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.

This week, Scott and Aaron look back at historical inventors who were also geniuses when it came to marketing their new products – like the duo who invented the first toothpick-making machine and the man who developed modern-day lawn tennis. Also this week in history: children begin getting inoculated with Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine.

Listen: 

The post History Matters: Silas, You’re a Genius! appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

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.

Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood joins Aaron with an update on this week’s winter weather – and its impact on the roads. There were numerous crashes on Wednesday, including a 53-car pileup on the interstate that left one woman dead – and Blackwood says road conditions remain extremely treacherous, and will continue to be so throughout the day Thursday (and likely into Friday as well). His advice: stay off the roads, if you’re at all able to avoid it.

Listen: 

The post On Air Today: Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood on Wednesday’s Winter Storm appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

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.

Filling in for Victor, Michael Koh joins Roy Williams in taking shots at Doug Gottlieb, the sports radio host-turned-college basketball coach who is (to put it mildly) not having a good year in his first season at UW-Green Bay.

Listen: 

The post What’s Trending: The World Vs. Doug Gottlieb appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

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.

In today’s news: treacherous road conditions – and lots of closures and delays – after Wednesday’s winter storm. Also: a bail bondsman lands in hot water for trying to impersonate a Chapel Hill police officer; a plea for peace from local residents affected by the Israel-Palestine conflict; a ribbon-cutting to open a new downtown Chapel Hill business; and a big win for UNC men’s basketball over NC State, in front of a raucous student crowd that got in free amidst the winter weather.

Listen: 

The post The Morning News: Big Winter Storm, Big Tar Heel Victory appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

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.

Trending today: two NBA stars try to game the skills challenge at this year’s All-Star Game, but get stymied by a rogue rule book. Aaron and Michael Koh (filling in again for Victor) use that as a jumping-off point to discuss all-star games in general – most of which, to be honest, we really don’t care about.

Listen: 

The post What’s Trending: All-Star Games and Other Irrelevancies appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

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.

The Trump administration is trying to cut or shutter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – but what does the CFPB do, and what should we know about it? Aaron chats with Duke professor Mallory SoRelle, whose research focuses on consumer protection issues; she’s the author of a recent book called “Democracy Declined,” which argues that the CFPB is a vital agency to protect Americans from predatory lending – and if anything, the bureau should be made even stronger than it currently is.

Listen: 

The post On Air Today: Duke’s Mallory SoRelle on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

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.

National Weather Service meteorologist Jonathan Blaes gives Aaron a preview of today’s coming winter weather. Blaes says we should expect 1-2 inches of snow, with a small amount of freezing rain or sleet mixed in; the worst weather will be in the afternoon, with skies clearing up and conditions rapidly improving on Thursday. (Also, why you shouldn’t necessarily trust those weather apps you see on your phone.)

Listen: 

The post On Air Today: NWS Meteorologist Jonathan Blaes on Upcoming Winter Weather appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

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.

In today’s news: the Triangle is under a winter weather advisory, with 1-2 inches of snow expected this afternoon. Aaron runs down the list of closures, cancellations, and delays, and gets the full forecast from a National Weather Service meteorologist. Also: Chapel Hill police search for a missing woman; Carrboro gets ready to cut the ribbon on their new library building; UNC men’s basketball gears up to host NC State tonight; UNC baseball gets another win; and numerous Tar Heel athletes earn individual honors – including national recognition for a women’s basketball star.

Listen: 

The post The Morning News: Snow Day in North Carolina, UNC Faces NC State appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

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.

Trending today: a seal that got loose from an aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut, and turned up in New Haven – which is pretty far for a seal to travel. Also: Aaron discusses both Connecticutian geography and the general reputation of New Haven as a town. Michael Koh fills in for Victor.

Listen: 

The post What’s Trending: You Picked A Fine Time To Leave Me, Loose Seal appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

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.

The Public School Forum of North Carolina has issued a set of four priorities for the General Assembly in 2025, when it comes to improving North Carolina’s public schools: adequate, equitable, and flexible school funding; increasing teacher salaries; expanding support systems for students, including mental health services and afterschool programs; and improved assessment and accountability, including a reformed school grading system and more accountability for private schools receiving vouchers.

Read the full report on North Carolina’s Top Education Issues for 2025.

Aaron speaks with Public School Forum president/executive director Mary Ann Wolf.

Listen: 

The post On Air Today: Legislative Priorities for Public Education in 2025 appeared first on Chapelboro.com.