Good morning, Dover.

Officials with Merck Biopharmaceutical Company broke ground on a 470,000 square foot biologics center at CRISP on Tuesday, April 29; the facility will produce KEYTRUDA, create over 500 full-time jobs and 4,000 construction jobs when fully operational by 2028 + Governor Meyer credited developer MRA Group for repurposing the former DuPont site into a biotech hub.

The Delaware State Housing Authority said its Housing Stability Program, which helped 1,419 households with rental aid, will end by May 30—funds started in August with $5 million planned and nearly $7.1 million distributed—and the application portal will close in 30 days.

Applications will be processed in order until the remaining funds run out.

Sen. David Sokola and Kendall Massett warned that a Supreme Court case involving St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School could force Delaware to redefine charter schools, which might limit or end public funding for nearly 20,000 charter school students in the state — a shift that would reduce education options for many families. Delaware’s charter law was created to expand public school choice — and a ruling in favor of religious charter schools could undo decades of progress in providing diverse educational programs.

A U.S. Supreme Court case on charter schools will soon test Delaware’s 1995 law that has allowed nearly 20,000 students to attend innovative public schools—this case, originating in Oklahoma, questions whether religious charter schools can operate as public schools.

If the court rules in favor of religious charter schools, Delaware may have to rewrite its policy—threatening school choice and reducing public funding for many families.

Delaware Veterans Coalition leaders Dave Skocik and Paul Davis clarified that the March 13 We the Veterans rally was coordinated by Rep. Jeff Hilovsky—not Gov. Matt Meyer—and that veteran groups, not the state, shared the food costs.

Nearly 200 veterans attended the rally to support House bills 1 and 31 aimed at protecting benefits.

Delaware officials confirmed that drug deaths fell by 36% in 2024, dropping to 338 from 527 in 2023 and 537 in 2022 (state agencies reported toxicology data).

They said the decline came from better naloxone access, more treatment programs, and public health campaigns that match improvements seen in nearby states.

State agencies reported that Delaware had 338 confirmed drug overdose deaths in 2024—a 36 percent drop from 527 deaths in 2023, with numbers also lower than the 537 in 2022.

DSAMH director Joanna Champney said increased Narcan distribution and harm reduction measures helped lower the deaths while efforts continue to push the numbers to zero.

92nd Annual Dover Days Festival

May 2-3 — The Green — Free entry — Celebrate Delaware's heritage with a grand parade, artisan vendors, and family-friendly activities.

The Brothers Grim Spectaculathon

8-10 p.m. — Kent County Theatre Guild — Ticket info TBA — A fast-paced comedy that hilariously combines the classic and obscure tales of the Brothers Grimm with audience participation.

Skating For Change - Dover

6-9 p.m. — Dover Skating Center — $10 entry for adults, free for kids under 14 — Enjoy a night of skating and community fellowship for healing and recovery.

Mother's Day Celebration

3-6 p.m. — 1156 S Bay Rd, Dover, DE — Tickets from $20 — An afternoon filled with fun, laughter, and great food to celebrate all mothers.

Delaware Multilingual Showcase 2025

10 AM – 2 PM — Delaware State University — Free entry — Celebrate the richness of language diversity with workshops, performances, and cultural storytelling.