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Recreational adult-use marijuana in Delaware became legal in April 2023, but the First State has yet to establish a legal market.That process has been underway for more than a year and a half, but the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner has made significant headway, including distributing business licenses for cultivation, manufacturing, and testing facilities.This week, Delaware Public Media’s Sarah Petrowich starts her series Delaware’s High Hopes, which will follow three of the license awardees as they launch their businesses. In this first installment “Cultivating a Cannabis Industry,” they discuss what it’s like trying to establish a new industry in Delaware, particularly with several towns and counties working against them.

The Brandywine Valley Trail Plan at First State National Historical Park is moving forward.The plan designates a 27.8-mile shared-use trail network encouraging hiking and bicycling, among other activities, while promoting habitat preservation. After extensive environmental review and public input, the plan is now set to roll out over the next five years.Delaware Public Media’s Martin Matheny is joined this week by Samantha Baranski – Visual Information Specialist for First State National Historical Park – for more on how the trail system is shaping the park’s future and connecting local communities.

For the better part of four decades, American sculptor André Harvey did much of his work in the Brandywine Valley; in Rockland. He created realistic and contemporary sculptures of all sizes, mostly depicting animals, cast in bronze using the lost wax method. Harvey also worked in granite, made collages, painted, and designed sculptural jewelry cast in 18K and 22K gold.Harvey passed away in 2018 at the age of 76 and in the new book “André Harvey Sculptor,” Bobbie Harvey, André’s wife, maps out his journey as an artist and their life together.For this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media’s Kyle McKinnon sat down with Bobbie Harvey at her Rockland home to reflect on André Harvey’s work and indelible legacy.

Christmas cookies are an age-old tradition that spans generations, kitchens, and continents.They tell stories about our backgrounds and our past, and making Christmas cookies isn’t just about baking, it’s about connection.In this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media’s Kyle McKinnon caught up with award-winning Rehoboth-based Pastry Chef Dru Tevis to explore the magic of Christmas cookies and why these sweet treats are as much about memory as they are about flavor.

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Next month, as November’s election winners are sworn in, one name will be notably absent from the roster of Delaware officeholders. For the first time in nearly 50 years, Tom Carper will not be serving the people of Delaware after announcing in May 2023 that he would not seek another term in the U.S. Senate.Carper departs after stints as Delaware State Treasurer, Congressman, Governor, and U.S. Senator, and his 14-0 record running for statewide office in the First State is unprecedented.Contributor Larry Nagengast recently sat down with Carper to reflect on his 48-year political career and his legacy as one of Delaware's most iconic politicians.

Since September, much of the Northeast has been experiencing drought conditions, with some areas like Baltimore and Boston lacking anywhere from 6 to 9 inches of rain.According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, as of Dec. 3, roughly 98% of the Northeast is abnormally dry and 23% is in a severe drought, impacting the drinking water of nearly 14 million people.This week, Delaware Public Media’s Sarah Petrowich reports on the ongoing drought and the array of implications for the region.

The Delaware Council on Gambling Problems is expanding with the opening of a third office in Kent County.The Council now has locations in all three Delaware counties, providing greater access to services and support at a time when problem gambling is on the rise in the U.S. due to the growth of legal online sports betting.Delaware Public Media’s Kyle McKinnon caught up this week with one of the Council’s Certified Peer Recovery Specialists Jeff Wasserman about the new office and addressing gambling issues in the First State.

Imagine everyday objects turned into artistic ‘masterpieces’ with nothing more than duct tape and a sense of humor.That’s the premise behind the Biggs Museum of American Art’s “Duct-Taped Treasures” auction. From in-gallery headphones to archival gloves, the Biggs is auctioning off everyday items found around the museum to raise funds for its operations and programming, and spark conversation around supporting cultural institutions.For this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media’s Martin Matheny is joined by Biggs’ Director of Marketing and Public Relations Kerri Lacey for more on the auction.