Joe Ciccanti

Delaware House Advances Immigration Limits as Lawmakers Introduce Oversight Bills

By Joe Ciccanti / April 17, 2026

The Delaware House passed legislation limiting state and local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement in sensitive locations such as schools, places of worship, and healthcare facilities, while allowing exceptions for urgent public safety situations and criminal cases under court order. Separately, Rep. Mara Gorman and fellow lawmakers introduced three bills–HB 366, HB 367, and…

Trooper Involved Shooting During A Call For Service In Queen Anne’s County

By Joe Ciccanti / April 17, 2026

Police are investigating a trooper-involved shooting that occurred during a call for service Thursday afternoon in Queen Anne’s County. According to Maryland State Police, around 3:40 p.m. yesterday April 16th, troopers from the Centreville Barrack responded to the unit block of Sherman Way in Chester for reports of a man threatening others with a knife.…

AAA: Gas Prices Dip Slightly, Offering Modest Relief to Drivers

By Joe Ciccanti / April 16, 2026

Drivers are getting a break at the pumps with the slight decrease in gas prices over the last several days. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline decreased 7 cents over the past week to $4.09. After last week’s announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, the price for a…

Three Schools Earn Delaware Purple Star Recognition

By Joe Ciccanti / April 16, 2026

Three Delaware schools have earned the Purple Star School designation, recognizing them for their commitment to supporting the unique educational and social-emotional needs of military-connected children. The 2026 recipients are Caesar Rodney School District’s J. Ralph McIlvaine Early Childhood Center, Lake Forest School District’s Lake Forest High School, and Providence Creek Academy charter school. The schools were…

Match Day Brings More Than 250 Physicians to Delaware Health Systems

By Joe Ciccanti / April 16, 2026

The 2026 Match Day season marks a record high for Delaware Healthcare Association (DHA) hospital members, with more than 250 new physicians set to join Delaware hospitals and health systems this July through Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs. The physicians will enter residency and fellowship training across the state’s six acute care hospital systems, which…

Governor Moore Announces $5.2 Million in EARN Maryland Grants to Help More than 2,000 Marylanders Train for In-Demand Careers

By Joe Ciccanti / April 16, 2026

Governor Wes Moore announced more than $5.2 million in EARN Maryland grants to expand workforce training and job placement programs across the state. The funding is expected to help over 2,000 Marylanders gain job training and credentials, connect nearly 1,000 residents to employment, and provide upskilling for more than 1,100 current workers. The investments target…

Dover Man with Four Prior Gun Convictions Sentenced to 40 Months in Federal Prison

By Joe Ciccanti / April 16, 2026

A Dover man has been sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for drug dealing and possessing a firearm following multiple prior felony convictions.  U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall imposed the sentence. Court records show 24-year-old Deontray Watson was released from state prison in February 2024 after a prior gun conviction. Less than a…

Denton Man Killed in Crash Involving Lawn Mower and Pickup Truck in Caroline County

By Joe Ciccanti / April 16, 2026

A Denton, Maryland man is dead after a crash involving a Toyota pickup truck and a lawn mower in Caroline County, according to Maryland State Police. The operator of the John Deere lawn mower–42-year-old Joel Garcia–was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Toyota Tundra, a 32-year-old man, was taken to a local…

One Juvenile In Custody Following Armed Robbery, Another Still At Large

By Joe Ciccanti / April 16, 2026

A 17-year-old juvenile accomplice has been arrested in connection with an armed robbery reported April 11th at the Holly Brook Apartment Complex. Laurel Police say the robbery occurred April 10th when the victim went to the 1300 block for a planned purchase. Two individuals approached him. One is accused of displaying a handgun, forcing the…

Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Attempted Murder in Salisbury

By Joe Ciccanti / April 16, 2026

The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an attempted murder that occurred on Richmond Avenue in Salisbury. Detectives responded to the scene of a reported shooting on Tuesday, April 14th at about 6:40 PM. One male victim was transported to TidalHealth with injuries that are not considered life-threatening. Anyone with information regarding this incident is…

Court Orders Delaware Department of Labor to Comply with Lawfully Issued Federal Subpoena

By Joe Ciccanti / April 15, 2026

A federal judge has ordered the Delaware Department of Labor to comply with a Homeland Security subpoena tied to an immigration-related worksite investigation. Chief Judge Colm Connolly ruled the subpoena is valid and enforceable, requiring the state agency to turn over requested records after previously refusing. Federal officials say the decision affirms the government’s authority…

Arrest Made in November, 2025 Shooting of Occupied Home in Dover

By Joe Ciccanti / April 15, 2026

Dover Police have arrested a 19-year-old Wilmington man in connection with a shooting that damaged an occupied home on November 28th, 2025. Malik Isabell was taken into custody without incident and is being held on $96,000 cash bail, facing multiple firearm-related charges, reckless endangering, and criminal mischief. Police say the incident happened late on November…

Earth Day with Hikes and Volunteer Events at Delaware State Parks

By Joe Ciccanti / April 15, 2026

Delawareans are invited to celebrate Earth Day with hikes, cleanups, tree plantings, and other events at parks and public spaces across the state through the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Parks and Recreation. Matt Ritter, director of the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation says Earth Day is a chance…

Four Delaware Police Agencies Earn State Accreditation

By Joe Ciccanti / April 15, 2026

The Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) has announced that four police departments—including the Dewey Beach Police Department, the Rehoboth Beach Police Department, the Harrington Police Department, and the Clayton Police Department—earned state accreditation from the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission (DPAC).  As part of the rigorous process, a team of DPAC assessors ensured…

Delaware Division of Small Business Launches Delaware Opportunity Zone 2.0 Mapping Tool

By Joe Ciccanti / April 15, 2026

  The Delaware Division of Small Business (DSB) has been working closely with the Office of State Planning Coordination, the Delaware State Housing Authority and the Office of the Governor to prepare for Opportunity Zones 2.0. As part of this collaboration, the State has just launched a Delaware-specific map showing the 61 census tracts eligible…

Delaware Forest Service Launches Federal Firefighter Property Program to Support Fire Departments

By Joe Ciccanti / April 15, 2026

The Delaware Forest Service (DFS) Wildland Fire Program has launched its Federal Firefighter Property (FFP) Program, a new initiative providing surplus federal and military equipment to fire departments across the state at no cost. Through partnerships with the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Forest Service, usable equipment is transferred to Delaware and redistributed…

Commercial Property Fire in Dorchester County Under Investigation

By Joe Ciccanti / April 15, 2026

A fire that occurred yesterday afternoon, April 14th, on Broad Street in Hurlock in Dorchester County is under investigation. The fire at the one-story commercial property began on the outside of the back of the building. According to the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal, the blaze occurred in an approximately 50-gallon barrel containing…

Delaware Senate Approves Plan for K–12 Health Education Working Group

By Joe Ciccanti / April 15, 2026

Legislation in Delaware, sponsored by Senator Laura Sturgeon, has passed the Senate requesting the Department of Education to develop a working group to support and improve K–12 comprehensive health education standards and programming throughout the state. The group will gather input from parents, students, school leaders, and agencies to recommend updates to Delaware’s health standards.…

UPDATED: Laurel Police Make Arrest in Shooting at Little Creek Apartment Complex

By Joe Ciccanti / April 12, 2026

UPDATED – 04/12/26 – An arrest in a shooting incident at the Little Creek Apartments in Laurel on April 1st.   With help from witnesses and the public, Laurel Police have identified a suspect – a 16 year old black male from Laurel.  An arrest warrant was subsequently obtained charging him with the following offenses: Attempted Manslaughter …

Delaware DMV Urges Caution Over New Text Message Scam

By Joe Ciccanti / April 9, 2026

The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles is warning residents about a new text message scam claiming recipients have unpaid traffic violations and must click a link to avoid penalties. Officials say the messages are fraudulent and designed to steal personal and financial information, emphasizing that the DMV and E-ZPass Delaware do not request payments by…

UPDATED: Upcoming Airfield Closures at Easton Airport Due to Ongoing Modernization Project

By Joe Ciccanti / April 9, 2026

UPDATE 04/09/26: The Easton Airport will experience several closures over the coming weeks due to the ongoing airfield modernization project. A full airport closure is scheduled from 7:00 a.m. May 11th through 7:00 a.m. May 14th, during which both runways will be closed, though helicopters may still operate from ramp areas. After that, Runway 15/33…

UPDATE: Ocean View Post Office Repairs to begin in June and be Completed by the End of September

By Joe Ciccanti / April 9, 2026

UPDATE 04/09/26:  The Ocean View Post Office remains temporarily closed due to structural issues and mold concerns, with repairs set to begin June 1st and a targeted completion date of September 30th, according to the U.S. Postal Service. The facility will reopen once it meets all safety standards. In the meantime, Ocean View customers are…

General Assembly Leadership Introduce Bipartisan Legislation Codifying the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council

By Joe Ciccanti / April 9, 2026

Delaware legislative leaders from both parties have introduced bipartisan legislation to formally codify the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC), which has long provided nonpartisan revenue and budget projections for the state. The proposed “DuPont-Cook Financial Responsibility Act” would establish DEFAC in state law, rather than by executive order, aiming to preserve its role…

Shooting in Dover Leaves Three Injured on North Governors Avenue

By Joe Ciccanti / April 9, 2026

In Dover, police say a physical altercation involving several individuals escalated when a suspect—described as wearing all black clothing, red shoes, and a camouflage ski mask—fired two rounds toward the group. The individual then fled westbound and was last seen running north through an alley just west of North Governors Avenue. Officers responded to South…

Wicomico County Withdraws Support for Waste Diversion Pilot Concept

By Joe Ciccanti / April 9, 2026

Wicomico County has withdrawn support for a previously considered pilot program that would have converted non-recyclable landfill waste into fuel briquettes for local energy use. The concept, developed in partnership with Morgan State University, was not a large-scale industrial facility or biorefinery, but rather a small-scale proposal using materials from the Newland Park Landfill. Officials…