West Nile in chickens, Delaware at Olympics, random acts of kindness

Good morning, First State!

Enjoy your day of rest … and if it is decidedly not a day you are able to rest, I hope it’s still a good one.

One thing’s for sure, it will be a hot one. Temps are expected to hit 90 today in the Wilmington area with no rain in sight. Things should cool off beginning Tuesday.

Delaware has more than $500M in unclaimed funds, and some could be yours. How to find out.

Do you know someone who made a difference to someone when they really needed it? Is there a Good Samaritan you’d like to see highlighted, someone who offered a kindness, that made a difference for you, or made someone's life a little better in Delaware?

Our new Random Acts of Kindness feature aims to share these stories. If you know someone deserving of a story, email Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline with as much information as you can provide.

And now more local news …

DNREC urges precautions after West Nile virus found in chickens statewide

The West Nile virus was detected in Delaware for the first time in 2024 on Friday, according to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. No human cases have been reported, writes Hannah Edelman.

“The virus was detected in sentinel chickens used by DNREC to monitor mosquito-borne illnesses. DNREC's Mosquito Control Section said the West Nile virus was found in eight chickens across five of the 20 monitoring stations statewide. The chickens came from three stations in New Castle County, one station in Kent County and one station in Sussex County,’’ Hannah writes.

“Weekly blood samples are taken from all sentinel chickens starting in early July through the fall, according to DNREC. The latest sample was taken Monday and, after it was tested by the Division of Public Health on Wednesday, determined to be positive for the West Nile virus.’’

To learn more, read Hannah's story.

Also worth your time …

Breaking news : 35-year-old man fatally shot on South Van Buren Street in Wilmington on Friday night

Entertainment :  'Prettiest botanical garden in the world' is right in Delaware's backyard

Dining: Delaware's top 5 favorite ice cream flavors. Did yours make the list?

Family fun: OC Air Show 2024: All to know about big event soaring into Ocean City this summer

News Quiz: Our newsletter is experiencing operating difficulties. Please stand by.

Sports: Find out how Delaware has one of the highest rankings for athletes at the Olympics

Open Call to Arts, Cultural Groups

Every Sunday we pass the mic to arts and cultural groups throughout the First State, affording them the opportunity to tell our readers about upcoming events, seasonal plans, fundraising efforts, volunteer opportunities, collaborations and so much more.

This week’s Open Call is hosted by Poetry at the Mansion . You’ll find the column on Delaware Online today.

Upcoming Open Call columns will feature Delaware Contemporary , Delaware Museum of Nature and Science and many more.

If you know a group that would like to be included, please email me at tpaolino@gannett.com for details .

Note to readers

Daily Briefing is your first stop for top Delaware news, a friendly guide to other Delaware Online services – our best projects, digital archives, e-edition, online puzzles and comics, polls, regional and seasonal guides, award-winning photos and videos, social media highlights & more.

This is your morning briefing. We strive to make it engage, useful and informative.

Thank you to our readers who support us as subscribers, making our local coverage of your community possible. Check out our Subscribers Guide . Reach out to me anytime at tpaolino@gannett.com

🍹 Get out : This rare, 35-foot plant only blooms once every 20 years & is growing near Delaware

⛱ ️ ☀ ️ Summer fun: Welcome to our Delaware 2024 Summer Guide

🍳 Comfort food : Fiery, crispy Nashville hot chicken is coming to Delaware. Here's what we know

✈️ Get away : Two new routes are coming to the Wilmington Airport this fall. Here's what to know

🧩 Brain teaser :  Mix it up with the Daily Jumble

🛠 ️ Problem solved : Stop unwanted ads on social media

🚲 Get moving : 'All-terrain' wheelchair available for use in Delaware state park. Other accessible parks

💗 Give back: Find your next Delaware volunteering adventure

And now, some more news we don't want you to miss ...

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: West Nile in chickens, Delaware at Olympics, random acts of kindness