Georgetown, DE – This past week the Delaware Department of Correction (DOC) recognized Correctional Officers and medical professionals for saving the life of a Sussex Correctional Institution (SCI) inmate who experienced a sudden life-threatening cardiac arrest earlier this year. On August 14, 2022 a 62 year-old inmate was working in the SCI kitchen when he exhibited […]

STATE OF DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY P.O. BOX 818 DOVER, DELAWARE 19903-0818 NEWS RELEASE Date: July 9, 2020 Contact: DSHS Wendy Hudson – (302) 382-7978 DSP MCpl. Melissa Jaffe – (302) 382-2136 DSP LT. COL. MELISSA A. ZEBLEY NAMED SUPERINTENDENT OF DELAWARE STATE POLICE Today Governor John Carney joined Kimberly Chandler, Acting […]

Smryna – The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) Emergency Operations Center is requesting that Delaware residents with damage to their properties fill out the following survey report linked below.  This information is important to help determine eligibility for a disaster declaration.   Delaware Damage Report – Click Here Residents with severe damage or other direct evidence […]

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Tuesday issued a State of Emergency to coordinate response and recovery efforts following the high winds, heavy rainfall, tornadoes, and flooding due to Tropical Storm Isaias. The State of Emergency is effective as of 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, 2020, until further notice. “Several communities in Delaware experienced significant […]

DOVER, DE – After completing a long and arduous process, the New Castle City Police Department became the fifth police agency to earn State accreditation through the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission (DPAC). “The State accreditation process raises the standards for our law enforcement agencies and sets the bar for excellence. Earning accreditation has clear benefits […]

Smyrna – Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) Director AJ Schall was tested for COVID-19 on Monday, November 23, 2020, along with one of his sons. Both tested negative. On Wednesday, November 25, 2020, Director Schall developed minor, cold-like symptoms and was again tested. He received a positive test result on the morning of Friday, November […]

Delaware State Senate Spiros Mantzavinos, Chief Laura Giles, Elsmere Mayor Eric Scott Thompson, Secretary Nathaniel McQueen Jr. ELSMERE, DE – After completing a long and arduous process, the Elsmere Police Department became the seventh police agency to earn State accreditation through the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission (DPAC). “The State accreditation process raises the standards for […]

The OHS SoberLift program, presented in partnership with Lyft®, will be activated in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, South Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island, and Ocean View nightly from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. beginning Thursday, July 1 and continuing through Monday, July 5, ending at 2:00 a.m.

The Results are in for the July 2, 2021, Statewide Checkpoint Activation FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Cynthia Cavett, Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov DOVER, Del. (July 6, 2021) — Delaware law enforcement officers statewide arrested six individuals for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of alcohol and drugs at sobriety checkpoints on July […]

Updated 8/31/2021 at 6:00pm Smyrna, DE – The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) along with local, state, and federal partners, are closely monitoring the remnant low from Hurricane Ida.  We continue to coordinate with the counties and key state agencies to ensure readiness if the system worsens.  The main threats are anticipated to include rain, […]

The University of Delaware and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) have recently partnered on several new projects to aid the State of Delaware’s long-term recovery efforts from COVID-19. DEMA has provided support to the Institute of Public Administration at the Biden School, Delaware Sea Grant, and the Disaster Research Center to work on three […]

SMYRNA, DE: The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) encourages nonprofit agencies to begin preparing for the upcoming Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) application period. NSGP is a competitive grant program that provides federal funding for physical security enhancements to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. The annual grant guidance is expected to be released in May 2022 […]

Governor John Carney has proclaimed May 9 through 13 Delaware Flood Awareness Week to inform residents about flood risk, likelihood of flooding from extreme weather events brought on by climate change, the importance of having a flood insurance policy, and flood remediation for property damage or loss.

The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is urging eligible tax-exempt nonprofits, including faith-based organizations, to prepare now for an upcoming Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) opportunity anticipated to be available for applications in early March 2023. NSGP provides funding for projects that enhance physical security and cybersecurity to nonprofits at high risk of a terrorist attack. Two requirements for NSGP applications are a Vulnerability Assessment and Unique Entity Identification (UEI) Number. DEMA advises interested applicants to begin the process now because completing these prerequisites is often time-consuming.

The Delaware Judiciary welcomed its first “facility” or comfort dog to the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center in partnership with the Delaware Capitol Police.

State Crash Data Now Available to Public Through Open Data Portal   Searching Delaware crash data is now as easy and convenient as logging on to the State’s Open Data Portal. “The crash data portal helps us give drivers the information they want and it is our hope that with this information, our citizens will […]

The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), Delaware State Police, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Sussex County Emergency Operations Center, DelDOT, and numerous volunteer organizations are mobilizing resources and personnel to respond to yesterday’s statewide damage from severe storms and likely tornado in Sussex County. Officials confirmed a fatality at a collapsed structure along Tuckers Road southeast of Greenwood, Sussex County. It’s the first confirmed death from a tornado in Delaware since 1983 according to the National Weather Service.

The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) will distribute potassium iodide (KI) tablets to Delaware residents living within a 10-mile radius (also known as the Emergency Planning Zone or EPZ) of the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations.

In conjunction with DNREC and DEMA within the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Governor John Carney has proclaimed May 15 to 19 as Delaware Flood Awareness Week.

On June 30, 2022, Gov. Carney signed into law the Delaware Lethal Firearms Safety Act of 2022 prohibiting the manufacture, sale, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, receipt, possession, or transport of assault weapons in Delaware, subject to certain exceptions.  One such exception to the Act’s ban is for individuals who lawfully possessed, or who had […]

The Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS) is encouraging any Delaware resident interested in receiving an assault weapon certificate of possession in accordance with the Delaware Firearms Safety Act of 2022 to take action by making an appointment with the State Bureau of Identification. Over the past three weeks, DSHS provided Delaware residents […]

Nathaniel McQueen Jr., Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, announced Major Elmer C. Harris as the Chief of the Delaware Capitol Police. The Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS) and the Delaware Capitol Police (DCP) held a ceremony to mark the start of Chief Elmer C. Harris’s role as Chief of […]

The Delaware Emergency Management Agency is currently coordinating with officials from FEMA Region 3, state, county, and local agencies to respond to the potential impacts from Tropical Storm Ophelia throughout the state.

Sirens will be activated for three to five minutes, followed by a test message of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on local radio stations. Sirens tested are the same ones used to alert the public in the event of an actual emergency. There are 37 sirens in Delaware located within a 10-mile radius of the Salem-Hope Creek Generating Stations in New Jersey. The sirens cover an area north from Delaware City, west to Middletown, and south to Woodland Beach. This test is part of an ongoing program that continually monitors the integrity of the siren system.

Today the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS) announced Sean E. Moriarty, Ed. D. as Executive Director of the new Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST). POST, now a new division within DSHS, was created through House Bill 206 and signed into law in August to replace the Delaware Council on Police […]

There are 37 sirens in Delaware located within a 10-mile radius of the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations in New Jersey. The sirens cover an area north from Delaware City, west to Middletown, and south to Woodland Beach. This test is part of an ongoing program that continually monitors the integrity of the siren system. Sirens will be activated for three to five minutes, followed by a test message of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on local radio stations.

The Office of Marijuana Commissioner (OMC) is inviting stakeholders and interested parties to review and comment on the regulations that will control the State regulated adult-use recreational marijuana industry in Delaware. As you are aware, the Delaware Marijuana Control Act, 4Del. C. Chapter 13 legalized the use of recreational marijuana for individuals 21 and older. […]

Owners of five Delaware businesses are thinking holidays already, and they have every reason to do so – they’ll be taking part in a state-led initiative that will provide them with rent-free commercial space for three months in a Delaware downtown from October through December.

Once-vacant properties in four Delaware downtowns have been transformed into wellsprings of opportunity thanks to a state-run program offering small business owners a head start in brick-and-mortar locations.

Dole Food Company will continue to do business at the Port of Wilmington for the next 15 years thanks to a lease that will positively impact hundreds of jobs and secure a critical revenue stream for Delaware’s economy.

Five entrepreneurs jumped at an opportunity offered by the State of Delaware and used it to achieve their dreams of moving into a brick-and-mortar location.

The State of Delaware prides itself on its business friendliness and willingness to provide opportunities and access to the small business sector.

WineKnot, P.C. Rods and Nest Spa & Boutique launched with the help of the state-run program MILTON, Del. (Dec. 17, 2014) – For the second straight year, a state program has sparked the launch of new businesses in downtown Milton, helping entrepreneurs move their enterprises into once-vacant brick-and-mortar locations. Wine Knot Shop, P.C. Rods and […]

MILFORD, Del. (Dec. 22, 2014) – Something tasty just popped up in downtown Milford. City, state and other local officials celebrated the arrival of Patty Cakes, a participant in this year’s Project Pop-Up program, with a ribbon cutting on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014 at the business, which is at 22 S. Walnut St., Milford. Patty […]

Since its inception in 2012, the Project Pop-Up program has been successful in helping 14 businesses sign long-term leases in once-vacant downtown spaces.

Composting food scraps along with yard waste reduces waste going to Delaware’s landfills and produces organic material that can be used to enrich garden soil. DNREC is encouraging residents to try composting by promoting a community sale of compost bins online. Through strategic bulk purchasing, DNREC is able to offer compost bins, rain barrels and accessories at reduced prices, just in time for International Composting Awareness Week, May 6 to 12.

NEW CASTLE (May 7, 2024) – Per capita health care spending in Delaware increased 6.3% in 2022 to $9,657, outpacing a 3% growth rate benchmark, according to the State of Delaware’s fourth annual Benchmark Trend Report presented Thursday May 2 to the Delaware Health Care Commission (DHCC) by Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) […]

Expanded maritime facility estimated to create 6,000 Delaware jobs   WILMINGTON, Del. – The State of Delaware on Wednesday announced it will join the private operator of the Port of Wilmington, Enstructure, to build a new port terminal at a site in Edgemoor, Delaware. The Edgemoor industrial site was purchased in 2017 by the taxpayer-owned Diamond […]

In celebration of National Ocean Month coming up in June, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), in partnership with libraries in each county, is conducting a haiku poetry contest.

Offshore wind developer US Wind, Inc. has submitted multiple permit applications to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control for its wind energy project offshore of Maryland. To inform the public and engage Delawareans in the regulatory process, DNREC will host a public information session on Wednesday, June 5, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Beacon Middle School, 19483 John J. Williams Highway, Lewes, Del.

Conviction is State’s first use of updated “partial nudity” statute  A Wilmington man could spend the rest of his life in prison following a litany of felony convictions in a child pornography case. Sheldon Lee, 64, was convicted on May 16 of 50 felonies — 25 counts of Dealing in Child Pornography and 25 counts […]

WILMINGTON, Del. — Community and state leaders highlighted the need for robust reentry supports to help returning citizens thrive during the first Delaware Day of Action, a special convening for criminal justice advocates and policymakers.      Hosted by Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, Senator Darius Brown and Representative Melissa Minor-Brown in partnership with REFORM Alliance, the Delaware […]

Wilmington, Del.  – The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery presents Don James’ exhibition, “Beyond the Facade: Architectural Portraits,” on view from June 7-28, 2024. Guests are invited to attend a Meet-the-Artist Reception on Friday, June 7 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Don James, from Milton, Delaware, is a photographer who finds inspiration in natural, industrial, […]

Winners of DNREC's haiku poetry contest announced

DNREC will begin the annual treatment of downstate public ponds – Wagamons Pond in Milton and Concord Pond near Seaford – for the foreign invasive aquatic weed hydrilla on Thursday, June 13, weather permitting. Hydrilla is a non-native plant that likely entered the state through the aquarium trade. Uncontrolled hydrilla can choke ponds and other waterways, crowding out beneficial plant species and preventing fishing and boating access.

Today the Delaware Tourism Office announced awards to four Delaware sports facilities through the Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund. Established through the Fiscal Year 2024 Bond and Capital Improvements Act, the fund provides financial support to new or existing sports facilities that hold events throughout the year to attract out-of-state visitors and contribute to the state and local economy.

DOVER, DEL. (June 21, 2024) – With all of Delaware under a heat advisory or excessive heat watch alert from the National Weather Service, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) offers information on resources and tips to help everyone stay safe this weekend and throughout the summer. While conditions such as those expected across […]

The Delaware Division of Public Health’s (DPH) Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity Prevention (PANO) Program released The Burden of Chronic Disease in Delaware 2024 report on June 28, 2024. The report summarizes the current state of chronic diseases and related risk factors in Delaware. It is an update to, and expansion of, Chronic Disease in Delaware: Facts and Figures, published in 2019 by DPH’s […]

DNREC will hold a joint virtual public hearing Tuesday, July 9 at 6 p.m. on multiple permit applications and authorization requests made to DNREC by wind energy developer US Wind, Inc. involving Delaware aspects of the company’s proposed Maryland offshore wind project.

The Delaware Department of Education announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture policy for free and reduced-price meals for children unable to pay the full price for meals served under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and After School Snack Program (ASSP). Each participating school and its administrative office have a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.