The University of Delaware's women's ice hockey team recently made its debut.Almost two years after the announcement of UD would add women’s hockey as a varsity sport, the Blue Hen women's ice hockey team recently hit the ice for the first time at Fred Rust Ice Arena in Newark with two losses to Long Island University.In this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media's Joe Irizarry speaks with UD's first ever women's ice hockey coach Allison Coomey about the road to that first weekend of games, and where the program goes from here.

Listen to the full show or individual segments:

Federal funding cuts are impacting states to varying degrees across the nation, particularly with unprecedented changes to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as SNAP.These changes were outlined within President Donald Trump’s tax and spending package known as the ‘One Big Beautiful Act,’ which for the first time ever will require states to pick up some of the tab for SNAP administrative costs.Additionally, beginning in 2028, states with high payment error rates will be required to pay for a portion of benefit costs, and Delaware had one of the highest error rates in the country in 2024.Delaware Public Media’s Sarah Petrowich spoke with state officials to understand what these changes mean for Delaware and how the state plans to cover these unprecedented costs.

The U.S. is one of only seven countries to see a significant increase in maternal mortality rates in 2023, according to the World Health Organization.The U.S. sees steeper rates than any other high-income country, and maternal and infant mortality risks spike further in Black community.Delaware was among seven states with the lowest maternal mortality rates in the nation in 2024. But Black pregnant people here are still significantly more at risk during pregnancy and postpartum, representing 45% of the maternal deaths despite making up only 21% of the state’s population.Delaware-based organization Black Mothers in Power wants to see those numbers drop in the First State. That’s why they’re opening a Maternal Care Center in Wilmington, according to BMIP Founder and Wilmington City Councilwoman Shané Darby.She and project director Kristin Bainger sit down with Delaware Public Media’s Abigail Lee to talk about the ins and outs of the new facility.

The Division of the Arts' Mezzanine Gallery in Wilmington continues to spotlight the work of Delaware artists with an exhibition this month by Paula Brown.Brown is a relatively recent arrival to the First State, spending much of her life on the West Coast. Her work - much of it impressionistic landscapes and seascapes - shows off her adeptness with pastels and oils.And on this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny sits down with Brown to talk about her art, her background, and the importance of Bach, Brahms and... Dr. Seuss.

Work is underway on the Thompson Island living shoreline project in Rehoboth Beach.The project on a part of Delaware Seashore State Park offers a large scale, nature-based engineering solution to protect the island's shoreline while enhancing the aquatic environment around the island.For this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media's Joe Irizarry speaks with project manager, Bob Collins of the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays about this living shoreline and expected impact – including the history and cultural significance of Thompson Island it can help preserve.

Listen to the full show or individual segments:

These days it seems everyone is racing to get in on the fast-developing world of artificial intelligence – seeking any way and every way to plant their flag in the AI industry.That includes the state of Delaware which recently announced it is the first state in the nation to join OpenAI’s Certification Program, which is expected to deliver programming to schools and workforce training programs to allows student to workers to build AI fluency and earn certifications in AI tools.Delaware Public Media's Tom Byrne recently sat down with Delaware Dept of Labor Secretary LaKresha Moultrie to learn more about the OpenAI Certification Program and the benefits it could provide the state.

The Delaware Community Foundation this week announced a five-year, $13.1 million dollar grant to the Delaware Center for Cognitive Aging Research.The money will help further the center’s research by expanding the number of participants in clinical studies, creating new forms of testing to find biomarkers which predict Alzheimer's development, and fund the purchase of an MRI machine - a critical tool for the diagnosis of cognitive aging.Earlier this week, Delaware Center for Cognitive Aging Research director Dr. Christopher Martens joined Delaware Public Media’s Isreal Hale to explore what this financial boost means for their research.

For eight years, Delaware Shakespeare has been leaving the boards and hitting the road for its annual community tour - taking the Bard's plays to neighborhoods around the First State.This year, DelShakes' tour presents Two Gentlemen of Verona.And on this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny spend some time with DelShakes' Producing Artistic Director Mariah Ghant to learn more about the tour and the play.