Good morning, Wilmington.

Brianna Busch represented Delaware Park Casino at the 2026 G2E Dealer Championship at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas (Sept.

29 to Oct. 1). The New Castle native, who advanced from an internal contest, competed against 49 dealers from across North America in blackjack and roulette.

Boulden Brothers celebrated 80 years Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its Sandy Drive Newark facility - the multigenerational business, founded in 1946, now offers HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services while supporting community programs.

The Grand will host its 50th annual gala on Saturday, Dec.

5 featuring a performance by the Stray Cats at the Opera House followed by an after-party at Hotel DuPont. The event will honor longtime leader Skip Pennella and raise funds for community arts programs.

This weekend, Wilmington offers several community events including a free Porchfest in Cool Spring & Trolley Square on Oct.

3; Newark hosts an Egyptian Festival Oct. 3-4; Selbyville presents a Roger Daltrey concert; Delaware City celebrates its bicentennial at Battery Park; and Houston features Weedstock from Oct. 2-4.

The Delaware Department of Insurance announced a $5B dividend that will pay eligible auto policyholders an average of $142 per vehicle, covering about 256,000 vehicles with rate cuts announced in Dover on Oct.

1 (payments depend on customer communication preferences).

UD honored six faculty, including four for teaching and two for advising, and two graduate students for teaching excellence at the Sept.

14 Faculty Senate meeting; awardees received $5,000 each + additional honors like portrait display and inscribed bricks, while graduate students got $1,500 each.

Governor Matt Meyer signed Senate Bill 249 and Executive Order 28 on Wednesday, Sept.

30, setting a new harm reduction framework for Delaware health services in Dover (which includes phased implementation, public health evaluation, and safety standards) that builds on progress in reducing overdose deaths.

The Wilmington Fire Department welcomed 30 new firefighter/EMTs on Monday after graduating from their recruit academy (including 12 new positions) that increased the uniformed staff to 198.

The new firefighters earned top academic, perseverance, and leadership awards given to William Gleason, Brandan Thompson, and Samara Gayle.

Habitat for Humanity held a groundbreaking on Carter Street in Prices Run yesterday to launch its Masons Row project building seven energy-efficient homes with a 0% mortgage; Wilmington Mayor John Carney and Congresswoman Sarah McBride attended as the project aims to boost housing and school outcomes over coming months.

At Harrington Raceway, Blazing Tui (owned by Don and David Wiest) set a track record with a 1:57.4 win in the $20,000 DSBF elimination run on Wednesday, Sept.

30. The gelding improved to 3-for-3 as final events are scheduled for Oct. 14.