The Morning News: Chapel Hill Roadeo, UNC Baseball, Chapel Hill HS Yearbook, OWASA Water Supply

What We’re Thinking: Close Races in North Carolina, Yet Again

This week, Tom and Aaron discuss a new PPP survey of North Carolinians that shows a tight race to replace Thom Tillis in the U.S. Senate. Democrat Roy Cooper leads Republican Michael Whatley 48-44, but that lead is largely a function of Cooper’s higher name recognition; most remaining undecideds are GOP-leaning voters, so Whatley still has a path to victory. The same is also true in the race for State Supreme Court, where Democratic incumbent Anita Earls narrowly leads Republican challenger Sarah Stevens 44-42. (Democrats do have a 46-44 edge in the generic legislative ballot, which gives them an opportunity to make big gains in the North Carolina General Assembly.) [https://chapelboromedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07112125/What-Were-Thinking-Spotify-Cover-1600-x-1600-px-1-1024x1024.png]https://chapelboromedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07112125/What-Were-Thinking-Spotify-Cover-1600-x-1600-px-1.png 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 [https://chapelboro.com/on-air-today] – 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 other Monday, Aaron is joined at 8:30 a.m. by Tom Jensen, the director of Public Policy Polling [https://www.publicpolicypolling.com/], for a longstanding regular segment called “What We’re Thinking,” looking at recent survey numbers and discussing what they tell us about American public opinion – election-related and otherwise. You can also listen to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” on Spotify. Click here to follow Aaron and listen to all his segments [https://open.spotify.com/show/11jUjaXgON7EZspQ2VsTI1], from local news to fun features to hard-hitting interviews. The post What We’re Thinking: Close Races in North Carolina, Yet Again [https://chapelboro.com/the-aaron-keck-show/what-were-thinking/close-races-in-north-carolina-yet-again] appeared first on Chapelboro.com [https://chapelboro.com].

What’s Trending: Burning Man’s MOOP Map

[https://chapelboromedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/04155631/Whats-Treading-864x329-1.png] Trending today: folks online are complaining about the increasing cost of attending Burning Man. Why does it cost so much? Victor explores that question – and discovers that the festival is subject to heavy cleanup regulations by federal land officials, so it takes a lot of effort (and money) to keep the area debris-free. 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 [https://chapelboro.com/category/the-aaron-keck-show/whats-trending-with-victor-lewis] – 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. You can also listen to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” on Spotify. Click here to follow Aaron and listen to all his segments [https://open.spotify.com/show/11jUjaXgON7EZspQ2VsTI1], from local news to fun features to hard-hitting interviews. What’s Trending is made possible by Dynamic Electric. [https://www.dynamic-electric.com/] Listen now: The post What’s Trending: Burning Man’s MOOP Map [https://chapelboro.com/the-aaron-keck-show/whats-trending-with-victor-lewis/burning-mans-moop-map] appeared first on Chapelboro.com [https://chapelboro.com].

On Air Today: State Rep. Renee Price, on North Carolina’s 2026 State Budget

State Rep. Renee Price (D-Orange) joins Aaron to discuss this year’s recently-passed state budget. It became law with the governor’s signature and some Democratic support, but Price says it’s still a disappointing document overall. Also, Price shares some behind-the-scenes insights about the legislative process – and how you can participate most effectively. [https://chapelboromedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/13062736/AK-Renee-Price-071326-1024x768.jpg]https://chapelboromedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/13062736/AK-Renee-Price-071326-scaled.jpg 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 [https://chapelboro.com/on-air-today] – and tune in to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” at 7:30 a.m. on 97.9 The Hill to hear those conversations live. You can also listen to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” on Spotify. Click here to follow Aaron and listen to all his segments [https://open.spotify.com/show/11jUjaXgON7EZspQ2VsTI1], from local news to fun features to hard-hitting interviews. Listen: The post On Air Today: State Rep. Renee Price, on North Carolina’s 2026 State Budget [https://chapelboro.com/the-aaron-keck-show/on-air-today/state-rep-renee-price-on-north-carolinas-2026-state-budget] appeared first on Chapelboro.com [https://chapelboro.com].

The Morning News: Assisting Local Homeowners, Replacing Jamezetta Bedford, Heading to the Major Leagues

In today’s news: Orange County Commissioners discuss the process of filling the late Jamezetta Bedford’s board seat. Also: county commissioners discuss changes to Orange County’s Longtime Homeowners Assistance Program; North Carolina falls out of the top spot on a national ranking of the best states for business; and Chapel Hill gets good news from the state budget in the ongoing Chantal recovery process. And in sports: six Tar Heels are chosen in this year’s Major League Baseball draft – led by shortstop Jake Schaffner, selected by Boston in the first round. [https://chapelboromedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/17090745/Morning-News.png]https://chapelboromedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/17090745/Morning-News.png 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, [https://chapelboro.com/category/the-aaron-keck-show/6-o-clock-news] which you can hear live during “This Morning with Aaron Keck” every weekday from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. You can also listen to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” on Spotify. Click here to follow Aaron and listen to all his segments [https://open.spotify.com/show/11jUjaXgON7EZspQ2VsTI1], from local news to fun features to hard-hitting interviews. Listen: The post The Morning News: Assisting Local Homeowners, Replacing Jamezetta Bedford, Heading to the Major Leagues [https://chapelboro.com/the-aaron-keck-show/6-o-clock-news/assisting-local-homeowners-replacing-jamezetta-bedford-heading-to-the-major-leagues] appeared first on Chapelboro.com [https://chapelboro.com].

Date Night: We’re Not The Old Chevrolet Set

Brad and Aaron are going on several mini-trips in the next couple months – can any of those trips inspire a local date night? Brad takes a cue from New York and recommends this year’s PlayMakers Summer Repertory show, while Aaron is inspired by a past Vegas adventure to recommend a cool new immersive art exhibition in Durham. 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 [https://chapelboro.com/category/the-aaron-keck-show/date-night] – and tune in to This Morning every Friday at 8:30 to hear “Date Night” live on the air. You can also listen to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” on Spotify. Click here to follow Aaron and listen to all his segments [https://open.spotify.com/show/11jUjaXgON7EZspQ2VsTI1], from local news to fun features to hard-hitting interviews. Listen: The post Date Night: We’re Not The Old Chevrolet Set [https://chapelboro.com/the-aaron-keck-show/date-night/were-not-the-old-chevrolet-set] appeared first on Chapelboro.com [https://chapelboro.com].