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Environmentalists sue New York, New Jersey and Delaware over endangered sturgeon

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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.

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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.

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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.”



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Delaware

New Castle County adopts ‘pocket housing’ to tackle housing affordability

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New Castle County adopts ‘pocket housing’ to tackle housing affordability


“It allows for growth densities that are higher than what is allowable today,” Patibanda said. “The neighborhoods are little groups of smaller detached housing units that are oriented around a common open space like a courtyard, a garden, a walkway and it’s intended to create smaller scale housing.”

Patibanda also pointed to existing models as inspiration. “There’s about 12 of [these homes] in Bellefonte … clustered around a common open space. That’s a great example of what a pocket community is and what we’re trying to achieve.”

Addressing a housing crisis

The ordinance also addresses Delaware’s severe affordable housing shortfall. According to the state’s housing authority, thousands of units are needed to meet demand, and New Castle County lags in production.

The pocket housing ordinance includes provisions for moderately priced dwelling units in developments over 25 homes, ensuring that affordability remains central to these projects.

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“We expect them to be more affordable just right off the bat. And there’s an additional moderately priced dwelling unit requirement. If a pocket neighborhood goes above 25 units, then we actually require the developers or the home builders to set aside a certain percentage of that project to be what we call [Moderately Priced Dwelling Units]. And that’ll go into the county’s MPDU program, which is administered by the Department of Community Services.”

This initiative is part of a broader strategy that includes expanding accessory dwelling unit allowances and passing redevelopment legislation to convert underutilized properties into mixed-use housing. These combined efforts aim to provide a wider array of housing options for working families across the county.

With the ordinance now in place, the Department of Land Use hopes developers will seize the opportunity to bring pocket housing projects to life. While Patibanda acknowledges this initiative alone won’t solve Delaware’s housing crisis, she sees it as a meaningful step forward.

“Our vision is to see these communities take shape over the next five to 10 years,” she said. “We think these little neighborhoods will be very beneficial to Delawareans.”



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Delaware Blue Coats gift kids skills to up their game during 'Deck the Courts' basketball camp

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Delaware Blue Coats gift kids skills to up their game during 'Deck the Courts' basketball camp


Sunday, December 29, 2024 8:25PM

Delaware Blue Coats gift kids skills to up their basketball game

Kids got to learn new skills on the court where the Delaware Blue Coats play their games.

WILMINGTON, Delaware (WPVI) — This morning, a large group of young athletes laced up their shoes to learn from talented coaches.

It was a part of the Delaware Blue Coats ‘Deck the Courts’ Holiday camp.

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Kids were able to get active with their peers while learning new basketball skills to up their game.

“We teach them a little things about being courteous to one another, respectful of one another…we’re just allowing them to be themselves, ” said Ambassador of Basketball at Delaware Blue Coats, Joseph Richmond.

For more information, check out their website.

Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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2 teen boys charged with Christmas Eve killing of 14-year-old, Dover police say

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2 teen boys charged with Christmas Eve killing of 14-year-old, Dover police say


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Two teens have been charged with the Christmas Eve shooting death of a 14-year-old boy, Dover police said.

The teen boys, ages 13 and 15, have not been named by police, but the Dover department said the two have been charged with the second-degree murder of Juwan Walker. The two were being held at the Stevenson House Detention Center after failing to post $181,000 cash bail.

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Walker was in a parked car on Willis Road, north of North Little Creek Road, about 6:50 p.m. on Tuesday when the two teens approached the vehicle and one fired several rounds at the vehicle before both fled the scene, police said.

Walker was taken to Bayhealth Hospital Kent Campus before being flown to Nemours Children’s Hospital, where he died on Friday, police said.

Armed with a search warrant, Dover’s Special Operations Response Team went to a home in the first block of Stevenson Drive on Saturday and arrested the 13-year-old boy there.

Dover detectives arrested the 15-year-old boy at an apartment in the 400 block of Country Drive.

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In addition to the murder charge, each boy also faces charges of first-degree conspiracy, two weapons offenses, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.



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