Spotlight Delaware Podcasts

Colby Cox is a fourth-generation Miltonian who left his mark on his hometown two decades ago, when he built Cannery Village. Today, the master-planned community surrounds the Dogfish Head brewery and helped launch the intimate, mixed-use development concept to Delaware. He's recently kickstarted work on his latest Delaware project, The Granary at Draper Farms – a massive project on Milton's southwest side, which will likely double the town's population in the next decade. Cox discussed the project, how he approaches building a community, how to view Sussex County's building boom and more in a sit-down interview with Spotlight Delaware.

Deputy Editor Karl Baker joins "Beyond the Headlines" to mark the beginning of 2026 election season with a discussion about money – specifically how Delaware's political parties finance their operations. Two of Karl's recent articles have taken on the topic through a bipartisan lens: "Longtime court critic quietly funds PAC controlled by House Speaker," and "Delaware's GOP projects strength after months of turmoil." In the podcast, Karl discusses what these two developments say about the state of money in Delaware politics and shares how hel tracks these trends. 

Since late 2024, municipalities across Delaware have been struggling with how to pass and enforce ordinances related to loitering and panhandling. The cause of the struggle was an agreement reached between the Delaware Department of Justice and the ACLU directing police in Delaware to no longer enforce current loitering and solicitation laws in public spaces. The agreement was a settlement to a lawsuit brought by the ACLU, and was sparked due to constitutional concerns connected to the First and Fourth Amendments. Wilmington reporter Brianna Hill and Rural Communities reporter Maggie Reynolds join the podcast to discuss how this issue has been showing up in Delaware's two biggest cities. Although Dover and Wilmington are very different municipalities, there are similarities in how the city councils have been trying to navigate passing new ordinances. The decisions these cities reach could provide a template for how other towns in Delaware try to address the issue. Hosted by David Stradley Read the Spotlight Delaware articles connected to this episode: Jennings talks updated loitering bill, lawmakers express frustrations Debate grows as Wilmington crafts new loitering ordinance Dover residents, officials divided ahead of panhandling vote  

Editor-in-Chief Jacob Owens talks about Spotlight Delaware's months-long project looking at the results of Delaware's first reassessment of property values in more than 40 years. Working with Tech Impact, Spotlight produced an interactive map showing how the state's tax burdens and property assessments have shifted in that time.  In his accompanying reporting, Jake highlights questions around the outcome of the reassessment prompted by the data map, including whether the reassessment will help Delaware achieve equity in education funding. Hosted by David Stradley  

Reporter Julia Merola joins the podcast to discuss her article 'Afraid to Die': Parents of Disabled Adults Struggle to Find Housing. The article profiles three families who are concerned they will not be able to provide supportive housing for their adult children with disabilities before the parents pass away.  Merola shares how a previous article built trust and connections in the disability community that led directly to this article, how she worked to draw readers into an issue they may not have personal experience with, and why she thinks a profile like this has strong news worthiness even though it's not breaking news. Hosted by David Stradley

In the last week of 2025, five members of Spotlight Delaware's reporting team created a five-part series on Homelessness in Delaware. At a time of year where news readership normally dips, this series resulted in some of the Spotlight's highest readership numbers in several months. In this episode, reporters Olivia Marble, Brianna Hill and Nick Stonesifer discuss the collaborative nature of reporting on this issue and how the team worked to ensure that the voices of people experiencing homelessness were centered in this series. Plus, how losing your photo SD card can end up being a blessing in disguise. Hosted by David Stradley Read the Spotlight Delaware articles connected to this episode: Homelessness Series Archives

In this last "Beyond the Headlines" episode for 2025, each member of Spotlight Delaware's nine-person reporting team reflects on the stories that meant the most to them in the year. From government accountability to long-term investigations, community profiles to breaking news, learn what stuck out to our reporters in 2025. Moms, farmers, politicians, abuse victims and more are all featured in these reflections.  Hosted by David Stradley Read the Spotlight Delaware articles connected to this episode: Delaware abuse victim rescued from ICE deportation Delaware soybean farmers remain optimistic amid dropping prices Years of violations, but few consequences for MeadowWood Wilmington mom struggles to secure therapy for son with autism A decade after Bradley abuse case, survivors still seek help Trans youth face care crisis in Delaware as health options shrinkLate-night compromise ends legislative standoff over offshore windDelDOT investigating land deal struck with a chief planner's business partnerDemocrats feud over Sussex chair's sex offender past  

Education reporter Julia Merola talks about the Redding Consortium for Educational Equity and specifically its process to make a recommendation for reworking school district boundaries in Wilmington. She recaps the background of the consortium and the details of the December 16th vote to move forward with a redistricting plan. Julia also discusses why the work of the consortium, which had been flying under the radar, has recently been receiving a lot more public focus – and with that, some public confusion and public pushback. Plus, learn when being a 4'11" reporter has downsides. Hosted by David Stradley Read the Spotlight Delaware articles connected to this episode: What is the Redding Consortium? 'We were bulldozed': The history of Wilmington's school system  

Rural communities reporter Maggie Reynolds discusses a controversy that has broken out in recent weeks in Georgetown where a citizens' group is making their disapproval quite vocal of the town's homeless population and the town government's handling of the issue.  Maggie gives insight into the origins of the Make Georgetown Great Again movement, highlights other quieter voices offering perspectives on homelessness, and reflects on how the dynamics of smaller town life are playing out in this debate. Plus, Maggie shares how reporters think about where they sit in town council meetings. Hosted by David Stradley Read the Spotlight Delaware article connected to this episode: Georgetown homelessness spurs resident ire, calls for change Georgetown tiny homes project faces uncertainty amid resident ire

Editor-in-Chief Jacob Owens recently published a special report, "A decade after Bradley abuse case, survivors still seek help" as well as a podcast with Margaret Murphy, the mother of two of Earl Bradley's victims. Now, Owens joins the "Beyond the Headlines" podcast to share his perspectives on the nearly two-year reporting journey behind the article. He details what led Murphy to trust Spotlight Delaware with this story, the special considerations and care surrounding interviewing survivors of sexual abuse, and his hopes for the conversation that will occur in Delaware as a result of this special report. Hosted by David Stradley CONTENT WARNING This episode does contain discussion of mature themes and brief descriptions of sexual abuse and violence, including crimes involving children. It begins with an overview of the crimes committed by former Delaware pediatrician Earl Bradley.  

Olivia Marble discusses three current development proposals which, taken together, give a fascinating snapshot into how elected officials, advocates, and everyday residents are wrestling with questions about where and how to build in Delaware's fastest growing county. Olivia talks about her "reading of the tea leaves" to try to discern how Sussex County Council members will vote, the conflict between desires for both denser developments and preservation corridors, and traffic – always traffic. Plus, the irony of residents in new housing developments advocating against new housing developments.  Hosted by David Stradley Read the Spotlight Delaware article connected to this episode: Sussex density goals put to the test by controversial Belle Mead development Sussex County Council divided on Atlantic Fields ahead of vote  Sussex County Council split on Cool Spring Crossing amid outcry

Reporter José Ignacio Castañeda Perez talks about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's recent arrest and detention of a Delaware victim of domestic violence, despite her living with temporary protected legal status in the U.S. If ICE had deported her back to her native country, her abuser would have been waiting.  José Ignacio offers details about the process to gain permission to tell the victim's story, how newsrooms deal with requests for anonymity and gives more insight into some of the key figures in the article. Hosted by David Stradley Read the Spotlight Delaware article connected to this episode: 'Bring her back': Delaware abuse victim rescued from ICE deportation

Health reporter Nick Stonesifer discusses his investigation into charity care provided by nonprofit hospitals in the state, particularly Delaware's largest healthcare provider. Charity care (or financial assistance to individuals at certain income levels) is something that most Delawareans may not be aware of, particularly those who could use it the most. Nick gives insight into his four-month reporting research for the article, how the charity process works, and why the concept of "community benefits" provided by nonprofit hospitals has become so hard to quantify.  Hosted by David Stradley Read the Spotlight Delaware article connected to this episode: As ChristianaCare's profits rise, free care to the poor stays stagnant  

Reporter Brianna Hill returns to the podcast to take us with her as she hit the street, particularly street corners, for her September 7th article "Should Wilmington temporarily ban new corner stores?" Brianna talks about how she sourced the community voices for the story, some of the surprising points of view that made their way into her reporting and shares a few encounters on the street that didn't make it into the article. Plus, find out which group of people sitting on a corner Brianna perhaps shouldn't have approached for the story. Hosted by David Stradley Read the Spotlight Delaware article connected to this episode: Should Wilmington temporarily ban new corner stores?

Marketing & Events Manager Elsa Kegelman makes a special guest appearance on "Beyond the Headlines" to let listeners in on all the adventures that await during Spotlight Delaware's Family Fun Day, taking place on Saturday, September 27. With podcast host David Stradley, Elsa gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the statewide escapades as we've been planning this day and provides the inside scoop on biggest surprises, best gift shops and most Instagrammable locales among the Family Fun Day attractions. Plus, learn where Elsa and David think certain Shakespeare characters would have their family fun in Delaware.

Tim Carlin, Spotlight's new deputy editor for Southern Delaware, visits the podcast to discuss what will guide the newsroom's expanded coverage of Kent & Sussex counties. He highlights stories from recent months that typify what he hopes southern Delawareans can expect from Spotlight, explores why First State residents should care about localized stories beyond their town, and offers thoughts on the pros and cons of reporting on Delaware as a newcomer. Plus, Tim takes a Delaware Trivia quiz to assess how he's doing at learning about his new home! Hosted by David Stradley Read the Spotlight Delaware articles connected to this episode: Delaware Explained: Sussex County land use reforms Delaware hunters, lawmakers clash over hunting supervision rules

Rural Communities Reporter Maggie Reynolds joins the podcast for the first time to talk about her recent article detailing efforts in Kent County to add support services for those experiencing homelessness and drug addiction. She shares insights into why tactics are different in Kent and New Castle counties, how personal connections lead people to take action on this issue, and what sparked a bipartisan collaboration between two senators. Plus, learn how Maggie ended up doing an interview for the story inside a BMW at an abandoned auto shop. Hosted by David Stradley Read the Spotlight Delaware article connected to this episode: Kent County debates ideas to address homelessness, drug use

As New Castle County school boards are meeting to consider new property tax rates, Editor-in-Chief Jacob Owens offers perspectives on the reassessment saga. He discusses reactions in different counties to the property reassessments and tax rates, how the Delaware legislature attempted to provide relief in a one-day special session and what lessons we can take from this 40-year-delayed process. Plus, find out how Jake's newly-constructed Middletown home was given a 1983 valuation. Hosted by David Stradley Read the Spotlight Delaware articles connected to this episode: New Castle County school districts all prepare tax rate resets State lawmakers ease residential property tax burden in testy special session Delaware Explained: Post-reassessment tax bill

Olivia Marble, Spotlight Delaware's new land use reporter reporter, makes her podcast debut discussing a potential project that has quickly gripped Delawareans -- an 11-building data center in Delaware City. Olivia offers context on her discussion with energy experts, the atmosphere in the recent public town hall, and potential legislation that could influence the development. Plus, find out how the frustrations of 15-year-old Olivia led to her passion for land use. Hosted by David Stradley Read the Spotlight Delaware articles connected to this episode: Proposed Delaware data center would have massive energy needs Delaware House Speaker joins calls to deny proposed data center New data center regulations proposed in New Castle County

Education reporter Julia Merola comes onto the podcast to look back over the recent school year. She shares insights about some recent consequential school board activity, bills passed during this year's legislative session that will have impact in the schools next year, and the current state of Federal education funding. Plus, find out whether Julia still thinks about education issues while she goes on her summer break. Hosted by David Stradley Read the Spotlight Delaware articles connected to this episode: Free breakfast leads Delaware education bills passed Moriak selected as new Christina school board presidentAppoquinimink votes to raise taxes amid accounting snafu