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Delaware signed an agreement this week with the offshore wind energy company US Wind worth about $128 million, which includes lease payments, community benefits, upgrades to the state’s grid and renewable energy credits. The deal is in exchange for infrastructure needed to transport the energy onshore through Delaware waters and state park land.

The company plans two projects off the Delmarva Peninsula that will provide Maryland ratepayers with renewable energy. The first of which, dubbed MarWin, would construct 21 turbines to generate 300 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 92,000 homes. The second, Momentum Wind, would include an additional 55 turbines churning out 800 megawatts of power, enough to light up 250,000 homes.

The company has leased about 80,000 acres in federal waters off Ocean City, Maryland. If fully developed, it says the site could generate close to two gigawatts of wind energy, or enough to power 600,000 to 700,000 homes. The deal with Delaware comes after the final permits from the Department of Interior were granted to the projects in December and a year after the state began negotiating with the company. 

“With the recent federal and state project approvals, we are ready to reap the environmental, health, workforce, energy cost and community benefits from this needed transition to renewable energy,” said then-Gov. John Carney in a statement on Monday, his last day in office. “Delawareans will benefit in numerous ways from this important agreement.”

While the contract for the offshore wind energy is with the state of Maryland, the project plans to plug into the grid at the Indian River Power plant, a former coal burning station, in Dagsboro, Sussex County, Delaware. Underground cables would connect the turbines beneath Delaware state waters and wetlands, including Indian River Bay and 3R’s Beach at Delaware Seashore State Park.

Henlsey, 59, is a Republican who since 2014 has represented the Odessa-Port Penn area of southern New Castle County. He was re-elected Nov. 5, winning 53% of the vote in defeating Democrat Terrell Williams.

While a state lawmaker’s arrest is a newsworthy event, state police did not release any information to the public, so for nearly two months Hensley’s pending criminal case was not revealed to the public.

But recently, Hensley’s name appeared in the Kent County Court of Common Pleas docket for his arraignment Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty.

Asked why Hensley’s arrest went unreported, police said they have a policy not to issue news releases for misdemeanor offenses, no matter what position the suspect might hold in the community. The same lack of public disclosure occurred last month when state budget director Cerron Cade was arrested for several alleged shoplifting incidents at the Wilmington Home Depot store.

Hensley, reached by WHYY News Monday, would not comment and referred questions to his attorney, Joseph Hurley, who said he would make remarks later today.

Attorney General Kathy Jennings said in a written statement that her office won’t give any deference to Henley’s position as an elected official.

“No matter who’s behind the wheel, drunk driving endangers everyone,’’ Jennings said. “These moments can easily become deadly, and we are extremely fortunate that the injuries in this collision did not become more serious.”

“We prosecute based on the law and the evidence of every case. Mr. Hensley faces multiple misdemeanor charges and will be treated as any other defendant, regardless of his title or position.”

Lawmakers will return to Dover to start a new session of the General Assembly next Tuesday.

On the night of Aug. 5, 83-year-old Shyuan Hsia was fatally beaten at The Summit Assisted Living in North Star, where she had resided since 2020.

A resident who lived across the hall from Hsia in the facility’s memory care unit left her bleeding and unconscious on the floor of her room, according to medical records, police reports and a state health investigation. Delaware Online/The News Journal is not identifying the man because he has not been charged due to his severe dementia.

Records obtained by Delaware Online/The News Journal, as well as interviews with Hsia’s family, show that the assailant had been aggressive before − both with staff and other residents.

As a result, Hsia’s family has been left wondering why the man remained at The Summit.

This is what we know about the assailant.

How long had he been a resident at The Summit?

The assailant was admitted on Sept. 18, 2023, state health inspection records show. He was diagnosed with dementia and other ailments.

When had he previously been aggressive?

According to the state investigation, the assailant was seen by a psychiatrist on May 3 for medication management. He had been taking several Alzheimer’s medications but was suffering from “increased aggression.”

Staff reported he had been yelling at them and “getting (in)” their faces. It’s unclear whether his medication was adjusted, though it doesn’t appear any medications were added.

When did he first attack someone?

Two months after that visit to the psychiatrist, on July 15, the state received a report that the man had entered another resident’s room and was hitting him in the stomach and legs. Facility staff noted a bruise on the resident’s arm as a result.

Following the assault, The Summit ordered a psychiatric consult for the man, where he underwent a dementia evaluation and his medication was increased. Staff also monitored and documented his behavior for nine shifts.

“No additional behaviors” were noted, inspection documents said.

About two weeks later, on July 31 − five days before the attack − the man was again seen by a psychiatrist. This was for “breakthrough aggression” and irritability, documents show.

The assailant was “still acting out at times,” staff wrote.

Seroquel, an antipsychotic often used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder but that also can be used for agitation due to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, was added on an as-needed basis.

Another attack the same night Shyuan Hsia beaten

Less than a week later, the same night he attacked Hsia, the man was found punching another resident in her room.

He was found quickly and taken to his room, where he “became combative” with staff.

“Once a moment of calmness happened,” the man was given Seroquel, the progress note stated. He was then monitored and helped into his pajamas until he was calm.

A note in his file from that night said he was to be placed on one-on-one supervision.

He remained at The Summit for more than a week after the attack before being transferred to a different facility. He has not returned.

Got a story tip or idea? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com. For all things breaking news, follow her on X at @izzihughes_