Record-Low High to Summer Scorcher in Days

Rise and shine, 302.
Temps are rising, and so are the speakers at every local park.

Your 302 Rundown:

• Summer Hits Fast-Forward This Week

• 25 Fixes Proposed for Main Street Safety

• Lidl Comes to Bear — For Real This Time

Let’s get to it

NEWS YOU CAN USE

🥶 60s Sunday, 90s by Wednesday?!

Welcome to Delaware’s rollercoaster summer preview. Yesterday, Wilmington may have tied its record for the lowest high temperature on June 15 at a crisp 68°. But don’t get too comfy in your light sweater — we’re jumping to 90° by midweek. Yep, forecasting full-on summer heat by Wednesday, just in time for Juneteenth festivities.

Highs in the 90s mean it's officially iced coffee, AC, and dog-paw-check season. (Seriously — the pavement gets HOT. Protect those pups!)

Consider this your friendly nudge to dig out your fans and hydrate like you mean it.

🎭 Some tough news for the arts

A handful of Delaware’s nonprofit arts groups just got a surprise no one wanted — federal NEA grants were suddenly rescinded, cutting off critical funding for community programming. While state arts funding remains safe (for now), there’s concern this could ripple into delays for local grants later this year.

Over the last five years, the NEA funneled more than $10 million into Delaware. That’s not just paint and poetry — it's jobs, education, and public health too.

The Delaware Division of the Arts is urging folks to rally behind local orgs. So if you’ve got a favorite theater, gallery, or choir — now’s the time to buy that ticket, donate a little, and spread the word. The arts need us more than ever.

🏆 Delaware’s top athlete didn’t pick just one

Riley Buzby just made history as the first-ever High School Male Athlete of the Year — and he earned it the old-school way: by playing everything. The Appoquinimink senior was All-State in soccer, basketball, and volleyball, racking up 11 varsity seasons without ever choosing just one sport.

While everyone told him to specialize, Riley proved you can succeed by doing it your way. He’s heading to DeSales University to play basketball — but honestly, his real legacy might be showing younger athletes that joy and versatility matter just as much as medals.

Proof that you don’t have to follow the playbook to win big.

🚦 Main Street safety makeover?

After a tragic pedestrian crash this spring, Newark just dropped a 25-item wishlist of fixes aimed at making Main Street safer. The plan includes short-term changes like rumble strips, new stop signs, speed cushions, and better signage — many of which could be in place before UD students return in August.

Longer-term ideas range from reducing speed limits and expanding sidewalks to installing roundabouts and speed cameras.

If you’ve ever crossed Main Street with your heart in your throat, this one’s worth watching. City Council votes June 16, and yes — you can weigh in.

🚨 Slow down or smile for the camera

Speeders, beware — Milltown Road is getting speed cameras. New Castle County Council just greenlit a five-month pilot to install portable speed cams on Milltown and McKennan’s Church Roads. Locals have long called this stretch a “danger zone” for kids, walkers, and bus riders stuck on the shoulder with no sidewalks in sight.

IN BUSINESS

🥐 Lidl finally lands in Bear!

After years of waiting (and a few drainage headaches), Lidl is finally opening its long-completed store on Route 40 in Bear on July 11. Doors open at 8 a.m., but early birds can catch a ribbon-cutting at 7:40.

Expect all the Lidl favorites — 49-cent croissants, the quirky Midl of Lidl aisle (think tools, garden gear, and surprise sweaters), and plenty of European imports under private label.

This makes three Lidls in Delaware, but this one’s been teased for years — so yes, this soft-open is a pretty big dill.

📻 New owner for WDEL, WSTW & more

Draper Media — the folks behind WBOC — just scooped up a local radio bundle that includes WDEL, WSTW, and WXCY in an $11 million deal. Based in Salisbury, Draper has a solid rep for keeping news local and community-focused, which feels like a win for Delaware listeners.

Forever Media owned the stations since 2019, but with radio values sliding and big changes in media habits, they’ve been offloading properties. Enter Draper, who promises to carry on its founder’s legacy of serving the community — not just syndicating content.

If you’ve missed the days of truly local radio, this might just turn the dial back in the right direction.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

📚 Financial literacy class? It’s about time.

Delaware’s one step closer to making personal finance a high school graduation requirement. A new bill would mandate a half-credit financial literacy course in all public high schools — covering essentials like budgeting, saving for retirement, taxes, and credit.

If it passes the Senate, Delaware will join 27 other states that believe knowing how to manage your money is just as important as passing Algebra.

It’s about time we teach kids how to balance a budget before handing them student loans.

💸 Your credit score just got a break

Finally, some good news for anyone hit with surprise hospital bills. Delaware lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that would ban medical debt from appearing on credit reports. Sponsored by Sen. Spiros Mantzavinos, it means collections from medical expenses won’t drag down your score.

Gov. Meyer is also pushing a separate plan to erase $50 million in medical debt for more than 17,000 Delawareans — and it’d cost the state just $500,000.

If you’ve ever skipped care to protect your credit, this is the kind of policy that hits home.

THE HAPPENINGS

Sug Daniels at Rockford Park – Delaware’s own Sug Daniels brings her soulful blend of folk, rock, and heartfelt storytelling to the park for a night of inspiring live music. Monday, June 16 at 6:30 PM, Rockford Park, Wilmington – free and open to the public.

Clifford Brown Jazz Festival – The largest free jazz festival on the East Coast returns to Wilmington with four days of unforgettable performances celebrating the legacy of local jazz legend Clifford Brown. Wednesday to Saturday, June 19–22, starting at 4:45 PM (1 PM on Saturday), Rodney Square, 1000 N Market St., Wilmington.

Wednesday Night Summer Concerts in Battery Park – Kick off the summer series with The Jimmies bringing live music to the riverfront. Wednesday, June 18 at 6:30 PM, Battery Park, New Castle – bring a blanket or chair and enjoy the free show!

Gretchen Emery Band at Carpenter Recreation Area – Catch this dynamic local band as they deliver a soulful, high-energy performance as part of the Summer Concert Series. Wednesday, June 18 at 6:30 PM, Carpenter Recreation Area, White Clay Creek State Park – perfect for a midweek music escape in the great outdoors.

Summer Nights at Hagley presented by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery – Stroll along the scenic Brandywine, enjoy local food trucks, and sip Dogfish Head brews in a relaxed riverside setting. Wednesday, June 18 from 5–8 PM, Hagley Museum, Wilmington – $5 admission (free for members and kids under 6), dogs welcome!

FORECAST AT A GLANCE

Monday

70 🌡️ 63 | ☁️ | 24 % | 💨 ENE 8 mph

Tuesday

75 🌡️ 68 | ☁️ | 24 % | 💨 SE 7 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 69 °F
Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.

WEEKNIGHT SOCIAL

Monday, June 16

• Bar XIII | Asylum 13 Book Club Meeting | 7:30 PM

• Bellefonte Brewing Company | Free NL Texas Holdem | 5:30—10 PM

• Grain KSQ | Trivia w/ Riley | 7—9 PM

• Grain on Main | Classic Bingo w/ Rylie | 6—8 PM

• Trolley Tap House | Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tournament | 6 PM

Tuesday, June 17

• Bar XIII | Magic: The Gathering Happy Hour | 6:30—8 PM

• Bar XIII | Dirty Sexy Bingo | 9:00 PM

• Cork & Barrel | Music Bingo | 8—11 PM

• Finnegan’s Pub | Movie Night | 6:30 PM

• Grain Exchange | Jeopardy Bar League | 6—8 PM

• Grain H2O | Trivia w/ Matt | 7—9 PM

• Grain on Main | Trivia w/ Rylie | 6—8 PM

• Patriots Glen Golf Club | Quizzo | 6—8 PM

• Tom Foolerys | Music Video Bingo hosted by Sightline Events | 8—10 PM

• Trolley Tap House | Music Video Bingo | 7—9 PM

LIVE MUSIC

Monday, June 16

• Argilla Brewing Co | The Sin City Band | 7—11 PM

• Chesapeake Inn | Darren O'Neill | 6—9 PM

• Christiana Pub | Open Mic Night | 6—11:45 PM

• Rockford Park | Sug Daniels | 6:30 PM

Tuesday, June 17

• Chancery Market | Karaoke - DJ Ski | 6—8 PM

• Chesapeake Inn | Howsmyhat | 6—9 PM

• Christiana Pub | Karaoke Night | 8 PM—12 AM

• Gallucio’s | Bluegrass Jam | 6:30—10 PM

• Saint Georges Country Store | Albert Castiglia | 6—9 PM

• The Opulent | Karaoke/Open Mic Night w/ DJ Smoove | 6—10 PM

• The Queen | Crumb | 8 PM

• Trolley Square Oyster House | Alfi | 7—10 PM

• Twisted Irons Craft Brewing | Open Mic Night | 6 PM

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APPRECIATE YA!

Thanks for reading – now forward this to a friend who would probably get a $100 speeding ticket on Milltown Road.

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