While many high school graduates spend time this summer preparing to go college, others take a so-called ‘gap year’ with plans for some sort of sabbatical.Postponing the start of college for a year is becoming more common in the U.S. According to a survey from the nonprofit College Savings Foundation, more than 22% of students now consider gap time before post-secondary education.This week, Delaware Public Media’s Kyle McKinnon sits down with First State native Belin Tate, a freshman at Middlebury College in Vermont who recently took gap time, and President of the Gap Year Association Rae Nelson to discuss gap years.

Early intervention for developmental delays like Autism can make a huge difference, but it’s difficult to diagnose those delays early. Michele Lobo, a University of Delaware associate professor and pediatric physical therapist, is working to change that by creating a new smart baby monitor that helps spot delays earlier in childhood.Delaware Public Media’s Joe Irizarry talks with Lobo this week about the monitor and the importance of detecting developmental delays early.

A photographic exhibition focused on the Harriet Tubman Byway is now on display at Old Town Hall in Wilmington.The exhibit “Landscapes of the Delaware Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway” showcases the work of award-winning Delaware-based photographer Lynn Dilliplane and is on view until the end of this month.In this edition of History Matters, Delaware Public Media’s Kyle McKinnon visited Old Town Hall and met up with Dilliplane, Wilmington’s Historic Preservation Planner Debra Martin, and the Delaware Historical Society’s Chief Curator Leigh Rifenburg to learn more about the exhibit and the Harriet Tubman Byway.

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Shopping malls across the country are remaking themselves as the retail landscape that once led to their growth and popularity continues to shift in ways that leave many of them struggling now.The latest mall to see some major changes is the Dover Mall. Like Concord Mall in North Wilmington, the Dover Mall is trying to find ways to reclaim foot traffic.This week, contributor Eileen Dallabrida reports on the Dover Mall and how it's making a comeback.

In 1868, Louisa May Alcott published ‘Little Women,’ a story of four sisters in Massachusetts, growing up, falling in love, and coming into their own.The story has seen dozens of adaptations and this May you’ll have a chance to see it come alive on stage with ‘Little Women – The Musical’ at The Playhouse on Rodney Square in Wilmington.For this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media’s Karl Lengel sits down with cast members Camryn Hamm, Noa Harris, and conductor Thomas Fosnocht to learn more about their roles and the ‘Little Women’ tour.

This week, The Green brings you the latest episode of Delaware Humanities’ podcast A More Just Delaware. The podcast examines pivotal moments and legislation related to hate, prejudice, and the fight for equal rights in Delaware.In this second episode, historian, writer, and Black history educator Kathy Trusty examines the landmark Brown v. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court decision, its connections to Delaware, and how using the courts to advance the cause of delivering equity in education continues.

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The annual horseshoe crab spawning season is approaching and a number of conservationists are urging Delaware environmental officials to step up enforcement of a ban on horseshoe crab harvesting.The call for the First State to effectively enforce its harvesting rules comes after a handful of harvesters violated the rules at Kitts Hummock in 2023.This week, contributor Jon Hurdle examines the response to the violations at Kitts Hummock and what to expect this year.

This Monday, April 8th, millions will gather across the U.S. to witness the first total solar eclipse in seven years.Although the First State isn’t in the coveted path of totality, Delawareans will still experience a partial eclipse, if the weather holds up.Delaware Public Media’s Kyle McKinnon checks in with University of Delaware assistant professor of physics and astronomy Sally Dodson-Robinson to learn about the total solar eclipse and where to view the rare cosmic event.