News On The Hill with Andrew Stuckey (97.9 The Hill)

Military data and mental health reporter Daniel Johnson speaks with 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Wednesday, July 8. As part of Johnson’s ongoing reporting into suicide rates and deaths related to mental illness among service members, he discovered that women soldiers not only have significantly higher rates of suicide but higher rates of homicide at the hands of other service members. Johnson shares details of just what that means for the women in uniform, how it’s reflective of a hyper-masculine culture within the U.S. military, and how the data falls short in highlighting further domestic violence dangers they face.

Read Johnson’s article, “Women in The Army Are More Likely to Be Killed by Fellow Soldiers Than Enemy Combatants,” on The Intercept.

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. Here past interviews on-demand on Chapelboro, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

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The post Daniel Johnson Studying Violence Against Women Soldiers, Mental Health Issues in U.S. Military – On Air Today (July 8, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell guest hosts the show on Wednesday, July 8 and shares the latest local news stories. Orange County’s Emergency Services Director shares one main way his staff is learning from the experience of responding to last year’s Tropical Storm Chantal: how to prevent 911 calls from going unanswered during a high volume period. An elected official publicly throws their hat into the ring for consideration of the vacant seat on the Orange County Board of Commissioners, which will be filled by the end of the month. Gov. Josh Stein touts his policy victories in the state budget he signed into effect on Tuesday. A newer initiative on UNC’s campus is aiming to strengthen global health resources and explore ways to innovate access to care.

97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro.com are your headquarters for local news in the greater Chapel Hill and Carrboro community. Every weekday afternoon, 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey recaps the day’s news, from local government to business developments to UNC sports, and everything in-between. Hear compelling stories, breaking news, and more. Find all of Andrew’s Evening News Reports by clicking here.

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The post Handling 911 Calls, Filling Vacant County Seat, and Innovating Access to Healthcare – The Evening News (July 8, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

UNC law and sports administration professor Barbara Osborne speaks with 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Wednesday, July 8. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week in the Little v. Hecox case, saying that statewide bans on transgender women competing in women’s sports do not violate the Constitution, striking a blow to trans rights. Osborne discusses what the ruling does and does not establish, how the ruling will impact very little in the ways sports are played and enforced, whether the ruling strengthens Title IX and sex-segregated athletics, and her perspective as a former student-athlete.

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. Here past interviews on-demand on Chapelboro, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen:

The post What The Supreme Court Ruling on Transgender Athletes Means for Them and Title IX – On Air Today (July 8, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Orange County Emergency Services Director Kirby Saunders speaks with 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell about the recent anniversary of Tropical Storm Chantal. Emergency responders took on thousands of calls and made dozens of rescues the night of the intense flash flooding. Saunders shares some of his lasting memories from the response, as well as takeaways that the Emergency Services department and county government have from the experience. That includes improve backup options during high volumes for 911 calls, better water gauges at the community’s rivers, and improving regional communication. Saunders also shares his perspective on how Chantal is an example of the importance of getting flood insurance across the county.

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. Here past interviews on-demand on Chapelboro, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen:

The post Orange County’s Kirby Saunders on Chantal Anniversary and Its Emergency Management Lessons – On Air Today (July 7, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell shares the latest local headlines on Tuesday, July 7 while filling in for Andrew Stuckey. Gov. Josh Stein signs North Carolina’s newest budget into effect, enacting significant pay raises for public school teachers and prison staffers as part of the first full budget package in nearly three years. Neighborhoods that took on water during Tropical Storm Chantal’s floods one year ago and still finding their way back to stability, with recovery taking a different path for each affected resident. U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee honors the late Jamezetta Bedford on the House floor and new Carolina Athletics Director Steve Newmark shares a letter with Tar Heel fans.

97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro.com are your headquarters for local news in Chapel Hill-Carrboro. Every weekday afternoon, 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey recaps the day’s news, from local government to business developments to UNC sports, and everything in-between. Hear compelling stories, breaking news, and more. Find all of Andrew’s Evening News Reports by clicking here.

Listen:

The post How Neighborhoods Are Recovering From Chantal, Plus a New State Budget – The Evening News (July 7, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Chair of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners Amanda Robertson joins 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Tuesday, July 7. With the region passing the first anniversary of Tropical Storm Chantal and its damaging floods, Robertson shares her takeaways from the recovery process and how the county government is working on preparation for future extreme weather. She also details an upcoming trip to the National Association of Counties, or NACo, which is an opportunity to showcase and learn ideas on how to address pressing topics and lead within local governments.

97.9 The Hill’s broadcast of the Chatham County Roundup is sponsored by Chatham County’s own Rocky River Hemp, your local source for regeneratively grown hemp CBD and THC products like oils, salves, gummies, seltzers, facial serums and dog treats.

Each week, News on The Hill engages in conversation with Chatham County leaders for the Chatham County Roundup. You can find previous conversations with Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp, Chatham County Commissioner Karen Howard, and other county leaders by clicking here.

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The post Chatham County Roundup: County Commissioner Amanda Robertson on Chantal Anniversary and NACo appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Hillsborough Mayor Mark Bell speaks with 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Tuesday, July 7. Coming off a holiday weekend with a big town-organized festival, Bell shares his impressions and takeaways from the event held on the Fourth of July. With Monday also marking one year since Tropical Storm Chantal’s floods damaged parts of the region, including Hillsborough, the mayor also shares how the town is still feeling the storm’s impact and what it has learned from the extreme weather experience. Finally, Bell details a newer resource for residents to use to tell the North Carolina Department of Transportation which local projects they want to see taken on.

Mayor Mark Bell of Hillsborough

Conversations With the Mayors is an ongoing series on “News on the Hill” where host Andrew Stuckey visits with the local government leaders who help shape our communities in Chapel Hill and the surrounding area. Each Tuesday he visits with Hillsborough Mayor Mark Bell; Wednesdays feature a conversation with Chair of the Orange County Commissioners Jean Hamilton; Thursdays feature Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson, and Fridays include a conversation with Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee. You can listen to previous “Conversations With the Mayors” here.

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The post Hillsborough: Storm Anniversary and Impacts, NCDOT Projects and 18th Century Graves appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Paul Slack, the chief civil rights officer for the Orange County government, joins 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell for “Conversations We Need to Have” on Monday, July 6. Coming off the Fourth of July holiday, the pair talk about what the holiday means for them and the conflicted feelings it generates, both historically and amid heightened political divide. Then, the two discuss how the World Cup being hosted in North America has felt like a moment of celebration and unity, while highlighting good parts of the American experience and its welcoming of other cultures.

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. Here past interviews on-demand on Chapelboro, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Conversations We Need To Have is an interview series centering topics of social justice, civil rights, and platforming marginalized communities.

Listen:

The post Conversations We Need to Have: Paul Slack on The Feeling of Belonging During July 4th and The World Cup – July 6, 2026 appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell fills in to share the latest local news stories on Thursday, July 2. With a busy Fourth of July weekend around town, community members have a variety of events to choose from to celebrate community and the founding of the country. Extreme heat conditions may present challenges, though, so the county activates its cooling centers and shares heat resources. In Raleigh, the North Carolina General Assembly approves a budget for the first time in more than two years and sends the bill to Gov. Josh Stein. Details emerge of an improper relationship between a counselor and students at Orange High School, with the educator now facing charges. Plus: a late transfer portal addition for UNC men’s basketball and a profile on one of the community’s most in-demand muralists.

97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro.com are your headquarters for local news in Chapel Hill-Carrboro. Every weekday afternoon, 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey recaps the day’s news, from local government to business developments to UNC sports, and everything in-between. Hear compelling stories, breaking news, and more. Find all of Andrew’s Evening News Reports by clicking here.

Listen:

The post A New Carrboro Mural, State Budget Passage and What to Know Before July 4 – The Evening News (July 2, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Carrboro Fire Chief Will Potter joins 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell on Thursday, July 2 to discuss the town government and community’s ongoing recovery from Tropical Storm Chantal. With the anniversary of the storm coming up, Potter shares how Carrboro has kept up its services, still faces some challenges in replacing equipment, and takeaways from the emergency response during the massive flooding.

Each Thursday, “News on the Hill” centers conversations around climate and sustainability for our Climate Thursday segment. We visit with community leaders, policy makers, and experts in the fields of climate science and sustainability in order to put all of the latest climate news into local context. Find our past Climate Thursday conversations here.

Listen:

The post Carrboro Fire Chief Will Potter on Chantal Anniversary and Ongoing Recovery – Climate Thursday appeared first on Chapelboro.com.