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97.9 The Hill WCHL & Chapelboro.com
@wchlchapelboro.bsky.social
📻 & 💻 Orange County's source for local news since 1953. 🏀 🏈 Flagship station for Tar Heel sports. 🏆 The 2019 & 2021-25 North Carolina Radio Station of the Year.

🔗: linktr.ee/97.9TheHill
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Over two months after Chantal, our community is still rebuilding and returning to normalcy. That includes your hometown radio station.

We're still looking for help replacing our destroyed AM broadcasting equipment. Please consider donating below. Thank you!
Donate to Help Restore WCHL's AM Site, Damaged by Chantal, organized by Aubrey Williams
97.9 The Hill WCHL has been broadcasting continually since 1953 and is… Aubrey Williams needs your support for Help Restore WCHL's AM Site, Damaged by Chantal
www.gofundme.com
Make sure you have something fun planned for your days off. Check out “Weekend Around the Hill,” our curated list of local events and activities:
Weekend Around The Hill: September 24 – September 27 - Chapelboro.com
Weekend Around The Hill: September 24 – September 27
chapelboro.com
September 23, 2026 at 9:58 PM
COLUMN: "It gave me an opportunity when I desperately needed one, and that opportunity helped change the trajectory of our lives."

On this touching "Viewpoints" submission, Quran Abdul-Nasir shares how his job at Chapel Hill Transit helped him pull his family out of homelessness.
Viewpoints: More Than a Job - Chapelboro.com
There are moments in life when an opportunity is more than an opportunity. Sometimes it becomes the bridge between where you are and where you never thought you could be.
chapelboro.com
September 23, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Student-athletes across the country are currently embroiled in an eligibility fight against the NCAA. The athletes, who graduated high school in 2022, are seeking a fifth year of eligibility under the NCAA’s new rules.

Here's our guide to which UNC players are eligible, and which are not:
Are They Eligible? Keeping Up with UNC's Rece Verhoff, Cameron Fens and Others - Chapelboro.com
Student-athletes across the country, including some from UNC, are currently embroiled in an eligibility fight against the NCAA.
chapelboro.com
September 23, 2026 at 7:05 PM
COLUMN: "Bill Belichick had to make one tough decision with his quarterbacks in 25 years as an NFL head coach. Should Drew Bledsoe regain the starting position for the Patriots after he recovered from an injury suffered 25 years ago today?"

Read the latest from Art Chansky here:
Chansky's Notebook: Snap Decisions - Chapelboro.com
Art Chansky says it may be time for Bill Belichick and UNC to make a change at the quarterback position following Saturday's loss at Clemson.
chapelboro.com
September 23, 2026 at 6:26 PM
University Place’s new Barnes & Noble location held its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Sep. 23, and is now open to the public.

Here's more on the new bookstore:
Barnes & Noble at University Place Opens to the Public, Hosts Ribbon-Cutting - Chapelboro.com
The new bookstore, which was first announced in February, is open at 201 S Estes Dr. #200A. It will be open from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily.
chapelboro.com
September 23, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Join 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey today at 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. for a two part forum chat with NC-56's Allen Buansi and Orange County Commissioner Jean Hamilton about SNAP burdens being placed on counties.

📻 RADIO: 97.9 FM/1360 AM
💻 STREAM: https://wchl.streamon.fm
September 23, 2026 at 5:05 PM
The UNC Board of Trustees gave preliminary design approval to a new vision for The Pit on Wednesday morning, moving forward the renovation project for one of campus’ central gathering places.

Check out the renderings and read more here:
'Useful and Dynamic Space': UNC Reveals Concept Designs for The Pit Renovation - Chapelboro.com
The UNC Board of Trustees gave preliminary design approval to a new vision for The Pit on Wednesday, moving forward its renovation project.
chapelboro.com
September 23, 2026 at 4:36 PM
This week, Aaron Keck welcomes local musicians Georgia Moon and Sosha Rockwood, who are both releasing their debut solo albums this weekend – and they’re celebrating together with a combined album-release show.

Listen here 🎧:
Talking Culture: 'Kicking Dirt' with Georgia Moon and Sosha Rockwood! - Chapelboro.com
Aaron welcomes local musicians Georgia Moon and Sosha Rockwood, who are both releasing their debut solo albums this weekend.
chapelboro.com
September 23, 2026 at 4:19 PM
This month on “Wonderful Water,” OWASA Executive Director Todd Taylor and Mary Tiger, OWASA’s Director of Community Engagement, joined us to discuss water quality, PFAS, and the steps being taken to ensure our community’s continued access to clean water.

Give it a listen here 🎧:
Wonderful Water: OWASA's 'Guiding Principles' for PFAS - Chapelboro.com
This month on “Wonderful Water,” join 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey for a conversation with OWASA Executive Director Todd Taylor and Mary Tiger, OWASA's Director of Community Engagement, about water ...
chapelboro.com
September 23, 2026 at 1:55 PM
COLUMN: "Knowing first aid is more than a nice-to-have. It’s a way to be prepared for emergencies and provide mutual aid and care to your neighbors."

The South Orange Rescue Squad shares its first aid tips and tricks on the latest "South Orange Dispatch." Give it a read here:
The South Orange Dispatch: Be Prepared, Know First Aid! - Chapelboro.com
Knowing first aid is more than a nice-to-have. It’s a way to be prepared for emergencies and provide mutual aid and care to your neighbors.
chapelboro.com
September 23, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Pittsboro’s Board of Commissioners recently heard an annual update on the timeline and construction of key components belonging to the 8,500-acre master-planned community.
First Residential Communities for South Village Announced, Project Details Shared in Annual Chatham Park Update - Chapelboro.com
While some aspects of the Chatham Park development have been built for years, the details for upcoming projects are now being shared.
chapelboro.com
September 23, 2026 at 11:37 AM
COLUMN: "I am reaching out to you from OWASA to ask for your input on how we approach important next steps for solving problems that affect public and environmental health."

Read this "Viewpoints" column from OWASA Executive Director Todd Taylor:
Viewpoints: OWASA Needs Your Input on Guiding Principles for PFAS - Chapelboro.com
We share a strong community with much to be proud of. As we face new challenges that affect our resilience, the perspectives of this community are more crucial than ever. I am reaching out to you from...
chapelboro.com
September 22, 2026 at 10:30 PM
On the heels of a six-match winning streak which included a 4-2 win against then-No. 2 Duke, UNC jumped six spots from No. 7 to the No. 1 ranking in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll, released Tuesday.

Read more here:
UNC Women's Soccer Jumps to No. 1 in Newest National Coaches Poll - Chapelboro.com
On the heels of a six-match winning streak which included a 4-2 win against then-No. 2 Duke, UNC jumped six spots to the No. 1 ranking.
chapelboro.com
September 22, 2026 at 7:22 PM
UNC-Chapel Hill placed in the top 5 of public universities once again in the latest U.S. News & World Report’s latest Best Colleges Rankings — marking a milestone streak for the school while another ended.

Here are the details:
UNC Among Top 5 Public Universities in 2027 Rankings, Falls From Top 'Best Value' Spot - Chapelboro.com
UNC-Chapel Hill placed in the top 5 of public universities once again — marking a milestone streak for the school while another ended.
chapelboro.com
September 22, 2026 at 6:40 PM
At its Sep. 21 meeting, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution opposing the construction of a natural gas pipeline from utility company Enbridge.

Here's the latest:
Chatham County Commissioners Oppose Proposed Enbridge Gas Pipeline Through Resolution - Chapelboro.com
The pipeline would run 28 miles through Chatham and Lee counties, and would pass through the private property of numerous residents.
chapelboro.com
September 22, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Orange County Schools Superintendent Danielle Jones joined us to share how the start of the school year has gone, with some facility upgrades getting finished and good news from the state’s accountability report.

Listen to the latest "Speaking of Schools" here 🎧:
Speaking of Schools: Orange County Schools Superintendent Danielle Jones — (September 21, 2026) - Chapelboro.com
Orange County Schools Superintendent Danielle Jones speaks with 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Monday, September 21.
chapelboro.com
September 22, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Last week we announced a new ownership team for Chapel Hill Media Group, the parent company behind 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com.

General Manager and CEO Aubrey Williams sat down with host Aaron Keck to discuss the change and what it means for our news and radio coverage.
September 22, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Kenan Stadium existed for more than a fifty years without permanent light fixtures. As UNC football historian Lee Pace recounts, that lack of lights went back to an “old wives’ tale” about the stadium mythos. Only one problem: the tale was not true.

Listen to the latest “100 Years of Kenan” here 🎧:
100 Years of Kenan Stadium: Let There Be Light! - Chapelboro.com
As hard as it is to believe now, Kenan Stadium existed for more than a half-century without permanent light fixtures.
chapelboro.com
September 22, 2026 at 12:28 PM
CHCCS and its families have another major decision to face in the coming four months: redistricting all elementary school boundaries.

Here’s the latest on the process:
With School Closure Decisions Made, CHCCS Starts Elementary Redistricting Process for 2027-28 - Chapelboro.com
CHCCS must now prepare for a broader redistricting plan to be crafted for its elementary schools, as it aims for implementation in 2027-28.
chapelboro.com
September 22, 2026 at 11:19 AM
UNC beat Alcorn State 5-0 at Dorrance Field Sunday afternoon.

Check out Caleb Rothrock’s photo highlights from the match!
Photo Gallery: UNC Women's Soccer vs. Alcorn State - Chapelboro.com
UNC beat Alcorn State 5-0 at Dorrance Field Sunday afternoon. Check out Caleb Rothrock's photo highlights from the match!
chapelboro.com
September 21, 2026 at 10:42 PM
The Burwell School Historic Site is now "the Elizabeth Keckly Center at the Burwell School," in honor of Elizabeth Hobbs Keckly – who was enslaved there before becoming a nationally renowned dressmaker.

Board member Ebony Freeland Bryant and site director Elizabeth Hays joined us to discuss:
On Air Today: Introducing the 'Elizabeth Keckly Center' at the Burwell School - Chapelboro.com
Hillsborough's Burwell School Historic Site recently announced a name change: it's now the Elizabeth Keckly Center at the Burwell School.
chapelboro.com
September 21, 2026 at 8:48 PM
Public Policy Polling's Tom Jensen says he's seeing signs of a Democratic wave this midterm season. Why? High gas prices, which are easy to connect that back to Trump.

Listen to "What We're Thinking" here 🎧:

https://chapelboro.com/the-aaron-keck-show/what-were-thinking/gas-prices-and-blue-waves
September 21, 2026 at 6:57 PM
UNC baseball head coach Scott Forbes and his staff have agreed to contract extensions, with Forbes’ new deal keeping him in Chapel Hill through the end of the 2032 season, the school announced Monday.

Here are the details:
UNC Baseball Head Coach Scott Forbes, Staff Agree to New Contract Extensions - Chapelboro.com
UNC baseball head coach Scott Forbes and his staff have agreed to contract extensions, with Forbes' new deal running through 2032.
chapelboro.com
September 21, 2026 at 5:22 PM
COLUMN: "That visual of empty seats says a lot about value, expectations, and reality."

On the latest "Small Business, Big Lessons," entrepreneur Gregory Woloszczuk discusses "blue dot fever" and how unsold seats can act as a symbol for remaining steadfast as a small business owner.
Small Business, Big Lessons® — That Old Time Rock & Roll or Blue Dot Fever? - Chapelboro.com
This post builds on my Water Balloon Economics idea and adds a twist: knowing when it’s time to wrap up a “wonderful” career or business, recognizing your own limitations, and being honest about the e...
chapelboro.com
September 21, 2026 at 4:03 PM
UNC volleyball begins its ACC schedule this week with a rivalry matchup in Raleigh. The Tar Heels will take on NC State at 7 p.m. in Reynolds Coliseum.

Here's everything coming up this week in UNC sports:
This Week in UNC Sports: September 21-27 - Chapelboro.com
With the football team enjoying a second open date, it's a lighter week for UNC sports as we approach the end of September.
chapelboro.com
September 21, 2026 at 2:43 PM