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

Deborah Stroman joins 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell over the phone on Friday, Apr. 3 from Phoenix ahead of the women’s basketball NCAA Tournament’s Final Four tipping off. Stroman shares what the atmosphere is like and what it’s like to be an environment so celebratory of women’s hoops. Then, the pair preview the matchups of South Carolina-UConn and Texas-UCLA — a repeat of last season’s Final Four. Is that kind of repeat a good thing for the sport, and how do those programs find the consistency to set themselves apart? Who does Debby say are players to watch and the favorite to win it all?

Dr. Deborah Stroman — who is a consulting professor for UNC and Virginia, sports businesswoman, former basketball player, and columnist — chats with 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell each week about headlines from the world of sports. Covering both local and national stories, Stroman specializes in connecting the on-field product to the impact of sports on business, culture and society. Listen to their past conversations on Chapelboro, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.

The post Previewing the Women’s Final Four + What the Four No. 1 Seeds Bring – Stroman on Sports (Apr. 3, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell fills in for Andrew Stuckey on Friday, Apr. 3 to share the latest local news stories. With Graig Meyer now having officially left the North Carolina Senate, a committee of select Democrats from Orange, Person and Caswell counties are set to make their appointment to District 23 on Saturday. House Minority Leader Rep. Robert Reives shares his thoughts about Meyer’s departure and their work together in the legislature. Stakeholders react to the state Supreme Court’s ruling that invalidates the Leandro Plan and any efforts from the courts to push the General Assembly for more public education funding. Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson shares more on why the town is switching from fireworks to a drone show on July 4th, while Carrburritos owner Rae Mosher shares more about the restaurant’s upcoming move to Carr Mill Mall. And in sports: a lead candidate for the UNC men’s basketball coaching job is staying put, while UNC women’s lacrosse and baseball get a busy weekend of games started.

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.

The post Awaiting A District 23 Appointment…Plus Leandro Ruling Reactions and A Coaching Candidate Gone — The Evening News (Apr. 3, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Executive Director of EmPOWERMent Inc. Delores Bailey joins 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Thursday, Apr. 2. After years of work, residents are beginning to move into EmPOWERMent’s affordable housing community in the Pine Knolls neighborhood, the P.E.A.C.H. Apartments. Bailey shares the need for this type of lower-income affordable housing and details the many blessings and challenges of putting a project like this together. She also shares the type of work EmPOWERMent is doing to keep up this momentum through all of Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

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.

Listen:

The post Delores Bailey on the P.E.A.C.H Apartments (Finally!) Welcoming Residents — On Air Today (Apr. 2, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell guests hosts on Thursday, Apr. 2 and shares all the top local news stories. From Raleigh, the state Supreme Court rules against education advocates and invalidates the long-standing Leandro Plan to better fund public schools. The Town of Chapel Hill announces it is moving away from fireworks on the Fourth of July and is going with a more high-tech option. An affordable housing project long in the works for Chapel Hill breaks ground and highlights the collaboration between housing stakeholders. Local Congresswoman Valerie Foushee details the dysfunction and frustration in the Capitol Building over the partial government shutdown. And in sports: No. 6 UNC baseball begins a three-game series with high-flying Boston College, while Carolina women’s basketball sees a pair of players announce their plans to enter the transfer portal.

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.

The post Leandro Ruling Gets Thrown Out, A July 4th Drone Show and More Affordable Housing — The Evening News (Apr. 2, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Haw Riverkeeper and Executive Director of the Haw River Assembly Emily Sutton speaks with 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell on Thursday, Apr. 2. She shares the success of the organization’s recent 36th Clean-Up-A-Thon and how that annual event helps do more than just remove litter from the watershed. Sutton also details the Haw River Assembly’s recent policy work, including alerting people to the importance of PFAS and 1,4 Dioxane rules changes and trying to establish more guardrails around data center construction. Finally, she previews several upcoming events organized by the nonprofit, including its annual Haw River Festival in May.

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.

The post Climate Thursday: Riverkeeper Emily Sutton of the Haw River Assembly (Apr. 2, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson joins 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell in-studio on Thursday, Apr. 2. Her visit comes right on the heels of the Town of Chapel Hill announcing it will be switching up its Fourth of July celebration for the first time in six years, and she shares more details about the reasoning. Anderson also dives into the recent groundbreaking for the Homestead Gardens housing community — a project that spent years in the planning phase and is the biggest affordable housing venture on town-owned land.

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.

The post Chapel Hill: A New July 4th Tradition and An Affordable Housing Groundbreaking — (Apr. 2, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Rep. Robert Reives chats with 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Wednesday, Apr. 1. Ahead of the short session beginning later in the month, Reives shares his thoughts on several stories around the legislature — including one that affects Orange County. The House Minority Leader gives a public send-off of Sen. Graig Meyer, who is stepping down from elected office, and shares why he empathizes with Meyer’s desire to make a material difference in North Carolinians lives. Reives then details the believed roadblocks to making that difference through legislation in Raleigh, including Republicans’ indications to cut Medicaid funding and ongoing lack of a state budget. Finally: the District 54 representative details what’s he’s hearing from his constituents about the rising cost of living and associated challenges.

Robert’s Rules is our regular check in with Representative Robert Reives, representing Chatham County in North Carolina’s 54th district, and leading the Democratic caucus in the state house. Every two weeks Rep. Reives shares the latest news from the General Assembly in Raleigh, and his unique perspective on state and national political news.  On Air Today features 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.

The post Replacing Sen. Meyer, Preparing for Healthcare Fight and Returning to Short Session — Robert’s Rules (Apr. 1, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell guest hosts on Wednesday, Apr. 1 and shares the latest local news headlines — with NO April Fools! Chatham County law enforcement respond to a mental health crisis and issue their sympathies after a tragic ending. Local Democratic Party committee members prepare to pick their appointment to the Senate seat left vacant by Graig Meyer. A UNC student-run group helps equip TABLE in Carrboro with solar panels that should result in major energy savings. Stormwater construction in Carrboro could cause some delays. And in sports: the No. 6 Diamond Heels win a 14-inning rock fight with Campbell, while the search for the next UNC men’s basketball coach continues.

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.

The post TABLE Puts Up Solar Panels and UNC Baseball Wins Marathon Game — The Evening News (Apr. 1, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Jonathon Smith — the executive director and food security agent for Orange County’s Cooperative Extension — speaks with 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Wednesday, Apr. 1 about the new Baseline Community Food Assessment. Food system studies examine how communities grow, distribute and access food and food waste. Smith details why that data is important not only for the cooperative extension to know, but also local partners and farmers. He also shares what’s different from the 2016 assessment, the relationships between farmers and food pantries, and several case studies shared within the new report.

Read the full Orange County Baseline Community Food Assessment here.

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.

The post Jonathon Smith on Orange County’s 2026 Food System Assessment — On Air Today (Apr. 1, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey presents the afternoon news. Included in this edition of the news, Henry Taylor reports from this past weekend’s No Kings Protests. We hear from a joint meeting between Orange County and Mebane, and more. In sports, UNC Women’s Basketball concludes their season, Caleb Wilson declares for the NBA draft, and more.

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.

The post The Evening News – No Kings Protest, Mebane Growing, Caleb Wilson to NBA appeared first on Chapelboro.com.