal diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare genetic disorder also known as brittle bone disease, can be devastating for expecting parents. The most severe cases are often labeled ‘lethal,' leading some families to believe there are no options for treatment.However, new research from Nemours Children's Health challenges that belief.Delaware Public Media's Kyle McKinnon caught up this week with Dr. Ricki Carroll – a Physician on the Skeletal Dysplasia and Palliative Care teams at Nemours – to learn more about the study's findings and how doctors are rethinking this rare condition.
The Delaware Symphony Orchestra is introducing local students to the world of classical music through its upcoming “Explorer Concerts.”These performances give young audiences a chance to experience live orchestral music in an engaging setting, with educators receiving lesson plans and materials to help prepare students ahead of time.In this week's edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny talks with Delaware Symphony Orchestra CEO J.C. Barker about these “Explorer Concerts” and the benefits for students and schools.
For years, tattoo shops were kept out of Newark, essentially blocked by city code.But that changed recently, thanks to the efforts of one determined tattoo artist who led the push to rewrite the rules.In this edition of Enlighten Me, University of Delaware senior and Delaware Public Media intern Jack Silverberg reports on the story behind Newark's first legal tattoo parlor and the woman who made it happen.
The housing market in Delaware continues to face some headwinds.So, if you are looking to buy or sell a home in the First State during the busy spring and summer season, what can you expect? Is it a buyers' or sellers' market?This week, contributor Eileen Dallabrida examines the housing market in Delaware and what's driving it.
We often think about what teachers teach – the lessons and academic goals. However, new research from the University of Delaware suggests we should also pay close attention to how teachers feel.The study, co-authored by UD Associate Research Professor Leigh McLean, looks at how a teacher's emotions can ripple through the classroom, affecting the ways students engage, behave, and learn.Delaware Public Media's Kyle McKinnon is joined by McLean this week to discuss the study's findings and what they tell us about the emotional dynamics of a classroom.
A writer for the New York City-based Black magazine “The Anglo-African” in 1859 detailed an immersive gallery showcasing the history, culture, and accomplishments of African Americans.But the gallery didn't actually exist, it was an imagined place that represented both a cultural critique and a call for recognition. More than 160 years later, Winterthur Museum is bringing the imagined gallery to life in the new exhibit ‘Almost Unknown: The Afric-American Picture Gallery.'In this week's edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny catches up with Winterthur's Director of Collections Alexandra Deutsch and curator and historian Jonathan Michael Square for a closer look at ‘Almost Unknown.'
When Lewes-based author Wendy Gee started volunteering with the Charleston Fire Department in South Carolina, she didn't plan to write a novel. But her experiences there sparked the idea for a story filled with suspense, corruption, and second chances.In Gee's debut novel “Fleet Landing,” an ATF special agent and a TV reporter team up to pursue an arsonist through Charleston – and confront the toll that pursuit takes on their personal lives.In this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media's Kyle McKinnon talks with Gee about “Fleet Landing” and the inspiration behind it.
Delaware has made progress in improving maternal and infant health over the past two decades.But recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the state is far from finished on working to keep mothers and babies healthy. Delaware's infant mortality rate actually rose in 2022 – the latest year with available data – and babies born to Black mothers continue to face greater health risks compared to their white counterparts.This week, Delaware Public Media's Kyle McKinnon caught up with ChristianaCare Pediatrician Dr. Priscilla Mpasi – Chair of the Delaware Healthy Mother and Infant Consortium – to discuss what more can be done to address maternal and child health in the First State.
OperaDelaware premieres a brand new musical drama at The Grand in Wilmington this month created by acclaimed American composer-librettist Derrick Wang.“Fearless” tells the true story of Hazel Ying Lee – a trailblazing World War II aviator and member of the famed ‘Women Airforce Service Pilots' – and the largely overlooked sacrifices women like Lee made.In this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny sits down with Wang and OperaDelaware's Vice President of Engagement Kerriann Otaño for a preview of the world premiere of “Fearless.”
This week, The Green brings you the second episode of the new Delaware Humanities' podcast People and Planet. The podcast explores how Delawareans connect to the environments and cultures around them, and the cultural practices and creative works that bring us closer to the planet we call home.In this episode, entomologist, author, and professor at the University of Delaware's Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, Doug Tallamy, examines the pressures facing the delicate relationship between the native plants and insects that help build healthy ecosystems.
Monday, April 21 marked Congresswoman Sarah McBride's 100th day in office serving as Delaware's lone congressional representative in Washington, D.C.McBride was sworn in on January 3, succeeding now-U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, who represented the First State for nearly a decade.Delaware Public Media political reporter Sarah Petrowich sat down this week with the freshman representative McBride to discuss her policy focuses, fighting back against the Trump administration's federal funding cuts, and how she's handling attacks from the other side of the aisle surrounding her identity.
“Some people just want to watch the world burn” is an iconic line from the 2008 Batman film “The Dark Knight,” but for some Americans, it's more than just a line, it's a reflection of how they actually feel about the country's political system.That's according to new data from the Center for Political Communication at the University of Delaware, which finds that a number of people in the U.S. have what researchers call a “need for chaos,” and it's those with these views that are placing more trust in figures like Elon Musk, President Trump, and the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.This week, Delaware Public Media's Kyle McKinnon spoke with UD Professor of Communication and Political Science Dannagal Young about how this “need for chaos” is fueling support for Musk and Trump, and what it reveals about the state of U.S. democracy.
The Mastersingers of Wilmington have been a staple of Delaware's music scene for years. Made up of both professional and amateur singers, the ensemble has become known for its rich sound and moving performances.Their upcoming concert “New Era Romantics” promises more of the same, offering music from around the turn of the 20th century and one of the major choral pieces from that period, “the Requiem” by Maurice Duruflé.In this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny is joined by local musician Jordan Barrett – Board President of Market Street Music, which the Mastersingers are a part of – and conductor David Schelat for an early look at “New Era Romantics.”
A week after Gov. Matt Meyer delivered his first State of the State address, lawmakers embark on their two-week spring recess – an opportunity to regroup before this year's legislative session heads into its stretch run.So where do things stand following Gov. Meyer's State of the State and his budget presentation? And what issues are likely to dominate lawmakers' attention in May and June?This week, Delaware Public Media's Tom Byrne sat down with DPM political reporter Sarah Petrowich to delve into the current state of play in Dover.
Cigarette smoking has fallen to its lowest level in the U.S. in more than 60 years, but even as fewer adults light up, e-cigarette use continues to climb.New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the number of adults exclusively using e-cigarettes more than tripled from 2017 to 2023, with the sharpest increases among younger adults.Delaware Public Media's Joe Irrizary caught up this week with Beebe Healthcare Pulmonary Medicine specialist Dr. Victor Banzon to discuss what's fueling the rise in vaping among younger people and efforts to address it.
The Southern Delaware Orchestra, also known as Sodelo, is back again this season – bringing its ‘Sounds of Spring' concerts to Sussex County. The performances, set for April 26 and 27, offer a mix of classical favorites and contemporary pieces celebrating nature and the arrival of spring.For this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny is joined by Sodelo's co-founder and music director James Allen Anderson for more on the upcoming concerts and what audiences can expect.
A forthcoming memoir traces one Delaware woman's difficult path through abusive relationships and, ultimately, a fruitful career in law enforcement.In “Standing Up: Making the Best Out of Surviving the Worst,” Middletown-based author Mary Devine offers a unique perspective that's part civilian, part law enforcement. Devine recounts her two early marriages and how those experiences shaped her career in law enforcement in Delaware, where she spent years responding to the kinds of domestic violence calls she once lived through.In this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media's Kyle McKinnon talks with Devine about “Standing Up” and finding agency beyond the things that happen to us.
Listen to the full show or individual segments.
As the annual horseshoe crab spawning season approaches, the debate over the harvesting of those crabs continues, with conservationists and the commercial fishing industry searching for ways to protect horseshoe crabs and the species that depend on them while allowing fishermen to make a living without further restrictions from state quotas.This week, contributor Jon Hurdle reports on this debate over horseshoe crab protections and where it's headed.
Recycling feels like second nature for many at this point – toss your plastic cup in the blue bin, and the rest takes care of itself.But how much of what you put in that bin actually gets recycled? And do Delawareans really know the dos and don'ts when it comes to recycling the right way?University of Delaware senior and Delaware Public Media intern Jack Silverberg examines the First State's recycling and sustainability efforts, and outreach aimed at educating young people and the broader community.
As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into everyday life, one Delaware college is helping young scholars navigate it with care and critical thinking.Goldey-Beacom College's Hirons Library recently earned a national innovation award for its work in teaching students not only how to use AI tools, but how to use them thoughtfully and ethically.Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny is joined this week by Goldey-Beacom College's Director of Library and Archives Russell ‘Rusty' Michalak and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Joel Worden for more on their approach to AI use in higher ed.
What do the things we save say about us and our shared history?The University of Delaware's exhibition ‘What They Saved' explores that question through personal letters, unique family heirlooms, wartime mementos, and other eclectic keepsakes – revealing deeper stories of identity and the past we choose to preserve.In this edition of History Matters, Delaware Public Media's Kyle McKinnon visits UD's Morris Library for a firsthand tour of ‘What They Saved' with the Library's head of special collections Hillary Kativa.
Listen to the full show or individual segments.
Food banks across the country are facing mounting challenges, and the Food Bank of Delaware is no exception.The USDA's Emergency Food Assistance Program, a critical source of food assistance, has halted its scheduled shipments. That means fewer staples like fresh produce, dairy, protein, and shelf-stable items are making it to families in need.This week, Delaware Public Media's Kyle McKinnon sat down with the President and CEO of the Food Bank of Delaware Cathy Kanefsky to examine the implications of the USDA canceling food aid shipments and how it affects food insecurity in the First State.
The City Theater Company in Wilmington is bringing comedy to the stage with its latest production ‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.'The Tony Award-winning play by Christopher Durang puts a modern, comedic spin on classic Chekhov characters, following three middle-aged siblings whose quiet life is upended by a surprise visit.In this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny catches up with the play's director Joseph Pukatsch and the City Theater Company's artistic director Kerry Kristine McElrone to explore the ways the Company is bringing this sharp-edged production to life.
This week, The Green brings you the first episode of the new Delaware Humanities' podcast People and Planet. The podcast explores how Delawareans connect to the environments and cultures around them, and the cultural practices and creative works that bring us closer to the planet we call home.In this episode, former Delaware Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Ed Kee discusses the history and significance of agriculture in the state and its place in today's world.
Delaware has a new leader tasked with addressing one of the state's most pressing challenges – housing, specifically affordable housing.Matthew Heckles now leads the Delaware State Housing Authority, and he's no stranger to the agency. He previously served as a legislative and policy advisor for DSHA and more recently as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.This week, Delaware Public Media's Abigail Lee sat down with Heckles to discuss his plans to tackle the state's housing crisis and make housing more accessible for Delawareans.
Across the country, the highly pathogenic avian influenza – or bird flu – continues to spread.Bird flu isn't new, but experts say the virus is evolving and fear it's here to stay long-term. That's a particular concern in Delaware, where poultry is a cornerstone of the state's agricultural economy. As migratory waterfowl also make their way north this season, the risk of the virus spreading further is increasing.Delaware Public Media's Kyle McKinnon spoke this week with University of Delaware professor of wildlife ecology Chris Williams about bird flu in the First State and what's being done to mitigate its spread.
From phishing texts to impostor scams, fraud targeting seniors is on the rise. Reported financial losses among older adults are growing, with the Federal Trade Commission estimating billions of dollars stolen in 2023 alone, the latest year with available data.AARP Fraud Ambassador Paul Greenwood visited Delaware this week to meet with law enforcement, the FBI, and specialists in the field as part of an AARP-organized discussion. He was the lead prosecutor of the Elder Abuse Prosecution Unit in the San Diego District Attorney's Office for 22 years – prosecuting hundreds of felony cases involving physical, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse against seniors.Delaware Public Media's Joe Irizarry is joined by Greenwood to learn about efforts to curb elder fraud and how we can better protect vulnerable seniors.
Shakespeare's ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream' is a story of love, mischief, and magic – and soon, it will come to life on stage in a whole new way.First State Ballet Theatre is bringing the classic tale to The Grand in Wilmington on April 5th and 6th, blending elegant choreography with a fresh score, including a Ukrainian-themed twist inspired by local choreographer Zachary Kapeluck's cultural heritage.In this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny caught up with Kapeluck for more on his vision for ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream' and what audiences can expect.
Listen to the full show or individual segments.
Delaware issued its last round of recreational marijuana business licenses to hopeful applicants in December, but those license holders haven't begun dispensing recreational cannabis just yet.April 1st – a month later than the initial target – has been circulated as the new date to have the First State's recreational marijuana market up and running, but delays in federal background checks have put that timeline into question. As license holders anxiously wait for the go-ahead to bring safe and legal cannabis to Delawareans – and as the state looks for a new marijuana commissioner – uncertainty looms over the recreational market.In episode two of Delaware's High Hopes, Delaware Public Media's Sarah Petrowich checked back in with license holders and discussed concerns over these delays with an industry advocate and the legislator behind the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Millions of students are suspended from public schools every year. Last school year, about 14% of Delaware students received suspensions with students of color facing out-of-school suspensions at higher rates, according to the state's Annual Report on School Discipline Improvement.In his book ‘Suspended Education: School Punishment and the Legacy of Racial Injustice,' University of Delaware sociology and criminal justice professor Aaron Kupchik explores how this long-standing disciplinary practice is tied to racial inequality, fails to improve behavior, and can have long-lasting consequences for students.This week, Delaware Public Media's Kyle McKinnon sat down with Kupchik for more on ‘Suspended Education' and why school suspensions may do more harm than good.
An old family photo album can be a window into the past, but for local artist Virginia Lockman, it became something more.In her latest exhibition ‘Figments,' Lockman reimagines vintage family photographs through digital collages, blending them with birds, animals, and celestial elements to create dreamlike images. The exhibit is on view in the Mezzanine Gallery at the Carvel State Building in Wilmington through March 28.In this week's edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny is joined by Lockman for a closer look at ‘Figments.'
The flowers are starting to bloom, the birds are singing, and your closets are overflowing – that means spring is here and so is the time to clean, declutter, and finally tackle that junk drawer.But where do you start? According to Delaware's only certified professional organizer Kim Mazewski, it's best to begin with small, manageable tasks and build from there so you can create lasting habits that make a real difference in your home.In this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media's Kyle McKinnon spoke with Mazewski about spring cleaning and why it's more than just tidying up your space; it's a way to find peace of mind.
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