Juneteenth events and ceremonies in Delaware are underway.

Delaware Juneteenth celebrations run throughout month

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Culture

The First State has a number of events and ceremonies to celebrate and honor a newly-established federal holiday in mid-June.  Juneteenth, short for June 19, is a holiday that celebrates June 19, 1865. That day, Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and his officers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to free any remaining slaves. It was two months after the Civil War …

structural damage Port Penn Interpretive Center

Port Penn Center closed after structural damage discovered

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

The Port Penn Interpretive Center will not open this summer because of safety concerns after structural damage was discovered. DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation said the damage was discovered as the center was being readied for summer. The center is typically open on weekends and holidays during the summer.  Even though the site is closed, according to the center’s …

SB99 pertains to landlord eviction requirements.

Bill would ban landlords from evicting tenants for crimes

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A bill that would strip crime-free housing ordinances from Delaware sparked conversation about domestic abuse, racist motives and local control in the Senate Housing and Land Use Committee Wednesday. Senate Bill 99, sponsored by Sen. Marie Pinkney, D-New Castle, would ban municipal ordinances from requiring the eviction of tenants for criminal activity by a tenant, member of the tenant’s household …

Jonas Gerlach

Senate passes ban on restaurant use of plastics

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

The Senate on Thursday passed the bill banning the use of single-use foam take containers and plastic items in restaurants, but it will allow customers to request a straw.  Senate Bill 51, sponsored by Sen. Trey Paradee, D-Dover, would ban the use of beverage, cocktail picks and sandwich picks made of plastic, but exempts straws attached to an item such …

Delaware is planning a statue of April Ludgate (the Aubrey Plaza character on "Parks and Rec") in Cape Henlopen.

Del. plans giant statue of Aubrey Plaza’s April Ludgate

Ken MammarellaCulture, Headlines

Delaware is planning a 100-foot statue of April Ludgate, the “Parks and Rec” character created by famous Delawarean Aubrey Plaza, the official Twitter feed of Delaware’s government announced on Saturday. An artist’s rendering of the statue shows it next to the lighthouse in Cape Henlopen State Park, just smaller than the lighthouse but towering over a drawing of Li’l Sebastian, …

Hammerheads Dockside Indian River Marina state contract Big Fish

Big Fish wins restaurant contract at Indian River Marina

Betsy PriceCulture, Headlines

In a move that upset a lot of beach diners, the state has awarded a 10-year restaurant contract at Indian River Marina to Big Fish Restaurant Group, essentially booting Hammerheads Dockside out of a location it’s had for a decade. The contract, open to all bidders, came under scrutiny at the end of January when Hammerheads went public with an …

KJ Johnson's Young Simba in "The Lion King" on Broadway. (Courtesy of Kenneth E Johnson)

Cab student plays Young Simba in ‘Lion King’ on Broadway

Ken MammarellaCulture, Headlines

The first Broadway show that KJ Johnson saw was “The Lion King.” And now the Cab Calloway School of the Arts student is in the hit Disney musical, as one of two actors playing Young Simba. When KJ and his father, Kenneth E. Johnson, got the news that he was cast, “There was a lot of jumping and screaming and …

The latest rendering for the I-95 cap park proposed in Wilmington.

I-95 cap park would cost $360 million to $398 million

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

A park over Interstate 95 in downtown Wilmington would cost $360 million to $398 million to design and construct, according to a new feasibility study. The study, prepared for the Wilmington Area Planning Council, was endorsed Jan. 17, said Dave Gula, principal planner for the council. “The feasibility study will be turned over the partner agencies … to develop a …

Seaford Basketball Careen Bolden left Brent Ricketts Middle Akendre Matthes left getting ready to be introduced at the Hoop Hall East tournament photo by Ben Fulton

Seaford gets out early and dominates

Patrick GaryantesHeadlines, Sports

The 2023 Slam Dunk to the Beach presented by Hoophall East, showcases some of the greatest talent in high school basketball in the country during its annual visit to Cape Henlopen High School.  Since the event returned to Lewes in 2014 a ton of current NBA players have graced the court at Cape including Mo Bamba (Westtown/Orlando Magic), Jonathan Kuminga …

Development 1

New Castle County urged to increase, expand impact fees

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

New Castle County on Monday was given a draft plan by consultants to expand — and increase — the impact fees charged for development. The county adopted such fees in 1999 to “finance new or expanded infrastructure and service needs for development.” And they have not changed much since. The county’s consultants recommended adding fees to encourage low-income housing and …