Joe Ciccanti

Delaware Bill Seeking to Expand Access to Mental Health Care Passes Senate

By Joe Ciccanti / June 11, 2026

A bill aimed at expanding access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment in Delaware has passed the Delaware Senate. Known as the “Fair Standards in Mental Health Care Act”, the legislation would require insurers to cover all medically necessary mental health and addiction treatment, eliminate certain prior authorization delays, and ensure emergency mental…

Motor Vehicle Crash Involving School Bus and Honda CR-V

By Joe Ciccanti / June 10, 2026

The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office investigated a motor-vehicle crash involving a school bus and a Honda CRV today. The crash occurred early this afternoon on Old Ocean City Road (Rt.346) at Friendship Road. The bus driver complained of minor injuries and was transported to Tidal Health for treatment. Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis tells the…

Dorchester County Authorities Investigate Report of Police Impersonator

By Joe Ciccanti / June 10, 2026

The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a report of a person allegedly impersonating a police officer during a traffic stop shortly before midnight on June 9th. The victim told deputies they were stopped by a tan Chevrolet Suburban displaying red and blue emergency lights. The driver claimed to be a Cambridge police officer but…

Cooling Centers Activated in Delaware to Provide Relief from the Heat

By Joe Ciccanti / June 10, 2026

With temperatures hitting above 90 degrees for multiple days in a row, the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has activated its cooling centers for those who need relief from the heat. DHSS facilities are now open as cooling centers starting today, June 10th and will also be open on June 11th and…

Delaware Bill Would Allow Medically Disqualified Drivers to Retain Licenses for Identification

By Joe Ciccanti / June 10, 2026

Under current Delaware law, individuals who lose their driving privileges because of a medical condition must surrender their driver’s license and may need to obtain a separate identification card. A bill currently being worked on in the General Assembly would allow them to keep their physical license for identification purposes. They would sign an affidavit…

DNREC Investigating Release of Unknown Amount of Hazardous Chemical

By Joe Ciccanti / June 10, 2026

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is reporting that there has been a release involving an unknown amount of anhydrous ammonia into the air from Perdue Foods on North Dupont Boulevard in Milford. The release occurred yesterday evening June 9th at around 8:30 PM.  This chemical is considered to be hazardous…

UPDATED: Delaware State Police Identify Victim in Single-Vehicle Fatal Crash on Oak Road in Bridgeville

By Joe Ciccanti / June 5, 2026

UPDATED – 06/05/26 – The Delaware State Police have identified 17-year-old Kensley Ramirez-Ramirez of Lewes as the person who died in the fatal crash Thursday morning on Oak Road in Bridgeville. ========================================================= ORIGINAL STORY – 06/04/26 – The Delaware State Police are investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash that occurred this morning on Oak Road in…

Capitol Police Investigating Death in Woods Behind Dover DMV

By Joe Ciccanti / June 4, 2026

The Delaware Capitol Police are conducting a death investigation in a wooded area behind the Dover DMV, located at 303 Transportation Circle in Dover. Shortly before 10 a.m. on June 4th, Capitol Police officers responded to the area after being notified by Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) employees that members of a state service agency…

Gas Price Averages Drop for Second Straight Week

By Joe Ciccanti / June 4, 2026

Drivers have been experiencing some relief at the pumps in recent days. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is down 18 cents since last week to $4.24, according to AAA. This marks the second straight week of decline. Pump prices are cooling off as the price of crude oil remains below $100…

Ozone Levels Prompt Code Orange Alert for Delaware

By Joe Ciccanti / June 4, 2026

Delaware is under a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day on Friday, June 5th due to hot temperatures, sunshine, and light winds that are expected to increase ozone levels. A Code Orange means air quality may be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, older adults, and people with heart or respiratory conditions. Officials recommend that…

Joint Statement Issued on School Bus Driver Alcohol Investigation

By Joe Ciccanti / June 4, 2026

Worcester County officials have released a joint statement regarding an investigation into a school bus driver accused of consuming alcohol before transporting students on April 24th. Investigators determined the driver consumed two alcoholic beverages before driving one student route, but prosecutors declined to file charges, citing insufficient admissible evidence after delays in reporting and problems…

DE Office of Vital Statistics Moving to Another Building; Services Temporarily Affected

By Joe Ciccanti / June 4, 2026

The Delaware Office of Vital Statistics is moving to the James Williams State Service Center. Beginning today, long form certificates will not be available until the move is complete, according to the Delaware Division of Public Health. Other OVS services will remain available at the Jesse Cooper Building from today, June 4th to 15th. The…

Firearms Investigation in Dover Leads to Arrest

By Joe Ciccanti / June 4, 2026

Dover Police have arrested 19-year-old Elijah Johnson on firearms charges following an investigation that began after officers observed a person carrying a firearm on surveillance video near State Street Alley. Police identified Johnson as the suspect and took him into custody Monday, June 1st on South Governors Avenue, where they say he was found with…

Assault Investigation Leads to Barricade Incident Near Pittsville

By Joe Ciccanti / June 4, 2026

A 16-year-old juvenile was taken into custody following an assault and barricade incident on Wednesday June 3rd at a home on Morris Road near Pittsville, according to the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies say the juvenile allegedly assaulted family members before barricading himself in a bedroom and reportedly possessing a firearm. Specialized law enforcement teams…

Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office Conducts Firearms Investigation Involving Two Students at Wicomico Middle School

By Joe Ciccanti / June 4, 2026

Two Wicomico Middle School students are facing charges following a firearms investigation. The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office learned that one of the students–a 15-year-old male–allegedly stole a firearm from a Virginia residence, brought it to Wicomico Middle School on June 1st, and transferred it to a 14-year-old male student. Deputies recovered the stolen firearm at…

Maryland State Police Investigating Fatal Crash In Worcester County

By Joe Ciccanti / June 3, 2026

Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal crash that occurred yesterday evening in Worcester County. Police say the driver–identified as Gregory Roth, a 79-year-old man from Ocean City–was the sole occupant of a Nissan Altima, which was involved in the crash. He was pronounced deceased on the scene by EMS personnel from Berlin. Investigators of…

FY27 Worcester Budget Maintains 81.5 Cent Property Tax Rate, Increases Education Funding by 8 Percent

By Joe Ciccanti / June 3, 2026

Worcester County Commissioners have approved a nearly $300.2 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget that increases funding for education, public safety, and county employees while keeping the property tax rate at 81.5 cents per $100 of assessed value and the local income tax rate at 2.25 percent. The budget includes a record boost for the Board…

Accidental House Fire in Trappe, Talbot County Displaces Four, Causes Major Damage

By Joe Ciccanti / June 3, 2026

A house fire that occurred this morning on Backtown Road in Trappe in Talbot County has been ruled accidental according to the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal. Fire officials say discarded ashes from a burn barrel caused the blaze which began on the outside back porch. As a result, four individuals were displaced,…

Governor Meyer Declares Statewide Drought Watch

By Joe Ciccanti / June 3, 2026

All three Delaware counties are showing significant precipitation deficits as summer nears, according to state officials. Precipitation levels have shown a steep and steady decline throughout the state for the second time in three years, particularly in Kent and Sussex Counties. Governor Matt Meyer declared a drought watch after receiving guidance from the Delaware Water…

Maryland Attorney General Joins Coalition in Urging Congress to Reconsider Federal Data Privacy Proposal

By Joe Ciccanti / June 3, 2026

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general and state agencies in opposing the proposed SECURE Data Act, a federal data privacy bill currently under consideration in Congress. The coalition argues that the legislation would preempt state privacy and cybersecurity laws, including the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act and similar…

Crash Involving Dump Truck Near Millsboro

By Joe Ciccanti / June 3, 2026

Emergency crews responded early this morning to a reported rollover crash in the Millsboro area involving an overturned dump truck. The Millsboro Police Department tells the Talk of Delmarva that dump truck owned by SV Trucking was traveling East on Route 24 and was fully loaded with Sand. The driver was turning right onto the…

Millsboro Man Charged with Sexual Assault of Minor

By Joe Ciccanti / June 3, 2026

A Millsboro man has been arrested for sexually assaulting a child multiple times at his residence. On May 20th, Millsboro Police responded to the Millsboro Village Apartments regarding the reported crime and conducted a detailed investigation. Detectives determined that 38-year-old Keith Cooper lured the 10-year-old victim into his residence, where the sexual assault incidents occurred.…

Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Authorize and Strengthen EPA’s Safer Choice Program

By Joe Ciccanti / June 3, 2026

The Environmental Protection Agency’s voluntary Safer Choice Program, which helps consumers, businesses, schools, and institutions identify products that meet standards for health, environmental safety, and performance, would be formally authorized and strengthened under bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons of Delaware and Jon Husted of Ohio. Supporters say the bill would provide long-term…

Wicomico High School Counselors Recognized For Excellence in Maryland

By Joe Ciccanti / June 3, 2026

Wicomico High School and its school counselors have been named the 2025 School of Excellence award winner for the state of Maryland from the American College Application Campaign. Wi-Hi’s counselors are recognized for their “Maryland Post-secondary Success Campaign,” which honors schools that do an outstanding job increasing the number of graduating high school seniors with…

House Fire in Delmar Under Investigation

By Joe Ciccanti / June 3, 2026

A house fire that occurred on East Pine Street in Delmar on Tuesday afternoon June 2nd is under investigation. According to the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal, the blaze began at the back of the home. The fire alarm was present and activated and is what led to the discovery of the fire. …