Delaware
Environmentalists sue New York, New Jersey and Delaware over endangered sturgeon
New York, New Jersey and Delaware were accused in federal lawsuits Thursday of improperly allowing Atlantic sturgeon to be killed by commercial fishing operations even as the prehistoric fish is on the brink of disappearing.
The three parallel lawsuits filed by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and Hudson Riverkeeper accuse the states of violating the Endangered Species Act by not obtaining necessary permits that allow commercial fisheries to catch and kill Atlantic sturgeon while they fish for other species such as striped bass and summer flounder. The environmentalists say the once thriving fish’s recovery is threatened because they are unintentionally caught in commercial nets as “bycatch.”
Atlantic Sturgeon in the Delaware River and Hudson River were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 2012.
“The Atlantic sturgeon of our two rivers are at risk from being wiped from the face of this earth within our lifetime,” Delaware Riverkeeper Maya van Rossum said during an online news conference.
The environmental groups say they want to compel the states to comply with the Endangered Species Act, which they believe will reduce the bycatch and help Atlantic sturgeon recover.
The environmental agencies of New York and New Jersey declined to comment on the litigation.
An email seeking comment was sent to Delaware’s environmental agency.
Sturgeon, notable for bony plates lining their bodies, date to the time of dinosaurs. Atlantic sturgeon are born in freshwater and migrate to the sea.
Sturgeon populations began to drop steeply more than 100 years ago amid pollution, dam construction and overfishing. The decline was driven in part by demand in the 1800s for caviar, a delicacy of salt-cured sturgeon eggs.
Rossum said the Delaware River, once teeming with an estimated 180,000 females, now has fewer than 250 spawning adults remaining. Tracy Brown, the Hudson Riverkeeper, said numbers also are down in New York.
“Despite the endangered species listing, our Hudson River sturgeon population has not seen improvement,” Brown said. “It is, quite frankly, disgraceful that so little progress has been made towards recovery.”
Delaware
Search Warrants in Dover Lead to Arrests for Drug and Gun Offenses – Delaware State Police – State of Delaware
The Delaware State Police have arrested 39-year-old Neal Barnes, 52-year-old Anthony James, and 51-year-old Kevin Walker, all from Dover, Delaware, for felony drug and gun charges following three search warrants in Dover.
On December 11, 2025, members of the Kent County Drug Unit executed search warrants at three residences on the 60, 70, and 100 blocks of Vanessa Drive in Dover. The search warrants were obtained following an investigation of Neal Barnes, Anthony James, and Kevin Walker for the distribution of illegal narcotics from their residences. During the search warrants, all three suspects were detained inside their respective homes without incident, and a child was present in Walker’s residence.
During a search of Barnes’ residence, detectives found the following items:
- Approximately 2.76 grams of cocaine
- Approximately 99.76 grams of crack cocaine
- 9mm handgun and ammunition
- .38 caliber handgun and ammunition
- Digital scales
- Drug paraphernalia
During a search of James’ residence, detectives found the following items:
- Approximately 19.88 grams of crack cocaine
- Approximately 52.59 grams of cocaine
- Drug paraphernalia
- $2,472 in suspected drug proceeds
During a search of Walker’s residence, detectives found the following items:
- Approximately .69 grams of heroin
- Approximately .35 grams of methamphetamine
- Approximately 11.77 grams of crack cocaine
- Approximately 31 ecstasy pills
- Approximately 14 acetaminophen and oxycodone hydrochloride pills
- Approximately 21 buprenorphine and naloxone sublingual films
Barnes 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 Sussex Correctional Institution on a $57,000 cash bond.

- Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Tier 3 (Felony)
- Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tier 3 (Felony)
- Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony)
- Possession of a Firearm/Destructive Weapon if Previously Convicted of a Violent Felony (Felony) – 3 counts
- Possession of a Controlled or Counterfeit Substance except Human Growth Hormone without a Prescription
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
James 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 Sussex Correctional Institution on a $146,000 cash bond.

- Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Tier 3 (Felony)
- Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tier 3 (Felony)
- Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Tier 2 (Felony)
- Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tier 2 (Felony)
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Walker 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 Sussex Correctional Institution on a $39,500 secured bond.

- Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Tier 2 (Felony) – 2 counts
- Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tier 2 (Felony) – 2 counts
- Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Felony) – 2 counts
- Possession of a Controlled or Counterfeit Substance except Human Growth Hormone without a Prescription – 5 counts
- Endangering the Welfare of a Child by Committing a Drug Offense with a Child in the Dwelling
Disclaimer: Any individual charged in this release is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Delaware
PennDOT, hardware stores prepare for first snow of season in Delaware Valley
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Crews and customers across the Delaware Valley are gearing up for the region’s first accumulating snowfall of the season, expected late Saturday into Sunday morning.
PennDOT says it has more than 100,000 tons of salt ready and plans to deploy over 400 trucks across the region for this event.
Road crews began brining operations Friday, which will continue through the weekend with plowing on Sunday.
READ MORE | Accuweather Alert: Light snow to blanket the region Saturday night into Sunday morning
“Maybe 1 to 3, maybe a little bit more depending on how the storm tracks,” said Brad Rudolph of PennDOT.
He added that timing is key with the snow beginning to fall on Saturday night, while many may be out and about, and with thousands expected to travel to Lincoln Financial Field Sunday for the Eagles game against the Raiders.
Preps underway for first snow of the season in Delaware Valley
“People are going to travel, they’re going to need to take it slow. We’re going to push back snow from travel lanes, we’ll make the roads passable. They may not be completely clear of snow and ice, something to consider,” Rudolph said. “We expect this storm to push out relatively early Sunday, well before that Eagles game, but we still might have some cleaning up to do. We’ll be working long after this snow is done.”
At Stanley’s Hardware in Roxborough, workers spent Friday unpacking boxes and moving thousands of pounds of salt and other supplies to fill commercial and individual orders.
“Our aisle is filled right now. We have tons of skids of rock salt, ice melter, shovels,” said Joe Jaconski of Stanley’s Hardware.
Customers were already stocking up.
“We have food, we have shovels, just had to get some salt just to make sure we’re keeping the sidewalks nice and safe for everyone,” said Matt Skomsky of Roxborough.
Customers were steady at Stanley’s Friday, and business is expected to pick up through the weekend, but managers say don’t wait to get ready.
“I recommend just being ahead of it. Try to beat the storm because when the storm comes, it gets very busy in here-the lines wrapped around,” Jaconski said.
PennDOT urges drivers to keep their distance from plow trucks and check the forecast before heading out.
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Delaware
Done Deal: 695 Delaware Avenue – Buffalo Rising
Ellicott Development has expanded it local property portfolio. Ellicott’s 4628 Group Inc. purchased 695 Delaware Avenue on Wednesday for $1.025 million. Fred Kaplan Living Trust was the seller. The 8,454 sq.ft., three-story barn-like structure with mansard roofed addition is occupied by media production and marketing firm Crosswater Digital Media. It was the home of WKBW radio for a number of years. The property totals 0.4 acres in size with a large parking lot fronting Delaware Avenue.
The property is bookended by the Westbrook Apartments and Wilcox House apartment buildings, both ten-story structures. It sits across the street from 700 Delaware, the former Computer Task Group Building Ellicott purchased in 2018 and is now occupied by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
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