When people discuss the growing population in Sussex County, the focus is often on retirees. But the county is also seeing younger workers flocking to the area, a trend documented by new survey by Site Selection Magazine, a national publication that annually ranks states, cities and counties for their attractiveness for business.This week, Delaware Public Media contributor Jon Hurdle dives into this trend and the reasons behind it.

With Thanksgiving next week, holiday shopping kicks into gear.Retailers hope people are ready to spend on gifts this year, while shoppers seek the trendiest gifts and best deals.What factors could play a role in what gifts and how many land under the tree? Each year, we look to contributor Eileen Dallabrida to answer that question in her preview of the holiday shopping.

The Delaware Symphony Orchestra and its new music director, Michelle Di Russo is getting ready for the holiday season, presenting a pair of concerts in the coming weeks.The first of those concerts is also a new offering for the symphony, a family-friendly matinee concert at the Grand in late November. They'll follow that with Holidays at the Hotel early next month.On this week's Arts Playlist, DPM's Martin Matheny speaks to Michelle Di Russo to learn more about the concerts.

Delaware Tech recently celebrated the opening of the John and Elsie Williams House Museum and Conference CenterThe facility encompasses several rooms in the Williamses’ former home, which the family built in Millsboro in 1927.The Williamses’ daughter, Blanche Baker, wanted the home to honor the accomplishments of her parents - former Delaware U.S. Senator John Williams, who was often lauded for a non-partisan approach to politics, and his wife Elsie, who contributed to that approach by building social connections in Washington that fostered “across-the-aisle” relationships.In this edition of History Matters, Isreal Hale is joined by Del Tech President Mark Brainard to hear more about the new dual role for the Williams house and it will serve the surrounding community in Millsboro.

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Delaware now has an Office of New Americans to serve and support the immigrant community.About 11% of Delaware residents are immigrants. That’s more than 115,000 people who contribute to Delaware socially and economically, according to the Office of New Americans director Rony Baltazar-Lopez.Delaware Public Media’s Abigail Lee sat down with Baltazar-Lopez to talk about the office’s inaugural year, which includes a listening tour with stops in all three counties.

There’s been a fair amount of reporting about so-called “forever chemicals” in drinking water and the potential health impact the family of PFAS chemicals can have, including some cancers, immune system suppression and developmental issues in children.And the state of Delaware took legislative action this year to make people more aware when PFAS levels in their drinking water exceed strict health limits initially set by the EPA during the Biden administration.But how aware are people of these chemicals, the threat they pose and what can be done to address them?A recent DNREC survey indicates there’s still work to be done – and earlier this week, we sat down with DNREC Chief Communications Officer Nikki Lavoie and DNREC Division of Waste & Hazardous Substances hydrologist Todd Keyser to discuss the survey results and the First State’s ongoing efforts to address PFAS.

What happens when the world of opera collides with the world of boxing?We’ll find out when Opera Delaware presents "Opera DEathmatch" next weekend at its studios in Wilmington.The event is the brainchild of OperaDelaware and former boxing champ Dave Tiberi.On this week's Arts Playlist, DPM's Martin Matheny sits down with Tiberi and Opera Delaware's KerriAnn Otano about the show and how boxing and opera are strangely similar.

Banana Ball will be coming to Wilmington next summer.What is Banana Ball, you ask?Well, it’s a different brand of baseball that features the fundamentals of the game combined with trick plays and unusual rules to provide entertainment for the whole family.While the Savannah Bananas are the main draw in a now 6-team league – playing in huge venues across the country - the Texas Tailgaters will bring the game to Wilmington's Frawley Stadium next August 13 through the 15 for games against a new team, the Loco Beach Coconuts.In this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media’s Joe Irizarry talks with the Texas Tailgaters’ Jonathan "Sunshine" Luders to learn more about Banana Ball.

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