A WGMD Local News Article
Delaware Officials to Distribute Overdose-Reversing Medication
Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) officials have announced they are distributing free kits of naloxone, the medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. DPH says they will be giving away the kits in all three counties, starting with an event on Saturday, March 2nd in New Castle. Later events likely in…
Read MoreUPDATED: Seaford Police Chief Set to Become Middletown Police Chief
UPDATED 2/18/2019 – WGMD has learned Chief Robert Kracyla has accepted the position of Police Chief for Middletown, Delaware’s Police Department. The Mayor of the New Castle County town announced the news just days after Kracyla announced his departure from Seaford, citing an opportunity to be closer to family. As we previously reported, Kracyla’s last…
Read MoreDebate Over School Start Date in Maryland Continues
The Maryland State Senate voted Tuesday to enable local school boards to make the decision whether school begins before before or after Labor Day. The 31-13 vote was along party lines in the Democrat-controlled Senate. The measure will advance to the House of Delegates where Democrats hold a supermajority. The issue has prompted a battle with Governor Larry…
Read MoreGovernor Carney Seeks Nominees for Seat on Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council
Delaware Governor John Carney is seeking applications from the public to fill Delaware’s sole seat on the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (MAFMC), a regional council operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that manages fish and shellfish populations along the coast. The Governor’s office is seeking individuals who are Delaware residents and have…
Read MoreEllendale Fire Department Steps Up Smoke Detector Distribution Following Deadly Fires
The Ellendale Fire Company says they’ll step up their efforts to ensure local families have access to working smoke detectors in the wake of deadly fires across Sussex County in recent months. Assistant Fire Chief Aaron Moore cites recent fatal blazes in Bridgeville, Milton and Millsboro as the inspiration for the initiative, which aims to…
Read MoreKent County Woman Sues KFC, Gets Awarded More than a Million Dollars
Autumn Lampkins of Kent County, Delaware has been awarded more than a million dollars after suing the fast food restaurant Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) for discrimination. Reports indicate Lampkins was an employee of KFC at locations in Camden and Dover. In 2014, she says her managers made it impossible to breastfeed her child. A jury…
Read MoreOcean Pines Police Report Fewer Crimes in 2018
The Ocean Pines Association is reporting a decrease in crimes, arrests and traffic incidents throughout the community in the year 2018. The annual report finds Ocean Pines one of the safest cities in Maryland according to SafeWise with 103 total crimes, 21 violent crimes and 82 property crimes, with a crime rate of less than 1…
Read MoreReported Flu Deaths in Delaware Continue to Rise
The Delaware State Health Department has reported additional cases of the flu that have turned deadly, with reported deaths now at 11 people. That surpasses last year’s total of 10 deaths from the flu, and it is still relatively early in the season. The Department’s statistics also show just over two thousand confirmed cases of…
Read MoreCity of Seaford Promotes 22 Year Officer to Deputy Police Chief
The city of Seaford has made an announcement, promoting Sergeant Michael C. Rapa, a 22 year veteran of the police force to the position of Deputy Chief of Police. He’s been with Seaford Police since he gradated from the Delaware State Police Academy in 1998. Police Chief Robert Kracyla tells WGMD he extends his congratulations…
Read MoreUPDATED: Salisbury Apartment Fire Injures 1
UPDATED 10am – A 22 year old woman was hospitalized for smoke inhalation after a fire Sunday evening at the Northpark Gardens Apartments on Glen Avenue in Salisbury. The Maryland State Fire Marshal is investigating to determine the cause of the fire which began inside the apartment. Officials say the fire was discovered by the…
Read MorePreparation is Key Ahead of Winter One-Two Punch
Preparation is Key Ahead of Winter One-Two Punch AAA urges motorists to use the “calm before the storm(s)” to prepare their vehicles for winter weather driving. Old Man Winter returns to start the week with another one-two punch of snow and ice across the region. The first punch is set to arrive Sunday night and…
Read More4 Injured in Sunday Morning Camper Fire Near Ellendale
A fire this morning near Ellendale sent four people to the hospital. Ellendale firefighters were called for a camper fire just before 8am on Greentop Road and found a family of four who had been sleeping when the fire broke out. A 29 year old man and 31 year old woman suffered smoke inhalation –…
Read MoreWelcome Home Ceremony Today for DE National Air Guard’s 166th Airlift Wing
Over 200 members of the Delaware Air National Guard’s 166th Airlift Wing will be welcomed home this afternoon at the Bob Carpenter Center at the University of Delaware. They were mobilized to multiple areas in Southwest Asia and around the world in support of the war on terrorism. They all returned to the First State…
Read MoreMaryland Releases Proposed Options For New Bay Bridge Crossings
The draft options for the next Chesapeake Bay crossing have been released by the Maryland Transportation Authority and the Federal Highway Administration. Currently, more than 70,000 vehicles per day take Routes 50 and 301 across the two spans of the Gov. William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge — which links Sandy Point on the Western…
Read MoreDover Air Force Base Plans D-Day Tribute
The Dover Air Force Base (DAFB) is planning a tribute that will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. The infamous World War II battle tribute will take place on Saturday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Air Mobility Command Center. Officials tell WGMD that it will be a significant…
Read MoreDART Offers Free Carpool Program
Delaware Area Regional Transit (DART) will offer a free carpool program known as “Rideshare Delaware.” The program will be offered to anyone working living or attending higher education in the state. The program has a database of more than ten-thousand members. To sign up for Rideshare Delaware, you can download it’s app, which is available…
Read MoreDelaware Reports Record Low Number of HIV Infections
The Delaware State Health Department continues to report positive news regarding the state’s number of cases for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), falling again in the year 2018. Officials tell WGMD that 92 people in the state found out they were HIV-positive last year, the first time that number was below 100 since they started…
Read MoreGov Carney’s State of the State Town Hall Meetings – Monday in Milford
Governor John Carney will hold six town hall meetings throughout the state beginning on Wednesday, January 30th in Dover. He will meet with local state officials and community members to discuss the State of the State and other issues. The ONLY Sussex County Town Hall is set for Monday, February 11 at the Carlisle Fire…
Read MoreClosing Arguments in 2nd Vaughn Trial Begin Monday
Testimony has concluded in the second trial of suspects accused in the Vaughn Prison riot in February 2017. Abednego Baynes, Kevin Berry, John Bramble and Obadiah Miller are each charged with 3 counts of 1st degree murder as well as multiple other offenses – including assault, riot and kidnapping. During the prison riot, three correctional…
Read MoreMotorcycle Crash Near Willards Injures One
A motorcycle crash Friday afternoon near Willards has left one person injured. Maryland State Police say just after 2pm the driver of a tri-wheel Harley Davidson lost control on Old Ocean City Road near the intersection of New Hope Road and went off the roadway. The driver, 71 year old Walter Cohee of Mardela Springs…
Read MoreThe Return of Punkin’ Chunkin’ – Needs Your Help!
It’s been 2 years since pumpkins officially flew in Sussex County but according to the Punkin’ Chunkin’ website the board remains committed and the membership is still intact.  As far as the litigation after the 2016 incident – the case has been resolved with no admission or finding of liability on the Punkin’ Chunkin’ Association’s…
Read MoreDelawareans Now Can Comment on the State’s Budget Process
Delawareans who wish to comment on the work of the state’s legislative budget-writers now have a chance to do so. A new email address has been established for you to bring your observations and concerns to the attention of the Joint Finance Committee and the Joint Bond Bill Committee.  The JFC crafts the state’s annual…
Read MoreMassey’s Ditch Dredging Project to be Re-bid this Spring
A planned Channel Maintenance Dredging Project for Massey’s Ditch will be re-bid later this year. A bid opening was conducted on January 30th, but DNREC did not receive an acceptable bid. DNREC will update their design specifications and contract document – and a second invitation to bid could be announced this spring. That will allow…
Read MoreUnited States Flag and Maryland Flag Are at Half-Staff
As a mark of respect for the memory and longstanding service of former Representative John David Dingell, Jr., of Michigan, President Donald J. Trump ordered the United States Flag lowered to half-staff effective immediately until sunset, Saturday, February 9, 2019. Former Congressman John D. Dingell, Jr. passed away on February 7, 2019. As a matter of protocol, the Maryland flag…
Read MoreThree Injured in Milford House Fire Thursday Night
A house fire on McColley Road in Milford Thursday night is under investigation by the Delaware State Fire Marshal. Investigators have determined the blaze began on the first floor when an operating liquid fueled space heater malfunctioned. Carlisle firefighters found the two-story home heavily involved in flames when they arrived around 11:30pm. The occupant of…
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