News aggregator

DOVER (April 22, 2013) - DNREC Secretary Collin O'Mara today approved issuance of an air permit for the Delaware City Refining Company to restart an unused closed-loop cooling water tower at the Delaware City Refinery. The restarted unit will help the facility achieve a required 33 percent reduction in cooling water withdrawal from 452 million gallons per day (mgd) to 303 mgd, which is anticipated to reduce incidents of aquatic life mortality by a corresponding 33 percent.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan named St. Andrew's School in Middletown among 64 schools named as 2013 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools.

NEWARK (April 22, 2013) - An investigation by Delaware State Park Rangers into a series of vehicle break-ins over the last three months at White Clay Creek and Brandywine Creek State Parks culminated in the arrests April 19 of a Wilmington couple on an array of criminal charges.

U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, U.S. Congressman John Carney, and U.S. Attorney Charles M. Oberly, III, presented the family of fallen Officer Joseph L. Szczerba with the Congressional Badge of Bravery Award.

Dover -- The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) has posted its 2012 Annual Report on its website. This is the first annual report issued by the department in several years, and it is available online as a cost-efficient way of providing this information to the public. The content of DelDOT's Annual Report covers Key Services and Accomplishments for the year 2012, by the various Divisions within the department.

WILMINGTON (April 19, 2013) - Two male North American River Otters have taken up residence at the Brandywine Zoo and visitors can not only meet them starting Saturday, April 20, but zoo-goers also have an opportunity to help choose names for the otters by voting at the zoo throughout the spring.

DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement agents between April 9 and April 16 made 669 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters and the general public, including 26 boating safety/fishing regulation compliance checks. Agents responded to 38 complaints and issued 24 citations.

DOVER (April 19, 2013) - Delaware is home to eight species of bats, several of which have begun their annual move from winter hibernation sites to summer maternity colonies. Female bats return pregnant to the colonies where they congregate to give birth and raise their pups. In Delaware, these colonies can often take up residence in barns, garages, attics and homes.

First lady Carla Markell will be joined by Sen. Tom Carper and DNREC Secretary Collin O'Mara on April 20 at the Brandywine State Park Community Volunteer Day, the kick-off event for Delaware's Week of Service April 20-27.

The exercises were based upon a fictional anthrax release and are part of a multi-year practice drill series required by the CDC and designed to enhance Delaware's public health response.

In his weekly message, Governor Markell highlights collaborative efforts underway in early childhood education by elected officials, business leaders and community partners to ensure our children begin on the right path for learning and life.

DOVER (April 19, 2013) - The Source Water Protection Citizens and Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC) of the Source Water Assessment and Protection Program will hold its semiannual meeting from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, May 1 in Conference Room 220 A&B of the Kent County Administrative Offices on Bay Road in Dover. This meeting is the second of two focused on nutrients in drinking water.

DOVER (April 19, 2013) - With spring mowing season underway and having fielded recent calls from people who have found what they believe are "abandoned" baby rabbits, DNREC's Division of Fish and Wildlife would like to remind well-meaning wildlife watchers not to "rescue" young wild animals. Young Eastern cottontail rabbits, in particular, may appear to be alone, since their mothers often temporarily leave their ground nests to avoid attracting predators, returning only to feed their young.

Following the passage of House Bill 35 by the Delaware Senate by a 13-8 margin, Governor Jack Markell thanked members of the General Assembly for their leadership in passing the most significant piece of gun safety legislation in Delaware in decades.

LEWES (April 18, 2013) - A coastal grass planting effort capitalizing on Department of Correction's VOP (violation of probation) laborers and privately-donated resources will help DNREC's Division of Watershed Stewardship bolster the north side of the Indian River Inlet against lost or displaced sand from future weather events.

BEAR (April 18, 2013) - A Bear man was arrested and charged with game and firearm violations after DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcements found he had a past felony conviction that prohibited him from possessing deadly weapons.

More than 619 students and advisors from across the state will gather to demonstrate their skills with 1,429 entries into 53 hands-on, minds-on competitive events at the 35th annual Delaware Technology Student Association State Conference next week.

Governor Jack Markell today joined members of the General Assembly to announce legislation enabling the formation of public benefit corporations in Delaware.

Findings released today by researchers at Harvard University have policy and practice implications for Delaware public school staffing.

Motorists can take safety steps that include paying attention to the road, passing with caution, allowing extra room when following slow-moving equipment, and being patient if a farmer can't immediately pull over.