Carolina Connection

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.

Protestors at UNC vow to fight back against the Trump administration’s efforts to deport two pro-Palestinian students from Columbia University. The Town of Chapel Hill unpublished webpages concerning LGBTQ history, minority loan programs and more. But after community criticism, the pages are back. Egg prices are down from their record highs but Triangle businesses and consumers are still feeling the effects. Environmental groups install "trash traps" to catch litter in area creeks. North Carolina elementary and middle school test scores still have not recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students fear UNC is leaving them out of the conversation about whether to move the men’s basketball arena off campus. Upcoming college graduates are scrambling after the federal government rescinded their job and internship offers. The UNC System tries to adapt to the Trump Administration's threats about DEI initiatives. Wilson Library’s newest exhibit visualizes the Carolina student experience. A new initiative documents how racist housing policies have shaped where people live in Wake County today. A "Death Faire" in Pittsboro tries to change people's views about death and dying.

UNC leaders urge patience as faculty express concerns about President Trump's funding cuts. A UNC study finds concerning trends in mental health among black middle schoolers. Some North Carolina colleges are teaching classes in prison to reduce the inmates recidivism rate. UNC students are helping draft legislation that they hope will protect kids on social media. The Daily Tar Heel is trying to expand its coverage of marginalized communities. Declining enrollment might make 2026 the last class of music education majors.

The community memorializes the tenth anniversary of the murders of three local Muslim students. The Trump Administration’s funding cuts have brought an end to some UNC programs, and faculty members worry that more will be eliminated. Advocacy groups aim to address fears and rumors about potential ICE raids on campus. A longstanding campus publication amplifies Black voices. And we hear from some musically-inclined students. Some sing a cappella. Others work all night on the student radio station.

Many students on UNC's campus are concerned about securing on-campus housing, after Chancellor Lee Roberts announced an enrollment increase of 5o0 new students in the incoming class of 2029. Carolina Connection's Mia Khatib spoke to students who are unable to get dorm rooms for the upcoming school year. Mia and Sarah Ellis discuss the university's "Comprehensive Housing Masterplan" on this edition of the Carolina Connection podcast.

UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts faces backlash after he says the university will comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Local Congresswoman Valerie Foushee details how Democrats are opposing President Donald Trump’s aggressive effort to remake the federal government. A Carrboro music shop balances its role in the community with keeping the doors open. And students and community leaders explore how to celebrate Black history beyond February.

Immigrants in the Triangle area are uncertain and anxious about President Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship. A freeze on federal funding could impact the town of Chapel Hill, but the mayor says it's not clear exactly which services might be affected. The recent cold snap left the local unhoused population in danger. UNC plans to increase enrollment, even though some current students can’t get on-campus housing. A quilter is stitching together more than fabric; he’s creating a community. Groundhogs will have their day Feb. 2, but a Chapel Hill organization cares for them all year long.

Helene disrupted college applications for high school seniors in Western North Carolina. With schools closed and resources limited, counselors helped students navigate through the storm and submit their applications. Carolina Connection's Hannah Adams has talked with students and counselors in the western part of the state. She joins host Kevin Parris to discuss how students, high schools, and universities are dealing with the aftermath of the storm.

After Donald Trump's election, local clinicians are reporting a spike in demand for long-term contraceptives. In advance of the second Trump administration, students from immigrant families are also preparing for what lies ahead. Students are using Artificial Intelligence for almost everything in college – and professors are trying to keep up. UNC is raising student fees, but a lot of people are happy about how the money will be spent. Instead of Thanksgiving, Indigenous Americans counter popular narratives during Truthsgiving.