Plans to build one of the largest data centers in the country near Delaware City in New Castle County has sparked outrage from some nearby residents while prompting state and county lawmakers to raise concerns about its impact on the environment and the electrical grid.Delaware Public Media contributor Jon Hurdle recently offered an initial peek at the project – known as Project Washington, the reaction to it, and is tracking what’s next in the process as it develops.

When Delaware’s General Assembly reconvenes next week for a special session on property reassessment issues, there will be a new member in the House chamber.Democrat Alonna defeated Republican Nikki Miller in the House District 20 special election to replace former State Rep. Stell Parker Selby. Berry’s victory in the Milton area district was a narrow one – a margin of just 121 votes. Tuesday night, Delaware Public Media state politics reporter Sarah Petrowich spoke with Berry about her win and what’s next.

It's summertime in the First State, a time when many of us head to the beaches. But on your way to surf and sand, you'll likely pass through one of the state's most threatened habitats – its marshes and wetlands.DNREC recently released a map charting marsh migration - how wetlands are moving inland as sea levels rise - and how migrating marshes are bumping up against growing development.This week, Delaware Public Media’s Martin Matheny chats with DNREC environmental scientist Allison Rogerson about the map and what it tells us.

Earlier this year, the Delaware Symphony Orchestra began writing a new chapter in its long history, announcing the appointment of Argentinian/Italian conductor Michelle Di Russo as the orchestra's new music director, the first women to hold the role in the symphony's century-plus history.In this edition of Arts Playlist, Di Russo sits down with Delaware Public Media’s Martin Matheny as she prepares to take the podium as the orchestra's music director for the first time in October.

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Delaware’s Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission underwent a mass restructuring over the past year.The commission is in charge of distributing the funds awarded to the First State through legal challenges against opioid manufacturers and distributors.After a grant recipient was flagged for potential misuse of funds last year, the commission completely overhauled its grant program and welcomed a new Executive Director Brad Owens.Delaware Public Media’s Sarah Petrowich spoke with Owens about the new-and-improved commission, the latest grant cycle and his plans for the commission.

Cooch's Bridge Historic Site, near Newark, is one of the state's most storied historic locations, known for being the site of the only Revolutionary War battle in the First State. It was also home to generations of African-Americans, both free and enslaved.Composer and percussionist Jonathan Whitney, a Newark native, is bringing those stories to life in a work called "Cooch's Bridge: The African-American Presence."In this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny chats with to Whitney about his music.

This week, we bring you the latest episode of the Delaware Humanities’ podcast – ‘People and Planet.’On this episode, we focus on a pair of First State destinations that help connect people to their planet by educating them about the world around them.The Delaware Museum of Nature and Science and the Brandywine Zoo each offer windows into habitats in our own backyards and around the world and how we can engage with them in a meaningful and positive way.And to explain how they do that the podcast welcomes Delaware Museum of Nature and Science executive director Mandy Santiago and Brandywine Zoo director Brint Spencer.

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As July starts to slip away, summer break heads into the home stretch for students. That means families need to start getting the gear kids need for school this fall.What does the current economic climate mean for back-to-school shopping this year? Are retailers expecting the same boost to late summer sales? And are there deals to be found for families on a budget?Contributor Eileen Dallabrida takes a closer look at the back-to-school shopping landscape.