Delaware
Delaware State To Add A D1 Women’s Wrestling Program – FloWrestling
Below is a press release from Delaware State about adding a Division I wrestling program. in the fall of 2025. Delaware State Hornets will be the fifth program to offer D1 women’s wrestling.
DOVER — HBCU Wrestling and Delaware State University (DSU) are proud to announce the historic launch of the first-ever Division I women’s wrestling program at an HBCU, a major milestone made possible by a generous $1.25 million gift from HBCU Wrestling. This initiative represents more than just an expansion in athletics; it is a commitment to equitable opportunities, reflecting both institutions’ dedication to creating pathways where student-athletes can thrive.
“The partnership with HBCU Wrestling gives our women student-athletes a platform to compete, grow, and inspire others. We are excited for this new chapter and the impact it will have for years to come,” said Dr. Alecia Shields-Gadson, Director of Athletics.
The Delaware State University athletics department will immediately begin the search for a head coach. The first season for the women’s wrestling program is set to begin in the Fall 2025.
Founded in 2021, HBCU Wrestling has made it its mission to bring wrestling back to HBCUs, giving young athletes the chance to excel in sports while being empowered as leaders. This movement began with a $2.7 million gift to Morgan State University, leading to the revitalization of its wrestling program. With the launch of DSU’s women’s team, HBCU Wrestling continues its mission to increase representation and opportunity in collegiate sports.
Restoring Tradition, Advancing Equity
Delaware State University’s history in wrestling spans decades, and it was the last HBCU to offer a Division I wrestling program before it was discontinued in 2009 due to financial challenges. The closure of DSU’s program mirrored a broader trend, as many universities—both HBCUs and others—faced similar pressures that led to the elimination of wrestling programs nationwide. Now, with HBCU Wrestling’s strategic support, DSU is not only reviving its program but doing so in a way that aligns with Title IX standards and promotes gender equity. This new program opens the doors for DSU to develop a sustainable, competitive team where young women athletes can reach their full potential.
“This announcement is not only about wrestling; it’s about expanding access to life-changing opportunities,” said Jahi Jones, Executive Director of HBCU Wrestling. “At HBCU Wrestling, we’ve built a foundation that now allows young women to succeed, thrive, and lead while still being in an environment where they feel seen, valued, and loved. This program aligns with the incredible growth of women’s wrestling nationwide, and I look forward to a strong, lasting partnership with Delaware State University that will inspire and empower future generations.”
A New Era for HBCU Athletics
DSU President Tony Allen highlighted the significance of this partnership.
“Delaware State University is proud to take this historic step in advancing opportunities for women in sports,” said Tony Allen, President of DSU. “We’re also thankful for our partnership with HBCU Wrestling, which will give our student-athletes the tools and environment they need to grow and succeed. This program will be a cornerstone of our commitment to fostering growth, diversity, and excellence in athletics.”
Toccara Montgomery, the first Black woman to win a World Championship medal for the United States and to represent the U.S. in Olympic wrestling, shared her thoughts on the program “Seeing Delaware State launch the first-ever Division 1 women’s wrestling team at an HBCU is a powerful moment that feels like the realization of a dream. When I held a camp at DSU not long ago, I saw firsthand the excitement and potential in the athletic staff and community. This new program is more than just an opportunity—it’s a historic step forward that will inspire young women of color to chase their passions and know they belong at the highest levels of sport.”
As DSU’s women’s wrestling program begins, HBCU Wrestling remains focused on building a legacy of inclusion, competitive excellence, and community impact for years to come.
About Historically Black Colleges and Universities Wrestling Initiative:
Historically Black Colleges and Universities Wrestling Initiative (HBCUW) seeks to establish and restore wrestling to America’s historically black colleges and universities and expand access to opportunities created by wrestling for the black community so as to advance social justice and produce black wrestlers and leaders who have the potential to change the trajectory of their families, community, and country. Through the establishment and restoration of wrestling programs at HBCUs, we aim to expand access to the invaluable life skills, networking opportunities, and career pathways that the sport offers.
About Delaware State University:
Delaware State University was founded in 1891 and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Its main location is in Dover, yet DSU offers courses throughout the state of Delaware. Learn more at www.desu.edu
Delaware
Body cam video released of deadly police shooting in Wilmington, Delaware
WILMINGTON, Del. (WPVI) — The family of Kadir Skinner is calling for criminal charges against the police officer who shot the 19-year-old after the release of officer body camera footage that attorneys say contradicts the police account of the incident.
The shooting happened June 24 after 11 p.m. at 24th and Jessup streets.
Calls grow for body cam video in deadly Wilmington police shooting
Body camera video shows an officer drawing and firing his weapon while yelling commands. In the footage, officers can be heard saying, “He’s got a gun,” as they approach Skinner, who is on the ground.
Skinner repeatedly tells officers he is unarmed and says he cannot breathe.
“I don’t got nothing. I don’t got nothing,” Skinner says in the video.
Footage shows officers handcuffing Skinner and kneeling on him while he continues to say, “I don’t got nothing. I can’t breathe.”
Skinner was shot in the rear.
READ MORE | ‘We need answers’: Family disputes details after man killed in Wilmington police shooting
A second body camera angle shows a crowd forming as officers instruct people to back up.
Video from a third responding officer appears to show an officer picking something up from the grass and returning toward the crowd and the officers with Skinner.
In the footage, an officer can be heard saying, “Secure the gun,” and the officer wearing the body cam says, “I have it.”
Attorneys for Skinner’s family, along with family members and community supporters, gathered at Shiloh Baptist Church in Wilmington following the release of the video to demand justice.
“Regardless if he had a gun or not, he was still shot in the back, running from police, not having been a threat,” attorney Harry Daniels said.
SEE ALSO | Family releases witness video after 19-year-old fatally shot by police in Wilmington
Attorney Chance Lynch said the footage showed “an unjustified killing.”
“What we saw and what we witnessed was an unjustified killing,” Lynch said.
Attorneys for the family contend the video disputes the police version of events. Wilmington police previously said Skinner came out of a home armed and waved a gun at a crowd before officers opened fire.
“The video that I saw, I didn’t see a crowd, and I did not see Kadir coming out of a residence. I did not see a crowd, and I did not see Kadir pointing a firearm at a crowd,” Lynch said.
Attorneys and the family maintain that Skinner was running from a loose dog.
The family also announced a $25 million claim against the city of Wilmington for wrongful death. They are seeking criminal charges against the officer who shot Skinner.
The Delaware Department of Justice is investigating.
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Delaware
Delaware oversight commission debates authority to reject utility rate hikes
Delmarva Power objects to applying legislation to interim rate
The debate among commissioners over the breadth of their oversight on utility rates comes as the company has pushed back on the group, limiting its interim rate increase to half of its total request, even while it faced criticism from commissioners that it is “cruel” and “tone deaf” for continuing to press for rate hikes.
Delmarva Power, an investor-owned utility, serves 344,000 residential and nonresidential customers in the state. Its parent company, Exelon Corporation, is the nation’s largest regulated electric and gas utility.
Its customers pay a supply and a delivery charge for gas and electricity. The supply of energy comes from PJM Interconnection, a regional grid serving Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and several other states. Delmarva Power profits through the distribution fee.
Delmarva Power Region President Marcus Beal said they need to file rate hike requests to recoup money it spends on improving and maintaining the infrastructure.
“Our equipment is extremely expensive, the items that we buy, the transformers, they’re very large, complex things to build,” Beal said. “Even something as simple as a treated pole of a certain size can be very pricey, so we spend a lot of money on the grid itself.”
Under Delaware law, interim rates can be approved seven months after a rate case is filed, while the full petition is being considered by the commission. Prior to the legislation, 100% of the rate request could be implemented. The bill caps interim rates at 50% and allows 75% of the ask to go into effect after 12 months. The bill also puts limits on Delmarva Power’s infrastructure spending.
Delmarva Power spokesperson Matt Ford said the commission overstepped its authority to cut the interim rate as much as they did and the company has argued in its PSC submissions that SB 326 did not apply to the rate increase request filed in December because it had yet to be signed into law. Meyer said he signed the bill Monday.
“Delmarva Power further reserves its objections to the applicability of the legislation, should it become effective, including its impermissible retroactive application,” the utility company said in comments filed Monday afternoon with the commission.
In addition, Delmarva Power has objected to halving $23.2 million in distribution system improvement charges as part of the interim rate commissioners approved. The fee allows utility companies to recover project costs and depreciation between full rate case proceedings.
“My suggestion is, if you don’t like it, appeal it,” Iorii said.
It’s unclear whether the utility plans to appeal the order. Ford said they were reviewing it and its implications.
Tweedie said he hopes they decide not to appeal.
“If they appeal this, what they are essentially saying is, ‘We want to extract more money from our customers than the commission intended to allow,’” he said.
Delaware
Delaware man identified after fatal pedestrian crash
Delaware State Police have identified the man who was struck and killed by a vehicle while lying on the roadway in Harrington, Delaware.
On Monday, July 13, 2026, Jimmy Burgess, 62, was struck by a Chevrolet Silverado driving westbound near the 1500 block of Whiteleysburg Road.
According to police, the Silverado, which was operated by a 17-year-old boy from Milton, Delaware, was unable to stop once he saw Burgess on the road, striking him. The driver of the Silverado was not injured during the crash.
Burgess was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead, said police.
The roadway was closed for approximately three hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.
The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collison Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash.
Troopers ask anyone with information about the crash contact Sergeant M. Long at (302) 698-8518.
Information can also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police, or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-(800) 847-3333
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