What does it mean to be an American? That question has been debated and contested throughout U.S. history – and that debate is front and center again, particularly in the context of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and a recent speech by Vice President J.D. Vance at the Claremont Institute.

Aaron welcomes two guests whose work addresses the question of American identity. Penn historian/political scientist Rogers Smith is the author of “Civic Ideals,” a seminal 1998 work that identifies “multiple traditions” of American identity throughout U.S. history, and UNC historian Lloyd Kramer is the author of the “Past Rhymes With Present Times” column on Chapelboro.com; his latest piece explores the competing traditions of “civic nationalism” and “ethnic nationalism” in America.

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: American Identity, Past and Present appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: Victor gripes about white-tailed deer, with whom he’s at war over an apple tree in his back yard. (Aaron, of course, sides with the deer, because he’s a good person and also kind of a troll.)

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: Victor Vs. White-Tailed Deer appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Some website just listed the Kraken as one of America’s 50 best dive bars! Well-deserved, but that begs the question: what are some other great dive bars in our community, that could make for a fun date night? 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.

Listen:

The post Date Night: The Diving Board appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

In today’s news: police shut down a portion of E. Franklin St. as a crisis unit communicates with someone who’s barricaded in the Siena Hotel. Also: Chatham officials investigate a death, in conjunction with police in Kentucky; Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools bans cell phones in the classroom; CHCCS high schools earn high national honors from US News & World Report; education advocates recruit teachers to run for General Assembly; Union Grove Farm responds to a lawsuit from Triangle Land Conservancy; Chatham County gets a credit rating boost; UNC women’s soccer suffers another upset loss, but the men win their season opener; and a Tar Heel football transfer weighs in on his UNC experience so far.

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: Siena Barricade, CHCCS Phone Ban, UNC Soccer appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: Auburn University claims a whole bunch of historical national football titles, because nothing’s stopping them. (Hey, nothing’s stopping us either! Who’s up for celebrating UNC’s national title in – I dunno, 1996? Seriously, we can do this with any year we want.) Michael Koh joins Aaron and 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: National Champions Every Year! appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

This week in history: the Roanoke colony is lost, three years to the day after the birth of Virginia Dare. Also: Orville Wright is born in 1871; the first African slaves are brought to Virginia in 1619; and the Third Provincial Congress meets in Hillsborough in 1775, part of the runup to the American Revolution.

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.

Listen:

The post History Matters: They Could Have Left A Note appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Town Hall Grill is hosting a Labor Day Kickoff Party on the Southern Village Green, as UNC football season gets underway! The party starts at 5:00 p.m. Monday, September 1, with food and drinks, outdoor games, a live DJ, and a silent auction to raise funds for autism awareness. People going to the game can hop on a Tar Heel Express bus from the Southern Village Park and Ride, which starts operation at 6:30 p.m. Folks not going to the game can stick around as UNC takes on TCU in the season opener: the game will be broadcast live on Southern Village’s outdoor screen.

Aaron chats with marketing & catering director Jesse French.

Conversation presented by Town Hall Grill.

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: Kicking Off Football Season at Town Hall Grill 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 Adult Band!

School of Rock offers classes and performance opportunities for all ages – so this month, for the first time ever, we welcome not the House Band but the Adult Band! Edith Bowers, Rich Lepore, David Roberts, Jay Sellers and Alexis Sharp join Aaron in the studio, chatting about how they began their School of Rock journeys and what their favorite moments have been along the way.

School of Rock owner/GM David Joseph is also on hand to look ahead at upcoming events, including a free end-of-season show at Cat’s Cradle this Sunday, August 24. (The Adult Band also has a show coming up: they’ll be at the Speakeasy in Carrboro on Wednesday, September 3.)

Listen to their conversation, plus the Adult Band’s performances of “Semi-Charmed Life,” “You Get What You Give,” and the Avett Brothers’ “Head Full of Doubt.”

The post Studio Sessions with School of Rock Chapel Hill: Adult Band Takeover! appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey fills in for Aaron Keck with the morning news. Included in this edition of the news, residents displaced by Chantal floodwaters face a looming deadline; Gov. Stein visits Mebane for a ribbon cutting; Hillsborough purchases UPROAR Art, and more. In sports, Bill Belichick talks about the joys of the college game, both UNC soccer teams are set for action, Courtney Banghart continues to add to the roster, and more.

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.

The post The Morning News: Flood Victim’s Deadline, Hillsborough Buys UPROAR Art appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Trending today: geothermal startups that are drilling deep into the ground, putting water into the holes, and letting the earth’s pressure generate heat and energy. Also: Victor admits to having a problem with screw-top jars, and Aaron hones his as-yet-undeveloped engineering mind.

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: We’ve Got So Much Ocean, Brother appeared first on Chapelboro.com.