Delaware

First new school opens in Wilmington since desegregation busing in the 1970s

Published

5 months ago

August 26, 2024

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First new school opens in Wilmington since desegregation busing in the 1970s

From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!

This story was supported by a statehouse coverage grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Students will soon begin attending classes in the Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy, the first new Wilmington school in 50 years.

A ribbon cutting and block party last week drew hundreds of people, with Christina School District staff, Gov. John Carney, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, state lawmakers and the Pritchett family speaking to the crowd.

The $84 million building was named after longtime educator Maurice Pritchett, a student at the Bancroft School in the city’s East Side neighborhood who served as the school’s principal from 1975 to 2005. Pritchett died last year. Construction for the school that will serve students in grades one through eight was fully funded by the state.

The playground at the the Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy, the city of Wilmington’s first new school in 50 years. (Sarah Mueller/WHYY)

Carney said he hopes the new facility will attract kids currently going to schools outside of the city.

“I firmly believe that this building will bring a lot of those families back to this neighborhood and into this beautiful school, and that’s part of what we’re trying to do,” he said.

Friday’s ribbon cutting was also a celebration of Pritchett and his life’s work of helping students learn. Some of the speakers shouted his name in a “call and response” rhythm with the crowd at the event.

Sen. Darius Brown was one of several who honored the former principal.

“He was not just the school principal, but he was one of us,” Brown said. “He was from the neighborhood because he grew up right here on Wilmington’s East Side. I see so many of the kids that grew up with me on the East Side here today, and it is a tribute to the legacy of Mr. Pritchett.”

Darius Brown speaks behind a podium — State Sen. Darius Brown speaks at the ribbon cutting of the Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy in Wilmington, Delaware. (Sarah Mueller/WHYY)

Pritchett’s widow Juanita Pritchett said students will succeed if the new school is filled with love.

“Nothing happens unless there’s the love. As the children enter and receive love, they will leave. They will carry that love that they received from the Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy. These children, as they leave, will heal the world because of the love given to them here.”

Bancroft has been one of the lowest performing schools in the state. Delaware Department of Education data from the 2022–2023 school year shows less than 7% of the school’s students were proficient in English and less than 4% were proficient in math.

Christina Interim Superintendent Bob Andrzejewski said it was possible with this new school to raise student performance.

“I just encourage all of you, the family, the friends, the community leaders and others to support the young people here and the staff and the leadership to make Maurice Academy the super special place that it is,” he said. “Because we don’t want just the new building. We want to be able to see our students do better and better.”

The history wall inside the Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy, the city of Wilmington’s first new school in 50 years. (Sarah Mueller/WHYY)

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Delaware

Former Delaware County pastor David Zandstra acquitted of 1975 murder of Gretchen Harrington

Published

6 hours ago

January 17, 2025

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Former Delaware County pastor David Zandstra acquitted of 1975 murder of Gretchen Harrington – CBS Philadelphia

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A Delaware County jury has found an elderly pastor accused in the 1975 cold case murder of 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington of Broomall, Pennsylvania, not guilty.

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Delaware

How much snow are we getting? See the Delaware weather forecast for this weekend

Published

14 hours ago

January 17, 2025

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How much snow are we getting? See the Delaware weather forecast for this weekend

Another weekend, another chance for snow in Delaware and the surrounding region.

Following a dusting of snow for some parts of our area, the weekend forecast for the First State likely will include some snowfall. But how much?

Here’s the latest outlook:

How much snow are we getting?

A storm could drop anywhere from a dusting to 4 inches of snow in Delaware from Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening.

Between 3 and 4 inches could fall in most of New Castle County with the southern portion currently projected to get 2 to 3 inches, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey.

Meanwhile, most of Kent County and the northern portion of Sussex County could see 1 to 2 inches with the Delaware beaches likely to get less than an inch, the weather service said.

As of Friday morning, here is the probability of 2 inches of snow in Delaware:

Wilmington: 68%
Dover: 41%
Bethany Beach: 2%

During the storm, snowfall rates could exceed 1 inch per hour near and northwest of the I-95 corridor, they said.

Will it snow for the Eagles game?

The Philadelphia Eagles are set to take on the Los Angeles Rams in a divisional-round playoff matchup at 3 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. If the weather forecast holds, this will mean snow is likely to fall throughout the game, giving the Eagles a decisive weather advantage over the West Coast team.

Dangerously cold temps coming

Following the snow, temperatures will likely fall below freezing Sunday night and remain below freezing until at least Friday, according to the weather service. The coldest period will be Monday night through Thursday morning.

Throughout the week, high temperatures will be in the teens with lows in the single digits to below zero.

Night-time wind chills are projected to be below zero and recover into the single digits only during the daytime, the weather service said.

Here is the estimated minimum wind chills for next week:

Wilmington: minus 8 degrees
Dover: minus 9 degrees
Bethany Beach: minus 6 degrees

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Delaware

Delaware Lottery Play 3 Day, Play 3 Night winning numbers for Jan. 16, 2025

Published

22 hours ago

January 17, 2025

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Delaware Lottery Play 3 Day, Play 3 Night winning numbers for Jan. 16, 2025

The Delaware Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 results for each game:

Winning Play 3 numbers from Jan. 16 drawing

Day: 8-9-2

Night: 4-7-5

Check Play 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 4 numbers from Jan. 16 drawing

Day: 3-5-9-6

Night: 7-6-3-1

Check Play 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Multi-Win Lotto numbers from Jan. 16 drawing

02-18-22-24-31-32

Check Multi-Win Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 16 drawing

13-20-29-32-37, Lucky Ball: 06

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 5 numbers from Jan. 16 drawing

Day: 6-0-0-3-1

Night: 8-7-8-1-6

Check Play 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Sign the Ticket: Establish legal ownership by signing the back of your ticket with an ink pen.
Prizes up to $599: Claim at any Delaware Lottery Retailer, in person at the Delaware Lottery Office, or mail your signed ticket and claim form; print your name/address on the ticket’s back and keep a copy/photo for records. By mail, send original tickets and documentation to: Delaware Lottery, 1575 McKee Road, Suite 102, Dover, DE 19904.
Prizes up to $2,500: Claim in person at Delaware Lottery Retailer Claim Centers throughout Kent, Sussex and New Castle Counties.
Prizes of $5,001 or more: Claim in person at the Delaware Lottery Office (business days 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with a photo ID and Social Security card.
For all prize claims, directions to the Delaware Lottery Office are available online or via mapquest.com for a map.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Delaware Lottery.

Can I claim a jackpot prize anonymously in Delaware?

Fortunately for First State residents, the Delaware Lottery allows winners remain anonymous. Unlike many other states that require a prize be over a certain jackpot, Delawareans can remain anonymous no matter how much, or how little, they win.

How long do I have to claim my prize in Delaware?

Tickets are valid for up to one year past the drawing date for drawing game prizes or within one year of the announced end of sales for Instant Games, according to delottery.com.

When are the Delaware Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
Play 3, 4: Daily at 1:58 p.m. and 7:57 p.m., except Sunday afternoon.
Multi-Win Lotto: 7:57 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Lucky for Life: Daily at 10:38 p.m.
Lotto America: 11:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Delaware Online digital operations manager. You can send feedback using this form.

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