Chapelboro.com

In today’s news: UNC and Duke Hospitals impose seasonal visitor restrictions, and a Florida man is arrested for a Christmas Eve burglary in Briar Chapel. Also: local government boards begin returning to session after winter break; local poets discuss the importance of the arts; and state attorney general Jeff Jackson sues the Trump administration over canceled education funds. In sports, UNC men’s and women’s basketball suffer upset losses over the weekend; and the transfer portal opens in college football, with a former Wisconsin QB heading to Chapel Hill. Finally, we recap all the big business news in our community from the last 12 months, from openings to closings – not to mention several disasters, from fires to floods.

97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro.com are your headquarters for local news in Chapel Hill-Carrboro. Every weekday morning, 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck recaps the day’s news, from local government to business developments to UNC sports. Click here to listen back to all of Aaron’s daily news reports, which you can hear live during “This Morning with Aaron Keck” every weekday from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m.

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The post The Morning News: Hospital Restrictions, Briar Chapel Burglary, UNC Basketball Losses appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Walt McRee

This Week:

Walt McRee has held leadership roles with PBI and the public banking movement since its earliest years. In addition to serving as Chair and President (2015-2017), Board Director, and Senior Advisor, Walt has been centrally involved as co-founder and director of other public banking initiatives including the Pennsylvania Project and Banking On New Jersey. Following an extensive national media career, Walt created, produced and co-hosted radio and TV programs for public banking including, “It’s Our Money with Ellen Brown” on the Progressive Radio Network as well as “Public Bank Solution” TV series. Following his initial period as PBI Chair, Walt founded Public Banking Associates, a national consultancy of public banking experts helping legislators and policy professionals address creation of their own public banks. Walt has also held founding leadership positions in other public interest issues including world hunger, the environment, public broadcasting and the arts. He holds a BA in Philosophy and Geography from Valparaiso University.

Randy Voller

Come on up to the porch to have a chat with Randy Voller — former mayor, real estate developer, musician, man-about-town and more — in a recurring conversation and slice-of-life program presented by VRC Limited. If you love great conversations and amazing anecdotes, then come on up and join us…On the Porch!

The post On the Porch: Walt McRee – Public Banking Solutions appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Tonya Council of Tonya’s Cookies and Cafe is bringing back a Mama Dip’s tradition with a New Years Day Feast, which will be available January 1, New Year’s Day, at the Cafe on S. Elliot Road in Chapel Hill and also available for takeout and pre-order. Tonya spoke with 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell about bringing this tradition back to Chapel Hill.

Presented by Tonya’s Cookies and Bakeshop.

On Air Today features interviews and conversations with the latest newsmakers in our community — including local elected leaders, educators, business owners, and anyone else with their finger on the pulse of the greater Chapel Hill community.

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The post On Air Today: Mama Dip’s New Year’s Meal Tradition Returns at Tonya’s appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: an unnatural battle between wolves, deer, sea otters, and polluting humans on the ironically-named Pleasant Island in Alaska. (Also, Aaron is impressed by sea otters for the first time ever, and Victor tries to ruin your day.)

Want to know what folks are talking about on social media? Every weekday on 97.9 The Hill’s “This Morning with Aaron Keck,” Victor Lewis scours the Internet for the day’s top trending stories, from weird news to wacky crimes to odd business ventures and everything in between. Click here to listen back to all our past What’s Trending segments – and tune in to “This Morning” on 97.9 The Hill every weekday at 7:45 to hear What’s Trending live on the air.

What’s Trending is made possible by Dynamic Electric. Listen now:

The post What’s Trending: Not-So-Pleasant Island appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: Orange County reports a positive rabies test in Hurdle Mills, and UNC women’s basketball gets a big win at Boston College. Also: U.S. House Rep. Valerie Foushee weighs in on the impact of federal research funding cuts; Planet Fitness moves out of University Place mall; a state auditor’s report dings the North Carolina Education Lottery for being too much lottery and not enough education; and the Tar Heel men’s basketball team gears up for their ACC opener against Florida State. Also: a UNC Media Hub report on how chronic burnout is affecting hospital chaplains.

97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro.com are your headquarters for local news in Chapel Hill-Carrboro. Every weekday morning, 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck recaps the day’s news, from local government to business developments to UNC sports. Click here to listen back to all of Aaron’s daily news reports, which you can hear live during “This Morning with Aaron Keck” every weekday from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m.

Listen:

The post The Morning News: Rabies, Lottery Funds, and UNC Basketball appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: a survey finding that almost half of American adults use their smartphones in bed, even though we all know that’s not great for sleep. (Also, Victor doles out advice to all the women he’s ever met – plus one guy.)

Want to know what folks are talking about on social media? Every weekday on 97.9 The Hill’s “This Morning with Aaron Keck,” Victor Lewis scours the Internet for the day’s top trending stories, from weird news to wacky crimes to odd business ventures and everything in between. Click here to listen back to all our past What’s Trending segments – and tune in to “This Morning” on 97.9 The Hill every weekday at 7:45 to hear What’s Trending live on the air.

What’s Trending is made possible by Dynamic Electric. Listen now:

The post What’s Trending: Victor, the Sleepy Misogynist appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Aaron welcomes Dr. Ryan Schulteis of Carolina Longevity, a new clinic on Governors Drive with an innovative approach to long-term health and wellness.

Conversation presented by Carolina Longevity. Visit CarolinaLongevity.com to learn more.

97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro.com are your headquarters for local news and local voices in Chapel Hill-Carrboro. Every weekday morning, 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck chats with government officials, UNC scholars, business and nonprofit leaders, area musicians, and others in our community as they share their thoughts, their experience, and their expertise on the central issues of today. Click here to listen back to all of Aaron’s conversations – and tune in to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” at 7:30 a.m. on 97.9 The Hill to hear those conversations live.

Listen:

The post On Air Today: Introducing Carolina Longevity! appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: a Chapel Hill home catches fire twice over Christmas weekend, and CommunityWorx is ending operations at its decades-old thrift shop. (The store itself will stay open, though, run by a different nonprofit.) Also: Carrboro chooses a new poet laureate; UNC women’s basketball preps for Boston College; and we look back at some of the top local stories of 2025, including an eventful year in UNC sports and a major national honor for the town of Carrboro.

Finally, a sad note: famed folk artist Clyde Jones of Bynum passed away last week at the age of 86.

97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro.com are your headquarters for local news in Chapel Hill-Carrboro. Every weekday morning, 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck recaps the day’s news, from local government to business developments to UNC sports. Click here to listen back to all of Aaron’s daily news reports, which you can hear live during “This Morning with Aaron Keck” every weekday from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m.

Listen:

The post The Morning News: Christmas House Fire, CommunityWorx Closing, Clyde Jones appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Karen Howard

This Week:

Elected as a Chatham County Commissioner in 2014, Karen Howard is a former attorney who lives in Northeast Chatham in a two-story Greek Revival house built in 1850 called the John A. Mason House. Commissioner Howard served as a member of the Chatham County Board of Education from 2012-2014. Born in New York, Commissioner Howard spent much of her childhood in the Bahamas. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English from Georgetown University and a LLB in Law from the University of Buckingham in England. In addition to serving as Chair of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization, Commissioner Howard serves on the Governor’s Crime Commission, and the Central Carolina Community College Board of Trustees.

The post On the Porch: Karen Howard – The Mason House appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

2025 was a tumultuous year to say the least, and a lot of that tumult came from Washington – and 2026 is likely to be no different, with a midterm election in November. Coming off a challenging  year, U.S. House Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-Chapel Hill) is running for reelection; she’ll face Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam in the March 3 Democratic primary.

Rep. Foushee joined Aaron Keck in 97.9 The Hill studios to share her thoughts about the past year in national government – and to look ahead to 2026, including not only that election campaign but also what’s likely to transpire in Congress.

97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro.com are your headquarters for local news and local voices in Chapel Hill-Carrboro. Every weekday morning, 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck chats with government officials, UNC scholars, business and nonprofit leaders, area musicians, and others in our community as they share their thoughts, their experience, and their expertise on the central issues of today. Click here to listen back to all of Aaron’s conversations – and tune in to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” at 7:30 a.m. on 97.9 The Hill to hear those conversations live.

Listen:

The post On Air Today: Congresswoman Valerie Foushee on 2025 and Running for Reelection appeared first on Chapelboro.com.