You can skate on certain outdoor ponds in Delaware this weekend, but do so with abundant caution.

Bellevue State Park announced on its Facebook page recently that its pond was open for ice skating. However, not all frozen over surfaces are good for that. Newark closed its reservoir north of the University of Delaware campus on Jan. 29 to prevent people from falling into the deep waters.

Bellevue State Park, in its announcement, said skaters need to exercise caution, especially around drainage pipes where ice might be thinner.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says ice that is 4 inches or thicker is good to walk and skate on. Ice that is 9 inches or thinker can handle a car, but it has to be this cold for weeks on end for that to be a safe option. So, put your skates on and skate carefully on approved lakes with others around.

The U.S. National Ice Center, which is a government agency tracking ice buildup, shows that the Delaware River from near the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal northward is 90-99% ice. The Delaware Bay also has significant ice buildup.

How to avoid frostbite

According to the Mayo Clinic, frostbite is an injury caused by the freezing of skin and the underlying tissue. Exposed skin is at risk of frostbite in conditions that are freezing cold and windy or wet. Frostbite also can occur on skin covered by gloves or other clothing.

It can take 10-30 minutes to experience frostbite on uncovered skin during this period of dangerous wind chills. Dress warmly, and if possible, stay inside. A warm-up to average winter temperatures is forecasted throughout Delaware later this week.

The Delaware State Police arrested 21-year-old Shaniya Clark, of Newark, Delaware, after she assaulted two troopers during a theft investigation Friday evening in Bear.

On February 6, 2026, at approximately 6:00 p.m., troopers responded to the Christiana Mall, located at 132 Christiana Mall in Newark, for a reported theft. Responding troopers learned a woman stole a victim’s cell phone from a kiosk inside the mall. The victim electronically tracked their phone to a shopping center in the 1100 block of Pulaski Highway, in Bear. Troopers obtained a description of the suspect and responded to the shopping center.

After searching the area, troopers located the suspect, later identified as Clark, inside one of the stores. When troopers attempted to take Clark into custody, she physically resisted arrest, causing notable injuries to two troopers and damaging Delaware State Police property. Clark was ultimately arrested and taken to Troop 2. The injured troopers were taken to a local hospital where they were treated and released. Investigators found the cell phone and returned it to the victim.

Clark was charged with the below listed offenses, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and committed to the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on a $5,900 cash bond.

• Assault Second Degree Injure a Law Enforcement Officer (Felony) – 2 counts
• Resisting Arrest with Force or Violence or Struggles with a Peace Officer Causing Injury (Felony)
• Theft Under $1,500
• Criminal Mischief Under $1,000 – 2 counts

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Disclaimer: Any individual charged in this release is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Delaware rose last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Feb. 5.

New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, increased to 458 in the week ending Jan. 31, up from 327 the week before, the Labor Department said.

U.S. unemployment claims rose to 231,000 last week, up 22,000 claims from 209,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis.

US WORKFORCE: Employers announce most job cuts since 2009 as economy wobbles

Mississippi saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims jumping by 75.4%. Nebraska, meanwhile, saw the largest percentage drop in new claims, with claims dropping by 70.7%.