A 2011 study published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wetlands Inventory found that 25% of Delaware is wetlands. Some of those are considered freshwater or nontidal wetlands - and are located further inland.Although they’re vital to the ecosystem, Delaware does not have any statewide regulations to protect these habitats.A new bill aims to change that. Senate Bill 9 would fill gaps left by federal laws governing what humans can or can’t do in protected areas.This week, Delaware Public Media’s Jay Shah sat down with the bill’s sponsor, State Senator Stephanie Hansen and Emily Knearl, Director of Public Policy at The Nature Conservancy to understand what this legislation would do and why it matters.

National Train Day was last Saturday - May 9th. To mark the occasion, the Lewes Junction Railroad & Bridge Association unveiled its newest arrival- an early 1900s steam engine.And Delaware Public Media’s Isreal Hale was on hand for that event for this edition of History Matters.

Clear Space Theatre in Rehoboth Beach presents two modern shows this month, both looking at life lessons through very different lenses.On this week's Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media's Martin Matheny spoke to Joe Gfaller, director of "Dear Evan Hansen," and Fay Jacobs, director of "The Legend of Georgia McBride."

We occasionally take time on The Green to highlight work by student journalists. This week, we offer a piece produced by Delaware State Univ. senior and Delaware Public Media intern Joyce KasiamaFor this week’s Enlighten Me, Joyce takes a closer look at one way the First State honors female leadership – the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame – by spending time with some of those previously recognized by the Hall of Fame.

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Several fixtures in Delaware state politics have announced they won’t seek reelection this year, some after decades in their seat. Their decisions to step aside leave room for new faces and the possibility a seat could flip to the other party.Incumbents opting to leave has become a bit of a trend in the First State. In both 2022 and 2024, multiple incumbents didn’t pursue their seats in the General Assembly again.This week, Delaware Public Media political reporter Bente Bouthier dove into this trend and implications of this round of retirements with University of Delaware professor Paul Brewer - who specializes in political communication and public opinion.

Concerns about electric grid capacity remain in the headlines as surging demand, fueled in part by A.I and data centers, stress the system and contribute to rising electricity costs.But what if your car could be part of the solution. It may be, if you have an electric car.Vehicle to grid technology - developed by Univ. of Delaware Professor Willett Kempton - has been around for 30 years but, the timing may finally be right for it to make its mark.This week, contributor Jon Hurdle took a closer look at where V2G tech stands and why it may be ready to take off. And he joined Tom Byrne this week to discuss what he learned.

The Wilmington Concert Opera returned to the stage this weekend with the Delaware premiere of the first opera written in a US tribal language.On this week's Arts Playlist, DPM's Martin Matheny spoke to the Wilmington Concert Opera's Artistic Director Kirstin Kunkle, herself a member of the Muskogee nation, about the performance.

A recent documentary looked at how stress can affect our lives, and how you don't have to heal alone. Friends & Neighbors is a film by Wilmington resident Benjamin Wagner who shared how dealing with chronic stress and trauma can shape our lives.In the film he shared his story along with conversations with experts and neighbors as they showed how you can heal and still connect with those around you. In this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media's Joe Irizarry spoke with Wagner about his film and life experiences.

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