2024 Carolina Connection Programs Co-Produced and Anchored by me.

The number of college and vocational programs is growing in an unlikely place – the nation’s prisons. Over the last three decades, the number of inmate education programs has jumped 40%.

As Carolina Connection’s Sofia Casini reports, corrections officials and politicians say educating inmates is one of the most effective ways to make inmates more employable and reduce the number of repeat offenders.

Students for Justice in Palestine held a week of resistance culminating in a protest of Lee Roberts’ installation as Chancellor.

Sofia Casini reports.

Southern states are experiencing the effects of what was once Hurricane Helene. More than 20 deaths have been linked to the storm. North Carolina experienced heavy downpours, flash foods, and strong winds. Millions were left without power.

We’re joined by UNC Professor Rick Luettich from Morehead City. Professor Luettich is the Director of the Center for Natural Hazards Resilience. Among other things, his research focuses on storm surge modeling, which is used for risk analysis and real-time forecasting.

UNC Political Science Professor Jason Roberts talks to Carolina Connection about the North Carolina governor’s race, following revelations that Republican candidate Mark Robinson posted lewd and offensive messages on a porn web site several years ago. Roberts also talks about the role of the youth vote in this year’s election.

Meanwhile, Shannon McGregor, an associate professor at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, talks about how old online posts can come back to haunt political candidates.

This coming week will be the last week of classes at UNC, and with graduation approaching, a lot of seniors are deep in their job searches. But the application process has changed drastically, especially since the pandemic. And some surveys report approximately 40% of employers say they avoid hiring Gen Z applicants.

Carolina Connection’s Sofia Casini reports. more.

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 UNC Medical School. And he joins us today to discuss why our eyes are itchy and our noses are running.

Sudan is experiencing a humanitarian crisis. It’s been almost a year since civil war erupted after decades of conflict between the Sudanese Armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The violence has led to mass killings, displacement, and what the U.S. government calls “reports of widespread sexual violence and killings based on ethnicity.”

Despite the gravity of the situation, what is happening in Sudan has been greatly under reported. That’s why UNC’s CJAA, the Community Justice, Abolition, and Anti Racism collective, planned a Sudan Week last week. It included opportunities for the UNC community to engage with Sudanese culture, learn about the crisis and war, and donate to charities supporting humanitarian efforts.

We’re joined by Shuhud Mustafa, an executive member of CJAA. She spearheaded the action week.

A bill that legalizes sports betting in North Carolina is set to take effect in 2024. But sports betting was already popular among college students, even before it was legal, as apps and websites have made it easier to participate in.

A survey from the NCAA reported that the majority of college students — 58% in general and 67% of those living on campus — participate in sports betting.

Carolina Connection’s Sofia Casini has more.

Inflation in the U.S. has gone down, but food prices remain higher than they were before the pandemic. The UNC community is not immune from the economic changes. This year, a higher percentage of students reported that they are experiencing food insecurity.

Carolina Connection’s Sofia Casini reports.

Autumn’s cold weather has finally arrived in Chapel Hill. UNC students are bundling up, drinking hot drinks, and enjoying the beauty of Fall colors.

Carolina Connection’s Sofia Casini reports.

The Israeli government is vowing to destroy Hamas after the militant group carried out a surprise attack last weekend … and the effects are being felt by many in the Chapel Hill community. Some have loved ones in the Middle East; many feel strongly about the implications of the growing conflict.

Carolina Connection’s Sofia Casini reports.

According to the Washington Post, more and more students are coming into college with food allergies–and campus dining halls may not be keeping up.

Carolina Connection’s Sofia Casini introduces us to some UNC students who say they struggle to find dining hall food they can safely eat.

Professors and staff are among those shaken by the August shooting. They were at a unique intersection; they had their own lives, their own family members and colleagues to worry about on top of their responsibility to their students.

Sofia Casini reports on how faculty are processing the aftermath of the tragedy.