Trending today: the Akron Zips football team plans to choose one season-ticket holder to be the team’s offensive coordinator for one opening-day series. (Michael Koh fills in for Victor.) Also, Aaron and Michael discuss whether college football is really getting increasingly stratified in the new world of NIL money and frequent transfers – or if it’s just equally stratified in a slightly different way. (And is stratification really all that terrible?)

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.

You can also listen to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” on Spotify. Click here to follow Aaron and listen to all his segments, from local news to fun features to hard-hitting interviews.

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

The post What’s Trending: Robert Morris Is Just One Dude appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

There’s been lots of recent business news in our community – and that means lots of ribbon cuttings, as new businesses celebrate their grand openings and established businesses celebrate major milestones. Aaron welcomes Aaron Nelson and Aury St. Germain from the Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro to discuss upcoming events – and the behind-the-scenes work of making a ribbon-cutting event happen in the first place.

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.

You can also listen to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” on Spotify. Click here to follow Aaron and listen to all his segments, from local news to fun features to hard-hitting interviews.

Listen:

The post On Air Today: Break Out The Giant Scissors appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: planning continues for future development at Carolina North – that won’t tear up the trails. Also: opponents of a Carolina North basketball arena propose a redevelopment around the existing Smith Center; Einstein Brothers Bagels comes to Chapel Hill; and University Place mall gets set to launch a new “entertainment district” next month. And in sports: UNC men’s basketball lands a new transfer, thanks to a recent court ruling; Carolina men’s soccer beats Liberty in a preseason exhibition; and a former UNC golf champ passes away after a lifetime of supporting the university.

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.

You can also listen to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” on Spotify. Click here to follow Aaron and listen to all his segments, from local news to fun features to hard-hitting interviews.

Listen:

The post The Morning News: Carolina North, South Campus, University Place, and Cameron Fens appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Inspired by a recent News & Observer story about people’s favorite long-closed local restaurants, Brad asks: what popular spots today might inspire nostalgia in the distant future? (In other words: what spots may be in danger of closing in the coming years and decades, through no fault of their own?) Brad’s thinking about downtown spots that might be targets for redevelopment, while Aaron turns to places we tend to associate with one person in particular.

Are you looking for romantic date-night ideas in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the greater Triangle community? Memorable restaurants, cultural experiences, special events, great places to get outdoors? Every Friday morning at 8:30, Aaron Keck and his husband Brad Bednar go on 97.9 The Hill and offer their recommendations during “Date Night” on This Morning with Aaron Keck. Click here to listen back to all their past segments – and tune in to This Morning every Friday at 8:30 to hear “Date Night” live on the air.

You can also listen to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” on Spotify. Click here to follow Aaron and listen to all his segments, from local news to fun features to hard-hitting interviews.

Listen:

The post Date Night: Advance Nostalgia? appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: A TSA agent discovers five stolen Civil War-era cannonballs in a passenger’s luggage. (The woman who was caught is trying to blame it on her grandson, but how do you not notice five cannonballs in your carry-on?) Also, Aaron is surprised to learn Gulf Shores, Alabama has an international airport now. Michael Koh fills in for Victor.

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.

You can also listen to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” on Spotify. Click here to follow Aaron and listen to all his segments, from local news to fun features to hard-hitting interviews.

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

The post What’s Trending: Yee-haw, Cannonball appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

The 2026 fall campaign is just about to begin for UNC men’s soccer, with a preseason exhibition this Sunday and the season opener August 20. How is the team getting ready for the upcoming season? What can fans expect as the Tar Heels look to build on last year’s NCAA second-round appearance? And what does the ever-changing landscape of college athletics mean for soccer, specifically?

Aaron welcomes UNC head coach Carlos Somoano to the studio for an extended conversation ahead of the 2026 season.

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.

You can also listen to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” on Spotify. Click here to follow Aaron and listen to all his segments, from local news to fun features to hard-hitting interviews.

Listen:

The post On Air Today: Talking UNC Men’s Soccer, with Head Coach Carlos Somoano appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: Chatham County residents speak out against a proposed natural gas pipeline, and an iconic Chapel Hill restaurant is abruptly shuttered. Also: another iconic local restaurant opens a second location; construction begins on two new UNC dorms; and the UNC Lineberger Cancer Center gets a $20 million anonymous donation. And in sports: UNC football defensive coordinator Steve Belichick goes on medical leave, as training camp ramps up ahead of the 2026 season; and UNC men’s basketball adds one more non-conference opponent in November.

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.

You can also listen to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” on Spotify. Click here to follow Aaron and listen to all his segments, from local news to fun features to hard-hitting interviews.

Listen:

The post The Morning News: Chatham Residents Fight Pipeline, Breadman’s Shut Down, Steve Belichick on Medical Leave appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

This week, Scott and Aaron remember Jesse Owens’ triumph over Hitler at the 1936 Olympics – and the different ways in which those games may have been covered at the time. Also: a collegiate champion rower becomes an Olympic champion biker; Elisha Otis invents the safety inventor; and an American woman leads a successful fight against age discrimination. (Overcoming her history-averse religious leanings in the process?)

97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro.com are your headquarters for local news and local voices in Chapel Hill-Carrboro. Every Thursday morning, local historian Scott Washington joins 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck for “History Matters,” a look back at notable events and significant figures from this week in history, ranging from pioneers to writers to inventors to civil rights champions and more, locally, nationally, and beyond.

Click here to listen back to the full History Matters archive – and tune in to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” Thursday mornings at 8:30 on 97.9 The Hill to hear those conversations live.

You can also listen to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” on Spotify. Click here to follow Aaron and listen to all his segments, from local news to fun features to hard-hitting interviews.

Listen:

The post History Matters: Programs and Presbyterians appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: Filling in for Victor, Michael Koh grills Aaron on a critical vote: what new carpet design do you want for RDU’s Terminal 2? Aaron and Michael look at three very similar finalists – and praise RDU Airport for weirdly leading the way in democratic reform. (Also, Aaron and Michael share their Orlando airport-related horror stories.)

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.

You can also listen to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” on Spotify. Click here to follow Aaron and listen to all his segments, from local news to fun features to hard-hitting interviews.

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

The post What’s Trending: Carpet McCarpetface appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: Chapel Hill provides an update on the future of its 36-acre property on Legion Road, with a pond slated for removal. Also: Disney provides an update on the future Asteria neighborhood in Pittsboro; a high-ranking UNC official leaves for Columbia; two local arts organizations join forces as one; and the principal of Orange High School reflects on being named national principal of the year. And in sports: Bill Belichick weighs in on UNC’s preparation for the upcoming football season; a Tar Heel kicker announces he’s returning to Chapel Hill after a court ruling cleared the way; UNC women’s soccer gets a preseason exhibition win over South Carolina; season tickets go on sale for Carolina women’s basketball; UNC’s men’s golf coach gets a contract extension; and the Tar Heel baseball team keeps it in the family when landing a future recruit.

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.

You can also listen to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” on Spotify. Click here to follow Aaron and listen to all his segments, from local news to fun features to hard-hitting interviews.

Listen:

The post The Morning News: Legion Road, ArtsOrange, Jason Johnson, Bill Belichick appeared first on Chapelboro.com.