Trending today: a study finding that ChatGPT is actually more effective and accurate when you treat it rudely. Surprising? Maybe not: Aaron says that revelation dovetails nicely with a commentary he recently saw – arguing that humans will deliberately program super-advanced AI to act cowardly and sycophantic (think C3PO) so we’ll feel better about ourselves when we interact with them. (Michael Koh fills in for Victor.)

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: Being Mean to AI 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 2 of their conversation, Thorp shares his thoughts about higher education and its relationship with society – and what colleges and universities ought to do to rebuild their reputations.

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: A Conversation with Former UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp, Part 2 appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: UNC officials reject the Trump administration’s proposed “compact” with colleges and universities. Also: UNC trustees consider a tuition hike, the first for in-state students since 2017; Orange County Commissioner Sally Greene says she won’t run for reelection next year; Pittsboro commissioners approve the South Village Small Area Plan for Chatham Park (overruling the town’s planning board); UNC faculty express misgivings about a proposed SILS/SDSS merger; UNC men’s basketball gears up for Radford; two Tar Heel stars earn ACC honors; and the bracket is out for the NCAA women’s soccer tournament, with Carolina opening its national-title defense as an underdog at Tennessee.

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: UNC Says No to Trump, Greene Says No to Reelection, Pittsboro Says Yes to Chatham Park appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Aaron welcomes Alex Culpepper of Sunrock Industries, which is working to develop a quarry in Chatham County. Culpepper discusses the project and its purpose – as well as what Sunrock is doing to preserve the surrounding environment and maintain strong relationships with nearby neighbors.

Conversation presented by Sunrock Industries. Visit ChathamBuildingMaterials.com for more information on the quarry project.

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: A Quarry in Chatham County appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: Tom Brady clones his recently-deceased dog, which is just about the richest thing we’ve ever heard of anyone doing (though it’s no more expensive than an upscale car). Also, Aaron quotes Montaigne and Hitchcock, Michael brainstorms punny dog names, and Aaron reiterates his hottest take: he doesn’t believe adults exist.

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: Rich People Gotta Rich appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: the Pittsboro town board preps for tonight’s meeting, with decisions on two major development proposals. Also: UNC celebrates the grand opening of a new building at the Kenan-Flagler Business School; Chancellor Lee Roberts says no to Donald Trump; the CEO of UNC Hospitals takes a new position; a new UNC study explores the importance of talking to young kids about suicide; and in sports, UNC scores big wins in men’s basketball, football, and field hockey – but loses basketball star Seth Trimble to a broken arm.

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 Weighs Big Development, UNC Gets Big Wins appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

It’s the busy season for Tar Heel fans, with football and basketball both in full swing! Carolina men’s basketball hosts Kansas in a top-25 matchup between two storied programs Friday night in the Smith Center – and UNC football is gearing up to host Stanford in Kenan Stadium on Saturday, as they look to keep building momentum after their Halloween victory at Syracuse.

Voice of the Tar Heels Jones Angell joins Aaron to preview both games – and discuss how each one might propel the teams forward for the rest of their respective seasons.

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: Previewing UNC-Kansas Basketball and UNC-Stanford Football, with Jones Angell appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

After much anticipation, Michelin has released its guide to restaurants in the American South – but while they recognized 19 restaurants in the Triangle, most folks in our community generally agree there were some pretty big snubs. What are some of the local spots that should have gotten more Michelin love? Brad and Aaron weigh in with some of their favorites.

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.

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The post Date Night: Snubbed By Michelin! appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: the inventive marketing ploy that diamond-mining companies are using to compete with lab-grown diamonds – which are equal in quality, more socially and environmentally friendly, and (most importantly) way, way cheaper. Victor and Aaron mock the ad campaign, but advertising can be really persuasive even when it’s easily mockable – so Aaron also plugs an old documentary that was made for kids to teach them how to see through deceptive ad campaigns. (Also, Aaron may or may not hit Victor with a yo-mamma joke. Your call.)

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: Sparkle Sparkle! appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Tuesday, November 11, is Veterans Day, and there will be a ceremony at the Orange County Veterans Memorial on Homestead Road, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Everyone’s invited to attend.

Retired Army Col. Fred Black joins Aaron to preview this year’s ceremony – and to discuss the Veterans Memorial itself, which is the product of a long labor of community love.

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: Orange County’s 2025 Veterans Day Memorial appeared first on Chapelboro.com.