Delaware
Today in Delaware County history, Aug. 31
100 Years Ago, 1924: The fall term of the Sleeper’s Colleges opens Tuesday, Sept. 2, and, from enrollments already made the season promises to be a flourishing one. The reputation of the local institution is not confined to this city alone, as there are enrollments from Delaware, Maryland, Viriginia and even as far south as North Carolina. At least 90 percent of the graduating class of 1923 have been located in satisfactory positions.
75 Years Ago, 1949: Struck by lightning during the violent electrical storm which swept this area early today, a grocery store was wrecked by flames at McCall Heights, Brookhaven. A Brookhaven fireman was felled by smoke in the two hour and 25-minute battle to quell the blaze in a one-story frame building at Shepard and Dutton Mill roads. The victim, Francis Piestrak, 24, was taken to Crozer Hospital in the Parkside ambulance. He was treated for smoke inhalation and released. The store was operated by Thomas S. Winnemore, former proprietor of a service station at Ninth and Sproul streets.
50 Years Ago, 1974: Harrison F. Dunning, retired chairman and chief executive officer of the Scott Paper Co., Tinicum, died today at his home on Shady Hill Road, Moylan, Upper Providence. Dunning was 66 and had been ill for several months. Dunning retired from Scott Paper in 1971. In addition to his duties at Scott, he served as a commission of the Delaware River Port Authority, as a director of the Greater Philadelphia Movement, and as a member of A Better Chester. He was also a member of the American Management Association, a director of the Grocery Manufacturers’ Association and its chairman in 1968 and 1968 and a trustee of the Committee for Economic Development.
25 Years Ago, 1999: Change the familiar phrase to “Don’t smoke them, and don’t even have them.” For years, the smoking ban was only for students. Now, the Springfield School District has extended the prohibition of smoking and carrying smoking products to all staff members and even those just visiting schools for athletic and other events. Infractions of the policy carry penalties and fines which, Superintendent Joseph O’Brien said, the district is prepared to levy against teachers as well as students.
10 Years Ago, 2014: The Concord supervisors meeting scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Sept. 2 at Garnet Valley Middle School will be held 7 p.m. in the township building, 43 Thornton Road. The time and venue had been changed as the board anticipated addressing Vineyard Commons, but the item will not be on the agenda.
— COLIN AINSWORTH
Thursday, May 7, 2026 9:09PM
WILMINGTON, Del. (WPVI) — A third victim has died following a March shooting in Wilmington, Delaware.
Police identified her on Thursday as 37-year-old Gina Tiberi.
She was one of four people shot when a gunman opened fire on North Adams Street on the afternoon of March 24.
A 19-year-old and a 21-year-old died shortly after the shooting.
Tiberi was initially critically wounded along with a 36-year-old man.
Authorities have not announced any arrests or a possible motive.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Brendan Shea at (302) 576-3649.
You can also provide information to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Tip-3333 or Delawarecrimestoppers.com
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
John Williams from ‘Star Wars’ hops on album by Delaware’s Calidore
The Calidore String Quartet, from University of Delaware, landed iconic “Star Wars” composer John Williams on their 2026 album “American Tapestry.”
A Delaware bill creating a film production tax credit cleared its first hurdle May 6, advancing out of the House Revenue & Finance Committee.
Several states offer film and television production tax credits and other incentives to lure projects, often to boost jobs, tourism and visibility.
Delaware does not – at least for now.
The proposal mirrors a recommendation in Delaware’s 5% operational spending growth and accompanying revenue plan, released alongside Gov. Matt Meyer’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, and would put the state in line with most of the country.
What does the bill do?
Backed by House Majority Leader Kerri Evelyn Harris, this House bill would create a new film production tax credit for the First State.
Delaware remains one of a few states that does not already have a film tax credit or a similar incentive in place, according to the Dover Democrat.
This means that spending in these sectors – from hotel stays to equipment rentals – is going to other states.
And while other revenue streams have served and continue to serve Delaware well, Harris said, it is also crucial to ensure the state is positioned “for the next generation of economic growth.”
The bill would offer eligible productions – including films, TV shows and video games — a nonrefundable tax credit equal to 30% of qualified expenses, usable against personal income and corporate taxes.
To qualify, companies must show their activities resulted in expenditures more than $500,000 during any consecutive 12-month period. They must also present opportunities to Delawareans to come onboard projects as interns.
Companies must also obtain “an independent audit” out of their own pockets, authenticating eligible expenses. These expenses can include any cost tied back to production, pre-production or post-production that took place within state lines.
These credits would also be transferrable – so long as they are approved by the state Division of Small Business – and can be extended for upwards of five years.
This bill mirrors a similar proposal included in a presented 5% operational spending growth and adjoining revenue plan.
The plan set aside up to $10 million in new revenue for a film tax credit to spur Delaware’s creative economy, though the actual cost would depend on how many productions apply.
Should this bill become law, the state will have a similar cap at $10 million every year, according to Harris.
This isn’t the first time lawmakers have seen this legislation.
In the hours before last year’s session ended, state Rep. Michael Smith backed a bill that would also establish a film tax credit for Delaware.
Also known as the Delaware Entertainment Job Act, the bill would have also established a 30%, “transferable tax credit for an investment in the state” for qualified productions.
Like its legislative relative, the bill would have required productions to bring First State residents as interns to qualify for this credit, as well as produce an audit of expenditures once production has wrapped.
Doing this, the bill argued, would spur job creation, artistic ventures and investment in the media industry.
The bill was also assigned to the House Revenue & Finance Committee, but did not advance. Smith signed on as a co-prime sponsor of this latest bill, according to Harris.
Former Rep. Valerie Longhurst introduced a near-verbatim measure to Smith’s bill back in 2022, but it did not make it all the way through the House.
What do lawmakers, Delawareans think?
For the most part, committee members were receptive to the bill.
Rep. Kendra Johnson was enthusiastic about the bill, asking to come on board as a co-signer of the bill.
She pointed to the HBO crime drama series “Task,” whose entire second season is scheduled to be filmed entirely in southeastern Pennsylvania, starting July 6.
Delaware’s neighbor state was reportedly investing $49.8 million into the project – the largest tax credit bestowed by the state to a single production, as reported by WHYY last year.
The projection is also set to create 3,700 jobs and infuse $194.1 million back into its economy.
Pennsylvania’s current tax credit program offers a 25% to 30% credit to productions that spend no lesser than 60% of their total funds within state lines.
“Imagine the economic growth that is happening there, that could be happening here,” Johnson told the panel.
Others have thrown their support behind bringing a film tax credit to Delaware.
Meyer is one such advocate. He mentioned during his State of the State address that Delaware not offering film tax credits made no sense, considering the latest Superman movie is “literally set” in the First State.
“They should be shooting here,” he said. “We’re just going to let so many other neighboring states soak up all of that Hollywood money?”
Other groups, including the Delaware Arts Alliance and the Delaware Hotel & Lodging Association, have also thrown their support behind the bill, Harris said.
What happens now?
The bill will continue to move through the House.
If signed into law, it would take effect starting July 1, the first day of the new fiscal year.
But lawmakers will need to move quickly – they only have until June 30 to have it passed in both chambers. Otherwise, they’ll need to start all over again come next session.
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.
What to do if you come across a serious car accident
What to do if you come across a serious car accident
A 34-year-old Newark motorcyclist has died following an evening crash May 5 in Ogletown, Delaware State Police said.
The motorcyclist’s name was withheld by police on May 6 until his family could be notified.
The Ogletown crash is one of six fatalities that have plagued officials across the state since May 4, according to the Delaware Department of Transportation. Officials added that between the night of May 5 into the morning of May 6, was the deadliest 12 hours on Delaware roads in nearly six years.
“It’s certainly alarming to have more than 15% of our total fatalities to date this year happen over the past four days,” C.R. McLeod, a DelDOT spokesman, told Delaware Online/The News Journal.
Other fatal crashes that occurred in that 12-hour span include:
- A motorcycle crash in Stanton that left a 29-year-old Wilmington man dead when he ran a red light and his Harley-Davidson Sportster struck a Nissan Rogue at the Churchmans Road intersection with Center Pointe Plaza about 7:20 p.m. May 5, Delaware State Police said.
- A crash in Dover that killed a 26-year-old woman who struck a tree about 1 a.m. May 6, Dover police said.
- A 23-year-old Millsboro woman was killed when she failed to navigate a curve on Coastal Highway north of Lewes about 1:30 a.m. May 6, Delaware State Police said.
As of May 6, DelDOT was reporting 38 traffic fatalities on Delaware roads – a 27% jump from last year at the same time.
Ogletown crash
As the man was riding a Honda CBR east on Christiana Road toward Harmony Road, police said, an Audi Q5 was turning left from westbound Christiana Road into McIntosh Plaza.
For reasons still under investigation, the Honda struck the Audi’s passenger side about 6 p.m., police said. This caused the motorcyclist to be ejected.
The motorcyclist was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Audi’s driver, a 37-year-old Bear man, did not report any injuries, police said.
Troopers are asking anyone with information about the Ogletown crash to contact investigators at (302) 365-8483. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.
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