Delaware is known as ‘The First State,’ Here’s why.
Even though I grew up across the river in New Jersey, I didn’t know a ton about Delaware. I knew Joe Biden was from here and Joe Flacco played here.
I left New Jersey to go to college at Arizona State at the Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. My career in Arizona was long and is filled with highlights, I reported on U.S. Senate debates, college football games and pro-Palestine encampments while serving as the ASU student news publication’s editor-in-chief until I graduated in May.
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In Arizona, I usually covered state and local policy and government. It was a circus, and elections from the local to federal level were razor-thin. It was fun.
I also covered some sports in my time at Arizona. I was lucky enough to cover ASU’s last football game in the Rose Bowl as a member of the Pac-12, and directed and contributed to coverage of Pac-12’s conference realignment.
I joined The News Journal staff in August, unsure of what happens in Delaware and what people cared about. So far, I have been blessed to be given opportunities to dive into the local and fast-paced coverage that defined my time in the desert. Delaware is way different than anywhere else in the country and has a unique set of advantages and problems.
I’m happy to be here in Delaware and hope to dive deeper into topics that Delawareans care about. I cover local government in New Castle County and breaking news, but I want to cast a wide net. Shoot me an email if you think something should be covered; I want to hear from you.
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Here is a Q&A to get to know me better. Follow my socials to get all the updates.
You came to this role from Arizona, a very different state than Delaware in many ways. Are there already issues you see resonating in both places right now, especially with voters?
All of Arizona’s policies, especially from the Republicans in the state Legislature, made a lot of noise. A lot of them enacted sweeping changes and were very black-and-white. Covering politics in Delaware requires getting into the minutiae of the law and what is changing for whom. One issue that I was surprised to see in Delaware that is similar to Arizona is the lack of road safety. It shocked me to learn that pedestrians die at similar rates in both states, which could not be any different in every way. Neither state has done much to mitigate the risk.
What do you think?: We welcome voices from all perspectives to shares views on issues of the day
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We live in a very challenging time for newspapers and journalism in general. What made you choose this as a career and what role do you think your generation needs to play to protect the Fourth Estate and keep it viable and trustworthy for the communities we serve?
Anyone can access any kind of information at any time. Because of this kind of access, correct and incorrect things can get mixed up and presented equally. The News Journal and every other established local news publication play an invaluable role in communities across the country. I wanted to contribute to quality and reliable local news in any way I could.
What do you like to do for fun? Any interesting hobbies or interests?
I have been a lifeguard on the beach in Asbury Park every summer for six years, so I like to swim, surf, fish and row over everything. I am in the market for some waves on the Delaware beaches, so let me know any good spots I should check out.
A self-described Arizona social media “villain” was arrested after he filmed himself allegedly spraying bed bug killer on groceries inside a Walmart as he boasted to police about his prank videos.
Charles Smith, 27, is accused of grabbing a can of Hot Shot Ultra Bed Bug and Flea Killer and unleashing the pesticide on a series of perishable items in the Mesa, Ariz. megastore around 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 19.
In the now-deleted video, the influencer filmed himself wearing a black hoodie and pink bandana while spraying the toxin on bananas, acorn squash, potatoes, lemons, green apples and Roma tomatoes at the store — located in a neighborhood southeast of Phoenix.
Police claim the TikTokker, who goes by the username WolfieKahletti, intentionally went to the store to film pranks for his channel.
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Smith identifies as an online “troll,” according to court documents viewed by Az Family. He has more than 300,000 followers on TikTok.
The troublemaker allegedly told police that he makes between $6,000 – $10,000 per month filming his provocative prank videos.
”I think social media has got people doing crazy things out here,” Walmart shopper Xavier Griego told the outlet. “It’s unfortunate that somebody would mess up their whole life, potentially, for something on social media for views.”
Smith voluntarily turned himself over to police on Dec. 21.
He faces charges of introducing poison (a felony) as well as three misdemeanors that include criminal damage, endangerment and theft.
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A spokesperson from Walmart told AZ Family that store employees removed the directly impacted products and cleaned the affected areas of the store.
It’s not clear if any customers were injured from eating the contaminated items.
“This incident underscores the potential dangers of reckless actions disguised as social media pranks,” the Mesa Police Department said in a statement.
Other videos posted online by Smith include the posts of him seemingly mixing in bacon and eggs in a stranger’s load at the laundromat as well as locking people inside a different grocery store.
The spray is “harmful if swallowed” and “prolonged or frequently repeated skin contact may cause allergic reactions in some individuals” per HotShot’s website.
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Suspects convicted of tampering with consumer products face up to 5 to 20 years in prison.
In 2022, an Arizona man was sentenced to 10 years of probation after being convicted of adding harmful chemicals to food at several retail stores in the Phoenix area.
David Lohr was ordered to pay restitution to a grocery chain for $390.42 and ordered to participate in a mental health evaluation and any additional recommended treatment.
There were no reported injuries or illnesses associated with the tampered items during the 2018 stunt, prosecutors said.
Lohr was accused of tampering with products at stores in California one year later and sentenced to a 51-month prison term followed by three years of supervised release with mental health services.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Caleb Love matched his season-high with 24 points to help power Arizona to a 94-41 rout of Central Michigan on Saturday.
The Wildcats (6-5) won back-to-back games for the first time since beating Canisius and Old Dominion to open the season.
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The Chippewas (5-6) scored the game’s first three points but Love knocked down three 3-pointers and scored 18 first-half points to put Arizona firmly in charge at intermission, 44-23.
Arizona shot 54.5% from the field, including 10 of 29 from distance, and got 44 points from its bench. K.J. Lewis hit 4 of 8 from the field and 5 of 5 from the line for 13 points to lead the reserves. Tobe Awaka added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats dominated the boards, outrebounding the Chippewas 45-27.
Central Michigan struggled from the field, hitting just 14 of 54 (25.9%), including just 3 of 16 from distance. Cayden Vasko hit 4 of 13, including 2 of 5 from 3-point range, to lead the team with 10 points.
Arizona opens Big 12 Conference play at home when it plays host to TCU on Dec. 30. Central Michigan will look to snap its three-game losing string on Dec. 30 when it plays host to Cleary.
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After getting hired as Arizona’s offensive coordinator, Seth Doege said his scheme is one that can be effective through the air and on the ground. And now he’s added a playmaker who has shown the ability to produce in both areas in a similar system.
Former Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi has committed to Arizona, giving the Wildcats a versatile ball carrier who can also catch passes out of the backfield.
BREAKING: Texas State star transfer RB Ismail Mahdi has Committed to Arizona, he tells @on3sports
The 5’9 187 RB led the nation in All-Purpose Yards in 2023 (2,169)
2x All-Sun Belt 1st Team & 2023 1st Team All-American
The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Mahdi ran for 2,322 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons with the Bobcats, adding 44 catches for 470 yards and three TDs as well as a score off a kick return. He has more than 3,500 all-purpose yards the last two seasons, with another 900 and five scores from the 2022 season at FCS Houston Christian.
Texas State runs a spread attack similar to what Doege used at Marshall, one that averaged 37.1 points and almost 475 yards per game this fall.
Ismail is Arizona’s 10th transfer pickup, fifth on offense and third at a skill position along with former New Mexico receiver Luke Wysong and ex-Washington State receiver Kris Hutson.