KJ Johnson's Young Simba in "The Lion King" on Broadway. (Courtesy of Kenneth E Johnson)

Cab student plays Young Simba in ‘Lion King’ on Broadway

Ken MammarellaCulture, Headlines

The first Broadway show that KJ Johnson saw was “The Lion King.” And now the Cab Calloway School of the Arts student is in the hit Disney musical, as one of two actors playing Young Simba. When KJ and his father, Kenneth E. Johnson, got the news that he was cast, “There was a lot of jumping and screaming and …

The latest rendering for the I-95 cap park proposed in Wilmington.

I-95 cap park would cost $360 million to $398 million

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

A park over Interstate 95 in downtown Wilmington would cost $360 million to $398 million to design and construct, according to a new feasibility study. The study, prepared for the Wilmington Area Planning Council, was endorsed Jan. 17, said Dave Gula, principal planner for the council. “The feasibility study will be turned over the partner agencies … to develop a …

The Newark library (New Castle County photo)

New 2-story Newark library to be built on same site

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

New Castle County has decided to update the Newark Free Library on the same site. The new, two-story building will have 50% more interior space, and there will be 80% more parking, Diana Brown, manager of the county’s 10 libraries, said this week. “Details of what will be inside will be developed with public hearings this year,” Out & About …

Mark Farrall, Newark's new police chief.

Lifelong Newark resident to be its next police chief

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

A lifelong Newark resident who has served on the Newark Police Department for 28 years will be its next leader. Mark Farrall, now the acting chief, will become chief of police on Feb. 1. He replaces Paul Tiernan, retiring after 15 years. “I am humbled by the opportunity,” Farrall said in a statement. “I am extremely proud of the men …

This map spells out the plan for the First State Crossing warehouse.

Warehouse announced on 28 acres in First State Crossing

Ken MammarellaBusiness, Headlines

A developer has sold 28 acres in First State Crossing, a multiuse Claymont site that once housed a steel plant, and the buyer will build a 358,000-square-feet warehouse there. First Industrial Realty Trust is planning a rear-load facility with 68 dock door positions, a 40-foot clear height and parking for 241 trailers and 289 cars. The land is on the …

24-hour pharmacies are returning to Delaware (National Cancer Institute photo from Unsplash)

24-hour pharmacies on way back to Delaware

Ken MammarellaBusiness, Headlines

Pharmacies trying to surmount national staffing shortages and burnout are buying robots to sort meds, using remote pharmacists, offering bonuses as high as $75,000 and changing how pharmacists are evaluated. They’re also cutting store hours. That’s why it appears that Delaware no longer has any 24-hour bricks-and-mortar retail pharmacies. For now. But there’s hope. Walgreens, the No. 2 pharmacy chain …

Bellefonte has proposed annexing two adjacent subdivisions.

Bellefonte wants to annex a bit, which upsets some folks

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

  NOTE: An earlier version of this story incorrectly attributed Brian Franklin’s quote to another person. Bellefonte, a town of 1,200 in northeastern New Castle County, wants to simplify its borders by annexing two neighboring subdivisions, but the idea is anything but simple. First, the concept – suggested by some homeowners in the areas that could be annexed – has …

The Maggie S. Myers, out of the water -- at last. (courtesy of Ada Puzo)

Maggie S. Myers re-floated; historic boat needs your help

Ken MammarellaCulture, Headlines

“It’s a sad day in Bowers,” Bowers Beach mayor Ada Puzzo wrote in an email the other day. “Our Maggie sunk last night. She’s sitting on the bottom of the creek right now. I cried like a baby when I saw her there.” She was referring to the Maggie S. Myers, the world’s oldest surviving oyster schooner. “It’s hard to …

pexels monstera 7114593

Veolia surprises customers with credit in water bills

Ken MammarellaBusiness, Headlines

A mega-deal among two large French companies that operate a lot of local water systems has resulted in a one-time credit for Delaware customers and a bunch of other commitments. Veolia’s merger with Suez had to go through various regulatory agencies, including the Delaware Public Service Commission, which approved the credit in November and ordered Veolia to include it in …

scam by phone (Pexels photo by Mikhail Nilof)

It’s a scam: You’re not getting calls with real deals

Ken MammarellaBusiness, Headlines

A few days ago, a Delawarean received “what seemed like very legit promotional call from (supposedly) XFINITY offering me $35 off my monthly internet/cable/phone bill for the next 2 years,” Patricia Seramone wrote on nextdoor. “They had my account number, and other pertinent information.” What they didn’t have is her faith. Seramone correctly realized, before she forked over payment information, …