Delaware
Another Delaware school system is bringing security systems to football: Education roundup
That’s it. No more summer days away from school.
After a long Labor Day weekend, maybe on the beach or maybe spent preparing for the classroom, another chunk of Delaware students are back in session. With that said, some teachers in your area may still be looking for more resources for their classes through online wishlists.
With students returning, that means heightened security for some school districts.
Cape Henlopen just announced weapons detection systems for football games, a move mirrored by Appoquinimink and Sussex Technical schools. Seaford School District not only has such a system, but is testing its first year of requiring clear backpacks for students from sixth grade through high school.
In this weekly roundup, we’ll catch you up on these and other education updates you may have missed.
[Did we miss another good education story? Tell me about it: kepowers@gannett.com.]
Another Delaware school system brings security systems to football games
Starting with a home football game Sept. 20, Cape Henlopen School District will be launching a weapons detection system.
That system, called EVOLV, will help identify any potential weapons like guns and knives that could be entering the Cape Henlopen High School’s stadium, according to the district. This joins the school resource officer, constables and other Delaware State Police officers at each football game.
In an email to family and staff, the district explained what to expect:
- Two lines of spectators can walk through the system at once.
- If an alert is identified, an administrator will stop the line and review the images, while the spectator is asked to step aside and to remove the alerted item.
- If the alert is dismissed as a non-threat, the item will be tagged and the spectator will continue into the stadium.
- If the person refuses to openly identify the possible threat, a search will be required.
- If the search is refused, the spectator will be asked to leave the premises.
- If the alert is identified and found to be a threat, the police will “take the appropriate next steps,” per the school district.
- In cases of a health or safety concern – say, an implanted device or pregnancy – an alternative screening approach may be performed using a hand-held wand.
- Once the alert is identified and tagged, the line will resume.
“The safety of our students, staff and community members during attendance of our events is of the utmost importance to us, so please be patient as these new safety measures are implemented,” the district wrote. “And you may see longer wait times in line than expected.”
Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy: ‘Not to be satisfied’: First new school in 50 years sparks joy, optimism in Wilmington
Delaware Technical to show off its new Healthcare Center of Excellence building in Dover
Delaware Technical Community College is cutting the ribbon on its newly renovated Highmark Healthcare Center of Excellence on Tuesday morning.
The $3.4 million project includes $1 million from Highmark Delaware’s “BluePrints for the Community” grant program, according to a press release from DelTech. And now, the new center will look to support Delaware’s health care industry by training students for jobs in the sector.
With final touches finished this year, all 8.700 square feet will see classrooms, labs and other collaborative spaces. This will host training for short-term certification programs, such as certified nursing assistants, EKG technicians, community health workers, patient care technicians and more.
The center will be at 100 Campus Drive, on the Terry Campus in Dover. A ribbon cutting is set for 11 a.m., Sept. 3.
Vote: Don’t drop the ball. Vote for the top wide receiver in Delaware high school football
Indian River School District announces adult education offerings for the fall
Indian River School District announced its course offerings in adult education for this fall, with programs for both youth and adults. Course dates, times and costs can be found online, per the district, where participants can also register and pay.
At a glance:
- Youth Safe Sitter Course – Oct. 16 to 17 at Indian River High School Library
- Youth Co-Ed Beginner’s Volleyball Academy – Grades three to six, Tuesdays from Sept. 17 to Oct. 29 at Southern Delaware School of the Arts gym.
- Youth Co-Ed Intermediate’s Volleyball Academy – Grades five to eight, Tuesdays from Sept. 17 to Oct. 29 at Southern Delaware School of the Arts gym.
- Youth Outdoor Boys Lacrosse Clinic – Grades five to eight, Mondays from Sept. 16 to Oct. 21 at Indian River High School.
- Youth Co-Ed Basketball Clinic by Factory Sports – Separate clinics for Grades 2-5 and Grades 6-8, Tuesdays from Sept. 17 to Oct. 15 at Millsboro Middle School gym.
- Adult Dance Exercise Class – Two sessions, Mondays at East Millsboro Elementary School and Thursdays at Lord Baltimore Elementary School through December.
- Adult Yoga Class – Thursdays from Sept. 12 to Dec. 5 at East Millsboro Elementary School gym.
- Adult Co-Ed Volleyball – Wednesdays from Sept. 11 to Dec. 11 at Millsboro Middle School gym.
- Adult Financial Planning Workshop Seminars – Multiple free sessions in September and October at Millsboro Middle School.
- Adult Health Planning Workshop Seminar – Two free sessions, Nov. 19 at Millsboro Middle School and Nov. 20 at Lord Baltimore Elementary School.
For more information about any of these courses, the district told community members to contact Matt Schifano at 302-436-1000 or via email.
Back to school: Flexible seating, sensory tools top Delaware teachers’ wish lists
Got a story? Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for Delaware Online/The News Journal and USA TODAY Network Northeast, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on X @kpowers01.
Delaware
State Police Arrest Dover Man for Assault and Aggravated Menacing in Dover – Delaware State Police – State of Delaware
Date Posted: Saturday, April 18th, 2026
The Delaware State Police have arrested 45-year-old Joseph Chapler, from Dover, Delaware, following an assault and aggravated menacing incident that occurred Thursday night in Dover.
On April 16, 2026, at approximately 10:20 p.m., troopers responded to the parking lot of Microtel, located at 1703 East Lebanon Road in Dover for a report of an assault and aggravated menacing. When troopers arrived, they learned that a man and woman were walking on a path behind the Microtel when they were approached by an unknown male suspect. The suspect threatened the victims, pointed a gun at them, and sprayed the female victim with pepper spray before running away. The victims ran to safety and called 9-1-1. The female victim was treated by EMS but refused medical attention.
Through investigative means, detectives identified Joseph Chapler as the suspect and obtained a warrant for his arrest.
On April 17th, Chapler was arrested and taken to Troop 3, where he was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $94,001 cash bond.

- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
- Assault 2nd Degree (Felony) – 2 counts
- Aggravated Menacing (Felony) – 2 counts
- Terroristic Threatening – 2 counts
- Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree
If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.
Disclaimer: Any individual charged in this release is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
View All News Posts
Delaware
Local police departments earn state accreditation
The Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission recently announced that the Dewey Beach Police Department and Rehoboth Beach Police Department have both earned state accreditation from the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission.
As part of the rigorous process, a team of DPAC assessors ensured all accreditation standards were met by completing comprehensive, on-site inspections of each agency, reviewing their policies and procedures for compliance, and conducting interviews with department members.
“This milestone represents a significant step forward for public safety in Delaware. The initial state accreditation of these police agencies reflects a strong commitment to professionalism, accountability and excellence in law enforcement. I commend each department for their dedication to serving their communities with integrity and for upholding the highest standards,” said Joshua Bushweller, Department of Safety and Homeland Security secretary and DPAC chair.
Delaware
DDA inducts three Delaware Century Farms – 47abc
Dover, Del. – Three farms, one from each of Delaware’s counties, were inducted into the Century Farm Program by the state Department of Agriculture on Thursday at the Delaware Agricultural Museum.
Each of the family farms has been owned and operated for at least a century. Each received a sign for their farms, an engraved plate and legislative tributes.
In addition to Secretary of Agriculture, Don Clifton, and Deputy Secretary Jimmy Kroon, state Senators David Wilson (R – District 18) and Kyra Hoffner (D – District 14) were also in attendance.
Wright Family Farms are located in Harrington in Kent County. In 1919, the farm was purchased by William Wright. Over a century later, William’s grandson, Ronald, is the owner and his great-grandson, Greg, said he hopes to continue the family legacy by buying the farm from his father.
Although the event celebrated each family for their hard work and resilience, it also highlighted the challenges farmers have to surmount to stay in business today, let alone for a hundred years.
“The price of equipment, the price of fertilizer, the price of seed, everything is just gone up,” Greg said. “So, you know, everything’s going up that we gotta purchase just to stay in business.”
Clifton, Kroon and Wilson also echoed difficulties in balancing the need to preserve agricultural land with the need to develop housing and sustainable energy projects like solar power.
“I know housing is very important, and we want people to always have good housing, but at some point, I think you’re going to saturate the area with more houses than you have food to feed these people,” Wilson said.
Kroon also said there are difficulties in keeping future generations motivated to stay in farming.
“When you think about it in the context of multi-generational farm families, there’s a real long-term challenge where a new generation may think twice about whether they want to keep farming if it’s always a struggle,” he said.
Clifton said farming has always been a challenging way of life, but it has been so since time immemorial.
“These families, their experience shows that they have an appreciation for the way of life and perseverance and that’s to be honored and emulated to the greatest extent possible,” he said.
Greg said he hopes to pass down the way of life so that his family legacy can live on for another hundred years, as well as for other families.
“A hundred years as the same family tilling the land, that’s, you know, that’s an honor right there,” Greg said. “And I hope that more farmers who are close to 100 years old will be doing the same thing. You know, keep it in the family.”
-
Detroit, MI1 hour agoFormer Piston shows Detroit what they’re missing as he dominates next to LeBron
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoEastbound I-80 closure in San Francisco snarls traffic, slows business
-
Videos2 hours agoCan Keir Starmer survive the latest Mandelson revelations? | BBC News
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoPetar Musa’s Brace Not Enough as FC Dallas Draws LA Galaxy 2-2
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoMLS: Messi double helps Inter Miami slay Rapids in front of huge crowd
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoFrom across Boston they flock to play for Latin Academy boys’ tennis, a co-op of 29 schools – The Boston Globe
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoDale Kistler Obituary | The Denver Post
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoWEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Warm day, but far below record