Unique program highlights creativity of Delaware state employees   Dover, Del. (April 15, 2024) – The Delaware Division of the Arts held the 13th Annual Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition from February 27 to March 22, 2024 at the Art Center/Gallery at Delaware State University, Dover. This year, 180 State of Delaware employees and their […]

Twenty Delaware artists receive significant award from the Delaware Division of the Arts   Dover, Del. (April 22, 2024) – The Biggs Museum of American Art has opened the exhibition, Award Winners XXIV, marking the 24th consecutive year of hosting this exhibition in partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts. Showcasing the exceptional work […]

  Wilmington, Del. (May 3, 2024) – The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery presents Gregg Silvis’ exhibition, “15,000 Dowels,” on view from May 3-31, 2024. Guests are invited to attend a Meet-the-Artist Reception on Friday, May 3 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. The title of the exhibition comes from the essential material in this body […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings released the following statement regarding Governor Carney’s announcement of a forthcoming executive order on police reform: Governor Carney demonstrated real leadership today. Banning chokeholds, ending the practice of ruining kids’ lives by posting their mugshots online while they are presumed innocent, participating in the national use-of-force database, and implementing greater officer […]

A New Castle County grand jury has indicted a New Castle woman for 53 felonies following the alleged murder of an infant and the abuse of four other children at a Bear daycare facility. Dejoynay Ferguson, 20, is alleged to have suffocated a 4-month-old child to death and to have abused that child and four other children between July […]

Claims include Negligent Failure to Warn, Trespass, Nuisance and Consumer Fraud Act violations Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Thursday that Delaware is suing 31 fossil fuel companies on behalf of the state’s residents and businesses to hold them accountable for decades of deception about the role their products play in causing climate change, the harm […]

In light of a federal child pornography indictment filed in Pennsylvania against former Salesianum School principal William McCandless, the Delaware Department of Justice is reminding the public of a dedicated DOJ hotline and e-mail address for potential victims of abuse to contact . The Department is closely monitoring this matter and asks any potential victims […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings released the following statement Saturday regarding the Supreme Court’s rejection of Texas’ last-ditch election suit: Last night the Supreme Court — including President Trump’s own judicial appointees — rejected a desperate, 11th hour attempt by Texas’ attorney general to overturn millions of votes. It was only the latest in a virtually […]

Potential victims encouraged to contact (302) 577-5293 or ReportAbuse@delaware.gov   Tyrone Clark, 64, has been sentenced to a total of 125 years for the rape and abuse of a 12-year-old child in his care.  “No crime is more offensive, more heinous, and more dangerous than the sexual abuse of a child,” said Attorney General Jennings. “I’m grateful to […]

Convictions secured after former DOC nurse was caught lying to investigators The Delaware Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust (DCRPT) has secured two misdemeanor convictions against a former employee of Connections, which at the time served as the Department of Correction’s (DOC) medical contractor. “Delawareans deserve integrity from every publicly paid […]

Guns used in Dover homicide, New Castle County suicide; many remain unrecovered Attorney General Kathy Jennings joined law enforcement and prosecutors Wednesday to announce that the DOJ has secured 87 felony charges against five defendants who are collectively charged with illegally purchasing and providing to others more than 60 firearms, including guns recovered at the […]

Defendant faces eight charges, including assault, misconduct, and multiple felonies Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Monday that the DOJ’s Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust (DCRPT) secured an indictment against a former Wilmington police officer for two excessive force cases that took place in September 2021, including one incident that came to DCRPT’s attention […]

Defendant facing life in prison for repeatedly raping two juvenile victims, ages 8 and 14 After one week of trial, a Kent County jury convicted a Magnolia man of 77 felony offenses in connection with the serial sexual abuse of two juvenile children. Richard Haines, 59, faces a 462-year minimum mandatory sentence and will be required […]

DOJ’s Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust indicted Monday a former Wilmington Police Department (WPD) after an investigation revealed that he sent lewd text messages to a 17-year-old whom he met while on duty. “The facts of this case are grave and disturbing,” said Attorney General Jennings. “The defendant in this case swore an […]

Prosecutors seek additional victims of Ellendale pastor The Delaware Department of Justice is seeking the public’s assistance in the prosecution of a Sussex County pastor indicted for Unlawful Sexual Contact, and is requesting that any additional victims contact law enforcement. Major Foster, a Lincoln man who at the time was employed as pastor of Ellendale’s […]

In honor of Second Chance Month, the Delaware DOJ’s Community Engagement Unit is partnering with the Delaware Center for Justice and several community groups to host a joint job fair and expungement clinic at the Route 9 Library and Innovation Center in New Castle on Thursday, April 28 from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. The […]

A Sussex County man has been sentenced to two years in prison for a hate crime involving a neighbor. James Raab, of Laurel, was sentenced on April 22 after pleading guilty to felony Hate Crime, Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony, Aggravated Menacing, and Resisting Arrest. Raab, 38, was arrested […]

Ex-Tower Hill employee faces seven felonies; no Delaware children or THS students among known victims A Wilmington man and former Tower Hill School employee arrested in April has been indicted on charges arising from a child pornography investigation. William Ushler, 53, was arrested and charged on April 19 by members of the Department of Justice […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings applauded several policy changes implemented by the Criminal Justice Council as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen rights for survivors of sexual assault. The new policies establish timelines for the collection, documentation, processing and investigation of assault evidence “kits.” This policy is a result of funding received from the U.S. […]

Attorney General Jennings today announced a multistate settlement with Experian Data Corp (“EDC”) for failing to warn affected consumers after it learned that an identity thief was posing as a private investigator and retrieving sensitive personal information from Court Ventures Inc., a database that EDC had purchased. In 2012, the U.S. Secret Service notified EDC […]

Attorney General Kathleen Jennings announced today that Delaware, along with 39 states, has obtained two multistate settlements with Experian Information Solutions, Inc. (“Experian”) and T-Mobile USA, Inc. (“T-Mobile”) concerning a 2015 data breach experienced by Experian that compromised the personal information of more than 15 million individuals who submitted credit applications with T-Mobile. Under the […]

A Magnolia man has pleaded guilty to two counts of Unlawful Sexual Conduct Against a Child and two counts of Human Trafficking a Minor. George Curtis, 31, was arrested following an investigation that found that he, while serving as the photographer for an illicit photoshoot prearranged on social media, repeatedly made unwanted sexual contact with […]

DOJ, DSP seeking additional victims   A former Seaford High School employee faces six felony child sexual abuse charges under an indictment returned by a Sussex County jury, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Tuesday. Jerry Sodano, 52, of Bridgeville was charged Monday following an investigation into allegations of an illegal sexual relationship with a student at […]

First trial conviction for use of force under Jennings administration A former Wilmington police officer has been convicted of four crimes, including a felony, for an excessive force incident that took place in September 2021. A New Castle County jury found Samuel Waters guilty Monday of felony Tampering With Public Records 1st Degree, Falsifying Business […]

DOVER (April 20, 2017) – The Governor’s Welfare Employment Committee announced the winners of its 2017 TANF Employment Awards of Excellence as it recognized 39 employers in Delaware who hire, train and maintain positive working relationships with employees who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits, and 47 TANF clients who have succeeded in […]

House Bill 180, sponsored by Representative Baumbach, has bipartisan support in General Assembly DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney and members of the General Assembly announced legislation on Thursday that would expand protections for Delawareans affected by computer security breaches. The bipartisan legislation, House Bill 180, is sponsored by Representative Paul Baumbach. Additional sponsors include […]

Members will submit recommendations to the Governor, Legislature and Criminal Justice Council by March 2018 WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday released the following statement after signing Executive Order #11 to reestablish the Juvenile Justice Advisory Group, which will examine ways to prevent youth from entering or re-entering the juvenile and criminal justice […]

October 10, 2017 As part of its ongoing work monitoring and tracking the state’s Foreign Labor Certification and Migrant Seasonal Farm Worker activities, officials from the Delaware Department ofLabor paid a recent visit to Kent and Sussex County farms enrolled in the programs. DOL Secretary Dr. Patrice Gilliam-Johnson was joined by Deputy Secretary Karryl McManus, Division […]

The Delaware Division of Revenue would like to alert taxpayers to a new and growing scam involving fraudulent tax refunds being deposited into real taxpayer bank accounts. After the money is deposited, the crooks use various tactics to con taxpayers into turning over those funds. How does it work? Thieves are using schemes, including phishing, […]

Free, family-oriented career fair to expose middle school students, adults to careers in construction industry WILMINGTON, Del. — Governor John Carney on Thursday announced a family-friendly career fair for youth and adults to explore careers in construction. The Governor’s Construction Career Expo is a two-day event in September that will expose middle school students, and […]

Expo to expose students, career-seekers to careers in construction WILMINGTON, Del. – On Friday and Saturday at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, Governor John Carney and a dozen partner organizations will host the first Governor’s Construction Career Expo to expose Delaware students and Delawareans exploring a career change to careers in construction. The construction […]

Wilmington, DE. December 26, 2018– There’s an important new law affecting Delaware workplaces – the new Delaware sexual harassment law effective January 1, 2019. Sexual harassment has been illegal in Delaware workplaces for over 20 years. However, the definition has never been clearly spelled out in the law until now. There are also new requirements […]

  For Immediate Release July 20, 2020 Contact: Kenneth Briscoe Director of Communications Kenneth.Briscoe@delaware.gov   (Wilmington, DE) – The Delaware Department of Labor announced today that Delaware has already begun offering the Federal-State Extended Benefits program for those who have exhausted their previous unemployment benefits.   Delaware’s most recent insured unemployment rate (IUR) exceeded the […]

  For Immediate Release September 28, 2020 Contact: Kenneth Briscoe Director of Communications Kenneth.Briscoe@delaware.gov   (Wilmington, DE) – Monday, September 28, 2020 The Delaware Department of Labor announced today the extension of unemployment benefits, triggered by Delaware’s high jobless rate. Delaware’s three-month averaged, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate as of August 2020, is 10.6%.   Primarily […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2020   MEDIA CONTACT: Kenneth Briscoe Delaware Department of Labor Communications Coordinator kenneth.briscoe@delaware.gov   Thursday, October 1, 2020, The Delaware Department of Labor announced that the effective date of The Delaware Contractor Registration Act has been extended to July 1, 2021.    On September 28, 2020, Governor John Carney […]

  FOR RELEASE: December 9, 2020 CONTACT: Kenneth Briscoe Kenneth.Briscoe@delaware.gov   Unemployment Benefits Scheduled to Expire on December 26, 2020 for Many Claimants in Delaware   WILMINGTON, DELAWARE – According to federal program guidelines, all unemployment compensation programs created by the CARES Act are currently scheduled to expire on or before December 26, 2020.   Many […]

  January 7, 2021 For Immediate Release Kenneth Briscoe Expiration and Extension of CARES Act Unemployment Insurance Programs by Congress   [WILMINGTON, DE] – On December 27, the federal COVID-19 relief package that extends and provides additional federal unemployment benefits was signed into law. The Delaware Department of Labor has reviewed the legislation and the […]

The Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation voted to extend district enrollment until December 31, 2020 to any agricultural landowners who want to preserve their farms. These landowners will have the opportunity to apply for Round 25 in 2021. Farms must be enrolled in a preservation district before the landowner can submit a bid to sell an easement.

The Delaware Forest Service is sending its wildfire crew to New Mexico as a steep increase in lightning-caused fires has pushed the National Preparedness Level to 5 on a 5-point scale, its highest level. Critical fire weather continues throughout the West. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the majority of the fire activity remains in Arizona and California, where over 1.5 million acres have burned. So far this year, more than 38,767 fires have burned 3.7 million acres. Delaware has trained more than 600 firefighters since 1996 and battled wildfires in numerous states, including: Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. http://de.gov/wildfire

Recently, Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse took a road trip down to Sussex County to make a surprise presentation to a family farm in Laurel. Scuse recognized the Vincent Family for their commitment to Delaware through agricultural production and equipment sales, for providing gainful employment to community members, and for continuing to alleviate hunger through their participation in the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

Delaware's three-person Type 6 engine crew is now fighting the 2,000-acre Dexter Fire in the Inyo National Forest of southern California. Reported on July 12, the lightning-caused blaze is actively burning in brush and timber with only 13 percent containment. Leading the crew is the Delaware Forest Service's southern regional forester and engine boss Erich Burkentine of Milton, along with engine boss trainee Nikki Testa of Newark, and firefighter Hunter Melson of Milford. The crew mobilized on July 13 and is scheduled for a 21-day assignment. Delaware's crew is facing high temperatures, low relative humidity, and gusty afternoon winds on the Dexter Fire as they are conducting initial attack, digging fire line, and felling trees.

Five years after the first confirmed spotted lanternfly was found in New Castle County in 2017, the spotted lanternfly has made its way to Sussex County, creating a statewide quarantine for this invasive pest.

Delaware’s agricultural producers will return to the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington from January 9-12, 2023, for an in-person Ag Week experience. The much-awaited return to an in-person event will allow attendees to explore the latest and most valuable innovations while networking with other producers, industry experts, and agricultural vendors and exhibitors.

The Office of the State Veterinarian announced Delaware has had five confirmed cases and one suspected case of West Nile Virus (WNV) recently reported in Delaware horses. These are the first Delaware cases of WNV in horses in 2023, with the cases occurring between September 9 and October 16, 2023.

DOVER, Del. (April 22, 2024) – The Delaware Forest Service hosted the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Col. John Haslet Chapter in Dover, and other volunteers to establish a memorial plot dedicated to former State Forester Walter F. Gabel, who served in this role from 1974 to 1991. “We are excited about this DAR […]

In conjunction with President Biden, Governor Carney has extended the order lowering both the American and Delaware flags to half-staff at all State buildings and facilities until sunset on Saturday, December 11, 2021 as a mark of respect for the passing of former U.S. Senator Robert Joseph Dole.

It is definitely in the fitness of things that the Supreme Court in a most learned, laudable, landmark, logical and latest judgment titled Ramji Lal Bairwa & Anr vs State of Rajasthan & Ors in Criminal Appeal No. 3403 of 2023 (@ SLP (Crl.) No. 12912 of 2022) and cited in Neutral Citation No.: 2024 I

SMYRNA, DE (Jan. 19, 2022) – The Delaware Public Health Laboratory (DPHL) will nearly double in size to increase the capacity for routine and outbreak testing to accommodate advanced technical laboratory staff and the infectious disease epidemiology program. State leaders today held a groundbreaking for the expansion on the property of the Delaware Department of Health and […]

NEW CASTLE (Feb. 21, 2022) – A Dover primary care office is expanding behavioral health services for LGBTQ individuals thanks to federal grant funding. A Peaceful Place Integrated Care is using the grant to support the addition of a certified drug and alcohol counselor, a licensed clinical social worker, and a peer navigator to help […]

DOVER, DE (March 11, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) Contact Tracing Team has launched a pre-call SMS/text messaging initiative to individuals who test positive for COVID-19. It involves sending a text message to COVID-positive individuals and providing initial isolation guidance and recommendations through a secure web platform before they receive a call from […]