The News Journal
August Quarterly draws thousands in wake of fire
The August Quarterly is one of the oldest African American church festivals in the United States, and the tradition continued with extra enthusiasm this year. The live gospel performances echoed around the Riverfront as thousands of people from...
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East Side investment has been hard to see
Wilmington Mayor John Carney stood by a window on the top floor of the Louis L. Redding City/County Building along French Street downtown that provides a panoramic bird’s-eye view of the city’s East Side. He used the perspective to point out the old...
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Our Open Call column offers a platform for arts, cultural groups to get word out
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” — Last summer, as the season’s music scene was just heating up along with the weather, I sat in a beautiful South Jersey park, listening to Sug Daniels open for Low Cut...
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‘ISOLATED’
Severe storms, heat waves and wildfires can shut down the social life of a community, flooding out festivals, canceling community events and keeping people indoors. They’re also evidence of how climate change isn’t just changing the environments we...
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Glacier collapse may have triggered flood
The volume and speed of the wall of mud, boulders and debris that rushed more than 60 miles down a river through Nepal on Aug. 26 shocked even experienced researchers who study mountains, glaciers and waterways in the Himalayas. “The force of this...
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Development across DE: A status report on projects
Development has become synonymous with Delaware. New shopping centers and warehouses are clearing farmland below the canal and housing developments are squeezing in wherever they can find room in New Castle County. The landscape of the state is...
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Super Lyte so popular in DE, it’s now rationed
How popular is Super Lyte, a canned cocktail that hit the market only a few months ago? h Go into any bar statewide, and you’re likely to see the slim can of vodka and “ade” in the hands of plenty of bargoers, drawn to it by its sweet, Gatorade-type...
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Developer plans redevelopment of Concord Mall
Concord Mall could be transformed into a smaller retail center under new development plans that would demolish Delaware’s second-largest mall. Opened in 1969, the 846,896square-foot Brandywine Hundred mall could see its last days as Pennsylvania...
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Advocate shares his ‘Walking Testimony’
After nearly five years and more than 12,000 miles on foot, Kyndal Ray Edwards is nearing the end of “A Walking Testimony,” his one-man movement to raise awareness about mental health and substance abuse while spreading one simple message: You...
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INSPIRATION COMES FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE
Winners of the 12th installment of this year’s Most Influential & Inspiring Delawareans series.
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Trees downed, buildings damaged across the city
The city of Dover and surrounding areas were cleaning up from a slate of storms on Aug. 20 that brought heavy rain, winds and at least one tornado touchdown to Kent County. The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado formed over Hartly in...
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Nemours Estate upgrading playhouse for visitors
Tucked deep inside the majestic Nemours Estate in Rockland, Wren’s Nest, a quaint storybook cottage that was used by two of owner Alfred I. duPont’s daughters, as well as the children of estate workers, has survived for more than 110 years. The...
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Most Delaware bridges rated as ‘fair,’ not ‘poor’
Around 100,000 vehicles cross the two-mile stretch of the bridge connecting Delaware and New Jersey on a daily basis. The Delaware Memorial Bridge has carried almost two billion commuters and travelers since it opened in 1951, making it a vital part...
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Inmate scores Xbox after suing for medical neglect
Devin Coleman has been in and out of prison since he was teen, and he’s spent a lot of time reading about case law. “Repeatedly, religiously,” he said. “Until I got an understanding of it.” All that reading has helped him file several lawsuits...
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Trump orders South Korea drill cuts
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Aug. 16 instructed the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” joint military exercises with long-term Asian ally South Korea, citing the cost of the drills and Seoul’s refusal to take part in actions against...
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Residents across East Side grapple with shootings of 5 in 2 days
Five people were shot in two incidents on adjacent blocks within a 48-hour period in Wilmington’s East Side on Aug. 11 and 12. Neighborhood residents still walked around, sat on stoops and ran errands as usual in the rising heat of a late summer...
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INSIDE THE NEWSROOM Delaware Online’s mobile newsroom is coming to a community near you
Feedback is invaluable to an industry that prides itself on communications and community illumination. That is why we at Delaware Online/The News Journal who work in newsgathering love hearing from you. This is the most meaningful way to learn about...
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Military bases delay toxic PFAS cleanup
It’s been almost five years since Brandi and Brad Hyatt found out the well at their home next to an Army base in Washington is contaminated with “forever chemicals.” They started using bottled water for everything from making coffee to rinsing off...
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Safety buttons provided to Beebe Healthcare workers
Beebe Healthcare is the first health care system in the state to provide staff members with Canopy Protect safety buttons that instantly alert security when help is needed. The rollout of 1,500 wearable duress buttons began July 28 in Beebe’s Lewes...
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Concord Mall site could be cleared for new retail use
Concord Mall could be seeing its last days. A major redevelopment application has been filed in New Castle County to demolish the 846,896-square-foot Brandywine Hundred mall. Plans call for a 233,100-square-foot “general retail building” to be...
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Fort DuPont RV park project again on track
Officials say a long-planned RV park on 135 acres of former state open space in the Fort DuPont redevelopment project is back on track after the property appeared to be headed toward a potential sheriff sale. Todd Burbage, an RV Park developer who...
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Sussex lifeguards national champs for 3rd year in row
For the third year in a row, Sussex County lifeguards are national champions. The Sussex County Lifesaving Association again won the United States Lifesaving Association National Championship, held this year in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Aug....
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Beloved Wilmington diner goes up for sale
Eight months from its 60th anniversary, a beloved vintage diner tucked away in Wilmington’s Forty Acres neighborhood is up for sale. h Angelo’s Luncheontte, where 77-year-old August Muzzi has been making Mickey Mouse-shaped pancakes and intricately...
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Summer vacation learning inspired by Harriet Tubman’s life and legacy
When I travel, I enjoy seeking out funky coffee and book shops. I like to try a few restaurants the locals swear by. I usually hit the farmers market, I often kayak or birdwatch or find the live music. And I nearly always check out one brewery. But...
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John Lewis Voting Rights Act enacted in Delaware
Despite carrying a cane following a recent knee replacement, Newark Delaware NAACP President Dr. Freeman Williams was not going to miss this ceremony. On Aug. 6, fellow state officials, community members and advocates packed the pews of the Shiloh...
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14 new cabins now under construction at Lums Pond
One of the most popular parks in Delaware will offer visitors a new place to stay next spring, but until then, parts of the campground may be a little messy. Fourteen cabins are being built at Lums Pond State Park between Glagow and the Summit Bridge...
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Guilty plea fight keeps grieving dad waiting
Jeff Trnka had largely given up hope that his son’s killer would be arrested. Fourteen years had passed since 19year-old Justin Trnka was found slumped over the wheel of his still-running car near the Newark-area BJ’s Wholesale Club on St. Patrick’s...
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Tale of two shootings
In the span of one week, two Delaware men were fatally shot by law enforcement officers. One death brought protesters into the streets, intensified calls for the release of body-camera footage and put Wilmington officials under growing pressure to...
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New solar farm near Dover part of DE’s discount program
A new 32-acre solar farm near Dover will serve more than 700 homes with clean, renewable electricity at a discount to regular rates. That’s because it’s part of Delaware’s community solar program, which includes 34 providers. The new provider on Fast...
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Exceptional Care’s Bridge Unit now serves ages 21 and older
Synseer Foster was born at 25 weeks, weighing just 1 pound and 4.2 ounces. His early arrival came by way of his mother’s HELLP syndrome, or hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets, which is considered a life-threatening variant of...
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Driven by journalism: a summer intern’s story
Every few months, individual reporters, editors and photographers have the opportunity to introduce themselves to readers. There are many different ways the team chooses to share who they are. As a summer intern, I thought it would be best to answer a...
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‘THE DECLINE IS SIGNIFICANT’
When Ashton Reed voted for President Donald Trump in 2024, he was drawn by Trump’s vow to recharge the economy and curb the inflation that many around his hometown of Jackson, Missouri, blamed on then-President Joe Biden. Reed, 22, who has worked at...
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Inn at Montchanin sold; new owners to continue it
The Inn at Montchanin Village & Spa and its Krazy Kat’s restaurant are under contract with a family that has ties to the community, Delaware Online/The News Journal has learned. Anne Draper, manager of the more than 4-acre historic property off Route...
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Trooper exonerated in Prices Corner shooting
A Delaware State Police trooper was legally justified when he shot an armed, suicidal Smyrna man in Prices Corner two years ago after the man ignored repeated commands, loaded a handgun and pointed it at the trooper, according to a newly released...
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Closures mount as mall pivots to entertainment
Delaware’s second-largest mall lost a staple mall store this summer as the shopping center continues to struggle attracting and maintaining tenants within its walls. Concord Mall lost two other popular mall stores earlier this year when H&M and Bath &...
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Delaware school projects get another funding boost
No new state building requests from public schools have been approved since fall 2023. Still, Delaware’s latest capital spending plan sets aside some $269 million for ongoing education-related projects, with highlights in Appoquinimink, Colonial and...
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Many pull up antiques and other metal objects
Nathan Wenzel is used to the looks. h Stares and a horde of questions seem to arise every time passersby watch Wenzel lower his 4-inch magnet into the water. h The criticism hasn’t deterred Wenzel from embracing magnet fishing, a hobby popularized by...
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Come fly with us and the Eagles this season
We’re about to embark on another Eagles season. And no matter how it ends up − good or bad − we know it’s going to be interesting. The Eagles players report for training camp on July 28, with the first practice taking place the next day at the...
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Annual event blends fresh experiences with cherished traditions
Holding a half-eaten chicken shish kabob in her baby fist, 1-year-old Sanai Grant made quite the statement during her debut at the Delaware State Fair on opening day July 23. The young wordsmith didn’t need to say a full sentence because one word was...
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Why it took three years to change signs on I-95
It was 25 years ago when "The Simpsons" cracked a joke about the lack of attractions in Delaware after the animated family won a trip to the First State in an episode. "I want to visit a screen door factory!" Bart Simpson exclaims before his mother,...
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Delaware adopts first wetlands program
Delaware's push for wetlands conservation became official after a new preservation program was signed into law. Gov. Matt Meyer signed Senate Bill 9, the Wetlands Stewardship Act, on July 21 at the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge near New...
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DE coastal waters see surge of stinging jellyfish
At the beach in Lewes on July 16 and in the Delaware Bay off Lewes on July 17, hundreds of bay nettle jellyfish could be seen in the water. Between July 17 and 19, Lewes lifeguards treated over 300 jellyfish stings, according to Beach Patrol Capt....
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Delaware vulnerable to PA measles cases
As measles cases increase in Pennsylvania, Delaware health officials say they are on high alert, warning that “infectious diseases don’t care about state borders.” Dr. Ayanna Buckner, chief physician in the Delaware Division of Public Health’s Office...
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More structural issues for embattled condos
A resident of the long-struggling Le Parc condominium complex in North Wilmington is accused of removing a key structural support from his unit, prompting a lawsuit that seeks nearly $300,000 in repair costs and legal fees. Court records accuse Le...
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The Point at Cape Henlopen is closed, reporter explains
Reporting on the Delaware beaches, you learn a lot about shorebirds. Piping plovers, especially. The tiny little guys are a Delaware-endangered species, and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control closes certain beaches annually...
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Family views full bodycam footage
In the wake of the public release of body camera footage from the police shooting that killed Wilmington teenager Kadir Skinner, his family and attorneys are calling Wilmington Police Department’s original account “just not factual.” The family and...
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Bodycam footage in shooting is released
Body camera footage from three officers at the scene where Wilmington police fatally shot 19-year-old Kadir Skinner on June 24 has been released by the Delaware Department of Justice, in conjunction with the Wilmington Police Department and the mayor’s...
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Jill Biden brings humor, candor to Queen stage
Former first lady Jill Biden made it clear from the start that her conversation on stage at Wilmington’s The Queen theater with sometimes saucy author Jennifer Weiner was going to be anything but boring. “We started 20 minutes late. I forgot they had...
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Delaware announces first state-level surgeon general
Delaware named its newest health care leader on July 13, in step with ongoing efforts to strengthen public health coordination statewide. That morning, Gov. Matt Meyer took to the Carvel State Office Building to sign an executive order establishing...
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WHAT DOES PRISON OVERSIGHT REALLY LOOK LIKE?
The fact that Delaware has a committee intended to monitor the quality of health care in its prisons puts it ahead of a growing, nationwide movement toward greater transparency and accountability for how the government treats those it imprisons....
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Injury rehab acquires site after Montchanin failure
A medical group that wanted to create a brain injury rehabilitation center at the Inn at Montchanin Village & Spa but was denied by New Castle County's Board of Adjustment has found a new location in Delaware City. Delaware NeuroRehab has purchased...
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Delaware needs more FOIA lawsuits or reforms, please
If you think the government should be transparent about issues such as how force is used by police and how much money goes toward defending civil rights lawsuits, you should care about recent court challenges focused on Delaware’s Freedom of...
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Ceasefire falls apart as Iran buries slain leader
The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared to have fallen apart over continued strife over the Strait of Hormuz as Iranians buried their supreme leader, killed by U.S.-Israel forces at the outset of the war. There were no new...
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State to pay man $4M for wrongful imprisonment
The state agreed to pay $4 million to the first applicant in Delaware’s new wrongful conviction compensation program, according to public documents. Elmer Daniels spent 39 years in prison before his conviction was overturned and he was released at...
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Rehoboth fireworks display was a smoky mess for many
For the nation’s semiquincentennial, Rehoboth Beach advertised an over 6,000-shell show by Zambelli Fireworks. The city paid over $57,000 for it. At dusk the day after Independence Day in “The Nation’s Summer Capital,” thousands of people waited on...
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Upgraded Freeman Arts venue boasts star power
The new and expansive $43 million Freeman Arts Pavilion facility near Selbyville has caught the attention of singer-songwriter James Taylor, who will debut there in a sold-out show in late summer. Michelle Freeman, president and chairman of the Carl...
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Readers list spots they wish would return
A comeback isn’t all that common in the restaurant industry. It’s not often that restaurants are shut down for good and then return for a reboot. The best national example recently might be Red Lobster. While the seafood chain didn’t permanently close...
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Why DE child abuse claims bill stalled
Abill that would have eliminated the statute of limitations for pre-2007 child sex abuse civil claims failed in the final minutes of the General Assembly’s marathon final day. h The bill would have expanded the 2007 Child Victims Act, which eliminated...
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OF THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE
As America turns 250, the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln points to what comes next
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Carney’s housing trust veto survives
The war between Mayor John Carney’s office and Wilmington City Council members on how to best approach housing policy continues to rage, but Carney won a battle at the July 2 council meeting. Carney vetoed an ordinance that would have established an...
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ICE bill awaits Meyer’s signature
It may have just gotten harder for ICE to find cooperation among Delaware law enforcement. The General Assembly cleared a bill focused on such dealings with Immigration and Customs Enforcement before session’s end on June 30. The measure could set...
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Pressure grows to release footage of police shooting
Pressure is mounting on Wilmington officials to release body-camera footage and other evidence related to last week’s police-involved shooting, with community members, elected officials and faith leaders demanding greater transparency in the death of...
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Dual demolitions planned for Rehoboth boardwalk
Not one but two demolition projects are now expected to be undertaken on the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk this fall. The Belhaven Hotel is planned for 2 Rehoboth Ave., necessitating the demolition of numerous buildings on the beach blocks of Rehoboth...
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Dozens of bills still hang in balance on final day
After weeks of negotiations, delays and last-minute twists, Delaware lawmakers head into the final day of the General Assembly with a crowded docket and little time left. They still must decide the fate of dozens of bills – from limiting data center...
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Bills would regulate energy drinks in DE
As the current legislative session comes to a close, a package of bills focused on regulating caffeinated and energy drinks in Delaware is under consideration. If you’re wondering why legislators are concerned about some of your favorite drinks, here’s...
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Intern was unfamiliar with DE, but calls it ‘a pleasant surprise’
Every week, reporters, editors and other members of our news team at Delaware Online/The News Journal write a bit about their lives inside and outside the newsroom. In the past, our staff members have written columns about their areas of coverage,...
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DE lawmakers pass bill requiring HIV drug prevention coverage
ADelaware bill that would mandate health care coverage of the HIV drugs PrEP and PEP cleared the House June 25, after it passed unanimously in the Senate the day before. h Backed by Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha, the bill would require health care insurance...
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Court hears arguments on reviving lawsuit
A federal circuit court panel heard arguments June 24 in an appeal to reinstate the Delaware NAACP’s lawsuit claiming active discrimination against Black people by the Wilmington Police Department. The class action suit, filed in a federal district...
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Long-closed diner finally meets its end
Demolition of the old ChesDel diner, which has been left to rot since it closed in 2018, began in mid-June. The restaurant near St. Georges had been a part of the community for 38 years. But a customer hasn’t walked through the doors of the old diner...
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Man indicted in fatal shooting at hospital
John Wallace-Bey, the 23-year-old man accused of killing one 19-year-old and seriously injuring another in last week’s shooting at Wilmington Hospital, has been indicted by a Delaware grand jury. Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced the...
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Police identify victim in fatal hospital shooting
The 19-year-old man killed in a double shooting at Wilmington Hospital on June 16 has been identified as Ethan Hillman. The Smyrna resident was one of two men police say was shot by 23-year-old John Wallace-Bey of New Castle. Police have not provided...
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Environmental facility expands scientific capabilities
The Delaware agency that tests water, air and soil to try to protect people and animals has opened a state-of-art laboratory to improve the quality and quantity of those tests. On June 18, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control...
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How to meet Delaware Online/ News Journal editorial board
Delaware Online/The News Journal is served by an editorial board that convenes regularly to discuss not only the news of the day in the First State, but also how we might respond to it. We write editorials to converse with elected officials and news...
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DOJ cuts grants, halting public safety efforts across U.S.
The United States is experiencing one of the steepest declines in violent crime in modern history, including a murder rate at its lowest point in more than a century. Homicides across 35 major American cities fell 21% in 2025, amounting to 922 fewer...
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Facing ‘growing violence,’ protesters ask for support
Representatives of Indivisible Southern Delaware are facing “escalating security issues” during their weekly sign waves, they say, and they are concerned by Delaware State Police’s perceived lack of action. After sending two letters to police and...
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Police identify suspect in hospital shooting
Wilmington police have identified the 23-year-old man accused of shooting two Wilmington Hospital employees on June 16, leading to an hourslong lockdown at the medical facility and a search for the shooter that led law enforcement into...
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