There will be a new Mayor of Wilmington in 2025. Outgoing Governor John Carney won the office in this year’s election, which was open because Mike Purzycki decided to step aside and not seek a third term.Contributor Larry Nagengast recently sat down with Purzycki to discuss his impact on the state’s largest city, first as Riverfront Development Corp. executive director and then as Mayor of Wilmington.

The task force in charge of finding solutions to the state’s student behavior and school climate issues recently delivered its final recommendations.This comes after the group spent months putting together those recommendations to help districts better address increasing reports of student behavior incidents and absenteeism.This week, Delaware Public Media’s Sarah Petrowich spoke with Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend – Chair of the Student Behavior and School Climate Task Force – about the recommendations and next steps.

With Thanksgiving next week, the holiday shopping season moves into full swing.Retailers hope people are ready to spend big on gifts this year, while shoppers look for the trendiest gifts and the best deals.Contributor Eileen Dallabrida reports this week on what to expect from this holiday shopping season and which factors could play a role in both what gifts are given and how many land under the tree.

The countdown to the year’s most cherished feast is on.There's no shortage of things to do and buy if you're hosting Thanksgiving, and if you've only just started to plan for the festivities, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get cracking.For this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media’s Kyle McKinnon is joined by Emily Weinstein – editor-in-chief of New York Times Cooking and Food – and Lesley Stockton – senior staff writer reporting on all things cooking for the Times’ Wirecutter section – for more on tackling the big day, fresh recipes, and time-honored classics.

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Schools and districts across Delaware are facing increasing challenges in recruiting and retaining their staff.According to a recent membership survey by the Delaware State Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, 75% of teachers said they’re more likely to retire or leave education earlier than planned.This week, Delaware Public Media’s Kyle McKinnon sits down with Lauren Bailes – associate professor at the University of Delaware’s School of Education – to learn more about what’s causing teachers to leave the profession and how the issue can be addressed.

The Delaware STEM Educator Awards annually celebrates K-12 educators who go above and beyond to teach and inspire students in STEM, a methodology that engages students around the subjects of science, technology, math, and engineering.Among the winners this year are the Math Marigolds, a team of educators working to develop more students into math teachers.Delaware Public Media’s news director Tom Byrne sat down with Brandywine High School math teacher David Maloney, who helped start the Math Marigolds, to discuss the award-winning team and the importance of building a pool of math teachers.

Distributing grant money to nonprofits isn’t something high school students normally learn about, let alone actually do.But for more than 25 years, the Delaware Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Board has put high school students in charge of examining issues in their communities and ultimately deciding how to allocate thousands of dollars in funds for various programs that address them.Delaware Public Media’s Joe Irizarry chats this week with Yolanda Rushdan – Senior Program Officer for the Delaware Community Foundation – about the value of giving students an opportunity to help their communities through philanthropic work.

For many, birdwatching is more than just a chance to spot a feathered friend; it’s a way to slow down, reduce stress, and reconnect with the natural world.Next week, the Delaware Ornithological Society is hosting ‘The Birding Prescription,’ a talk about birding’s impact on our health and well-being.For this edition of Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media’s Martin Matheny is joined by the Society’s president Joe Francis for more on the benefits of mindful birding.

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