Joe Ciccanti
After a le wasngthy series of discussions, the Sussex County Council came to a vote on the Forest Preservation Ordinance. Members unanimously voted yes to move forward with Ordinance No. 26-05. Council Vice President John Rieley calls this a milestone: He says that whether it needs to be adjusted and amended as they move forward,…
Maryland employers can now register for the state’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program. All employers with at least one Maryland-based employee are required to register. FAMLI will provide eligible workers with up to 12 weeks of job-protected, paid leave, with benefits of up to $1,000 per week, beginning in January 2028. Employers will…
Some Maryland chicken farms, including “no-land” farms, can now extend their nutrient management plans from three years to five years. The Delmarva Chicken Association says the change will reduce paperwork for family farmers while maintaining existing conservation practices and protections for water quality. Nutrient management plans outline how manure, fertilizer and other nutrients are managed…
Mountaire Farms has opened applications and nominations for its 2027 Farm to Table Scholarship Program, with applications accepted through December 31st, 2026. The program offers scholarships to children and grandchildren of Mountaire employees, growers and grain producers, as well as students in local communities pursuing careers in agriculture, skilled trades and related fields. Each scholarship…
DART has released its transportation service information for Labor Day. The Route 305 Beach Connection will operate on a Sunday schedule. Paratransit service will operate complimentary ADA-only service. All other fixed-route and paratransit services will not operate. Monday, September 7th will be the last day of service for DART’s Beach Bus Service, while the Route…
Gas prices remain high as we close out the month of August. AAA reports that the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is one cent lower than last week at $4.09, but there’s been little movement on the crude oil front. Due to continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz, crude oil prices…
Noah Sammons of Seaford graduated as the top Sailor from the U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, earning the Military Excellence Award. The Sussex Technical High School graduate was recognized for his leadership, teamwork, dedication and military bearing during the nine-week boot camp. Sammons joined the Navy out of a desire to serve his…
UPDATE 08/27/26: Delaware State Police have identified 62-year-old Richard Jobes, of Harrington, Delaware, as the victim in the murder-suicide that occurred near Harrington this week. The suspect, 36-year-old Richard Jobes, II, also from Harrington, committed suicide during the incident. The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit is actively investigating this incident. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding…
The Talbot County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 40-year-old Easton man, Youngsen Huang, in connection with a nationwide credit card fraud and theft scheme. Investigators say Huang received fraudulent online purchases made with victims’ credit cards, with the merchandise shipped to his Easton residence. A search of the home uncovered more than $16,000 in electronics,…
Maryland is investing more than $28.5 million to reduce transportation emissions and help lower fuel costs by electrifying school buses, expanding EV charging infrastructure, and supporting zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The funding includes 63 grants and 1,903 rebates across five Maryland Energy Administration programs. Selected projects include: $36,501 to Community Harvest to deploy three…
For the third year in a row, the Sussex County Lifesaving Association won the national championship title at the U.S. Lifesaving Association’s annual competition, with major wins by members of the Delaware State Beach Patrol, according to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). During the 2026 summer season, the Delaware State Beach Patrol…
Nearly 300 Delaware school safety professionals gathered earlier this month at the University of Delaware for the 2026 Delaware School Safety Conference. Hosted by DEMA’s Delaware School Safety Center and the Department of Education, the conference focused on collaboration and practical strategies for preventing and responding to school safety threats, including behavioral concerns, bullying, online…
Governor Matt Meyer today signed a package of energy consumer protection bills aimed at addressing rising utility costs for Delaware families and businesses. The measures focus particularly on protecting ratepayers from costs associated with large energy users such as data centers. Governor Meyer said the legislation provides strong protections for Delaware ratepayers and ensures working…
Maryland is launching a new “Use It or Lose It” campaign encouraging families to use their SUN Bucks benefits before they expire. Eligible children receive $120 in grocery assistance, and benefits must be used within 122 days of issuance. Last year, the program provided $75 million to more than 630,000 students, with 78% of benefits…
A Delaware court has issued an order allowing certain permanent absentee voters to continue voting by absentee ballot in the 2026 general election while a legal challenge to the state’s permanent absentee voting law continues. The August 19th order covers voters eligible under the Uniformed Overseas Citizens Absentee Voters Act, as well as voters who…
DNREC has announced that several Delaware hunting seasons will open on Tuesday, September 1st, marking the start of the overall 2026-27 hunting season. Delaware deer hunters will open the season on the 1st with the archery and crossbow seasons. Gamebird hunters can go afield the same day for the start of resident Canada goose and…
The Delaware Department of Education this week released the first phase of its 2026 statewide assessment and accountability results. First State Delaware also responded to the results with insights for educators. The assessment results show modest improvement in grades 3 through 8, with particularly strong gains at schools receiving targeted state literacy support. English language…
The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is up 3 cents from last week at $4.10, which marks the highest it’s ever been on this date, according to AAA. This August is shaping up to be the highest on record. So far, the monthly average is $4.06, currently surpassing 2022 when the monthly…
Governor Matt Meyer has signed Executive Order 27 to modernize Delaware’s occupational licensing system and make it easier for qualified professionals to enter the state workforce. The order directs the Department of State to review at least five licensing boards, prioritizing occupations with workforce shortages and those affecting the cost of living, housing and essential…
A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging three Delaware men with Hobbs Act robbery. Nineteen-year-old Jerome Pegram of Newark, 22-year-old Damire Lee of Wilmington and 19-year-old Jeremiah Cunningham of Wilmington are accused of being members of the Wilmington-based 6ixers gang. Prosecutors say the three allegedly robbed a person at a house party in…
26-year-old Seaford man has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for kidnapping, carjacking, and cyberstalking an elderly woman, as well as attempting to orchestrate a hit on the victim from jail. U.S. District Judge Richard G. Andrews imposed the sentence. According to court documents, on January 13th, 2023, Ralph Harmon forced the woman into…