First for Friday, May 9, 2014

The Charters Are Coming

Four new charter schools are coming to Delaware, including one with roots in Philadelphia. The schools could open as soon as Fall of 2015, and some have already started their recruitment process. In this week’s First Look, we’ll talk about what’s unique about education in this state and why charter schools are eyeing Delaware to set up shop.

Legislative Update

After Joint Finance Committee hearings and an Easter recess, the Delaware legislature is back in session. It’s an interesting moment, with the looming June 30 deadline for the state budget and many bills eligible for vote. We’ve asked Shana O’Malley of NewsWorks.org/delaware to shed some light on these topics.

First Person: Janice Barlow

The Kids Count Fact Book is an annual compilation of statistics and information on Delaware’s children – think of it as a report card on the “state of Delaware’s kids.” The 19th annual Fact Book will be released on May 12, but Janice Barlow, director of Kids Count Delaware, will give us a sneak preview.

Justin’s story

As Justin Henke celebrates his 14th birthday this weekend, he remains the only person in the state who suffers from a genetic disease known as FOP. This rare disease affects only one individual per two million people worldwide and has no cure or effective treatments.

The Tornoe Spin

We have cartoonist Rob Tornoe in the studio with us. You can always see Rob’s work online at NewsWorks.org, but we like to feature him on TV once a month. This month we will focus on Beau Biden and also talk sports.

First Experience: The Costumes of Downton Abbey

If clothes make the man, or woman, then the people living in the world of Downton Abbey have it made. Even though this season of the smash PBS show is finished, the Winterthur Museum has given us an up-close view of the wardrobes worn by the cast. First Experience shares the exhibit.