Sophia Schmidt

New Castle area residents exposed to a toxic group of chemicals are learning how much remains in their bodies.

Public health officials are concerned this past weekend’s protests against police brutality and racial injustice could lead to increased spread of the virus locally. Meanwhile, some see the virus’ disparate impacts as one factor that led to the protests.

Elected officials in Delaware say they are listening to the pain and anger over racial injustice expressed through this past weekend’s protests. Some hope to change oversight on use of force by police. 

Delawareans joined protests across the country Saturday over the death of an unarmed black man in police custody.

As the state struggles to reach its goal of 80,000 COVID-19 tests per month, it is encouraging some businesses to get employees tested regularly. It is unclear whether they will do so. 

The coronavirus dramatically altered life for high schoolers in Delaware. 

Many are getting more sleep, trying out new hobbies or playing more video games. Others are struggling with online school, social isolation and persistent worries about the virus.

Delaware Public Media partners with McKean and Mount Pleasant High Schools in the Red Clay and Brandywine school districts to work with students in those schools when classes are in session in those buildings.

But with students all working remotely, Delaware Public Media’s youth media producer Sophia Schmidt tried something different - collecting audio journal entries from radio students at these schools over the past month.  The result is their pandemic experiences, in their own words. 

The City of Wilmington has a budget for next fiscal year — at least for the time being. 

The long contract impasse between the City of Wilmington and its firefighters’ union has come to an end. 

The union is unhappy with the resolution. 

New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer’s plan to use federal COVID-19 relief funds for so-called “hero’s pay” for some first responders is meeting increased resistance.

Delaware will lift its ban on short-term rentals June 1st. Gov. John Carney announced Tuesday he’s also lifting the mandatory 14-day quarantine for out-of-state travelers and stay-at-home order that same day.

Use of public transportation has plummeted as a result of the coronavirus. It is unclear whether fare revenue will rebound next fiscal year, and some government subsidies in the region look uncertain.  

Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children is investigating another possible case of the mysterious Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children linked to COVID-19.

The plan to test every resident and staff member of long-term care facilities in Delaware for COVID-19 took longer to get going than expected. 

While Delawareans deal with a deadly pandemic and record unemployment, the U.S. Census Bureau continues to collect responses to the 2020 Census. 

Gov. John Carney is facing increasing criticism from some Republican state lawmakers over his response to the coronavirus. 

The new Wilmington Transit Center opened Sunday during a tough time for public transit. 

The state partnered with Nanticoke Hospital Thursday to host the first testing event using saliva-based tests made by the company Curative.

The state purchased 200,000 of these test kits.

Delaware Public Media’s Sophia Schmidt talks with Dr. Rick Hong of the Division of Public Health about the new tests and how they fit into the state’s plan to more than quadruple monthly testing as it moves toward gradual reopening.

New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer plans to give first responders “Hero’s Pay” out of federal CARES Act funds. The county police union claims the promise is being leveraged to suppress a grievance.

New Castle County is seeking to allocate millions in federal coronavirus relief funds with less oversight from County Council.  That makes some Council members feel uneasy.