Daily
Wilmington
Thursday, September 18th, 2025
Good morning, Wilmington. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 18th of September.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ 321 East 11th Street in Wilmington held a countdown and ribbon cutting yesterday to mark its transformation. The renovated building now houses the Wilmington Housing Authority and Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce and may later include medical services and DECO East food stalls—an effort led by the Delaware Affordable Housing Group to honor the neighborhood’s history and meet future needs. WDEL
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Lidl will open a new store in the former Rite Aid site at the Shoppes of Graylyn after renovations finish. The store will launch late 2026 at 1732 Marsh Road at Silverside Road—north of Wilmington. Delaware Online
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Professor Sunita Chandrasekaran from the University of Delaware led a team that tested the world’s first exascale computer that can do a billion billion calculations per second—she is now teaching her students to use AI with high-speed computing. She will receive the ACM SIGHPC Emerging Woman Leader in Technical Computing Award at the SC25 Conference in November—an honor for her work. University of Delaware
- ➤ Assistant professors Aditya Kunjapur and Anamarie Whitaker were named Gerard J.—Mangone Young Scholars by the Francis Alison Society at UD on September 17th; their work in chemical engineering and early care education policy shows a strong focus on mentoring students and finding new solutions. Their achievements highlight a promise for future breakthroughs in their fields. University of Delaware
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer and 17 state leaders sent a letter to Congress urging it to extend the boosted ACA tax credits that keep health insurance costs down. Without the extension — which aims to prevent an average $700 rise in premiums — thousands of Delaware residents may lose coverage as enrollment opens on Nov. 1 — a key deadline. Spotlight Delaware
- ➤ Wilmington’s Taskforce on Homelessness met Monday to hear public comments on its proposals to address a growing homeless population near local businesses—business owners and homeless advocates said the plan lacks enough resources and clear goals, with final recommendations set for a Sept. 30 vote. Spotlight Delaware
- ➤ Governor Matt Meyer signed HB119, the Freedom to Read Act, into law on Monday morning. The law sets clear guidelines for libraries — ensuring books are not removed based solely on political or ideological objections — and protects library workers. Delaware LIVE
- ➤ Today, the Delaware Department of Insurance completed a reexamination of UnitedHealthcare for failing to provide equal mental health coverage and issued a $450,000 penalty—penalties for Delaware insurers have now surpassed $2M—emphasizing the state’s commitment to consumer protection. Deleware State Government
- ➤ Trade groups representing landlords in New Castle County filed a lawsuit on Sept. 12 in Chancery Court to block House Bill 242—a law that lets school districts set split tax rates for residential and commercial properties—claiming it violates the state constitution and unfairly raises tax bills while risking loan defaults. The plaintiffs seek a restraining order to halt further implementation, with court hearings expected to address these concerns. Delaware Online
- ➤ Gov. Matt Meyer signed new bills that stop ideological book bans in public and school libraries and boost free speech protections by strengthening anti-SLAPP measures—under the laws, libraries must keep challenged books available during review. Delaware Public Media
- ➤ Delaware officials are considering raising entrance, annual and lifetime pass fees for state parks to cover rising costs—public input will be gathered in Wilmington, Lewes and Felton to help shape the proposal. First State Update
- ➤ Wilmington community activists and state officials met at EastSide Charter School to discuss gun violence prevention—highlighting issues like poverty and the loss of positive male figures, with input from an 11-year-old and other locals. Gov. Matt Meyer and interim director Vaughn Bond will hold another listening session next month in Georgetown to further address the problem. WHYY
- ➤ Delaware will charge electric and hybrid vehicle owners a new alternative fuel registration fee beginning Oct 1 to help offset lost fuel tax revenue—residents must pay by Nov 1 or risk DMV service restrictions. Spotlight Delaware
- ➤ Residents and small businesses in Wilmington are upset after a reassessment raised Fusco's Water Ice's tax bill by 255% — the owner warned the iconic landmark in Little Italy might have to leave the city. State lawmakers will hold hearings on Tuesday, September 30 at 9:30 a.m. while a lawsuit filed in Chancery Court seeks to stop part of the increase. WDEL
-
Drumming Bird x The Tisburys
8-11 p.m. — The Queen — Ticketed event — Experience a night filled with lively music from Drumming Bird and The Tisburys.
-
Comedy Night at The Crafty Crab
6-8 p.m. — Crafty Crab — Free entry — Enjoy hilarious performances by local and Philly comedians at this lively venue.
-
DMA Varsity Football at Brandywine
6-8 p.m. — Brandywine High School — Free entry — Witness a thrilling non-conference football match between local rivals Brandywine and Delaware Military Academy.
-
ULTRA Trail DE Challenge
8 a.m. — Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park — $65 entry fee — Test your limits in this 6-hour trail running adventure with stunning scenery and challenging elevation.
-
Hot Milk Concert
6-9 p.m. — Arden Club — $25 — Catch the energetic emo power-pop duo from Manchester live in Wilmington.
-
Martial Arts Training for Kids
6-7 p.m. — William 'Hicks' Anderson Community Center — Free classes — Empower your kids aged 6-13 with confidence through martial arts training.
-
Garden Bros Circus: Jr's Hollywood Adventure
4:30-8:30 p.m. — Delaware Park Casino — Tickets from $17.50 — Experience a dazzling circus journey through Hollywood with top performers and thrilling acts.
-
Sheng Wang Live Comedy Show
8-11 p.m. — The Playhouse on Rodney Square — Ticket prices vary — Experience a night of laughter with comedian Sheng Wang, known for his Netflix special 'Sweet & Juicy'.
-
Kumail Nanjiani Live
8:00-9:30 p.m. — Bob Carpenter Center — Cost Info TBA — Enjoy a night of sharp wit and humor from the star of Silicon Valley as he reflects on his life experiences.
-
Garden Bros Nuclear Circus
1-5 p.m. — Delaware Park Casino — Tickets starting at $76 — Experience an unforgettable circus show featuring thrilling performances.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Have strong opinions, weakly held.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Daily Wilmington
Welcome to the Daily Wilmington, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Wilmington, Delaware community. If you like the Daily Wilmington, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Wilmington.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Wilmington and across Delaware. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Wilmington
A free Wilmington community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailywilmington.com/sitemap