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A report released by Delaware’s state auditor found that the Diamond State Port Corporation Board, the quasi-public entity that oversees the Port of Wilmington, cost the state millions by failing to conduct proper oversight of the port, made misleading comments to the public and used outdated economic development to justify pouring millions in taxpayer funding into port expansion projects.

State Auditor Lydia York’s audit, which covers the fiscal years between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2025, got immediate pushback from Gov. Matt Meyer’s administration, former Gov. John Carney, who is now the mayor of Wilmington, and some state Senate Democrats. State officials and DSPC board members say the findings are “incomplete” and “inaccurate.”

York defended the report and her charge to provide transparency and accountability.

“This is the most comprehensive independent review of the DSPC’s operations since the state purchased the port in 1995,” York said. “I believe it sets a new standard for government transparency.”

The auditor announced the performance audit in February, sparked by the Carney administration’s transfer of nearly $200 million to the port for the Edgemoor container terminal project, the largest-to-date infusion of state money into the DSPC for the project. It happened less than a week before Meyer took office, during the two-week tenure of former-Gov. Bethany Hall-Long.

In February, York questioned the timing. A spokesperson for Meyer spoke to media outlets at the time, reportedly criticizing the lack of transparency and accountability of the move. On Friday, Meyer’s office did not respond to questions regarding whether the governor stood by those earlier statements. York said the transfer was legal.

“Today’s announcement confirms that transfer was fully lawful and affirms the Legislature has an important role — alongside the governor — to ensure the Edgemoor Port project can fulfill its promise as the most transformational economic development project in the history of our State,” said Delaware Sen. President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola and DSPC member and state Sen. Darius Brown in a joint statement on the report.

Delaware has a $635 million plan to rescue the Port of Wilmington by building a new port 2 miles north of the one that’s been in operation for a century and is known for handling fruit and automobiles. The project has been plagued by legal challenges from the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority and ports affiliated with Holt Logistics Corp., whose affiliates operate terminals in Philadelphia and South Jersey.

Port audit’s five findings

The audit found five ways the port corporation board fell short.

• Improper use of executive sessions
• Failure to hold transparency with members of the International Longshoremen’s Association
• Prior port operator Gulftainer USA’s failure to make payments under its 2018 contract, leading to massive state intervention
• Use of outdated economic impact data for the Edgemoor project.
• Poor oversight of Gulftainer USA

The audit report asserts that in January and September 2022, DSPC violated open meeting laws by not providing required public notice or by talking in secret when the items could have been discussed in public. The report also found the September closed door session did not discuss the items board members said were on the agenda.

Current DSPC Board President and Delaware Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez denied that the report’s findings were true.

Under the Meyer administration, since taking over as Chair, the DSPC has been fully committed to transparency and has provided over 300 files to the Auditor’s Office for the purpose of this performance audit. Despite being given full information, we are discouraged that the ‘findings’ contained significant factual inaccuracies which ultimately led to incorrect and potentially misleading conclusions,” she said in a statement.

Carney’s deputy chief of staff Daniel Walker told WHYY News that the mayor also does not believe the report is factual.

“Unfortunately, this audit is a distraction from the substantive progress made by new operator Enstructure and current efforts to expand the port and grow the good jobs there,” Walker said in a statement. “The focus should be on what it takes to make this expansion happen as soon as possible.”

York said that the DSPC board was given more than a month after completing the report to submit documentation that disproved the report’s findings, but none was provided to her team.

DSHA accepting applications for large project reservations

DOVER, DE –  The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) is pleased to announce that the Downtown Development Districts (DDD) Rebate Program is now open and accepting applications for the 2026 funding round. The DDD Rebate program is designed to spur private capital investment, stimulate job growth, improve the commercial vitality of our cities, and help build stable communities in our downtowns. Currently, there are 12 designated districts: City of New Castle, Clayton, Delaware City, Dover, Georgetown, Harrington, Laurel, Middletown, Milford, Seaford, Smyrna and Wilmington.

Approximately $3.5 million in rebate funding is available to qualified investors for Large Projects in this round.  To be considered for a Large Project Reservation, investors must make a Qualified Real Property Investment (QRPI) greater than $350,000 to commercial, industrial, residential, and mixed-use buildings or facilities and meet other eligibility requirements. Applications are due no later than 3 p.m. on February 26, 2026.

“The Downtown Development Districts Rebate Program is a proven success story for Delaware. By opening this new funding round for large projects, we are once again inviting public-private partnerships to join us in revitalizing our downtowns, creating jobs, boosting local businesses, and building stable neighborhoods that are essential to the future of every Delaware resident,” said DSHA Director Matthew Heckles. “Every $1 invested in DDD state funds brings a private investment of almost $15. But this is not just about dollars. It is about investing directly into the fabric of our communities.”

The DDD is a competitive process. DSHA anticipates receiving applications in excess of the funding available for this round; therefore, DSHA cannot guarantee a rebate reservation will be awarded or the rebate reservation will be granted for the amount requested. Reservations will be awarded to the top-ranked applications based on criteria and priority as outlined in the program guidelines.

The General Assembly passed legislation in 2014 creating the DDD program. Since its inception, $39.2 million in DDD rebates have leveraged $574.7 million in private investment in the 12 designated districts across the state.

For more information on the DDD Rebate program and how to apply, visit https://www.destatehousing.com/build/ddd-program/.

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Delaware will get more rain and potentially miss the snow, again.

The forecast for Dec. 5 from the National Weather Service has changed with the First State mostly getting a wintery mix at worse.

Here’s a look at the latest Dec. 5 forecast.

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Will it snow in Delaware?

It depends where you live, but for the most part, the First State will be spared from snow.

New Castle County forecast: There’s a 30% chance of snow before 11 a.m. with highs reaching 31 degrees. There’s a 20% change of snow overnight into Dec. 6 as temperatures drop into the mid-20s. There will be little to no snow accumulation.

Kent County: There’s a chance of snow before 2 p.m. with the precipitation changing over to rain as highs reach 35 degrees. There’s a 60% chance of precipitation. If you’re heading out Friday night, you’ll want to be very careful. There’s a chance of snow before 10 p.m., changing over to a rain-snow mix from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. and then rain after 1 a.m. There’s a 30% chance of overnight precipitation. Lows will be in the upper 20s. There could be up to half-and-inch of snow.

Sussex County: There’s a chance of snow before 10 a.m. turning to rain and snow with highs around 37 degrees. Less than a half-an-inch of snow is expected to fall. In the overnight from Dec. 5 to Dec. 6, there is a 50% chance of rain before 1 a.m.

How cold will it get in Delaware after the snow?

While the weekend is looking sunny with typical temperatures for winter, with highs in the 40s and lows in the mid to upper 20s, First State residents will get a bit of a chill on Dec. 8.

Highs on Dec. 8 are only expected to hit 31 degrees and the overnight temperatures will drop into the teens in New Castle County to the low 20s in Sussex County.

What should be in your emergency kit for winter driving?

Whether it’s a bag or box in the back or trunk of your car, you should have a kit while driving in the winter. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, which is incredibly familiar with heavy snow, your kit should include:

• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Extra stocking caps, warm socks, gloves/mittens
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• First-aid kit
• Booster cables and windshield brush/scraper
• Drinking water and high-calorie, non-perishable food (trail mix, energy/protein bars)
• Sand or cat litter to sprinkle around your tires for traction in case you get stuck
• Cellphone adapter/charger