Joe Ciccanti
Following a two-day trial, a 51-year-old Pittsville, Maryland man was convicted of four counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and one count of Assault in the Second Degree. Sentencing was deferred pending receipt of a mandatory pre-sentence investigation and mental health assessment. Oliver Kennedy will remain in custody pending sentencing where he faces a…
A young grey seal is recovering after a late-night rescue along the St. Jones River near Dover. The call came in Monday, April 27th, after a local fisherman spotted the seal at the end of a narrow public dock while collecting minnows. A team from Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation (MERR), along with local and…
Delaware’s annual open burning ban takes effect Friday, May 1st and continues through Sept. 30th to help protect air quality during ozone season, according to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). During the statewide ban, most outdoor burning is not allowed. Cooking fires, recreational campfires and ceremonial bonfires are still permitted…
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce will host a Town Council Candidate Forum on Monday, May 4th, from 6–8 p.m. at Georgetown Town Hall. The event will feature candidates for mayor and town council, offering residents and business owners a chance to hear directly about key issues such as public safety, economic growth, downtown revitalization, and…
Drivers are getting a bit of relief at the pump as the national average went down by 6 cents since last week to $4.03. Crude oil prices have come down below $100/barrel, helping drive down the cost of gasoline for consumers. But how long the downward trend will last is uncertain with continued instability along…
With strong bipartisan support, two bills aimed at modernizing Delaware’s banking laws have passed the Senate. SB 16 updates state code by defining digital assets, expanding the State Bank Commissioner’s authority, and modernizing requirements for banks and trust companies, while also addressing interstate operations and fiduciary roles. A substitute bill adds a two-thirds vote requirement…
Delaware State Police arrested a 42-year-old Dover woman following a crash on Main Street in Felton on April 21st. Troopers say Ashley Green showed signs of impairment, refused to exit her vehicle, and resisted arrest, including spitting on officers, before being taken into custody. Authorities confirmed she has four prior DUI convictions and she now faces…
Senator Eric Buckson and House Republican Leader Tim Dukes this week introduced Senate Bill 284 (SB 284), known as the “First State Emergency Response Act,” to strengthen protections for Delaware’s first responders while they are performing their duties. The legislation makes it a Class A misdemeanor for an individual to cross a marked barrier set…
Emergency crews responded to Salisbury Regional Airport this morning for an aircraft emergency. Multiple first responders were dispatched to Airport Terminal Road shortly after 8:38 a.m. after reports of a hydraulic issue involving a plane that circled the airport several times. At about 8:45 a.m., the aircraft landed safely, and officials confirmed it was on the…
Governor Wes Moore has announced $19 million in expanded Grow Your Own Educators grants for 13 Maryland school systems to help non-licensed school staff become certified teachers. The program is designed to build local teacher pipelines by supporting paraprofessionals and other school employees as they work toward licensure while remaining in the classroom. State officials…
The cause of a house fire that occurred late yesterday afternoon, April 22nd, on Birch Drive in Preston, Caroline County, is under investigation. The fire originated on the outside of the house. Damage to the structure and contents of the one-story, single-family home is estimated to be around $200,000. Though no injuries were reported, the…
The House Administration Committee has advanced legislation that would increase Delaware’s tobacco tax and update its licensing system, a measure aimed at reducing youth tobacco use and improving public health. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 215 would raise taxes on cigarettes, vapor products, and other nicotine items while increasing licensing fees, with the proposal…
Health officials in Worcester County are advising residents of a confirmed rabies case involving a raccoon found in the vicinity of Oak Hall Road in Pocomoke, Maryland. The Worcester County Health Department is urging anyone who may have had contact with the animal—including bites, scratches, or other direct exposure involving people or pets—to contact the…
Today, the American Lung Association released its “State of the Air” report, finding nearly half of U.S. children are exposed to unhealthy air. In Delaware, more than 200,000 children face poor air quality on multiple days, though counties still earned passing grades for ozone and particle pollution. In Maryland, over 570,000 children are affected, even…
Governor Matt Meyer has signed Executive Order 19 establishing a statewide task force aimed at strengthening election security, addressing risks such as cybersecurity threats and misinformation, and reinforcing public confidence in Delaware’s electoral process. The group will include state officials, law enforcement, and other partners to coordinate prevention and response efforts. Governor Meyer said the…
Delaware officials are appealing a federal court order requiring the state to provide employee wage and identification records to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The April 13th ruling directs the Delaware Department of Labor to comply with a federal subpoena seeking records from 15 businesses as part of an immigration investigation into alleged undocumented…
Sussex County officials have unveiled a new bookmobile, replacing a 33-foot 1988 model that had been one of the oldest still in service. The new 28-foot 2025 Turtle Top Terra Transit cost about $313,000 and is more fuel-efficient, easier to maneuver, and no longer requires a commercial driver’s license to operate. County leaders say the…
Delaware State Police Troop 4 Detectives are currently investigating several thefts and attempted thefts from unsecured vehicles that occurred last week in the Sea Air Village community in Rehoboth Beach. During the overnight hours, the individual (s) either entered or attempted to enter unsecured vehicles, removed property, and fled. Anyone with information regarding these incidents…
State Senator Russell Huxtable has introduced Senate Bill 23–the “Housing for Every Delawarean Act.” The legislation aims to address a statewide shortage of affordable housing by requiring New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties to make their entire comprehensive plans legally binding. It also mandates that counties and municipalities with over 2,000 residents include specific affordable…
A Delaware House committee advanced House Bill 338, sponsored by Rep. Mara Gorman and others, which would require state health insurance plans to continue covering preventive services and immunizations based on CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations and related federal guidelines as they existed on January 1st, 2025. Supporters say the measure is…
The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office and Worcester County Environmental Programs (WCEP) urge caution with outdoor burning due to ongoing dry conditions and low rainfall, which have increased fire risk across the region. Officials say recent brush and grass fires have spread quickly in the dry environment and warn that conditions remain hazardous. Residents are encouraged…
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced that former Deputy Attorney General Andrew Naylor has pleaded guilty to DUI and second-degree vehicular assault in a case involving injuries to three victims. Naylor received probation, fines, license suspension, job loss, and a no-contact order. Attorney General Jennings emphasized the seriousness of impaired driving and the importance of…
A federal grand jury has indicted a 21-year-old Bridgeville man on drug and firearm charges. The indictment took place on April 7th. Faison appeared for an initial appearance on April 16th before the Honorable Laura D. Hatcher. Lamir Faison is accused of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and illegally possessing an AR-15-style rifle despite…
Delaware has confirmed its first case of Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD, in a wild white-tailed deer in Sussex County, with a second deer testing presumptive positive. While there is no evidence that CWD infects humans, DNREC is taking action and asking hunters and residents to follow precautions to help slow the spread. Both positive…
Governor Wes Moore has announced the distribution of $1.5 million in philanthropic funding awards to strengthen education and child care access in nine ENOUGH communities – Maryland jurisdictions with high concentrations of childhood poverty. Funding comes from the ENOUGH Community Support Fund—a private fund designed to provide direct philanthropic support to Maryland’s ENOUGH awardees. The…