DOVER, DEL. (June 21, 2024) – With all of Delaware under a heat advisory or excessive heat watch alert from the National Weather Service, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) offers information on resources and tips to help everyone stay safe this weekend and throughout the summer. While conditions such as those expected across […]

Delaware Natural Resources Police arrested two men on June 22, 2024 following an investigation into the assault at Cape Henlopen State Park.

DNREC has extended the nomination deadline for its 2024 Young Environmentalist of the Year Awards. The new deadline is set for 4:30 p.m., Friday, July 5, giving the public an additional week to recognize outstanding young environmentalists in Delaware.

A Philadelphia man previously arrested and convicted in connection with the 2016 police action Operation Smackdown has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for dealing fentanyl-laced heroin (Tier 2) and possession of cocaine (Tier 1). “Overdose fatalities are still out of control, and fentanyl remains a primary cause,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “People […]

DOVER, DEL. (June 26, 2024) – With the weather warming up, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) urges the public to take precautions to avoid exposure to rabies and to be on the lookout for rabid animals during this active season. Rabies is endemic in Delaware, meaning it occurs regularly within the state’s wildlife populations. […]

The Delaware Natural Resources Police reports black bear was struck and killed by a vehicle in Newark, with DNREC biologists to conduct an examination of the bear.

The Office of the Delaware State Fire Marshal reminds Delawareans and visitors that fireworks are prohibited in the State of Delaware, with the following exceptions:  Certain fireworks, such as sparklers, ground-based displays, and a selection of other nonairborne, nonexplosive novelty items, regulated by the federal government, are allowed to be used only on July 4th, […]

DOVER, Del. — The Delaware Rare Disease Advisory Council held its inaugural meeting on Tuesday, taking its first steps to address innovation and research, patient care, and affordable and accessible treatment therapies.     Delaware is one of 27 states with a Rare Disease Advisory Council. Established by Senate Bill 55, sponsored by Sen. Nicole Poore […]

The Delaware Supreme Court has unanimously vacated a lower court ruling that jeopardized tens of thousands of Delawareans’ voting rights under the State’s permanent absentee and early voting statutes. In February, a Superior Court judge issued a surprise ruling striking down early voting and the state’s 14-year-old permanent absentee law. The permanent absentee statute had […]

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney on Friday issued the following statement on the Delaware Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of absentee and early voting: “I’ve always believed that we should make it easier, not harder, for Delawareans to exercise their fundamental right to vote. I’m pleased that the Supreme Court has unanimously confirmed that Delaware […]

DOVER, Del. — As the 152nd General Assembly comes to a close, Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long on Sunday highlighted historic investments in early education, protections for reproductive justice, and actions that support a safe, healthy, and thriving Delaware.    “As second in command for the past seven years, I’ve had the privilege of serving with […]

With new Delaware hunting licenses going on sale this week, DNREC announced the 2024/25 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide is now available in hard copy from license agents throughout the state, at DNREC's recreational licensing office in the Richardson & Robbins Building at 89 Kings Highway in Dover and in a readily referenced online edition.

Employer participation in Delaware EARNS is required by law for those who do not offer a qualified retirement plan. Beginning today, employer registration opens for the state’s new retirement saving program, Delaware EARNS. All Delaware employers who have five or more W-2 employees and do not offer a qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k), […]

  Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 Study Highlights Vital Role of Arts and Culture in Building More Livable Communities Around the Country   Wilmington, Del. (July 1, 2024) – The Delaware Division of the Arts today announced that Delaware’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $209.5 million in economic activity in 2022, according to the […]

Smyrna High School was named the national champion at this year’s Educators Rising conference – the second consecutive national win and the first time any team has won two years in a row.

The Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC) has received reports of out-of-state entities contacting potential social equity applicants in Delaware. These entities may be trying to trick you into paying for help securing a social equity license.   The OMC does not endorse these activities and is working to investigate them, partnering with the Department […]

The Delaware Department of Agriculture announced today that Mark Short has been named the new Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund (DESBF) administrator. He will begin his new role as the DESBF administrator on November 1.

DNREC will hold a joint virtual public hearing Tuesday, July 9 at 6 p.m. on multiple permit applications and authorization requests made to DNREC by wind energy developer US Wind, Inc. involving Delaware aspects of the company’s proposed Maryland offshore wind project.

DOVER, DEL. (July 8, 2024) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) invites the public to explore My Healthy Community, a platform for Delaware’s environmental health data, during National Environmental Public Health Tracking Awareness Week. This annual observance, from July 8 to July 12, is dedicated to empowering communities to use heath data to […]

NEW CASTLE (July 8, 2024) – The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) is conducting a series of town hall meetings in July with Delaware residents who are interested in learning more about the child support process in the State. The discussion will address subjects such as how […]

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney has ordered Delaware flags to be lowered to half-staff at all state facilities on Saturday, July 13, 2024, to honor former State Senator Dorinda “Dori” Connor on the day of her interment. “Tracey and I were saddened to hear of the loss of Dori Connor. Dori and her husband Bob […]

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney announced today the selection of four women for induction into the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame for 2024. The Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy and the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Committee received more than 50 applications, and the Committee selected four of the top nominees for their […]

Delaware county and municipal governments, conservation districts, and estuary programs can now submit proposals to DNREC through Aug. 21 to receive matching grants for surface water project planning.

The Smart Food Program, a first in the nation project, will save food waste and reach families in need by using an AI-driven app to match surplus food to SNAP demands    WILMINGTON, Del. — Delaware will be the first state to pilot an innovative app to help those hardest hit by economic challenges stretch […]

The Delaware Technology Student Association (DETSA) proudly announces the outstanding performance of its student leaders June 26-30, 2024 at the 2024 National TSA Conference held in Orlando. This year's conference celebrated the continuous advancement and innovation of youth pursuing STEM careers. Delaware students showcased their skills and creativity, achieving seven notable Top 10 placements across various technical and professional competitive events.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control unveiled its new Action Trackchair an all-terrain wheelchair donated from the Ford Bronco Wild Fund June 12 at the Deerfield Clubhouse at White Clay Creek State Park. The event highlighted accessibility improvements statewide and featured the first publicly accessible all-terrain wheelchair available for public use in the state of Delaware. Delaware was the recipient of a nationally competitive grant for one of seven AXIS model Trackchairs provided through the Bronco Wild Fund Access Grants and the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD).

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) has confirmed a find of box tree moth (BTM; Cydalima perspectalis) at a private residence in Kent County, Delaware. The box tree moth is a federally regulated pest that primarily feeds on boxwood species (Buxus spp.). If left unchecked, it causes significant damage and can potentially kill the plants. Boxwoods are a popular ornamental evergreen shrub common to many landscape environments in the United States.

Underscoring the importance of safety for water enthusiasts in Delaware, the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife and Smyrna’s Citizens’ Hose Company teamed up to highlight recently installed buoyant life rings at the Woodland Beach fishing pier and boat ramp.

The Delaware State Fire Commission has recently announced the implementation of new updated emergency medical services (EMS) protocols aimed at improving healthcare response in critical situations. These protocols were established after extensive consultations with medical professionals, emergency responders, and other stakeholders in the healthcare industry. The objective is to ensure a consistent and standardized approach […]

DNREC continued to diversify marine habitat for angling and diving experiences on Delaware’s renowned artificial reef system today by sinking two vintage vessels – a retired City of Baltimore fireboat and a World War II-era tugboat – onto Reef Site 11, the Redbird Reef, that also contains 750 retired NYC "Redbird" subway cars.

Dover, Del. – July 22, 2024 –The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) and Discover Bank announced a significant milestone in their long-standing partnership to expand homeownership opportunities for low-to-moderate-income residents across the state. Over the past decade, the collaborative lending program has provided more than $500 million in mortgage financing to 2,780 first-time homebuyers with […]

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) urges all drivers to use extreme caution when traveling through work zones. The urgency of the message follows a recent rise in work zone crashes. In 2023, 15 DelDOT vehicles were struck by motorists. As of July 22, 2024, that figure is already over double last year’s with 37 […]

On Aug. 1, the Delaware Tourism Office will reopen the Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund for applications. Established through the FY24 Bond and Capital Improvements Act, the fund provides financial support to new or existing sports facilities that hold events throughout the year to attract out-of-state visitors and contribute to the state and local economy.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will host a community workshop at the Cape Henlopen State Park (CHSP) Officer's Club Wednesday, July 31, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to give community members and park visitors the opportunity to share feedback about the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation’s planned capital projects in the park. Community members can drop in any time during the workshop to review informational display boards for the capital plans in CHSP.

DOVER, DEL. (July 24, 2024) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is now providing health equity training through the Health Equity Institute of Delaware (HEIDE). Led by the Office of the Medical Director and Office of the Chief Health Equity Officer, HEIDE helps providers and public health workers approach their work from a health equity perspective. […]

Monday, July 22, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the recipients of the innovative “Climate Pollution Reduction Grant” (CPRG) program, created under the Federal Inflation Reduction Act to invest in a cleaner and safer future. The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is proud to announce that the Clean Corridor Coalition is among the […]

Two Delaware students were recognized today with Young Environmentalists of the Year Awards, presented by Governor John Carney and DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin at the Delaware State Fair, along with three winners of the annual Youth Fishing Tournament.

West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in Delaware for the first time for 2024 in sentinel chickens that help the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control monitor the state for mosquito-borne illnesses, DNREC announced today. The initial WNV occurrence was found in eight sentinel chickens sampled July 22 by the DNREC Mosquito Control Section which returned positive test results from the Delaware Division of Public Health Laboratory two days later.

A DNREC grand opening today of a new boat ramp facility at Records Pond near Laurel in Sussex County. Construction began earlier this year on the new facility – which includes a new boat ramp with courtesy dock, expansion of existing parking lots to accommodate boat trailers, and new decking for an existing fishing pier on Records Pond.

Early childhood professionals who earn a Child Development Associate credential now also can receive 12 credits at Delaware institutes of higher education under a new agreement with the state.

According to Secretary Scuse, there was no better person to receive his very last Secretary’s Award than Dr. Mark Isaacs. In selecting this year’s honoree, he felt that Isaacs deserved to join the long list of people who have positively impacted Delaware agriculture through his service as a farmer, researcher, and educator.

The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is excited to unveil the latest edition to their online services at dmv.de.gov, Della the Chatbot. Della began assisting customers on the website in early June 2024. DMV partnered with Google Cloud and SID Global Solutions Digital in the development of the AI-powered chatbot that will provide customers […]

Today the Delaware Tourism Office (DTO) announced a new grant program, the Tournaments, Events, and Athletic Meets Sponsorship (TEAMS) Program, designed to expand the office’s resources in recruiting sporting events to Delaware. The program aims to attract new regional, national, and international sporting events at amateur, collegiate, and professional levels while ensuring that current sports events maintain their place and continue to grow for years to come in Delaware.

In early June, DNREC kicked off a summer internship program to offer accomplished college students and recent graduates an opportunity to work alongside experts in public service and science.

Dover, Del. August 7, 2024 – The Delaware State Housing Authority  (DSHA) has awarded over $5,000,000 in Housing Stability Program (HSP) grants to eight community partner organizations throughout the state. HSP’s mission is twofold: to prevent imminent evictions by offering emergency rental assistance to households facing court dates, and to secure new housing opportunities by […]

Statewide, DEL. (August 7, 2024) – The Delaware Division of the Arts is investing nearly $4.5 million in more than 100 arts and community organizations that will serve Delawareans statewide with arts programming and services, arts education, and arts marketing and promotion. This first round of funding for FY2025 includes General Operating Support, Project Support, […]

Groundbreaking ceremony touted $56 million for early education, senior care, and community programs   WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney joined U.S. Senator Tom Carper, State Senator Darius Brown, State Representative Stephanie T. Bolden, other elected officials, and community members at a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Kingswood Community Center.   Kingswood Community Center, managed by […]

The Delaware Division of Revenue is warning the public of a new tax scam that’s happening in Delaware. Victims receive a letter from the “Tax Processing Unit” that threatens property seizure and wage garnishment unless the victim calls a toll-free number to “avoid enforcement.”

More than 100 Delawareans, from newborns to seniors, attended story time at the Dover Public Library to wish Smokey Bear a happy 80th birthday on August 9, which marks Smokey’s official birthday.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) is warning backyard flock owners who may have recently purchased poultry, fowl, and poultry equipment from an individual in Hartly, Delaware, selling through online marketplaces and local venues within the past 45 days.