Energy-Efficient Tax Credit Ends In December 2025

Rise and Shine, 302. It’s a fine morning to be exactly where you are. Today feels like it’s rooting for you.

Your 302 Rundown:

Let’s get to it

The world divides neatly in two: people who love the sunrise and people who’ve never seen it. Which side are you on?

If your grocery bill feels higher every week, you’re not imagining it. Delaware Public Media reports that staples like coffee, beef, and eggs continue to rise in price. Coffee alone is up 21 percent this year, while eggs remain about 50 percent higher than before the pandemic. Shoppers are adjusting with senior discounts at Acme and budget-friendly finds at Aldi, which now has ten Delaware locations and a new 1.1 million-square-foot distribution center planned near New Castle.

Soup kitchens and food pantries are feeling it too, serving more meals than ever as families try to keep up. Even pet food is up 24 percent since 2021.

If it feels like your dollar doesn’t go as far as it used to, that’s because it doesn’t.

Got expired prescriptions sitting in the medicine cabinet? Newark Police and Delaware State Police will join the DEA’s National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Collection sites include the Newark Police Station on South Main Street, ChristianaCare Surgicenter on Ogletown Stanton Road, and Troop 2 in Glasgow.

Only pills and patches are accepted, and drop-offs are free and anonymous. The goal is to keep unused medications out of reach and out of landfills, since tossing or flushing them can be dangerous.

During spring’s event, Delaware collected more than 2,700 pounds of unwanted medications.

It sounds too strange to be true, but students at the University of Delaware have started filming themselves pretending to urinate on campus landmarks. The Review reports that anonymous TikTok users with names like “UD Pisser” and “Piss Bandit” have posted clips featuring fake or possibly real streams at places such as Memorial Hall, Caesar Rodney, and Magnolia Circle.

The prank has sparked plenty of disgust among students. While it is unclear whether the videos show actual urine or just water, many hope the attention fades fast. So far, the university has not commented.

Some trends are better left unshared.

Delaware’s small business spotlight is heading to the University of Delaware’s STAR Campus later this month. The Division of Small Business has announced the finalists for the EDGE 2.0 Grant Pitch Competition, set for Oct. 28 and 29.

Fourteen businesses are in the running, with nine in the Entrepreneur category and five in STEM. Local names include BVP Coffee Co. and KiposTech in Newark, and CarbonForm and Grad Village in Wilmington.

This year’s competition features $1.15 million in funding, double the previous amount, and no cap on winners or award sizes. The public is welcome to attend in person with registration.

Big news from Wilmington’s Nemours Children’s Health. Dr. Rodney Scott, Division Chief of Neurology, has received a $2.6 million NIH Transformative Research Award to study how the brain’s hippocampus malfunctions in autism, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Instead of treating each disorder separately, Dr. Scott’s team will search for shared patterns of abnormal brain activity that could lead to new therapies for all three. The five-year project combines biological research at Nemours with advanced computer modeling led by collaborators at the Jackson Laboratory in Maine.

If successful, the research could pave the way for brain stimulation techniques that restore healthy function and improve quality of life for patients of all ages.

Homeowners thinking about upgrading windows, insulation, or heat pumps may want to move fast. The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit will now end on December 31, 2025, instead of 2032. The program offers up to $1,200 per year for home improvements like insulation and windows, and up to $2,000 for high-efficiency systems such as heat pumps.

The change, part of a new federal law passed in July, means anyone planning to spread projects over several years will need to finish by next December to qualify. Starting in 2025, only equipment from approved manufacturers with product ID numbers will count.

If you’ve been putting off upgrades, next year may be your last chance to save.

Delaware’s long-running property reassessment drama is finally getting its day in court. A one-day trial Monday in Chancery Court will decide whether lawmakers went too far when they allowed schools and counties to set different tax rates for homes and businesses.

The case pits landlords against the state, New Castle County, and local school districts. Tax bills are about to hit mailboxes, with payments due November 30. For many homeowners, reassessment already brought sticker shock. Now the courts will decide what happens next.

On Mondays, opening acts and exhibits are listed here when they debut. After that, you'll find individual dates in the regular Theatre/Arts listings.

The Girls of Summer – Delaware Theatre Company. Written and directed by Layon Gray, this award-winning drama shines a light on the untold story of the Red Diamonds, an all-Black women’s baseball team in 1946. As they gear up for a historic championship game, a sudden disappearance threatens to unravel their unity and dreams. Performances run Wednesday, Oct. 22 through Sunday, Nov. 9; each show lasts about 2 hours and 15 minutes with one intermission.

Dracula – First State Ballet Theatre at The Grand Experience the dark elegance of Viktor Plotnikov’s Gothic ballet adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, performed by First State Ballet Theatre. This haunting tale of love, obsession, and immortality unfolds through powerful choreography and striking visuals. Saturday at 7 PM and Sunday at 2 PM in Copeland Hall. Tickets $25–$67.

Griffin Theatre Presents: The 24-Hour Play Festival – St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church Watch creativity race against the clock as local directors and actors write, rehearse, and perform brand-new one-act plays in just one day. Expect laughter, surprises, and heartfelt moments at this celebration of spontaneous theatre. Saturday at 7:30 PM; $10 admission.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. Just things worth knowing. I’ll always flag sponsors clearly.

Yes, that’s her real name, and like the classic, she’s impossible not to love. BLT Sandwich is a 2-year-old mixed-breed sweetheart with a smile that could melt steel and a heart that’s pure gold.

She was found abandoned on a rooftop (we know, how does that even happen?) but she’s turned that tough start into a comeback story worthy of its own Hallmark movie. These days, BLT’s all about sunny walks, belly rubs, and showing off her irresistible grin, especially when she gets to wear her favorite unicorn headband.

If you’re looking for a best friend who’ll remind you daily that joy can survive anything, come meet this magical girl at the BVSPCA’s New Castle campus at 290 Churchmans Road.

Her happy ending could start with you. ❤️

The Ultimate Tailgate – The Grove at Delaware Park Get your game face (and appetite) on for this high-energy foodie fundraiser benefiting Meals on Wheels Delaware. Sample tailgate-inspired bites from top local restaurants, follow the Craft Beer Trail, enjoy specialty cocktails, and groove to live music by DJ Smooth. Wednesday 6–9 PM. Tickets include all food and drinks, with proceeds supporting meals for homebound seniors.

Taste of Terroir: A Wine & Cheese Experience – Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. Explore how soil, climate, and landscape shape the distinct flavors of locally made wines and cheeses from Penns Woods Winery and nearby farms. Thursday from 3–4 PM. $65 per person, including three tastings and museum admission.

Halloween Party at the George Wilson Center – Newark Parks & Recreation Get ready for a ghostly good time at this family-friendly celebration featuring spooky storytelling, games, and a costume contest. Enjoy activities like Zombie Limbo, Ghost Bowling, and a haunted maze if you dare. Thursday from 5:30–7:30 PM; $5 at the door.

Movies on Tap: The Lost Boys (1987) & The ’Burbs (1989) – Penn Cinema Riverfront. Enjoy cult-classic horror and comedy flicks paired with craft brews from Broad Street Brewery, all while supporting Light of the Queen. Thursday from 6:30–7 PM. Every pour and popcorn bite benefits a local cause.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. Just things worth knowing. I’ll always flag sponsors clearly.

66 🌡️ 43 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 7% | 💨

72 🌡️ 50 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 6% | 💨

66 🌡️ 45 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 8% | 💨

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 64ºF
Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.

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