The Green

An increase in gas prices hit farmers hard at the start of the 2026 growing season. And those prices haven’t meaningfully dropped yet.Delaware Agriculture Secretary Don Clifton said, "The difference is 65% increase in a matter of just a few months. And the diesel cost; that's outrageous and unnecessary, and that is a...that ripples through the entire economy. The level that, that fuel is trading is also an indicator of what heating oil will be this fall."Now, drought conditions, fertilizer costs, and slow-going Farm Bill deliberations in Congress are adding weight to farmers already squeezed by high overheads.Delaware Public Media’s Isreal Hale checked in this week with Felton farmer Jim Minner to discuss how these issues are affecting his day to day operations.

With summer in full swing, lots of people head outdoors for hiking, biking, and camping. But summer is also prime season for all kinds of annoying and sometimes harmful insects, like ticks.These tiny bugs can cause a host of health problems, ranging from the minor to the serious. And in this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny talked to a trio of experts about those dangers, including how to avoid catching a tick-borne illness and what kind of research is underway to help combat those diseases.

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Caesar Rodney is known for the many public offices he held in Delaware, and his famous ride on July 1, 1776 to cast the deciding vote declaring the U.S. independent from Great Britain.But like many founding fathers, Rodney was a slave owner and that part of his legacy led to a statue of him on Rodney Square in Wilmington to be removed in 2020 during a national reckoning with racism and police violence. This report confirms Rodney enslaved at least 26 people during his life.On this edition of History Matters, Delaware Public Media’s Bente Boutiers sits down with Debbie Martin, Wilmington’s Historic Preservation Planner, who worked on the report to learn more about it.

Over the past couple of years, Delaware Public Media has reported on the fate of the fading Concord Mall in North Wilmington — another example of the demise of that particular retail concept.But there is another mall in the First State similar to Concord Mall that seems to be defying the odds and remaining viable. And we’re not talking about the Christiana Mall which is a very different animal. We’re talking about the Dover Mall.Recently, that mall got a boost from the planned revival of a movie theater there and this week, contributor Eileen Dallabrida delved into why a movie theatre could work there and help the continued health of Dover Mall.

Over the past couple of years, Delaware Public Media has reported on the fate of the fading Concord Mall in North Wilmington — another example of the demise of that particular retail concept.But there is another mall in the First State similar to Concord Mall that seems to be defying the odds and remaining viable. And we’re not talking about the Christiana Mall which is a very different animal. We’re talking about the Dover Mall.Recently, that mall got a boost from the planned revival of a movie theater there and this week, contributor Eileen Dallabrida delved into why a movie theatre could work there and help the continued health of Dover Mall.

Caesar Rodney is known for the many public offices he held in Delaware, and his famous ride on July 1, 1776 to cast the deciding vote declaring the U.S. independent from Great Britain.But like many founding fathers, Rodney was a slave owner and that part of his legacy led to a statue of him on Rodney Square in Wilmington to be removed in 2020 during a national reckoning with racism and police violence. This report confirms Rodney enslaved at least 26 people during his life.On this edition of History Matters, Delaware Public Media’s Bente Boutiers sits down with Debbie Martin, Wilmington’s Historic Preservation Planner, who worked on the report to learn more about it.

Delaware lawmakers tried to crack down on cryptocurrency kiosks in 2026, arguing the machines had become a favorite tool for scammers targeting older adults.But despite unanimous support in the House, the legislation stalled in the Senate before lawmakers adjourned.Delaware Public Media intern Lily Grossberg examined the bill and where it'll go from here.

July 4th has come and gone, but Delaware’s celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary continues. One of those celebrations is a new exhibition by the Delaware Historical Society, which pairs objects from the society’s collection with student artists to ask - 250 years after the Declaration of Independence, are we living up to its promise?For this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media’s Martin Matheny spoke to Chief Curator Leigh Rifenburg about the show entitled “Objects, Ideals, & Delaware’s Unfinished Revolution.”

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