Delaware State News Mission Story for July
What’s popping up in Delaware farm fields?
In the Sunday, July 30, edition, our lead story shined a
light on solar energy and interest in planting solar panels where farmers have
grown crops for generations.
A 351-acre project along Calhoun Road, on the outskirts of
Milford, is one of the latest efforts in a wave of solar farms proposed for
southern Delaware, likely stimulated in part by state mandates to increase the
amount of power that comes from renewable energy sources, like solar.
Will
more and more farmers opt for solar over soybeans?
Freelance writer Maddy Goss’ byline is on the Delaware
Journalism Collaborative piece. The idea grew from this editor’s brainstorming
session with Delaware Business Times Editor Jacob Owens.
The Delaware
Journalism Collaborative is a partnership of local news and community
organizations working to bridge divides statewide.
Salisbury Independent Mission Story for July
Independent helping readers sort out Wicomico
controversy
Wicomico’s County Executive and County Council are now on
a war footing – and Salisbury Independent is right in the middle of it, seeking
to explain to readers what it all means.
For seven months, the executive has been openly resentful
over the council’s continued refusal to approve some of her office
appointments. To get her way, the executive seems to have exploited a miniscule
window in the County Charter and appointed two people to key positions – in
contradiction to the council’s verdict.
Now, the dispute is headed to court; the latest action is
the executive has asked a judge to force the council to fund an attorney to
represent her.
Salisbury Independent has gone deep in its coverage,
publishing numerous documents and emails between the parties. The newspaper has
also interviewed the pertinent figures on public access television and included
links to public meetings where the disputes have spilled into public.
Wicomico
council, executive at bitter odds over administrative appointments
Dorchester Banner Mission story July
NPR-linked station makes a comeback
In July, the Dorchester Banner provided endearing
coverage on the return of WHCP-FM, the Cambridge-based public
radio station that has been in decline for several years – but is now
making its way back as a community institution.
Local volunteers and supporters have been able to secure
a more-powerful transmitter for the station, which has increased its footprint.
The station is also now linked to National Public Radio, which ensures
consistently important content. The return of the station is culturally
significant in the community; the newspaper's focus on the rebirth was publicly
applauded.
Crisfield-Somerset County Times Mission story for July
County Times helps shine light on private school board
meetings
Late in July, the Crisfield-Somerset County Times
produced some solid reporting on the county Board of Education’s handling of closed
session business.
In response to the newspaper’s coverage in June and July,
the Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board found that the school board met
several tenets of the law but “failed to include enough details in its public
disclosures before and after convening in closed session.”
The initial reporting relied on a parent of a Crisfield
High School student, who voiced his concerns about the sufficiency of the
closed meeting announcement. In particular, he said the explanations parroted
the Open Meetings Act without providing details which the board has pledged to
be more careful about going forward.
