All eyes this week are on federal immigration authorities, who have been conducting enforcement operations in the Triangle. That has sparked a major backlash from local residents and town and county officials – and even local law enforcement: Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood issued a joint statement this week with the Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough police chiefs, urging residents to know their rights and reiterating their own commitment to “protect and serve all community members,” particularly the most vulnerable.

Sheriff Blackwood joins Aaron to discuss the situation, how his office is handling it, the conversations he’s had with residents, and what everyone can do to preserve our community as one that’s both welcoming and safe for everyone.

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.

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The post On Air Today: Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood on the Federal Immigration Crackdown appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

This week in history marks the debut of two famous mice: Mickey Mouse in 1928, and the computer mouse in the late 1960s. Also: Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address – and issues a proclamation fixing the date of Thanksgiving, thanks in part to a delay in the Gettysburg ceremony.

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.

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The post History Matters: What The Cat Dragged In appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: a college student sues Everclear’s manufacturer after a party mishap that led to a serious injury. Victor’s a little offended, though Aaron points out that civil lawsuits tend to go after the folks with the deepest pockets – whether that’s conducive to justice or not. (Also, Aaron digresses into a fond memory about an old 1980s-era local commercial.)

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: A Big Everclear Fireball appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Former UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp was in town recently, delivering a lecture on his recent autism diagnosis. Aaron welcomed Thorp into the studio for an extended conversation on a wide variety of issues, beginning with the national dialogue around autism and continuing with discussions about the state of higher education and science in general. In Part 3 of their conversation, Thorp shares his thoughts about the relationship between science and higher education and the Trump administration – and the job Lee Roberts is doing as UNC’s current chancellor.

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.

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The post On Air Today: A Conversation with Former UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp, Part 3 appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: the Carrboro Town Council approves a downtown area plan and an anti-ICE resolution supporting local immigrants. Also: Chapel Hill police identify a juvenile suspect who’s accused of touching a woman without her consent on the Bolin Creek Trail; a Pittsboro Elementary School teacher gets a major honor; OWASA officials urge residents to “care to share” with neighbors in need; UNC student groups fight for space on campus; Carolina women’s basketball gears up for NC A&T; the NCAA tournament gets underway for UNC men’s soccer (though women’s soccer has to wait an extra day); the Chapel Hill High School boys’ soccer team reaches the state finals; and UNC Athletics sets a new milestone in academic achievement.

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.

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The post The Morning News: Carrboro Supporting Immigrants (And Downtown Planning) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: Meta goes public about their efforts to push you into endless short-video scrolling – and not interacting with your actual friends. Great for short-term profits – but won’t that nudge us away from social media in the long run, since we only got on social media in the first place to interact with people we actually know? Aaron thinks that might be the future, but Victor’s not yet convinced. (Also, Victor drops a reference to the Shelley poem “Ozymandias,” because of course he does.)

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 Like Seeing Pictures Of My Friends appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

This weekend, you’re invited to United Church of Chapel Hill on MLK Boulevard for this year’s Alternative Gift Market! The annual market features gifts for sale from over two dozen organizations, all of whom support various important causes – from fighting global sex trafficking to helping local residents with developmental disabilities. A corresponding silent auction will raise funds for Church World Service and the IFC – so your purchase will “give twice,” both to the organizations you’re supporting and the loved ones who receive your gifts.

This year’s market runs Saturday, November 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, November 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit UnitedChurch.org/market for more information.

Aaron speaks with market organizer Henry Lister and Cathy Gomes of 700 Rivers, one of the market’s many vendors.

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.

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The post On Air Today: ‘Gifts That Give Twice’ at the 2025 Alternative Gift Market appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: local leaders issue forceful statements denouncing federal immigration-enforcement operations in the Triangle – operations which sparked widespread fear, with businesses closing and hundreds of students staying home from school across the region. (Some local grocery stores are even starting to offer free delivery to customers who are afraid to leave their homes.)

Also: Carrboro approves a Downtown Area Plan; Orange County nixes a development proposal north of Hillsborough; Chapel Hill changes its method for resident petitions; we get more information on August’s fire at the Siena Hotel; local treasures Howard and Lillian Lee receive the Order of the Long Leaf Pine; and UNC men’s basketball downs Navy – though not without a concerning level of difficulty.

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: Denouncing ICE in the Triangle appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

The Trump administration has made major changes to refugee policy, including a big drop in admissions – down to 7,500 this year (mostly white South Africans), though the U.S. typically admits no fewer than 60,000 each year. That sudden reduction blocked refugees who had been fully vetted, some of them family members of refugees currently living in our community; some even had plane tickets in hand when the order came down. And that’s not the only policy change that’s affected local refugees: among other things, a provision in Trump’s budget bill cut off SNAP benefits for refugees without a green card. (That primarily affects the newest arrivals, who are most likely to be in need.)

How are refugees in our community processing the changes? Aaron welcomes Flicka Bateman, who heads up the Refugee Support Center in Carrboro.

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: The Local Impact of Trump’s Refugee Policies appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: Aaron gets criticized online, but he’s taking it as a huge compliment – triggering a deeper conversation about the importance, the role, the purpose, and the proper strategy for really good trash talk. (Victor is kind of an expert on the subject, but he’s not even tops in his own house.)

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 Greatest Compliment Ever appeared first on Chapelboro.com.