Trending today: the ongoing fight over AI programs stealing the work of artists – most recently Studio Ghibli, among others. Also, Aaron reveals that he knows absolutely nothing at all about what’s trending on the Internet. (Which is what this whole What’s Trending segment is for, to be honest. I mean, why do it if you’re already up to speed?)

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.

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

The post What’s Trending: Studio GhiblA.I. appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: Orange County marks National EMS Week with a reunion of cardiac arrest survivors and the people who helped save them. Also: local and state officials continue budget talks; U.S. Senator Thom Tillis’ approval rating sinks ahead of the 2026 midterm; a pair of UNC graduates get a major honor from the UNC system; Tar Heel baseball gears up for Boston College in Friday’s ACC quarterfinal; UNC women’s lacrosse gets ready for the NCAA Final Four; and a Tar Heel golf star makes his pro debut.

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.

Listen: 

The post The Morning News: National EMS Week, Tillis in Trouble, UNC Women’s Lacrosse appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: Chapel Hill tests out a downtown ‘pocket park’ at the corner of Columbia and Rosemary Streets. Also: Chapel Hill town officials ask for your input on next year’s budget and the future of the property at 828 MLK Boulevard; North Carolina state employees could see their health care premiums increase; a local resident gets a statewide award; the ACC baseball tournament gets underway in Durham; a Tar Heel softball star gets a big national honor; a new gig for one UNC coach and a possible engagement for another; and a former UNC strength coach loses his life in a vehicle crash.

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.

Listen: 

The post The Morning News: Downtown Pocket Parks in Chapel Hill appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: the Weenie 500, a race between Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles this Friday, ahead of the Indy 500. That gets Victor and Aaron talking about regional variations on hot dogs – including the Seattle dog, which neither Victor nor Aaron have heard of (or have any desire to eat).

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.

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

The post What’s Trending: The Weenie 500 appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: a rise in demand for beef tallow at restaurants – problematic because the U.S. doesn’t produce enough on its own. Also, Victor flexes his gourmet-chef muscles, and Aaron explains why he thinks all steaks are luxury items, regardless of their quality.

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.

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

The post What’s Trending: I’m Not Here To Do The Seed Oil Thing appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Marc Pons of Chapel Hill Tire joins Aaron to discuss their annual teacher appreciation initiative: free oil changes for teachers with school IDs. They’ve given out thousands of gift certificates already, for teachers at dozens of schools around the Triangle. Pons says the annual effort is their way to recognize teachers for the vital (and difficult) work they do each day for our children, our communities, and our society at large.

Conversation presented by Chapel Hill Tire. Visit Teachers.ChapelHillTire.com to get more information and request gift certificates for your school.

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.

Listen:

The post On Air Today: Teacher Appreciation at Chapel Hill Tire! appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: a pedestrian is struck and killed in Pittsboro, and the Carrboro Town Council debates the town’s Downtown Area Plan. Also: a murder trial continues for a man accused of killing a Hillsborough Home Depot employee during a robbery; State House Republicans unveil their budget plan while Gov. Josh Stein calls for more hurricane-relief funding and Democratic lawmakers sound the alarm about a looming “fiscal cliff”; environmental advocates push back against the EPA’s rollback of limits on PFAS ‘forever’ chemicals in drinking water; local government boards ask for public input on next year’s budget; a trio of local high school quiz bowl teams head to nationals; Tar Heel athletes win big honors, including ACC Pitcher of the Year Jake Knapp in baseball and national men’s athlete of the week Parker Wolfe in track & field; and the longtime head of the Rams Club says he’s retiring at the end of 2025.

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.

Listen: 

The post The Morning News: Pedestrian Killed in Pittsboro, Carrboro Discusses Downtown appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

The town of Chapel Hill is asking for your input as they figure out what to do with the property at 828 MLK Boulevard. That site is currently police headquarters, but the police department is planning to move out – leaving many possibilities for the site, from recreation to retail to transit and more. (The property is a Brownfields site because of a decades-old coal ash dump, so the town will also have to figure out how to address the coal ash: cover it up, or haul it away?)

Chapel Hill town manager Mary Jane Nirdlinger and sustainability director John Richardson join Aaron to discuss the options – and promote an online survey that’s active now for anyone who wants to weigh in with their thoughts about how the town should use the property.

Click here to get more information and take the brief survey, anytime before the end of May. Staff will bring the results to the Chapel Hill Town Council on June 11.

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.

Listen:

The post On Air Today: Take the 828 MLK Survey! appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: a spike in gin sales in India, which is now a billion-dollar industry – surprising Victor, but not Aaron. Also, Victor and Aaron share their drinking practices; Victor offers spicy takes on beloved local brands; and Victor and Aaron come up with a retro marketing strategy for Coca-Cola that’s guaranteed to succeed. Guaranteed.

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.

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

The post What’s Trending: Ol’ Doc Pemberton’s Elixir of Spirits appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

This week, Tom and Aaron dig into a new poll from the right-leaning Carolina Journal, which shows U.S. Senator Thom Tillis with only a 26 percent approval rating. That’s bad news for Tillis, and he’s not alone: several other GOP senators are also underwater with their constituents ahead of the 2026 midterms, as left-leaning and independent voters think they’re too pro-Trump and right-leaning voters think they’re not pro-Trump enough. That gives Democrats a possible path to reclaim a Senate majority next year, if nonplussed Republican voters decide to stay home – which they’ve been doing in special elections this year, sometimes to surprising degrees.

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.

Every other Monday, Aaron is joined at 8:30 a.m. by Tom Jensen, the director of Public Policy Polling, for a longstanding regular segment called “What We’re Thinking,” looking at recent survey numbers and discussing what they tell us about American public opinion – election-related and otherwise.

Listen: 

The post What We’re Thinking: Tillis on the Hot Seat appeared first on Chapelboro.com.