Trending today: a raccoon goes on a bender in a Virginia liquor store, sparking widespread memes and some pretty fun pictures. Filling in for Victor, Michael Koh takes the opportunity to share details about other members of the animal kingdom who’ve been known to partake in spiritous beverages from time to time.

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: Trashed Panda appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

The month of December always brings exciting holiday festivities, and this year is no exception in Mebane! Kelly promotes several upcoming events – including “It’s Snowing in Mebane” throughout the month, plus the annual Reindeer Run 5K on December 20. Those aren’t the only exciting happenings in town: December 11 is also the opening day for Whataburger’s new Mebane location – and that same night, the Mebane Historical Museum is hosting an event to celebrate the “Makers of Modern Mebane.” Meanwhile in government news, the Mebane City Council signed off this week on a new Sheetz gas station off Buckhorn Road.

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 month, Aaron welcomes Mebane public information officer Kelly Hunter for “Positively Mebane,” a look at what’s going on in Mebane and what folks can see and do while they’re there.

Visit PositivelyMebane.com to learn more!

The post Positively Mebane: Sheetz, Whataburger, and Modern Makers appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: Chapel Hill-Carrboro school officials take heat from Republican lawmakers over an anti-transgender state law. Also: social justice advocates push Orange County to reform its property-revaluation process; Orange County Commissioners approve an incentives package for a manufacturer who’s relocating to Hillsborough; Gov. Josh Stein restores Medicaid payments but warns the program’s funding will run out without a state budget; and the Chapel Hill Fire Department releases new information on the August fire at the Siena Hotel. And in sports: the UNC Rams Club gets a new executive director; Tar Heel baseball gets highlighted in a popular video game; and YouTube celebrity Mr. Beast (a North Carolina native) announces a big giveaway at Saturday’s UNC basketball game.

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: CHCCS Vs. Republicans, Siena Fire, Mr. Beast appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

It’s time for another round of Studio Sessions with the School of Rock Chapel Hill, featuring three classic songs performed by the House Band!

This month, Aaron welcomes (a record!) seven members of the House Band: Joshua Bosworth, Brooke Briner, Ripley Florek, JJ Helbert, Conlan Sharp, Grant Watson, and Katie Wilson. It’s December, so they’re playing holiday songs, led by a tradition that’s sadly about to end: JJ’s Mariah-esque rendition of “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” (A tradition that’s ending because this is JJ’s senior year; in fact all seven are graduating this year.)

School of Rock owner/GM David Joseph is also on hand, discussing upcoming shows – including an end-of-season bonanza Sunday, December 14, at Cats Cradle Back Room – as well as upcoming classes, including summer camps. (Yes, it’s already time to start thinking about those.)

Listen to their conversation, plus the band’s performances of “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” and “Run Run Rudolph.”

The post Studio Sessions with School of Rock Chapel Hill: Run Run Rudolph appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: IKEA’s master plan to stay in business in perpetuity – by purchasing its own forest, to ensure it will always have a supply of lumber even if the rest of us shlubs wreck all the other trees. (You’d think more companies would actually spend some time thinking about how to stay solvent for the long run, right?)

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: Ikea Forever! appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Aaron welcomes local musician Jason Bales of The Yardarm, who’s just released his debut solo EP “Watching the Pines.” Bales discusses the project and performs the title song live in 97.9 The Hill studios – and promotes The Yardarm’s upcoming show, Saturday, December 13, from noon to 2 p.m. at Boxyard RTP.

Click here to listen to the full EP and purchase it on Bandcamp.

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: ‘Watching the Pines’ with Jason Bales appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: Pittsboro swears in two new town board members and asks for your feedback on the future of downtown. Also: the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board elects a new chair, while the former chair heads to Raleigh to face questions from the General Assembly; a beloved local figure earns the Order of the Long Leaf Pine; UNC staffers object to a new program designed to save money; and author/politician D.G. Martin passes away at the age of 85. And in sports: one Tar Heel football star decides to go pro, while several other UNC athletes earn postseason individual honors.

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: Pittsboro’s Future appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: a company is purporting to offer a humanoid robot butler – but it’s not AI, it’s being operated remotely by a person. Which reminds Victor of the Mechanical Turk, an 18th-century scam that claimed to be a chess-playing automaton but was in fact just a dude in a box moving pieces from below. (Also, Aaron and Victor debate the extent to which 24-hour convenience is still a thing in the U.S.)

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: Hello, Rich Hapsburg! appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Saturday, December 20, head to Hillsborough for the annual Solstice Lantern Walk along the Eno River, starting at sunset with lots of handmade lanterns. You’re invited to make your own and join the fun!

Get more info and register at HillsboroughArtsCouncil.org.

Aaron welcomes Heather Tatreau and Iva Beveridge from the Hillsborough Arts Council to discuss the lantern walk and what makes it so popular – and what you need to know if you want to participate (or just watch).

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: Hillsborough’s 2025 Solstice Lantern Walk! appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: the Triangle remains under a Winter Weather Advisory, with icy roads lingering after Monday’s snowfall. Also: Aaron runs down the list of weather-related closures, cancellations and delays; a longtime local elected official says he’s stepping down next year; Orange County Commissioners consider an incentives package to bring the French manufacturer CITEL to Hillsborough; and education advocates weigh in after North Carolina’s controversial Opportunity Scholarship program hits a milestone. And in sports: Courtney Banghart weighs in after a mixed week for Tar Heel women’s basketball, and Tar Heel football and tennis stars earn individual honors.

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: Winter Weather Advisory, School Closings, CITEL in Hillsborough appeared first on Chapelboro.com.