Features – Carolina Connection: Recent Episodes
The University of North Carolina Hussman School of Journalism and Media
Students pass down the costume - and the tradition - from year to year, with their identities remaining secret until they're ready to graduate.
As UNC seniors prepare to graduate, traditions like grad photos, Bell Tower climbs, and Franklin Street celebrations take on new meaning.
Duan, who is now working on her third collection of poems, sees poetry as a genre that inspires a people to slow down and listen.
Alim Braxton, known on music platforms as “Rrome Alone,” has been incarcerated for over thirty years at Central Prison. With the help of UNC music professor Mark Katz and New-York based producer Nick Neutronz, he is able to release music from death row.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association is scheduled to consider whether to recognize the sport.
Plane spotting hobbyists gather at RDU's observation park to take pictures, host meetups, and post photos online. Many have found friendships through their love of aviation.
In January, UNC’s live mascot, Rameses, fathered a baby lamb named Jennifer. The sheep are cared for by Don Basnight and other employees at Hogan’s Magnolia View Farm in a tradition that spans more than 100 years,
Christina Koch, a mission specialist for Artemis II, is from Jacksonville, N.C. She attended the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham and North Carolina State University.
UNC students and community volunteers hosted Health on the Block in Chapel Hill, offering free health screenings, resources, and entertainment.
The wirelessly controlled blocks and hammers were spread across the Arboretum in a two-day art installation called Murmurations by The Process Series.
Cat Tales Cat Cafe offers a space for local community members to meet and play with cats up for adoption. The cafe’s rescue mission seeks to reduce euthanasia rates, a growing problem statewide.
At the regularly-occurring events, volunteers help residents fix electronics, furniture, and other objects while building skills, reducing waste, and fostering community.
The tour was created as part of a 2020 UNC course led by professor Katherine Turk. It examines UNC's campus through the lens of women’s history.
Carla Overbeck’s legacy goes beyond the 1999 Women’s World Cup. From fighting for basic resources to paving the way for mothers in sports, her impact helped transform women’s athletics.
The Brajboro Cow Sanctuary offers visitors the opportunity to participate in activities such as cow cuddling, feeding, and more. It's part of a trend of large animal-assisted therapy, where animals other than the typical cats and dogs are used in therapeutic ways.
Bunnag, invited to UNC by the Asian American Center, led multiple events on campus, allowing students to engage with art that challenges social and political norms, even amid pressures on artistic freedom.
UNC's Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services program is hoping to help students understand and feel comfortable pursuing campus safety resources.
A UNC pre-med student turned his passion for photography into an Olympic opportunity. Nick York traveled to Milan to photograph snowboarding events. He was among several UNC students who documented the games.
A trio of UNC researchers, led by 24-year-old Ellora McTaggart, are developing biosensing glasses that can track and detect internal psychological issues.
The exhibit titled “Boys Will be Men” is a collection of photographic portraits from local artist Bill Bamberger.
The University recently announced an anonymous donation that will endow the position of art conservator at The Ackland Art Museum.
The Tarrrr Heel Preparedness Festival hosted by Campus Safety on Thursday aimed to help students prepare for emergencies. The event had appearances from twenty-four different groups including the South Orange Rescue Squad, Chapel Hill police department and a bunch of rowdy pirates.
There’s a new spot in town. Max's Tin Can, a new UNC-centric bar sits right across the street from campus. The owner, an alum, hopes to make it a gathering spot for years to come.
The Chapel Hill institution is closing by the end of 2024 due to economic pressures and consumer patterns.
When Pulp Juice and Smoothies opens its new location at Columbia and Franklin Streets, all of the businesses at Chapel Hill's main downtown intersection will be a chain or franchise. Is there still a place for locally-owned businesses downtown?
The French Ambassador is visiting the Triangle, due to its increasing Francophone population.
After a semester of collaborative work, a UNC class of students from various fields is preparing to unveil “BrewBot,” a robotic arm that can serve coffee, lattes, and tea.
2024 graduates started college during COVID lockdown, and while their college experience was unusual, it was still meaningful for them.
Chapel Thrill Escapes, which has a location in Cobb dormitory, has added a second location downtown and hopes to keep growing,
UNC student Will Walker runs the Instagram account Tuff Fit Tuesday, which features not only UNC students, but students across the world in cities such as Chicago and Paris, in their best Tuesday outfits. He talks with Carolina Connection's Caroline Horne about how he developed the idea for Tuff Fit Tuesday and what makes an outfit tuff.
Grow Your World, a non-profit and youth-centered organization, celebrated receiving a $150,000 grant from the Town of Carrboro. The group's goal is to empower youth and establish inclusive relationships across generations.
Raleigh’s first alcohol-free bar opened its doors January 1. CEO Meg Paradise said she wanted to create a niche space for customers to drink without feeling the pressure to get intoxicated.
The annual daylong Arts Everywhere event centered around showcasing the artistic talents of the UNC community.
The Triangle based non-profit organization provides women with support and access to professional attire. Any woman who is unemployed or underemployed is eligible to receive free professional clothing.
The pregnant stingray named Charlotte lives in the Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO in Hendersonville, N.C. But Charlotte lives in a tank with no other rays, only two sharks. So it's not clear how she became pregnant.
UNC senior Sydney Van Buren's one-woman show faced an unexpected twist as a power outage darkened her performance. But audience members showed their support in an unforgettable way.
Spring is in full swing here in North Carolina. The days are longer, the weather is warmer, and allergies are surging. Monday, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality reported record amounts of tree pollen within the Triangle. Dr.Scott P Commins is the Associate Chief for Allergy & Immunology at
The foul-smelling trees have become an invasive species, and some North Carolina residents who remove the tree from their yards will be rewarded with one native tree of their choice.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency supporting and advancing museums and libraries, announced that the Chapel Hill Public Library will be a finalist for its 2024 national medal.
For the last three years, the Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation have held Creek Week, an event to draw community members attention to how critical local waterways are
A UNC student is leaving the frogs around campus for her peers to find. She hopes it will raise awareness of mental health resources following August's fatal shooting.
On Valentine’s Day, UNC Police shared news of their furry new addition to the team: Mia, an 8-week-old Goldendoodle, the department’s new therapy dog.
Spring, a season that is associated with allergies, blooming flowers and warmer weather, is just around the corner.
For more that a decade, the student-run organization has been helping students, faculty, and other people on campus get home safely.
A new UNC student non-profit organization, Stomp Out Hunger At NC, strives to combat local hunger by providing meals one step at a time with donations from campus fraternities and sororities.
North Carolina had the second highest euthanasia rate in the nation in 2021, and many North Carolina shelters still have too many animals and not enough resources.
UNC has storytelling classes in departments where you might expect them - like English and Journalism. But students in other disciplines are also learning the value of telling a good story.
'Hugs and Pups' is a group that provides stress relief to students in the form of dog pets and mom hugs, but health concerns have put a pause on the hugs.
The renovation of UNC’s historic Coker Arbor is scheduled to conclude before next fall. Despite frigid temperatures, community members are digging in to appreciate the natural space in all its seasons.
Professor Tressie McMillan Cottom is a distinguished academic, an award-winning educator, a best-selling writer, and something of a celebrity.
North Carolina's solar farms are gaining ‘solar sheep’ as part of a practice combining new technology with the traditional farming industry.
The decades-old tradition - sponsored by the National Audubon Society - goes beyond just a bird watching as a hobby.
Ticketmaster faces public backlash after a presale for Taylor swift tickets went wrong.
For college students on a budget, thrifting is an inexpensive and environmentally-friendly way to find new clothes. And a new club is bringing thrifting closer to campus, while also promoting sustainable fashion practices.
As American Indian students celebrate their culture, they also hope to break down stereotypes.
22% of UNC students are food insecure, according to one survey. But some are hesitant to seek out help.
Several hundred UNC students are military veterans, and they often face unique challenges on campus.
Many college students watch reality TV from their dorms. But some students got a chance to live the experience in Student Television’s new show: "Head over Heels."
NIA is being showcased for the first time at UNC by the Department of Dramatic Arts. It will tackle issues like climate change, religious extremist, and women rights.
Two friends from Creedmoor have been going to football games together for the past 20 years, despite one being blind. They discuss the unique way they see the game.
A mural is coming to Campus Y that embodies mental health awareness using nature and iconic school symbols.
Ghost hunters in the Triangle explore historic sites to explain ongoing reports of hauntings.
Festival extends over several weekends, and attendees can patronize local art vendors, eat at food trucks, and even help paint a mural.
The state of caregiving in the US is in need of help itself, and one Chapel Hill start-up aims to do just that.
A UNC business student built a non-profit during the pandemic. It has helped students across the nation get internship offers and MBA programs.
The UNC Ballroom Dance Team offers free lessons to any skill level in Latin and Standard international dance styles. The team practices and competes together.
“Language and Gender in Children’s Animated Films” takes a closer look at the role that gender plays in the plot and characters of films produced by Disney and Pixar.
UNC will host next year’s World Anti-Bullying Forum. The event brings together anti-bullying researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and educators to discuss their work. Leading the forum is UNC Education Professor Dorothy Espelage.
Students and long-term residents gathered for a community cookout in effort to bridge the gap between the growing younger population and prior residents.
UNC's Acts of Random Kindness Club spreads positivity to students, hoping to help combat some of the stress that arises during midterms.
A horde of zombies was unleashed at UNC this week. But fear not, the Tar Heel Zombie Preparedness Festival aimed to eliminate emergencies, not cause one.
While UNC produces several musical productions every year, there has never been an academic track. That;s changing w with the introduction of a new musical theater minor.
The annual event held by UNC Transportation and Parking sells off bicycles that have been abandoned on campus. Nearly 200 bikes were auctioned this year.
The United Methodist Church in the U.S. has been in upheaval since the passing of the “Traditional Plan” in 2019. Here's a look at how two Triangle-area churches have been responding.
UNC seniors have dealt with COVID-related challenges since they were freshman. The upcoming year will be their first and only normal year.
The strategy is being used to help manage vegetation and prevent future wildfires from getting out of control.
For new business owners, crowdfunding can be more feasible than getting a loan, with the added advantage of not having to pay anyone back.
Two formerly incarcerated men took it upon themselves to develop a curriculum that addresses recidivism and restructures the tools used to survive in prison.
UNC-Chapel Hill faculty use the Critical Games Studies Initiative to bring video games to the English and Comparative Literature Department.
Some recreational fishermen and conservationists are demanding that North Carolina manage its fish differently. They have sued the state, claiming it lets commercial fishermen exploit and harm natural resources.
UNC students celebrated their last day of classes Wednesday before finals. To ease students’ nerves, a group of parent volunteers gathered on campus to shower them with love, food, smiles and support.
UNC Professor Jim Kitchen travels to space after visiting every 193 countries on Earth.
How do you protect a plant from a creature the size of a pinhead? Researchers at NCSU might have an answer.
UNC seniors got a unique chance this week to experience a campus space that not many people get the opportunity to see.
The Cherokee language in North Carolina is at risk. Fewer than 200 speakers remain in the state, and they're concerned it could be lost forever.
To cope with the tension of the pandemic and other stressors, UNC's Department of Dramatic Art led a collective, cathartic screaming session at the center of campus.
Students in the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program are enrolled at both UNC and Duke and even spend time living on both campuses. So choosing which team to root for can pose a dilemma.
Drift Marketplace serves as a gallery for UNC student artists, with future plans to incorporate emerging technologies like NFTs.
Linda’s Bar and Grill has found a clever way to get people in the door – by welcoming in the Chapel Hill comedy scene.
Orange County is planning "Creek Week" to teach residents about the importance of local waterways, stormwater management, and the natural habitats created by creeks.
The Carolina Beekeeping Club's "Bee School" is a hands-on learning program to teach students and community members about beekeeping basics.
Now on display, portraits of 118 Town of Chapel Hill employees show their often invisible work, from making road signs to repairing books.