Delaware

Community pushes for safety improvements at Wilmington, Delaware intersection where a child was fatally struck

Published

2 years ago

June 1, 2024

Community pushes for safety improvements at Wilmington, Delaware intersection where a child was fatally struck

WILMINGTON, Del. (CBS) — It has been four weeks since a 10-year-old boy was killed while walking home from school in Wilmington, and now there are calls for change to make safety improvements at the intersection where the crash happened.

He may have only been 10, but James Messick left a lasting impact on his family and his community.

“He was very loud, and we miss that so much. It’s so quiet in here right now,” said Tiffany Rodriguez, James’ mother.

Rodriguez said her little boy was always trying to be funny and silly. He was a great big brother, but more than anything James loved being a kid.

“Every time he did accomplish something like walking himself to and from school it was a big thing, and he would get really proud of himself for doing it,” said Rodriguez, as her eyes welled with tears.

On May 6, Messick was walking home from school with his best friend near Centerville and Faulkland Roads. That’s when police said a 17-year-old driver lost control and struck the boys before eventually crashing into a home on the same street. His 12-year-old friend was treated for injuries, but Messick died at the hospital.

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“It’s still just as devastating now as it was back then,” said Michelle Beck, who lives two homes down from where the crash occurred.

Beck said she stops by a large memorial near the intersection twice a day. A tree has been planted in James’ honor, and another neighbor refills the fuel in a lantern to keep the flame burning day and night.

“I just want to make sure that everything looks really good for James, and I talk to him,” Beck said.

New Castle County Police said the crash remains under investigation, and at this time no charges have been filed.

As Rodriguez grieves, she said her neighbor’s support has been helpful.

“I’m very appreciative I’m getting the support to keep his memory alive,” she said.

Neighbors push for change

Many people living in the Faulkland Heights neighborhood said the intersection at Centerville and Faulkland Roads is downright dangerous, and something needs to be done.

“Why it had to take a poor little boy like James to get killed to bring up all this is terrible. Something should have been done a long time ago,” said Barbara Beck, who has lived in the neighborhood for 57 years.

Neighbors said drivers constantly speed through the intersection, and CBS News Philadelphia cameras caught a car running the red light Friday.

Beck said her car was totaled in 2019 as it sat parked outside her home on Centerville Road.

“Three other cars on Centerville Road also have also been hit within the past five years,” Beck said.

After Messick was killed, several neighbors contacted the Delaware Department of Transportation and state representatives pushing for safety improvements.

The push to make a busy Wilmington intersection safer after 10-year-old boy was fatally struck

02:18

Hughes: “What’s your fear?”

Beck: “Anything like this ever happening again. It can’t…it can’t. It’s just devastating.”

DelDOT told CBS News Philadelphia it recently performed a safety review of the intersection and it’s replacing and adding signage in the area to remind drivers of the 35-mph speed limit, and that children are walking in the area.

Messick’s mom said she’s thankful for her neighbors’ efforts to help prevent another tragedy.

“I think that’s very important. It’s very bittersweet because I feel like why did it have to come to this?” Rodriguez said.

New Castle County Police said its traffic services unit has been out several times since the crash addressing the ongoing speeding concerns.

Ryan Hughes

Ryan Hughes joined CBS News Philadelphia in June 2022. He previously worked at WPTV in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he’s covered stories ranging from weeks on the Surfside condo collapse, to the impact of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, and the Super Bowl in Miami.

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Delaware

Delaware will save more than $300M after federal tax decoupling takes effect

Published

27 minutes ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Delaware will save more than 0M after federal tax decoupling takes effect

The fiscal year 2027 forecast remained relatively flat from the October meeting. But some expenses declined, including salaries for teachers. Brian Maxwell, state director of Management and Budget, said teacher salary expenses were down because student enrollment has dropped. He said federal immigration policy could be impacting the state’s Multilingual Learners.

“Obviously, there have been a number of students that may not be showing up to class just because of the enforcement of [Immigration and Customs Enforcement],” he said. “So some of the families may be scared to actually send their kids to school.”

Maxwell said overall enrollment is down, but the number of students needing special education services is up. The next student count is in February.

DEFAC members also discussed the revised Healthcare Spending benchmark. In September, the subcommittee devised a methodology that only used healthcare inflation, resulting in a 7.13% for 2026.

“We all gathered in October and there was a fair amount of concern with that outcome,” said Christen Linke Young, director of Health and Social Services. “So the subcommittee reconvened earlier this month to consider a new approach.”

After adopting the methodology using expected national inflation data and a three-year measure of health care cost growth, the benchmark now sits at 4.9%. But Young said there would be no penalty for hospitals exceeding the guideline.

Gov. Meyer and the state’s largest nongovernmental employer, ChristianaCare Health System, reached an agreement earlier this year in a lawsuit the regional hospital system filed last year. The Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board was created by lawmakers in June 2024 to try to rein in hospital spending. But the agreement, which requires new legislation and the governor’s signature, would strip the board of its authority to approve and modify hospital budgets.

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Delaware

Snow melting soon as Delaware warms after icy blast

Published

13 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Snow melting soon as Delaware warms after icy blast

Delaware may have seen its first snowfall of the season, but it won’t stick around for long.

Despite below freezing temperatures Dec. 15 and Dec. 16, it’s possible that by the weekend there won’t be a trace of snow.

Here’s what to know about this week’s weather and snow melt.

When will the snow melt away?

While Delaware will face freezing temperatures Dec. 15 and Dec. 16, the National Weather Service forecast is calling for a warmup starting on Dec. 17. Here’s the forecast:

New Castle County

Cold weather will continue this evening and into Dec. 16 with lows dropping into the teens. The county will hit 32 degrees on Dec. 16 before dropping to 22 that night. Temperatures start climbing into the low 40s with partly sunny skies on Dec. 17. Highs will hit 51 degrees on Dec. 18. If most of the snow hasn’t melted by that point, it should be gone after rain goes through the area during the overnight between Dec. 17 and Dec. 18. Highs will remain above freezing, hitting 44 on Dec. 18.

Kent County

Lows will drop into the teens overnight before climbing above freezing on Dec. 16. On Dec. 17, Kent County will see partly sunny skies with highs in the upper 40s. It will be mostly cloudy on Dec. 18 with highs hitting 55. There’s a 90% chance of rain during the overnight hours into Dec. 19. The 19th is looking mostly cloudy with highs reaching 47.

Sussex County

After lows hit 19 during the overnight tonight, the high for Dec. 16 will be 38 degrees with sunny skies. Any snow in the southern part of the state will vanish Dec. 17 and Dec 18. Both days will feature sunny skies with highs reaching the low 50s on Dec. 17 and almost hitting 60 on Dec. 18.

What is black ice?

Despite the warm up, overnight temperatures are expected to be below freezing. If you are driving at night, you’ll need to watch out for black ice.

According to The Weather Channel, black ice is a thin layer of ice that forms on roads and is difficult to see. It’s generally found on bridges, overpasses and spots on the road shaded by trees or other objects.

If roadways are wet from rain, snow or fog and temperatures drop below 32 degrees, black ice can form on roadways.

If you hit black ice, you should do the following:

Keep your steering wheel straight.
Do not brake
Take your foot off the accelerator to reduce speed

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Delaware

Delayed openings in Delaware: What schools are starting late?

Published

1 day ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Delayed openings in Delaware: What schools are starting late?

Potentially icy road conditions have led every public school in Delaware to announce delayed openings for Dec. 15.

Every public school is operating on some sort of delay, most of which are two hours. The Delaware Department of Transportation already sent out a warning about treacherous driving conditions. Whatever has not dried from the Dec. 14 snowstorm will freeze over as temperatures plunge into the 20s and winds kick up over night.

The following school districts have announced delays.