In today’s news: we take a deep dive into PlayMakers Repertory Company’s Summer Youth Conservatory, celebrating its 20th year with the musical “Hello, Dolly!” Also: Carolina Performing Arts unveils its 2026-27 schedule; Chatham County officials search for a Siler City woman on dozens of counts of animal cruelty and elder exploitation; NC attorney general Jeff Jackson continues pushing back on Duke Energy’s proposed rate increase; and pollsters weigh in on how North Carolina has managed to remain so consistently 50-50 across multiple election cycles.

And in sports: UNC football gears up for the 2026 season, and Tar Heel athletes earn honors for their work off the field – both in the classroom and in the community.

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: ‘Hello, Dolly!’ at PlayMakers, Animal Cruelty Charges in Siler City appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: Michael Koh (filling in for Victor) is lamenting the end of the World Cup, but Aaron distracts him with minutiae about silly media circuses from the mid-90s. (Also, Cabo Verde gets a spike in tourism after their World Cup success. That’ll teach ’em to be good at football!)

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: Cabo Verde Should Get Third Place appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

It’s time for a beloved Chapel Hill tradition: Paperhand Puppet Intervention is back with its annual fall show at the Forest Theatre! This year’s show is called “The Wild Wisdom of the World,” running from August 7 through September 27, with live music and Paperhand’s signature spectacular puppets.

Conversation presented by Paperhand Puppet Intervention. Click here to get the full schedule and buy tickets.

Aaron discusses this year’s show with Paperhand Puppet Intervention’s co-founder and director, Donovan Zimmerman.

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: ‘The Wild Wisdom of the World’ at Paperhand Puppet Intervention appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: CHCCS board member Rani Dasi is nominated for an open seat on the Orange County Board of Commissioners. Also: the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board weighs the future of the Mandarin magnet programs currently at the soon-to-be-closed Glenwood Elementary School, with parents urging the board to keep everyone together in the same school though data suggests it might be more logistically feasible to split the programs up between two schools. And in sports: UNC football gears up for their upcoming season, and Tar Heel women’s soccer drops its 2026 schedule.

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: Rani Dasi to County Commissioner, Mandarin Dual Language at CHCCS appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today, or rather not trending: the new live-action Moana movie, which is on track to lose about 100 million dollars after a less-than-stellar release. (Though Aaron’s not sure about the math: the movie cost about $250 million to make and experts say it would have to make $600 million to break even. Where does the extra $350 million come from?!) Also, Aaron and Michael Koh (filling in for Victor) try and fail to recast Maui, and Michael laments the fact that everyone is afraid of change.

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: Maui Is What Brings Us Together Today appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: a six-year-old cocker spaniel is reunited with some of the officers and vets who saved his life earlier this year. Also: state lawmakers may be recalled for key votes later this month; Duke Energy nears a statewide deal on energy rates; Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools begins the discussion of where to move the district’s world language and Mandarin dual language programs, with Glenwood Elementary slated to close; CHCCS names a new principal at Chapel Hill High School; UNC’s journalism school dean announces he’s stepping down; and Whataburger reportedly takes a step toward opening a location in Chapel Hill. And in sports: UNC football head coach Bill Belichick discusses his optimism about the upcoming 2026 season at last week’s ACC Kickoff in Charlotte.

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: Moving CHCCS Students, Previewing UNC Football, and Saving Mr. Pickles appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In honor of a friend who just moved to the area this week: what’s a date-night idea that also serves to introduce someone to our community? Brad and Aaron both recommend a campus tour; Brad also suggests downtown Hillsborough, while Aaron seeks a Franklin Street view.

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: First Arrivals appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: a sponsorship deal between the Big 12 and Monster Energy, giving Monster Energy naming rights to the Big 12’s football and basketball schedules. Aaron and Michael Koh (filling in for Victor) speculate on what that’s going to mean for other conferences like the ACC: what gaudy sponsor patches are going to show up on UNC jerseys in the coming years? (Also, Aaron and Michael complain about generic corporate names for sports stadiums, with one notable exception: Aaron’s got a soft spot for Detroit’s Comerica Park, for one very good reason.)

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: NASCAR Was So Far Ahead appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Orange County is celebrating the reopening of the Eno Arts Mill after a long recovery from Tropical Storm Chantal last year. The grand reopening is set for Friday, August 7, with a party from 6-9 p.m. featuring live music from Liquid Pleasure. Everyone’s invited to attend and tour the new space – which also includes some significant improvements and new features.

Click here for more information on the reopening event.

Aaron welcomes Katie Murray of the Orange County Arts Commission, which uses the Eno Arts Mill as its base. Murray reflects on the most memorable moments from the past year and shares her excitement about the future of the newly-updated space.

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: Reopening the Eno Arts Mill, One Year After Chantal appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: we revisit the wolf dogs who captivated our community when they went loose in Cedar Grove five years ago. Also: the State Board of Elections makes a controversial decision about contested ballots; Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson officially steps down; UNC’s track & field and cross country team gets two new assistant coaches; and Chapel Hill releases a draft of a new town Land Use Management Ordinance (or LUMO for short).

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: Orange County’s Wolf Dogs, Five Years Later appeared first on Chapelboro.com.