Friday, September 19th, 2025
Good morning, Wilmington. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 19th of September.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ The Whale of a Sale, a Delaware tradition since 1980 hosted by the Junior League of Wilmington, returns on Nov.8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Concord Mall’s former FYE store near Christopher and Banks in Talleyville, offering bargains on clothes, furniture and more. Community donations are accepted on scheduled drop-off days: Sept. 24 from 5 to 7:30 p.m., Sept. 27 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Oct. 4 from 3 to 5 p.m. with donors receiving tax receipts. Delaware Online
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ On Oct. 20, Dewey Beach will host the Delaware Restaurant Association awards where Wilmington’s Bardea Restaurant Group and Rehoboth’s 1776 Steakhouse will be honored with Restaurateurs of the Year and the Cornerstone Award, respectively. The event will also recognize non-profit groups Celebrate Wellness and SoDel Wellness with Industry Impact Awards—attendees will enjoy food, drinks, and live music starting at 6 p.m. at the Lighthouse Cove Events Center. Delaware Online
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Emily Spivack, a Wilmington native and Brandywine High graduate, won a Primetime Emmy for producing the Hulu documentary 'Patrice: The Movie' about a couple with disabilities who risk losing vital benefits when they marry — her team beat entries from Netflix and Prime Video. The film tells a heartwarming story that now streams on Hulu — marking a proud moment for local talent. Delaware Online
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Christ the Teacher Catholic School in Newark was named Delaware’s First State Favorite Community’s Choice Award winner for its preschool after months of public voting and a gala announcement—this award recognizes the school for meeting high quality OCCL standards and a curriculum that prepares young students for kindergarten. The school now serves 100 students with class sizes from 19 to 24 and has added a fifth pre-K class to meet growing demand. Delaware LIVE
- ➤ ASPIRA's Georgetown charter school plans to open a bilingual elementary program with 200 students in fall 2026 but may delay to fall 2027 if officials do not secure a temporary space by the end of September — local leaders are working with community partners as renovations continue on the permanent building. Spotlight Delaware
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Gov. Matt Meyer said the state is negotiating with ChristianaCare over a cost oversight board settlement and criticized the hospital’s out-of-state partnerships—he also announced plans to expand clean energy options and reform education funding following concerns at a Smyrna school meeting. Delaware Public Media
- ➤ The Delaware Department of Insurance fined UnitedHealthcare $450,000 for repeated violations of Mental Health Parity laws that limited policyholders’ access to care—Commissioner Trinidad Navarro said the agency will continue reviewing insurers and may impose more fines if similar issues occur. Delaware Public Media
- ➤ The Delaware State Housing Authority launched two pilot programs on Sept. 18 to provide free technical assistance to local governments for updating zoning rules and preparing for disaster housing recovery—one pilot has a deadline of Sept. 22 while the other ends on Oct. 31. Deleware State Government
- ➤ On September 16, Governor Matt Meyer signed House Bill 250 at the New Castle Court House Museum to create a special license plate honoring the 250th anniversary of Separation Day and American independence. The DMV will start accepting applications on September 22 and the $50 fee—allocating $15 to production and $35 to events—will fund parades, programs and celebrations for Delawareans. Deleware State Government
- ➤ Delaware voters' sensitive information is being requested by the DOJ and the Department of Elections is resisting—officials have not released drivers' license numbers or partial social security numbers. The Delaware Voting Rights Coalition criticized the request and has stressed that voter privacy will remain protected. WDEL
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ On September 15, Delaware Community Foundation announced a five-year, $13.1 million investment to the Delaware Center for Cognitive Aging Research at the University of Delaware to expand Alzheimer’s research statewide. The funding will expand a study from 100 to 500 participants, support a blood test for early detection and fund a $3.2 million MRI machine on UD’s STAR Campus — honoring Paul H. Boerger’s legacy. WDEL
- ➤ Delaware and 17 other states asked Congress to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies that will end by the end of this year—up to 46,000 state enrollees could face higher costs if the aid stops—so lawmakers must act to keep health care affordable. WHYY
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ Farms across Delaware offer u-pick apples from late summer through fall and pumpkins this season, while several tree farms will open for Christmas tree picking as the holidays near—visitors should check farm websites for updates. Delaware Online
-
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
The secret to getting ahead is getting started.
~ Mark Twain
About 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