Delaware
NY weather: Thunderstorms with pea-sized hail to hit Delaware and Sullivan counties Sunday
The National Weather Service issued a report at 6:19 p.m. on Sunday for strong thunderstorms until 6:45 p.m. for Delaware and Sullivan counties.
Wind gusts of up to 40 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) are expected.
“At 6:18 p.m., Doppler radar tracked strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Sidney Center to 7 miles northeast of Deposit. Movement was east at 35 mph,” according to the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.”
Locations impacted by the alert include Sidney, Walton, Delhi, Colchester, Hamden, Masonville, Andes, Margaretville, Fleischmanns and Harvard.
The weather service adds, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.”
Shielding yourself from approaching lightning: Expert safety guidelines
Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these electrifying events occurring during the summer months. Unfortunately, lightning is responsible for claiming the lives of approximately 20 people annually, as reported by the weather service. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.
To protect yourself during a thunderstorm, take these recommendations into consideration:
1. Lightning safety plan:
- When venturing outdoors, it’s vital to establish a clear plan for seeking shelter in case of lightning.
- Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s an indication that lightning is nearby.
- Seek a safe place to shelter, preferably indoors.
2. Indoors safety measures:
- Once you’ve found shelter indoors, abstain from using corded phones, electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures, and refrain from approaching windows and doors.
- These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways.
3. Wait for the all-clear:
- After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
- It’s important to remember that lightning can strike even when a storm seems to have passed, so exercise caution.
When indoor shelter isn’t available:
If you find yourself outdoors with no access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:
- Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, which expose you to greater lightning risk.
- Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In forested areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
- If you’re in a group, ensure that individuals are spaced out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
- Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If you have no alternative, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. It’s crucial to note that a tent provides no protection against lightning.
- Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.
In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, vigilance and preparedness are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the chances of lightning-related accidents and prioritize your safety.
Rainy roadways ahead: Essential safety tips for heavy rain
When heavy rain strikes, safety is paramount. Equip yourself with these guidelines from the weather service to navigate wet roads and avoid hazards:
Beware of swollen waterways:
- In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger.
Maintain safe driving distances:
- Adhere to the two-second rule for maintaining a safe following distance behind the vehicle in front of you. In heavy rain, allow an additional two seconds of distance to compensate for reduced traction and braking effectiveness.
Slow down and stay cautious:
- On wet roads, slowing down is paramount. Gradually ease off the accelerator and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.
Choose your lane wisely:
- Stay toward the middle lanes – water tends to pool in the outside lanes.
Prioritize visibility
- Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by activating your headlights. Be particularly vigilant for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.
Watch out for slippery roads:
- The first half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mix of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.
Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:
- Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.
Mind your windshield wipers:
- Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely limits your sight, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or protected spots.
- If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.
By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed advice from local authorities to make your journey safe and sound.
Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
US military seizes Venezuela’s Maduro in ‘large scale’ operation
The United States seized Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife in an overnight military operation.
Delaware’s congressional delegation condemned the overnight military strikes in Venezuela, which resulted in the capture of the country’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, on Jan. 3.
Following the capture of Venezuela’s president and his wife, President Donald Trump told reporters the U.S. would “run” Venezuela.
Trump didn’t rule out having the military contribute to running the country, but said U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will run the country alongside Venezuelan leaders, USA TODAY reported.
Rubio said the administration did not notify members of Congress about the strike ahead of time.
Trump stated Maduro and his wife will be taken to New York to face charges of drug trafficking in an indictment.
Delaware’s congressional delegation, all Democrats, expressed criticism of the Trump administration’s actions and questioned the legal authority to intervene without congressional approval.
U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, called the military action “incoherent” and an “illegal” operation in a statement on Jan. 3, criticizing the Trump administration for not notifying members of Congress until after the strike had concluded.
“The Trump administration owes our country transparency and a clear strategy,” Coons said in the statement. “The administration must promptly brief Congress on its plan to ensure stability in Venezuela and the region, its legal basis for this action, and its plans for any further use of military force. Our Constitution requires the administration to seek congressional approval, in the form of an Authorization for the Use of Military Force, before they take any further action to commit U.S. troops or take military strikes against Venezuela.”
U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester said in a statement on social media that the president carried out the operation without congressional approval because he knew Congress wouldn’t approve it.
“If this continues, nothing stops him from sending American troops around the world to carry out his own reckless foreign policy decisions, which thus far have already negatively impacted our standing on the global stage and continue to erode further the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution,” Blunt Rochester said in the statement.
“The administration must immediately brief Congress on its legal justification for this decision and its plan going forward,” Blunt Rochester added. “Congress must take action on Senator Kaine’s bipartisan war powers resolution to prevent further escalation.”
In a statement on X, U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride said the Trump administration routinely ignores the Constitution and misleads Congress.
“I have fidelity to our Constitution even if I do not have sympathy for Nicolás Maduro,” McBride stated.
McBride criticized the actions. “At a minimum, these individual actions legally and substantively demand Congressional action and public consultation,” she said on X. “But collectively, the military operations we have seen in the Caribbean, the Pacific, and, now, on land in Venezuela, present a significant escalation of unilateral action that betrays a larger goal by this administration. Beyond arguments for or against any individual action, the Trump Administration is clearly seeking to remake the global order in a way that will, ultimately, benefit authoritarians and adversaries.”
“Our values and principles as a nation matter most when we have seemingly altruistic reasons to violate them. I oppose a ‘might makes right in my neighborhood’ foreign policy. It is amoral, illegal, dangerous, and lays the foundation for bad actors like Russia and China,” she added.
Coons added in his statements that the president lacks a clear plan for what comes next for Venezuela.
“This raid risks creating more instability in the region, putting U.S. service members and civilians in the hemisphere at risk, and dividing us further from our regional partners,” he said.
Sophia Voight is a growth and development reporter. Reach her with feedback and story tips at svoight@delawareonline.com.
What to know on how bills are created in Delaware
From substitutes to amendments to everything in between, lawmaking in Delaware can be a bit confusing. Here’s how it works.
The countdown to 2026 begins.
Several new Delaware laws, including health care initiatives and public utility protections, are slated to go into effect in the new year.
Here’s a look at what goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2026 – alongside other new changes Delawareans should expect in the year ahead.
Medical aid in dying law soon to take effect
This legislation had been long in the making.
Signed into law by Gov. Matt Meyer earlier this spring, the Ron Silverio/Heather Block End of Life Options Law will allow terminally ill patients who have six months or fewer to live access to medication that will “end the individual’s life in a humane and dignified manner,” according to the law’s text.
The legislation also has several guardrails in place.
Qualified patients must be “adult” residents of the First State and have at most six months to live – a prognosis that must be confirmed by an attending doctor or an advanced practice registered nurse and a consulting doctor or nurse.
Practitioners must also present eligible patients with the opportunity to rescind their request for medication before writing a prescription and inform them of other end-of-life options available, including hospice and palliative care.
The law is set to go into effect either when regulations are finalized and published or on Jan. 1, 2026, whichever happens first.
As of Dec. 8, a federal lawsuit filed by a coalition of disability and patient advocacy organizations hopes to block the law. Plaintiffs argue that such a change could “single out” individuals with disabilities and other vulnerable communities and put them at risk for untimely death, instead of necessary care.
As written, the law does not allow individuals to qualify for the life-ending medication due to age or disability.
Paid family medical leave coming online
Paid family and medical leave is also making its way to Delaware next year.
First signed into law back in 2022, the Healthy Delaware Families Act provides First State employees 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave through a designated state trust fund.
This initiative specifically applies to life events, like caring for and bonding with a new child; taking care of a parent, child or partner “with a serious health condition”; or addressing one’s own serious injury or illness.
Employees can begin to submit claim applications starting Jan. 1, 2026. More information can be found on the state Labor Department website.
Delaware seeks public utilities payer relief
Delawareans are also set to see some potential accountability from public utilities.
This and other efforts followed sudden spikes in energy bills across Delaware last winter, a topic that became a chief concern among lawmakers last session.
Backed by Sen. Stephanie Hansen, another law coming into effect adjusts the standards for what costs can be included in “a utility’s rate base” and presented to the Public Service Commission.
This means the commission would have the power to reject certain costs or expenses put on ratepayers, which could lead to less impactful or frequent increases.
Special enrollment period for Medicare
Back in health care, one bill that establishes a “special open enrollment period” for residents currently enrolled in a Medicare supplement policy will also take effect at the top of the calendar.
This gives Delawareans the opportunity to cancel their current policy and purchase another “that provides the same or lesser benefits,” according to the law’s description. That window begins roughly a month before an eligible individual’s birthday and will stay open for no less than a month afterward.
This change would only apply to those enrolled in a supplement policy under Medicare.
As written, anyone switching from one plan to another during this period “cannot be denied coverage,” nor can rates or coverage be determined by one’s medical history.
Offshore wind set to fly
Delawareans will also see an effort related to one of last session’s most controversial bills take effect later this month.
Also backed by Hansen, the bill overturns Sussex County Council’s rejection of a permit needed for US Wind to build a substation critical to plans to erect more than 100 wind turbines off the Delmarva coast.
Several Republicans fought against the bill’s passage. Many argued that bringing this decision to the hands of state government would strip local leaders of autonomy over what happens in their county, while some pushed for the courts to make the final decision.
State GOP members even spent the last night of session holding up necessary support for Delaware’s billion-dollar bond bill, which helps fund several projects, renovations and improvements across the state.
However, after a few hours of deliberation, lawmakers were able to reach a compromise. And the offshore wind legislation will go into effect Jan. 31, 2026.
And it didn’t end there. A state Superior Court judge ruled in early December to pause US Winds’ challenge in light of this new effective date.
“This is the result we wanted,” Hansen said in a statement following the decision, adding this marks “a key step in our efforts to increase Delaware’s energy supply and ensure energy reliability for all ratepayers in our state.”
What other bills will go into effect in 2026?
Another once-Senate bill aiming to expand the criteria for those incarcerated to petition for early release based on serious illness or rehabilitation – also known as the Richard “Mouse” Smith Compassionate Release Act – will go into effect on Jan. 10.
Another law providing First State tenants “new protections” by allowing specific eviction records to be restricted from public view will also come online Jan. 29.
Two additional health-centered bills signed by Meyer earlier this year will take effect this coming July. One creates a breastfeeding and lactation program for individuals in custody of the Delaware Department of Correction, while the other helps provide equipment and telecommunications assistance to Delawareans who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Joining them is a law to bar public and charter schools from selling or serving food containing the synthetic food dye Red No. 40, which is set to be implemented same month.
The wait will also soon be over for those longing to have wine shipped right to their doors, as a bill allowing wine producers to obtain a license and ship wine directly to Delawareans will go into effect in August 2026.
Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@delawareonline.com.
Delaware protesters rally against Avelo Airlines’ deal with ICE
A protest against Avelo Airlines’ deal with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is held at Wilmington Airport, near New Castle, on April 19, 2025.
Delaware’s only commercial airline continues to find itself in hot water with elected officials, and not because of any flights from Wilmington.
Members of the state Senate have introduced a resolution calling for more scrutiny over contracts and incentives with companies that work with ICE. Avelo Airlines has a charter agreement with the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement to run deportation flights out of the country. The flights do not leave from Wilmington Airport.
The airport is run by the Delaware River and Bay Authority, which also runs the Delaware Memorial Bridge and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. DRBA is a two-state operation where the Delaware legislature has limited power, but this resolution sends a message of discontent around Avelo’s continued service and deportation flights.
The Delaware Senate is not the first public body in Delaware to send this message. Wilmington City Council approved a similar resolution urging the city to avoid companies who work with ICE’s elevated deportation campaign under the Trump Administration. The city does not have contracts with Avelo or companies who operate with ICE, but the resolution passed regardless.
Avelo’s agreement with ICE led to multiple protests outside of Wilmington Airport in early 2025. Dozens of people would line up on Dupont Highway with signs to show passing drivers their displeasure with the airline.
“We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic. After significant deliberations, we determined this charter flying will provide us with the stability to continue expanding our core scheduled passenger service and keep our more than 1,100 Crewmembers employed for years to come,” Avelo’s founder and CEO, Andrew Levy, said in an April statement.
Despite the rancor from elected officials, Avelo continues to expand its service from Wilmington. It recently announced new routes from Delaware to Atlanta and to Chicago O’Hare starting in 2026. That expansion makes it 14 destinations.
Avelo benefits from a fuel-tax exemption and has a marketing incentive from DRBA. The agency does not receive money from financial support or tax receipts from either the State of Delaware or New Jersey, its website says. Most of its revenue is generated by tickets, fees and tolls. A DRBA spokesperson old the News Journal/Delaware Online in April that they are “disappointed” in the ICE deal.
The resolution simply urges DRBA to prohibit deals with companies who work with ICE deportations “without sufficient due process.” For now, it is “laid on the table,” and will not be considered until the legislature starts up again in 2026. It was introduced by Sen. Raymond Seigfried, a Democrat representing Claymont.
Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback about reassessment and property taxes at slbrennan@delawareonline.com.
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