First for Friday, June 19, 2015

Livable Lawns
Just look around outside and you can see why many of us are in a summer mood – everything is green. We’ve had a few moments with the lawn mower, and hope the reward is play time, maybe with the family dog. Both, lawns and dogs, have a huge impact on water quality. Our First Look this week is part of a two year project covering issues surrounding our water. Let’s check out the ‘Livable Lawn’ concept.

Delaware Education Desk
Standardized testing has become the most fiercely debated topic in Delaware education. In particular, there’s been a firestorm over whether parents should be able to opt their children out of a new, statewide assessment. Education correspondent Avi Wolfman-Arent talks about this simmering issue with opt-out supporter, Rep. John Kowalko, and Dr. Teri Quinn Gray, an opt-out opponent and the president of the State Board of Education.

Dace on Biz
The end of the school year means report cards. We look to see if Delaware education makes the grade with Ron Russo who is now the Senior Fellow at the Caeser Rodney Institute, Founding President of Wilmington Charter School, and a former principal at St. Mark’s High. He joins Dace Blaskovitz in our Dace on business segment.

Tornoe Spin
One of the more interesting back stories in the legislative session is what will happen with state support for Delaware’s three casinos. Rob Tornoe joins us in the First studios to look at that as well as the state of the Philadelphia Eagles.

First Experience: Mt. Cuba
If you have ever been to Mt. Cuba, you know it’s a beautiful place. From the gardens to the fountains and ponds, it is teeming with life – an amazing place to sit, get inspired and paint. First Experience went to an ‘Art-In’ at Mt. Cuba recently. Now you can experience Mt. Cuba through the eyes of The Plein Air Painters of the Mid-Atlantic.