Delaware
Delaware fireworks bill would toughen penalties for violations
Fourth of July Fireworks light up the sky at the Wilmington Riverfront
Residents and visitors gather to watch the 4th of July fireworks light up the night sky along the Wilmington Riverfront after a day of celebration.
A bill making its way through the Delaware General Assembly seeks to toughen the state’s longstanding ban on most consumer fireworks by imposing steeper penalties, regulating sales and funding public education.
Sponsored by Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton and Sen. Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, House Bill 63 aims to clarify existing laws, deter illegal use and give the State Fire Marshal more authority to enforce regulations and prevent fire-related incidents.
If passed, the legislation would be the most significant update to the state’s fireworks laws in years. Violators of the law would be fined up to $1,000. Retailers who continue to operate without a permit could be fined up to $10,000.
Fireworks laws ignored or misunderstood
Delaware prohibits most consumer fireworks, including aerial mortars and bottle rockets. Only sparklers and ground-based fountains are permitted under specific circumstances. These items may be sold between June 4 and July 4, and again from December 1 to January 1. Use of these products is restricted to July 4, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and the third day of Diwali.
Despite annual reminders, officials say many residents remain unaware of the rules, leading to widespread noncompliance and safety concerns.
Under the proposed amendments, anyone caught violating the fireworks ban could face escalating fines of up to $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second and $1,000 or more for subsequent violations. Revenue from permit fees would fund public education and support enforcement efforts.
Fireworks bill targets misleading advertising
Lawmakers also hope to curb confusion caused by aggressive marketing from out-of-state retailers, who promote banned aerial fireworks to Delaware residents through ads on TV, radio and billboards.
If enacted, HB 63 would increase fines for illegal fireworks use and create a permitting system for retailers. Under the new system, sellers would need to register with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, which would oversee compliance and ensure only permitted fireworks are sold.
Retailers operating without required permits would face a fine of $1,000 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second and $10,000 for each additional violation.
Fireworks bill aims to expand public outreach on safety concerns
The legislation also addresses safety concerns related to legally allowed fireworks. According to the State Fire Marshal, sparklers and other ground-based fireworks have caused multiple fires, often due to improper disposal.
Fire officials have warned that smoldering debris can ignite fires hours after fireworks are discharged, especially in trash bins or on rooftops where they may go unnoticed until they spread. This risk increases significantly during dry conditions.
The bill includes provisions to expand public outreach efforts, particularly around safe handling and disposal.
Fireworks legislation faces time crunch, hurdles
The bill has cleared a House committee and is headed to the House floor, where it awaits a full vote. If it passes there, it will move to the Senate. However, both chambers are in recess until Tuesday, June 10, for ongoing Joint Finance Committee hearings.
With the legislative session set to end on June 30, time is running short. Because the bill imposes a new license fee, it will require a three-fifths majority in both chambers to pass.
You can contact staff reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.
Delaware Leaders Confront Crushing Utility Costs
Gov. Meyer urges PSC to freeze rates as Delaware tackles Delmarva’s returns, solar delays, data centers and nuclear options.
This story was produced by Spotlight Delaware as part of a partnership with Delaware Online/The News Journal. For more about Spotlight Delaware, visit www.spotlightdelaware.org.
New Castle County Councilman Tim Sheldon says he recently brokered a handshake deal to pause a data center development project near Newark.
Sheldon, who represents the Newark area, said the deal followed private negotiations with the developer’s prominent Delaware attorney, Shawn Tucker, who told him the New York-based developer behind the project, Shelbourne, agreed to consider the Newark site for uses other than a data center. “This is my art of the deal,” Sheldon said.
But the deal is dependent on the county finalizing an approval for an exploratory plan application from the developer, which would grandfather the land into zoning rules that existed prior to this year, Sheldon said.
That means the developer would not have to follow the county’s recently-passed data center regulations if the company ultimately decides to build a data center there. Since the property’s zoning already allows data center projects, the county likely does not have the legal authority to deny that exploratory plan application. An email sent between Sheldon and Tucker, dated June 10, shows that Tucker agreed to pause the data center project under those conditions.
Neither Tucker nor Shelbourne representatives responded to requests for comment about this deal.
Last year, Shelbourne filed documents with the county that showed plans to demolish the existing White Clay Center office and industrial buildings and construct a three-building data center campus that covered about 850,000 square feet.
After the filing, the plans became wrapped into a larger community backlash in northern Delaware against the growth of the data center industry. Neighbors have voiced fears that such data centers would use too much water and energy, and be too noisy.
Sheldon’s handshake agreement is not binding, and the developer still has the legal right to build a data center.
New Castle County General Manager of Land Use David Culver said he saw the email from Tucker but has no other information.
Sheldon noted that the agreement is between him and Tucker — and not with the county as a party. He further stated that if he decides not to run for reelection in 2028 or loses to a challenger, “it may be null and void.”
“If I’m not there, there’s no promises,” Sheldon said.
Asked if he would try to secure an official county deal barring a data center on that property, Sheldon said the project is “too far in the process” and he doesn’t want to risk the progress he’s made.
He said he will instead work to find another company to lease or buy the land. He said in a text after the interview that the deal is “the best I could’ve got.”
“Nobody else has even done this much and it seems like I’m getting hammered because I did something,” Sheldon said in the text.
Sheldon said an Amtrak train maintenance site will open next door to the White Clay Center property in the next few years, and he thinks the track upgrades needed for that project could make the neighboring site more attractive for manufacturing.
Delaware Public Media reported last week that Alstom, which conducts maintenance on Amtrak’s high-speed Acela trains – will open a new facility on 1601 Ogletown Road, next to the White Clay Center office and industrial buildings.
Alstom did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
What’s the status of data centers in Delaware?
Beyond Shelbourne’s proposal, several other building projects proposed in Delaware could become data centers.
The biggest is Project Washington, a 1.2-gigawatt data center campus planned for the land just north of the Delaware City Refinery. It would use enough energy to power almost a million homes.
That plan faced a major setback in March after a state board unanimously upheld Environmental Secretary Greg Patterson’s decision that the project is not permitted under Delaware’s Coastal Zone Act, a landmark law designed to limit heavy industry along the state’s shorelines.
Developer Starwood Digital Ventures was expected to appeal that decision, but it is unclear whether it will. Representatives from Starwood did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Another potential data center plan is slated for land near the southern approach to the St. Georges Bridge off U.S. Route 13. The St. Georges project includes the land that hosts the popular Halloween attraction Frightland.
County records show plans for three distribution centers covering 3.6 million square feet on farmland, along with 150 homes.
The records say the buildings will be warehouses. But project engineer Verdantas also submitted letters to the county suggesting that the buildings could be a data center campus.
Delmarva Power filings this winter showed two other potential data center projects. But Technical.ly reported that only one of those projects is still on the table, which would be located in Harrington. City officials are still in the preliminary stages of discussions about that plan, according to the report.
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Thursday, July 2, 2026 4:08AM
FELTON, Del. (WPVI) — A 65-year-old man was killed Tuesday after a camel fell on him in Delaware, according to police.
The incident happened around 7 p.m. on Indian Point Road in Felton.
According to Delaware State Police, the man was tending to his camel when the animal fell, resulting in fatal injuries.
The victim’s identity has not been released.
Officials have not provided additional details about the incident.
It is legal to own a camel in Delaware with a Department of Agriculture Exotic Animal Permit.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Delaware is in the midst of a heat wave the like of which the First State hasn’t felt since 2011.
With temperatures hitting the 100s and heat index values reaching the 110s, it’s time for people to be careful outside – especially pet owners.
When a heat wave arrives, your pets will need extra attention, too. Dogs and cats can be vulnerable to extreme temperatures, making it important to know the signs of heat-related illness and how to keep them safe during hot weather. Here’s what pet owners should know.
Can heat stoke impact my pet?
When heat waves hit, dogs are also susceptible to heat stress and head strokes, according to the American Kennel Club.
- Heat stress: Heat stress in dogs occurs when a dog’s resting temperature hits 104 degrees. The signs and symptoms of heat stress include a dog looking for shade, limiting its movements, choosing to sit or lie down, panting, vomiting and excessive saliva.
- Heat stroke: This condition occurs when your dog’s resting body temperature exceeds 106 degrees. The symptoms include the dog acting confused; excessive drooling and thickening saliva; gums being bright red, blue or purple; refusing to drink water; losing consciousness; or having seizures. Immediate veterinary attention is required.
If your pet shows signs of heat stress, act quickly to help cool them down. The American Kennel Club recommends moving your dog to a shaded area, placing ice packs under its front legs and on its chest, and pouring cool water over its head and body. Offer fresh water to drink and, if available, have your dog lie or stand on a cooling mat to help lower its body temperature.
When should I walk my dog in a heat wave?
The first thing you should do is be aware of the type of dog you have. Overweight dogs and short-nosed dog breeds have a high risk of problems related to heat, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
When exercising, do the following:
- Do not walk, run or hike during the hottest part of the day or on particularly hot days.
- Take frequent breaks when exercising.
- Bring water for you and your pet.
- Avoid asphalt or other hot surfaces that can burn your pet’s paws. You can also use booties to cover its paws during walks.
How can I protect my pet around the house?
Even in your house, you pet could be battling the heat.
The AVMA and ASPCA offers these suggestions:
- Provide different temperature zones within your house for your pet’s comfort.
- Leave your pets at home if possible when you need to go out and about.
- Never leave a pet in the car, even in the shade or with windows cracked. Cars can overheat quickly to deadly temperatures, even when the weather isn’t severe.
- Make sure your pets have unlimited access to fresh water.Keep your pet free of parasites that are more common during warm weather, such as fleas, ticks and heartworms.
- Make sure all unscreened windows are closed and any screens are tightly secured.
- Talk to your vet or groomer about a summer haircut, but don’t shave your dog’s hair.
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