Feds Sue UD Over In-State Tuition

☀️ Rise and Shine, 302. A sincere compliment can stay with someone for years. That’s an unusually good return on six words.

Your 302 Rundown:

Let’s get to it

Join Above the Canal Experiences and Newark Arts Alliance for a fun, approachable collage workshop on Tuesday, October 6.

You’ll create two original pieces: a torn-paper landscape and a fantasy figure. Instructor Mary Jane Arden will share tips and techniques along the way, and all experience levels are welcome. If you can use scissors, you can collage.

Tuesday, October 6 · 7–9 p.m.
Newark Arts Alliance · $50

All supplies are included, though you’re encouraged to bring a pair of sharp scissors.

Book one of the final two seats →

Good friends are supposed to tell each other the truth. But does that rule still apply when the hair is already on the salon floor?

Source: Delaware Public Media

The Delaware Division of the Arts secured a $77,500 grant to expand its Access to Creative Aging program. The funding comes from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and E.A. Michelson Philanthropy.

The initiative provides eight-week courses in disciplines like watercolor, ceramics, and playwriting at libraries and community centers across the state. Since launching as a pilot program in 2022, it has grown to serve more than 400 participants per cycle.

Division leaders plan to use the new money to offer at least 20 classes each year as Delaware's older population continues to grow.

Source: State of Delaware News

State Farm Mutual announced a one-time dividend distribution for Delaware auto insurance customers. Approximately 256,000 vehicles in the state qualify for the payout, which averages $142 per vehicle and totals $36 million statewide.

Customers with active private passenger auto policies between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, are eligible for the funds. The company set up digital payment options for customers with an email address on file, while mailing paper checks to those without.

The dividend follows two rate decreases approved for Delaware policyholders in March and July. State Farm expects to issue all remaining checks by the end of 2026.

Source: Delaware Live

Brianna Busch, a New Castle native and Delaware Park Casino supervisor, competed in the 2026 G2E Dealer Championship at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, becoming the first Delaware Park dealer to enter the national event. The three-day competition wrapped up Thursday and drew 50 dealers from casinos across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Busch started at Delaware Park's dealer school in 2022 after a pandemic-related delay and has since learned every table game the casino offers. She earned her spot through an internal competition held in July, advancing out of a field of five finalists who dealt on the live casino floor.

At G2E, competitors dealt blackjack and roulette for 15-minute rounds, judged on technical skill, hospitality, and game control.

Source: Delaware Business Now

The Delaware River and Bay Authority approved a five-year lease for a new food and beverage concession area at Wilmington Airport. The space is located inside the recently expanded terminal passenger gate.

Operating under the name Sky+Go, the concession stand will offer hot and cold foods, coffee, chilled beverages, and bar seating. The airport authority awarded a $386,000 contract to a Pennsylvania firm to build and outfit the area. The new amenity follows a steady increase in passenger traffic, which reached 364,000 yearly travelers by July.

Contractors are expected to begin construction on the space immediately. Sky+Go will open for business as soon as the buildout is complete.

Source: Delaware Business Now

Attorneys general from sixteen states and Guam filed a lawsuit against DuPont, Corteva, and a newly created entity called Vylor. The coalition accused the companies of using a corporate restructuring to evade financial responsibility for environmental cleanup related to forever chemicals.

The lawsuit alleged Corteva intentionally transferred its valuable seed business to Vylor to shield those assets from existing chemical liabilities. Delaware did not join the legal action, having previously reached its own settlement agreements regarding the substances. Corteva denied the allegations, stating the transaction was designed to sharpen business focus.

The states asked an Indiana court for a temporary restraining order to freeze the companies' assets and halt stock buybacks while the case proceeds.

Source: State of Delaware News

Delaware expanded its Downtown Development District program to include Claymont, Newport, and Millsboro. The move brings the state to its legal limit of 15 designated districts.

The designation allows private construction projects within the selected areas to qualify for state and local incentives, including rebates offsetting up to 20% of eligible capital costs. Five communities applied for the three available spots. Claymont is the first unincorporated area in the state to receive the status.

Local officials will now work with the Office of State Planning Coordination to finalize district boundaries and appoint administrators.

Source: State of Delaware News

The Delaware Attorney General's Office reached an agreement with the Alfred I. duPont Charitable Trust and the Nemours Foundation to dedicate $950 million to children's health programs across the state. The settlement also involves the state of Florida and spans 11 years.

The funding establishes the Alfred I. duPont Charitable Fund for Delaware's Children. This new grantmaking organization will support local nonprofits focused on pediatric health and well-being. Out of the total commitment, at least $237.5 million is designated specifically for Nemours initiatives in Delaware.

A four-person committee will govern the new fund. The trust will appoint three directors, and the governor of Delaware will select the fourth member.

Source: WDEL

The U.S. government sued the University of Delaware and its Board of Trustees in federal court, challenging a university policy on who can qualify for in-state tuition. The complaint targets part of UD’s student residency rules for tuition and fees.

Federal lawyers said the policy lets students who are not lawfully present in the United States qualify for in-state tuition if they meet Delaware high school and residency-related requirements. The lawsuit argues that violates federal law because out-of-state U.S. citizens do not get the same tuition rate regardless of residency.

The government asked the court to declare the policy invalid and permanently block UD from enforcing it. The allegations have not been established in court.

Source: WDEL

State officials introduced a pilot program that allows public school students to use their school identification badges as public library cards. The initiative rolled out for students at Eisenberg Elementary School in the Colonial School District for the 2026-2027 academic year.

The setup removes the need for families to fill out separate applications or visit a local branch to sign up. Once students receive their school IDs, they can borrow books and research materials at county facilities, including the nearby Route 9 and New Castle libraries.

The administration hopes to eventually expand the partnership to other school districts and library systems across Delaware.

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.

Lionel Bart's Oliver! | Griffin Theatre. Griffin Theatre's production of the classic musical follows orphan Oliver through Victorian London's workhouses, street gangs, and criminal underworld, with songs including "Food, Glorious Food," "Consider Yourself," and "As Long as He Needs Me." The 2-hour-40-minute show runs with a 15-minute intermission; tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors 55 and up or students, and $15 for children 12 and under. On stage October 9 through October 18

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

Chevy is a big, handsome 7-year-old mixed-breed gentleman with the confidence of a dog who knows he looks good in brown. He is large, social, and currently taking applications for the lucky humans who appreciate a well-built walking buddy with friend-making skills. The shelter says he enjoys canine company, so if your dog has been asking for a buddy, Chevy may be worth a proper introduction.

Chevy qualifies for BVSPCA’s Sponsored by Simba Program, which means there is no adoption fee for any military veteran adopting a pet 1 year old or older.

Head to Brandywine Valley SPCA Copeland Center for Animal Welfare at 290 Churchmans Road, New Castle, DE 19720 to meet Chevy and see if he is ready to ride shotgun in your life.

Music in the Plaza: The X Band Experience | Brandywine Mills Plaza. A live performance by The X Band Experience, accompanied by local food trucks and a market featuring vendors selling handmade goods, apparel, and fresh produce. Tuesday 5-8 PM.

The Carpenters Songbook: A Live Celebration | Copeland Hall. A live concert tribute featuring a full band playing the brother-sister duo's hits, including "Close to You" and "Rainy Days and Mondays," interspersed with storytelling. VIP upgrades are available for premium seating, a meet-and-greet, and a private 20-minute acoustic performance. Tuesday at 8 PM.

DE Singles at the Quoin | The Quoin Hotel. A singles night for ages 45-65 with a complimentary drink, hosted introductions, and mingling; guests may be asked for ID at check-in. Tickets are $40 for solo tickets or $70 for a two-person ticket with a single guy friend, plus service fees. Wednesday at 6 PM.

Cocktails and Singles at Bardea | Bardea Garden. An outdoor singles social hosted by BeVisionary, with a complimentary drink, hosted introductions, and open conversation in the garden. Tickets are $40; a two-person ticket (one man or woman plus a single female friend) is $70. Ages 23-38. Wednesday at 7 PM.

Levitt AMP Wilmington Music Series: Brass Queens | Tina Betz Urban Artist Exchange. A free outdoor concert featuring Brass Queens, a brass-led band performing on Clifford Brown Walk. Wednesday 7-8:30 PM.

North Mississippi Allstars | The Queen Wilmington. The North Mississippi Allstars perform in the Main Hall, with doors opening at 7 PM. Wednesday at 8 PM.

More happenings we couldn’t fit in the newsletter.

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

Monday

71 🌡️ 47 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 0% | 💨 NW 0 to 15 mph

Tuesday

64 🌡️ 45 | ☀️ Sunny | 0% | 💨 NW 5 mph

Wednesday

70 🌡️ 53 | ☀️ Sunny | 0% | 💨 S 0 to 10 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 67ºF. Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.

The full events calendar includes live music, festivals, classes, markets, family activities, community gatherings, and dozens more happenings across Northern Delaware.

Submit an event →

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