Schools Go Remote As Snook Service Draws Thousands

Rise and Shine, 302. Holiday break officially over. Muscle memory says snooze, responsibility says otherwise.

Your 302 Rundown:

Let’s get to it

Monday morning is going to look a little different across northern New Castle County. The celebration of life for Corporal Matthew 'Ty' Snook will be held at UD's Bob Carpenter Center, with public visitation now ending at noon, followed by a law enforcement procession and a 1 pm service.

Because thousands of vehicles are expected, Christina School District and New Castle Vo-Tech will both move to remote learning for the day. DelDOT also confirmed the Minquadale DMV will remain closed through next week.

If you have errands, school drop-offs, or a commute anywhere near Newark or Route 4, this is one of those plan-ahead mornings. Full timing details and closures are laid out in this WDEL update if you want the specifics.

If live music is part of your 2026 reset, this one is an easy yes. The monthly Jazz Jam at Kennett Flash is back on Thursday, January 8, and it is exactly the kind of warm, come-as-you-are night that makes winter feel shorter.

Doors open at 6 pm, music starts at 7 pm, and the evening kicks off with a featured set from local jazz musicians before turning into an open jam. That means familiar standards, unexpected collaborations, and the kind of moments you only get when musicians jump in together live.

It happens every second Thursday through May, and it is all ages, intimate, and welcoming. Start with with dinner in Kennett Square, then enjoy the music. Details on this month’s session are up on the Kennett Flash Jazz Jam page if you want to plan ahead.

If it feels like there is always a new crane, construction fence, or planning notice popping up around town, you are not imagining it. Nearly 50 development projects are currently moving through Newark’s approval pipeline, ranging from small infill apartments to major multi-building projects tied to UD and STAR Campus.

What stands out is the mix. Student housing, senior living, retail, hotels, libraries, and even tiny homes are all in play. Some projects are already under construction, while others are still winding their way through planning commission and city council. A few have stalled long enough to sunset under the city’s new rules.

If you want to see what is proposed near your street or favorite coffee stop, the Newark Post has the full list. This is one of those moments where paying attention early really matters.

A new cannabis manufacturing site could be coming to Newark, but it’s not what you might picture. No plants, no storefront. Just production.

Loud Labs is seeking a special use permit to convert a vacant industrial building on Markus Court into a facility for making gummies, vape cartridges, extracts, and pre-rolls using cannabis grown elsewhere in the state. The company already holds a state license and says the site would create about 15 jobs, run by a Newark local currently working at their New Jersey facility.

They’re emphasizing that it won’t smell—thanks to carbon filters and the nature of manufacturing-only operations.

The Newark Planning Commission will review the request Tuesday at 7 pm.

Good news for working families to kick off the year. Delaware employees can now begin filing claims under the new statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave program, known as Delaware Paid Leave.

The program covers medical leave, caring for a loved one, parental leave for a new child, and certain military family needs. It applies to employers with 10 or more Delaware based employees and offers wage replacement, not just job protection. That is a big shift from unpaid federal leave.

State officials estimate more than 400,000 workers will be eligible, which means a lot of households get a little breathing room when life happens. Claims are now open, and details on eligibility and how to apply are available through the state’s Delaware Paid Leave page if you want to dig in.

Delaware’s unemployment system is finally speeding up. The Department of Labor just announced a 40% drop in backlogged claims, reducing the total from over 7,000 to fewer than 4,000.

The improvement comes from shifting staff from call centers to case processing, launching new tools like the Claimant 360 dashboard, and retraining adjudicators. A new “Mission Backlog” team helped clear the queue, and federal grant funding gave a boost to ongoing reemployment efforts.

It’s a big step forward for thousands of Delawareans still navigating the system.

Delaware City Refinery says it’s on board with better air monitoring, just not on the 70-day timeline the state gave them.

After a 19-hour butane release in late November, DNREC ordered the installation of real-time fenceline sensors to track emissions and alert the public to any VOC spikes. The refinery’s response: it’s technically infeasible that fast and could lead to flawed data. They’ve appealed and are asking for more time to select, test, and install the right system.

DNREC says similar tech is already used at other PBF Energy sites. The refinery says it's committed to transparency—but wants to get the implementation right.

On Mondays, opening acts and exhibits are listed here when they debut. After that, you'll find individual dates in the regular Theatre/Arts listings.

BG Carpenter Aerial Photographic Exhibition Grand Opening at Delaware City Library marks the launch of a Bicentennial-year exhibit showcasing rare early 20th-century aerial photographs of Delaware City and the surrounding region. Friday from 5 to 9 PM. Meet guest curator and photographer, Ben Fournier, enjoy a special reception, and explore the remarkable work of pioneering aerial photographer BG Carpenter.

Thank You Willie Sutton at Chapel Street Players. This fast-paced screwball comedy follows four friends who turn outrage into action, and chaos ensues, with plenty of physical humor, pratfalls, and non-stop laughs along the way. Saturday at 8 PM & Sunday at 2 PM. General admission tickets are $10.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. Just things worth knowing. I’ll always flag sponsors clearly.

If your ideal dog is equal parts playful sidekick and easygoing companion, meet G Herbo. This handsome tan guy is just over a year old and already has the confidence of a dog who is ready for real life. Morning walks, afternoon naps, weekend adventures, repeat.

G Herbo is medium sized, dog friendly, and loves being around other pups. He is social, curious, and clearly excited about finding a family to call his own. If he were human, he would be the friend who is always up for doing something but perfectly happy just hanging out, too.

He is currently waiting at the Brandywine Valley SPCA in New Castle and would love to meet you.

Go say hi. You might just meet your new best friend.

39 🌡️ 30 | ☁️ Cloudy | 5% | 💨 S 9 mph

46 🌡️ 39 | ☁️ Cloudy | 16% | 💨 E 5 mph

54 🌡️ 33 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 15% | 💨 WNW 16 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 40ºF
Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.

The Conspiracists at Copeland Hall at The Grand Wilmington brings a Delaware-made comedy mockumentary to the big screen with a full red carpet experience, world premiere screening, and live Q&A with the filmmakers and cast. Thursday at 8 PM. Follow two siblings whose plans for an all-inclusive conspiracy convention unravel, revealing rival ambitions and a much bigger mystery at play, all played for laughs.

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