Carolina Connection

Disney is building a new residential community in Pittsboro called Asteria. While it won’t be a theme park, Disney says the community will feature Disney branding and amenities run by Disney cast members, such as a wellness and recreation center, restaurant, and a community garden. With home sales expected in 2027, the project is getting renewed focus from local officials … and from environmental groups. On this edition of the Carolina Connection podcast, Brooks Stevenson joins host Maddie Policastro to talk about the reaction to Asteria.

On this edition of Carolina Cast, host Maddie Policastro and reporter Gracie Durham dive into the local club, the Chapel Hill Woodturners. The club operates out of a workshop on Old Greensboro Road, where we found that the group is doing more than just shaping wood … they’re building community, bringing together people from all walks of life to create, teach, and give back.

Local residents react as federal immigration officers arrive in the Triangle, detaining people outside stores, at construction sites, and elsewhere. We hear from a UNC student who fears for the safety of his family, his community, and himself. Durham parents stand watch outside schools in case immigration officers arrive. Political leaders argue for and against the law enforcement operation, while a UNC legal scholar discusses the constitutional ramifications. Also this week, UNC graduate students say low stipends are forcing them to take on jobs outside the classroom. And as many students prepare to head home for Thanksgiving, others are stuck on campus with limited food options.

Students are bracing to pay more to attend UNC after the Board of Trustees approves the first tuition increase in years. Zohran Mamdani’s historic win in New York City’s mayoral race is inspiring Muslims in Chapel Hill. A lot of people at UNC are trying to fight food insecurity - and so are some tiny insects. Dancers on campus say they don't have enough places to pirouette or tap. People are going to DIx Park in Raleigh to see trolls made from trash.

Food pantries are overwhelmed as the Trump Administration holds back SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. Democrats had a surprisingly strong election this week, but a political expert warns against drawing long-term conclusions from the results. UNC has limited access to a lounge that students of color have used for over fifty years - leaving some feeling alienated. UNC's schools of library science and data science are merging - leading to concerns that the library side will be overshadowed. A local group is trying to build community through woodturning.

On the latest edition of the Carolina Connection podcast, Maddie Policastro and Marguerite Stouse dive into a new art installation in Raleigh’s Dix Park. Thomas Dambo and his massive wooden trolls have invaded the park, spreading their mission of sustainability and community through the Triangle. Dambo is an international recycled material artist and has recruited local volunteers in building these five wooden trolls. Marguerite took to the park to understand the community Dambo fosters, and she got a first hand experience of what building these whimsical creatures looks like.

Hurricane Melissa hits close to home for a UNC student with family in Jamaica. Citing thousands of dollars of squirrel damage to homes and vehicles, residents of a Durham subdivision want the city to regulate wildlife feeders. But the mayor says a proposed ordinance goes too far. Now that college athletes are getting paid, a UNC business class is helping them learn to save and spend wisely. Duke Chapel is commemorating Day of the Dead. A former UNC post-doc has won an award for photographing something that can barely be seen at all. UNC Pauper Players puts its own spin on the cult classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

North Carolina's congressional districts get even more gerrymandered. Protesters say truth and public service at UNC are under attack. Skateboarders on campus say they have no place to shred. At UNC and Duke hospitals, an atypical therapy is helping patients. UNC students can get their hair cut in the Pit… for free. It's time for the annual appearance of pumpkin spice ... in seemingly every beverage we drink.

UNC's annual First Amendment Day takes on new meaning this year as people on campus and around the country say their rights are threatened. Losses on the field and controversies off the field lead to questions about Bill Belichick's future at UNC. Online gamers are often exposed to extremist content, but some say the community should work together to challenge harmful beliefs. North Carolina's first Buc-ee’s is coming in Mebane, but some residents worry it will reshape the area. Chapel Hill trail enthusiasts will soon see repairs to paths damaged by Tropical Storm Chantal. Some students are already at work making Halloween costumes.

UNC reinstates a controversial professor after investigating him for alleged "advocacy of politically motivated violence." The investigation concluded that Professor Dwayne Dixon posed no threat and violated no university policies. The UNC Dental School pays tribute to student Deah Barakat, ten years after he, his wife, and his sister in law were murdered in a case that many consider a hate crime. Oxfam America ranks North Carolina the nation's worst state for workers. Some big name athletes and coaches are helping expand UNC's sports communication curriculum. And, we talk AI - how an upcoming UNC conference will examine the future of the technology in everyday life, and how a local artist uses it to re-imagine his work highlighting the power of the Latino community.

This is Hispanic Heritage Month, but celebrations feel different this year because of the Trump Administration's immigration crackdown. Some campus organizations fear losing their identities because UNC has banned DEI. Coffee houses are taking a financial hit due to President Trump's tariffs. Nature and art are coming together this fall at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. The Chapel Hill music scene gets jazzier. More than a year after some scenes were filmed on campus, "The Summer I Turned Pretty" continues to bring out crowds.

Schools across North Carolina are restricting cell phones in the classroom to comply with a new state ban. UNC considers an incentive plan to encourage employees to retire. Student organizations adjust to tighter budgets. It's Muscadine season, and we step through a local farm for a history of North Carolina's official state fruit. In PlayMakers' latest production, "The Royale," boxing is a metaphor for the psychological fight against racial injustice. The North Carolina Folk Festival uses music to send a message about community.

Colleagues honor the life of late Professor Zijie Yan with a new memorial on campus. Computer science students worry about AI impacting their future. A local puppeteer group is back on stage after tropical storm Chantal destroyed much of their warehouse. Amateur and professional poets have a new place to workshop. The hiring of Bill Belichick has changed the football game day experience - for better or worse.

One of President Trump's first executive orders upon taking office seeks to end birthright citizenship for children born to parents who are undocumented or who are in the U.S. on temporary status. Federal courts temporarily blocked the order, after a series of lawsuits challenged it as a violation of the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The case is likely to end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. Carolina Connection's Gowri Abhinanda spoke with legal experts and advocates about the issues in the litigation, as well as the uncertainty that many people are feeling. She joins Sarah Ellis on this edition of the Carolina Connection podcast.

Facing multiple lawsuits, The Trump Administration has restored the status of many international students who lost their visas, including at least five at UNC. Researchers at UNC say lifesaving studies are under threat due to federal funding cuts. Employers expect to hire fewer graduating seniors this year, and the class of 2025 is feeling the effects. Spiking property values in the Triangle could make it harder for residents of traditionally Black neighborhoods to keep their homes. A UNC English class has a unique final exam: writing and performing their own original songs.

Triangle college students react to the State Department’s termination of international students’ visas. A North Carolina Senate bill could further restrict DEI in higher education. State health agencies across the U.S. lost billions of dollars in funding, and that’s threatened many programs in North Carolina. UNC is renovating some dorms, which could make it harder to find campus housing. And people take a swing at history - and each other - through a local sword fighting club.

After Big Lots filed for bankruptcy last year, the company owned by North Carolina businessman Art Pope - Variety Wholesalers - acquired roughly 200 of the retail locations. But Pope's company is far more than just cheap items and good deals; it's arguably the fuel for North Carolina's Republican Party. Carolina Connection's Madeleine Ahmadi talked with Pope to better understand his business plan and politics.

Farmers and advocates say unpasteurized milk is healthier. But many doctors warn the risk of bacterial contamination outweighs any potential benefits. And some raw milk drinkers have learned that lesson the hard way. Sarah Ellis reports for the Carolina Connection podcast.

The Trump administration’s tariffs have already shocked the stock market. And one expert says grocery prices might shock you soon. Ttwo NC State University students have left after their visas were revoked - leading to more concerns among other international students. Carrboro has a brand new library, and, as for Chapel Hill - It has a another fried chicken place. AI has a growing role in academia, but can it ever replace human teachers? A UNC club wants to prevent bird strikes by putting stickers on the windows of buildings they fly into.

The Trump administration has thrown local Ukrainian refugees’ legal status into flux. TikTok might get banned, and that could cost some UNC influencers a lot of money. A UNC panel reflects on how Black digital spaces have added an important perspective to cultural conversations. After the men's basketball team's early departure from the NCAA tournament, some fans are questioning whether coach Hubert Davis should return. A longtime Carrboro barber is hanging up his shears. While most of us are playing our PS5s and Nintendo switches, people at a Durham arcade come together over pinball tables.