AGP Executive Report

Road Rage, Newark: Delaware State Police say 28-year-old William Simpler Jr. is charged with first-degree murder after he allegedly shot and killed motorcyclist Jason Paoletti at a red light near Salem Church Road and Old Baltimore Pike. Police say an argument broke out involving a Hyundai Elantra; Paoletti stepped off his motorcycle and reached into a saddlebag before the front-seat passenger allegedly fired. Public Health: Delaware confirmed 13 measles cases, all in Kent County (nine adults, four children under 10), with contact tracing ongoing and officials urging MMR vaccination. Mosquito-Borne Risk: DNREC detected West Nile virus in a sentinel chicken in eastern Kent County; no human cases reported, but officials say the virus is likely circulating and could trigger more mosquito monitoring. Local Safety & Community: Dover Police hosted National Night Out with public safety agencies, as officials point to recent shooting concerns and say visibility and arrests are part of the response. Cannabis Update: Delaware’s recreational marijuana market topped $53 million in its first year, with 38 active licenses statewide. Business/Community Loss: Pappou’s Pizza Pub in Delco announced it will close after more than 40 years.

Public Health: Delaware confirmed 13 measles cases in Kent County, including four children, after a July outbreak of five cases; officials urge anyone unsure about MMR vaccination to contact a provider. Public Health: DNREC also detected West Nile virus in Delaware for the first time in 2026 after routine testing found a positive sentinel chicken flock in eastern Kent County; no human cases have been reported. Public Safety: Delaware State Police arrested William Simpler Jr. of Saint Georges for murder after a road rage shooting in Newark left 46-year-old Jason Paoletti dead. Local Government & Food Access: Gov. Matt Meyer launched Delaware’s Farm to Processing program, expanding processing and freezing capacity to boost fresh food access, support farmers, and train incarcerated Delawareans for reentry. Community & Crime Investigation: Dover Police are investigating human remains found near a retention pond; forensic science will determine cause and manner of death. Business & Industry: Aternium selected Dover for its first U.S. heavy water and high purity hydrogen production facility, targeting major investment and jobs. Health & Science: CHOP marked its 500th prenatal repair for severe spina bifida, highlighting decades of fetal surgery progress. Sports: Delaware District 3 opened the Senior League Softball World Series with a 9-5 group-play win.

Delaware Politics & Policy: Delaware State University landed in Forbes’ first-ever top tier ranking of public HBCUs, citing outcomes like graduation rates and alumni earnings, as enrollment climbs and the state’s $100M investment continues to reshape the campus. Local Roads: DelDOT says the Kenton Road widening is in its final phases, but drivers near Lewes still face fresh detours as a separate Central Church Road roundabout project runs concurrently. Public Safety: Wilmington shootings are renewing debate over enforcement and accountability, with multiple incidents across neighborhoods and several victims reported as teenagers or young adults. Health & Food Safety: Cyclosporiasis keeps spreading nationwide, reaching 47 states, with Delaware still listed among the few spared so far. Marijuana Regulation: Delaware’s Marijuana Commissioner marked the first anniversary of legal recreational sales, reporting $53.4M in sales and $8M in state revenue. Courts & Data Privacy: Delaware is among states suing to block Trump administration efforts to share sensitive TANF recipient information across agencies. Energy & Industry: Aternium selected Dover for a $226M hydrogen production facility, aiming to start operations in 2028 without relying on guaranteed federal support.

Delaware Politics & Policy: Delaware’s new surgeon general office is drawing scrutiny after a request tied to a nearly $269,000 price tag, with lawmakers saying they weren’t consulted on the role and how it fits with DHSS. Tariffs & Courts: A coalition of 25 states—including Delaware—sued the Trump administration over new double-digit tariffs on 60 trading partners and the EU, arguing the move is unlawful and a “pretext” to recreate duties the Supreme Court struck down. Privacy & Data: Another multistate fight is targeting federal plans to access sensitive personal data from people receiving TANF benefits, with Delaware among the states challenging the scope of the proposed rule. Public Safety & Local Government: Marion City Council advanced a proposed ban on Flock license-plate cameras after a heated committee discussion focused on privacy and data storage. Community & Food Access: Delaware’s Division of Small Business handed out $712,000 through food-access grants, including checks for a Milton Community Food Pantry expansion and school garden upgrades in Dover. Business Growth: Dover’s Division of Small Business opened the EDGE Grant Competition for applications starting Aug. 11, with a Nov. 10 pitch-and-award event for eligible small businesses. Tech & Lawsuits: A Delaware Superior Court case alleges major social media platforms failed to protect minors, with families suing over teen suicides tied to alleged addiction and harmful content.

Tariff Fight Hits Delaware: Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings joined a 25-state lawsuit challenging Trump administration “forced-labour” tariffs on the EU and nearly 60 countries, arguing the move exceeds legal authority and is a pretext to recreate duties the Supreme Court struck down. Local Economy & Food Access: Delaware’s Division of Small Business awarded $712,500 in grants to 28 businesses and groups to expand fresh, affordable food through the Delaware Grocery Initiative and First State Food System Program. Drug Pricing Ruling: California’s Supreme Court backed Gilead, rejecting a “duty to innovate” claim that would require drugmakers to develop safer alternatives sooner. Health Watch: Delaware is among states dealing with measles concerns after Kent County cases triggered an outbreak declaration, as Pennsylvania reports rising cases. Delaware Innovation Push: Gov. Matt Meyer and the Delaware Prosperity Partnership launched “Innovate Delaware,” adding $1.36 million over two years to help startups in areas like fintech, clean energy, and biopharma find resources faster.

TANF Data Lawsuit: Delaware’s AG is part of a multistate push suing the Trump administration over a plan that would let federal agencies share sensitive TANF recipients’ personal data, including Social Security numbers, addresses, and immigration status. Public Health & Safety: Delaware Avenue’s Neighborhood Health Center opened a new location, expanding access to care regardless of insurance. Energy Grid: PJM says 715 new generation projects (over 200 GW) cleared the first study cycle under its reformed interconnection process. Consumer Protection: Delaware is among states pursuing major antitrust action tied to alleged generic drug price-fixing, with a Sandoz settlement in principle totaling about $469 million for state enforcers. Local Tech in Dispatch: Delaware County is close to using AI to handle some non-emergency 911 calls to ease staffing strain. Wilmington Crime: Wilmington police reported three weekend shootings, sending two men and one woman to the hospital. Wildlife Update: An eagle took a young osprey from a nest at Cape Henlopen State Park.

Delaware Social Media Lawsuit: Families of four teens who died by suicide filed in Delaware Superior Court against Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, alleging years of escalating harms from addictive platform design. Local Public Safety: Newark’s National Night Out is set for Tuesday, Aug. 4, 6–8 p.m. on Academy Street, with police, fire, community groups, kids’ activities and K-9 demos. Bankruptcy in Delaware Courts: Vi‑Jon LLC began a voluntary Chapter 11 case in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to implement a global settlement over alleged legacy talc-related liabilities. Delaware Business Spotlight: Delmarva engineering firm Davis, Bowen & Friedel was selected for a featured segment on Bloomberg Television/CNBC’s “The American Dream,” with filming this fall and an expected 2027 airing. Community & Culture: Delaware State Fair recognized America 250 Farms families, including Dukes and Hill Island Farms (New Castle County) and Stayton Farms (Sussex County). Health Watch: Delaware and Maryland measles cases are rising, with officials urging residents to check MMR vaccination status.

Local Crime: Wilmington police are investigating two Saturday shootings about an hour apart that sent a 32-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man to the hospital; both were stable, and detectives are asking the public for tips. Public Safety & Health: Delaware’s measles outbreak continues to draw national attention as vaccination rates fall below the herd-immunity threshold, raising the risk for people who can’t be vaccinated. State Politics: Sussex County has frozen new housing permit applications under SB 23 while it reviews how the law affects local zoning and building rules. Environment & Industry: Chemours and the EPA settlement tied to PFAS discharges is facing heavy criticism, with North Carolina officials saying the deal was negotiated “behind our backs.” Community & Culture: Southern Delaware Tourism is rolling out a three-month push for arts and history this fall, and Delaware Park Casino hosted its third annual Backyard Country BBQ. Sports & Delaware Connections: A Delaware family drove to Illinois for the Women’s Pro Baseball League opener, highlighting the league’s growing national pull. Tech & Courts: Delaware is named in a new lawsuit by families suing major social media platforms over teen suicides.

Social Media Lawsuit: Families of four teens who died by suicide are suing Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube in Delaware, alleging years of escalating harms tied to addictive design and targeting minors. Public Health Leadership: Delaware’s inaugural Surgeon General, Dr. Neil Hockstein, is set to start next week, with a new office funded in the 2027 budget to deliver public health messaging and emergency guidance. Local Safety & Crime: Police are searching for a gunman after a shooting inside a Walmart in Glenolden, wounding an employee; authorities say there’s no immediate threat. Tech & Accountability: Delaware is also tied to a wave of corporate investigations, including Kahn Swick & Foti probes into Skyworks and Microsoft over alleged disclosure and governance issues. Environment & Infrastructure: A Lewes lighthouse faces a race against time as advocates warn it could fall into the ocean if a shifting underwater foundation can’t be stabilized. Sports & Community: Delaware Little League state tournament action continues, with Milton advancing after an elimination win.

Measles Update: Delaware Public Health reports 8 measles cases, all in Kent County (7 adults, 1 child under 10), with at least one vaccinated adult showing mild “breakthrough” symptoms; officials say people who visited ChristianaCare Union Hospital Emergency Department in Elkton on July 30 (3:00–7:15 a.m.) should watch for symptoms and check vaccination status, especially those unvaccinated, pregnant, immunocompromised, or too young for MMR. Local Tech & Consumer Safety: Delaware Public Media reports stalled efforts to regulate cryptocurrency kiosks—HB 441 passed the House but didn’t advance—leaving seniors exposed to scams tied to cash-to-crypto machines. Environment & Community: DNREC is set to accept applications for 2027 Community Environmental Project Fund grants starting Aug. 1, supporting local environmental work. Sports & Schools: Delaware’s DIAA approved a developmental-level girls’ golf proposal to boost participation, with schools able to pilot the program before full varsity commitment. Health & Food: Delaware launches a “Food is Medicine” initiative connecting healthcare with healthy food, including a pathway at the Delaware State Fair.

Social Media Lawsuit: Delaware Superior Court is now the latest battleground as families of four teens who died by suicide sue Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, alleging the platforms’ design pushed self-harm and worsened mental health. Health Care Fight: Delaware AG Nick Brown joined a coalition challenging a federal rule that would weaken Affordable Care Act protections and raise costs for millions. Delaware Paid Leave: The state’s paid family and medical leave program has paid out $7.6 million across 1,760 claims in its first six months, even as officials work through processing delays and system fixes. Public Safety: Dover residents are rattled by four shootings reported in three days, with local and state police investigating. State Business Support: Delaware launched the Office of Small Business Access, creating a single contact point to help entrepreneurs navigate licensing, permitting and other hurdles. Local Health Care Leadership: Delaware Hospice named Becca Graner its new chief operating officer. Community & Culture: DNREC unveiled winners of its 2026 statewide nature photo contest at the Delaware State Fair. Sports & Community Pride: Lakeland All-Stars earned a World Series berth after an East Region win, celebrated with a hometown sendoff parade.

Delaware Public Safety & Accountability: Seaford police arrested Youvensley Estimable after a report of a juvenile held captive with machetes, charging him with unlawful imprisonment and related offenses. Local Governance & Housing: Sussex County is scrambling to comply with Delaware Senate Bill 23, which forces affordable housing planning and can delay pending land-use applications for months. Education & Student Testing: Indian River School District is tightening its policy so “opt-out” from state testing won’t be approved without permissible reasons, with a final board vote in August. Community Resources: Delaware launched “Explore Delaware Schools,” a new portal meant to be a single, easy starting point for families to find school info, boundaries, and performance. Courts & National Policy: A bipartisan Senate push cleared a key committee vote to block Education Department interagency transfers tied to special education and other programs. Public Health: Delaware is urging families to check MMR vaccinations as measles cases rise, including a Kent County outbreak update. Business & Delaware Connections: West Marine’s bankruptcy continues to ripple locally, with another round of store closures that now includes a New Castle, Delaware location. Sports & Delaware Pride: Delaware State is ranked No. 6 in the preseason MEAC FCS Coaches Poll.

Delaware Health Alert: Delaware has confirmed 5 measles cases as of July 27, tied to an unvaccinated person in Kent County, with officials urging families to check MMR status—Beebe says one dose is about 93% effective and two doses about 97%, and there’s no sign of widespread community spread. Community & Public Safety: Newark’s National Night Out is set for Aug. 4, with free meet-and-greets with police and fire; plus White Clay Creek State Park hosts free outdoor concerts Aug. 5 and Aug. 12. Local Sports & Giving Back: Middletown linebacker Mekhi Corbin is using NIL money to fund his Bink Foundation “Christmas in July” at Nemours, bringing gifts and support to families traveling for care. Business & Access to Capital: The Delaware Community Investment Venture Fund is backing West End Neighborhood House’s Launcher program with $469,000 to expand small-business lending and coaching. Delaware in the Spotlight: “Homage,” a Caribbean film by Wilmington-based awards newcomer Miles Mussenden, leads the inaugural Caribbean Film Awards with nine nominations, with winners announced Oct. 10 in Wilmington. National Policy Watch: A court order blocks the U.S. Education Department from ending school mental health grant programs through Aug. 24.

Delaware Economic Update: Delaware will redirect part of the money returned by Incyte after the company scaled back its Wilmington HQ move, shifting funds toward small-business support and business-district revitalization. Tech & Business: Intel is licensing Atom chip technology to a little-known startup, RosaicLabs, tied to longtime co-investors with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan—an unusual move for the chip giant. Public Health Q&A: University of Delaware and Minnesota experts answered consumer questions about the cyclospora outbreak, stressing it’s a parasite, not a bacterium, and advising cooking produce for extra caution. Energy & Performance Watch: A new report challenges Bloom Energy’s fuel-cell claims, comparing company benchmarks to publicly metered fleet data. Local Safety: Delaware State Police arrested Donald Johnson Jr. of Magnolia for an armed robbery at a Dover Valero, charging him with robbery and weapon-related offenses. Community & Culture: Delaware Governor Matt Meyer and Agriculture Secretary Don Clifton honored America 250 Farms at the Delaware State Fair, spotlighting three long-running family operations. Environment & Growth: Kent County adopted new guardrails for future data centers, including zoning limits and setback/buffer and noise requirements. Food & Fun (Delaware picks): National lists highlighted Delaware spots, including Two Stones Pub in Newark for a top burger and The Copper Dram in Greenville for best bar food.

Little League: Newark National earned a spot in the 2026 Senior League Baseball World Series after sweeping the East Region Tournament in Bangor, Maine, then winning a come-from-behind 4-2 decision over Massachusetts. Homelessness: New reports show homelessness up nearly 35% in the Chenango region, even as New York statewide numbers fell. Elections: Election officer Dr. Alex Cullison argues polling precincts can be vulnerable and asks whether precincts are “rigging” elections. Workplace safety: Delaware Safety Council launched a bilingual (English/Spanish) online workplace safety training platform ahead of OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week. Public health: CDC says COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 37 states, including Delaware. Delaware policy: Gov. Matt Meyer signed bills strengthening animal protections, including limits on retail pet sales and tougher penalties for repeat cruelty. Local business: Redner’s Markets announced its first Wilmington location opening Oct. 8, 2026. Food safety: Lidl US expanded a cookie recall after undeclared allergens were found in packages sold in Delaware and other states.

Delaware Health & Schools: Delaware DHSS is awarding funding to open four new school-based health centers in Sussex County—at Seaford, Selbyville, Sussex Central and Georgetown middle schools—aimed at boosting preventive, primary and behavioral care where resources have been limited. Animal Welfare: Gov. Matt Meyer signed bills to curb retail pet sales, raise penalties for repeat animal cruelty, and require veterinarians to report suspected cruelty, with key provisions taking effect in 2027. Environment & Wildlife: DNREC is seeing a rebound in red knots along the Delaware Bayshore this spring, with higher counts and improved weights after several seasons of decline. Public Health: The CDC says the cyclospora outbreak is still active, with Delaware now included among states reporting domestically acquired cases as confirmed numbers jump nationwide. Community & Culture: Delaware’s Division of the Arts announced $5.06M in FY2027 grants across 127 projects statewide, supporting arts access in every county. Local Sports & Pride: Delaware native Allen Greenly was installed as president general of the Sons of the American Revolution, highlighting the First State’s role in the nation’s founding.