Select Page

The 5:00 News

The 5:00 News: School. Is. Back!

97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell shares the latest from around the region on Monday, August 23. Local school districts begin classes for the new academic year. UNC reports its first positive COVID-19 cluster in a dorm so far this fall. Orange County opens a county building honoring Bonnie B. Davis. Plus: UNC football land a major recruit and Tar Heels women’s soccer earns a dramatic victory!

Read More

The 5:00 News: UNC COVID Testing, Women’s Soccer and NC Pistol Permits

97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell brings you the latest from around the Orange County community and state on Thursday, August 19. UNC tweaks its coronavirus testing protocols for unvaccination and unattested students, as they aim to have such measures take them through the school year. North Carolina hits troubling COVID benchmarks and sees a resident detained in Washington D.C. for a bomb threat. Plus… UNC women’s soccer prepares for its new season. Carrboro High School unveils a new mural. And the state General Assembly passes legislation to revoke pistol permitting.

Read More

The 5:00 News: UNC’s FDOC, Census Data and Maple View Farms

97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell delivers some top news stories from Wednesday, August 18, as UNC begins its fall semester. North Carolina announces its latest vaccine lottery winners and prepares for its latest state budget negotiations. Data from the 2020 U.S. Census shows North Carolina is growing quickly, but specifically in cities and with an older population. A local agricultural business is set to end milk production. Plus: UNC football nears a key coronavirus vaccination metric and a former men’s basketball star makes the leap to college coaching.

Read More

The 5:00 News: 5-11 Vaccine Trials, $15 Minimum Wage and Dean Susan King

97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell shares the latest local news headlines on Tuesday, August 17. The dean of UNC’s journalism school is set to step down in the coming months. Orange County Schools adopt new health measures for staff ahead of the new school year. COVID-19 vaccine trials for children aged 5-11 are finishing up. Plus: Chatham County passes non-discrimination ordinances and UNC football donates tickets to first responders.

Read More

The 5:00 News: Faculty’s Petition, CHCCS’ Desegregation and UNC Football’s Ranking

97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell starts off the week with local news stories from around the community on Monday, August 16. UNC faculty are petitioning for the university to begin the year with remote learning despite FDOC being two days away. CHCCS honors a pioneer in desegregating its district 60 years ago. Plus: UNC Football lands in top 10 of the Associated Press’ Preseason Rankings and a local dance studio places in top 10 in a major competition.

Read More

The 5:00 News: Duke Clusters, Doulas and Driving I-40

97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell finishes out the week with several local news stories on Friday, August 13. Duke University announces two clusters of COVID-19 cases, one of which has nearly 30 students. A stretch of Interstate 40 in Orange County is set to be expanded from two lanes to three. A new study at UNC aims to address racial inequities in maternal care. And one UNC men’s golfer is standing out at the 2021 U.S. Amateur Championships.

Read More

The 5:00 News: UNC Move-In, Eviction Resources and A Rugby Star

97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell brings you the latest news stories from Thursday, August 12. The UNC campus community is seeing students move in to on-campus dorms. COVID-19 trends in North Carolina break another summer record. Orange County continues offering eviction resources to residents even as the federal moratorium is reinstated. The North Carolina House of Representatives passes its budget. Plus: more data is released from the U.S. Census and a former UNC rugby player is using her Olympics platform to spread acceptance.

Read More

The 5:00 News: Vaccine Data + What’s New at UNC?

97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell reports the latest local news on Wednesday, August 11. Orange County’s indoor mask mandate goes into effect, as does Chatham County’s for county government facilities. UNC reports its first COVID-19 cluster of the new semester — what measures is the university taking to limit spread? Plus: a top UNC infectious disease expert shares more details on the protections coronavirus vaccines can bring.

Read More

The 5:00 News: Orange and Chatham Mask Mandates + Freedman’s School

97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell shares the latest news regarding impending mask mandates in Orange and Chatham Counties on Tuesday, August 10. Plus… Carrboro unveils a new truth plaque. Chapel Hill updates its noise ordinances to no longer carry criminal charges. And UNC football lands in the top ten of the first major preseason poll.

Read More

The 5:00 News: Missing Person, Mask Mandates and More NC Money

97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell gets the week started with a look at local and state news from Monday, August 9. Durham County enacts a new mask mandate for all indoor public spaces. Chapel Hill Police find a missing person. Estes Drive is set to have new bikepaths, sidewalks and crosswalks in the coming year. Plus: two Tar Heel star athletes earn academic recognition and North Carolina receives a windfall in tax revenue.

Read More

On Air Now: 97.9 FM

  • WCHL Broadcast Calendar