As the First State rings in the new year, Gov. Jack Markell offers some his 2012 resolutions for the State of Delaware in his weekly message.

2012 is another major election year in Delaware with races for Governor, U.S Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and Wilmington mayor all on the ballot along with races for the Delaware State House and Senate. We conclude our Year in Review email forum series by asking our panel of political observers how they view the upcoming campaign cycle. Today, they weigh in with their thoughts, submitted via email, on the election races to watch in 2012.

Today’s big story can quickly become tomorrow’s afterthought. That’s what makes playing prognosticator difficult. But we’ll give it a try anyway. After asking a handful of political observers to reflect on the year gone by and offer their analysis, DFM News asked that same panel to tell us what they’ll be keeping an eye on in the new year. Today, they weigh in with their thoughts, submitted via email, on the stories to watch in 2012.

Generally, year in review pieces are by definition a snapshot of people and events from the year gone by. But some news stories are not readily confined to a calendar year. They have repercussions that will be felt for months or years to come. As 2011 turns into 2012, DFM News asked a handful of political observers to reflect on the year gone by. Today, they weigh in with their thoughts, submitted via email, on what story from 2011 will have the greatest impact in the coming years.

Not every story is front page news. And even some that are on page 1 aren’t fully understood as they happen. But just because some stories fly under the radar or take time to develop doesn’t diminish their significance. As 2011 turns into 2012, DFM News asked a handful of political observers to reflect on the year gone by. After getting their thoughts on the 2011’s top stories, we asked them to look beyond the headlines. Today, they weigh in with their thoughts, submitted via email, on the most underrated or under-reported stories of 2011.

The calendar is just about to change from 2011 to 2012 – leaving behind a year of memorable stories and people for an new year that is filled with unanswered questions and unresolved issues.

DFM News asked a handful of First State political observers to reflect on the year gone by and what they’ll be looking for in 2012. They weigh in with their thoughts, submitted via email, starting today. The first topic: Delaware’s top story of 2011.

Governor Markell offers his holiday message to Delawareans, reflecting on the year past and what there is to be thankful for in the First State in his weekly address.

New Years Eve is one of those holidays that can be tough for families to celebrate because it’s a late night event often geared towards reveling adults, and not young children.

That’s why in the past thousands of families flocked to First Night celebrations in Dover and Wilmington offering kid-centric activities and a safe night out on the town for children and their parents. Alas, Wilmington canceled its First Night event last year, and this year Dover followed suit.

Now there’s a New Years vacuum when it comes to family-friendly events throughout the state; and the few options that do exist are filling up fast, or are outside of the state.

Is Delaware on board for more passenger rail?

That’s the question behind a number of projects and studies that aim to reduce traffic congestion, cut energy use, and improve air quality by boosting the opportunities for Delawareans to take the train rather than drive between cities in and out of state.

Both SEPTA and Amtrak report a long-term increase in the number of people taking the train, a trend officials attribute to factors including gas prices, parking fees, traffic congestion, and riders’ abilities to use their travel time working.

In Delaware, parking lots are bulging at some stations, suggesting that more drivers see the train as a convenient and comfortable alternative to battling with traffic on the state’s congested highways.

It is five minutes before 10 a.m., and a small group had gathered outside the doors of the Brandywine Hundred Library, waiting for it to open. Once inside, many headed up the stairs to the second level, where the computers sat waiting. By 10:45 a.m., all the computers were in use. A man with a wide-brimmed hat surfed the Web for jobs, while two missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints emailed family and friends.

The three patrons demonstrate how library use has changed with technology. It also demonstrates how Delaware libraries are adapting to the demand.