March 2025 Archives

Carolina Connection – Mar. 29, 2025

March 29, 2025 Editor

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.

TikTok is in limbo, and UNC student influencers fear they may lose their income stream

March 28, 2025 Madeleine Ahmadi

The Trump Administration says it’s attempting to put the app under majority-American ownership before an April 5 deadline. Without an agreement, the app could be banned in the U.S. At U-N-C, many student influencers make money off their TikTok fame. Now, those influencers are in limbo.

UNC panel reflects on the cultural impact of ‘Black Twitter’ and other digital spaces

March 28, 2025 Melodi Carty

Even though Twitter has become Elon Musk’s X, it still plays a role in helping people of color to speak out.

How climate change is making urban areas in the Triangle hotter

March 28, 2025 Sarah Ellis

As spring brings higher temperatures to North Carolina, the paved surfaces and dense buildings in cities can create the “urban heat island” effect.

Local group hosts pinball competition for players across the southeast

March 28, 2025 Maya Hagan

The old-school game of pinball is enjoying a slight resurgence after nearly disappearing.

Abe Thompson, an older man with short hair and a beard in a gray sweater and blue jeans, uses scissors and a comb to cut the hair of regular customer Maple Osterbrink, who has shorter hair and a blue robe-like cover to catch the hair Thompson cuts.

After 64 years, Friendly Barber Shop will close in April

March 28, 2025 Mia Khatib

Friendly Barber Shop has been a staple for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community for 64 years. It will close at the end of April.

Hubert Davis signals to his players while raising his hand. He's wearing a gray, plaid pinstripe dress jacket over a white shirt with his glasses on.

After an underwhelming season, UNC men’s basketball fans are divided on Hubert Davis’ new contract

March 28, 2025 Andy Zhao

Fans are divided on whether Davis can lead the men’s basketball program forward after falling short of expectations in the 2024-25 season.

The Trump Administration throws local Ukrainian refugees’ status into flux

March 28, 2025 Twumasi Duah-Mensah

Advocates for Ukrainian refugees say many are laying low and are fearful of the to Trump Administration’s threats to revoke their temporary legal status.

Visa revocations on other campuses leave UNC professors fearful and concerned

March 28, 2025 Lily Kane and Twumasi Duah-Mensah

After a Thursday meeting of the UNC-Chapel Hill chapter of the American Association of University Professors, chapter president Michael Palm said the crackdown is creating concern among UNC faculty.

Carolina Connection – Mar. 22, 2025

March 22, 2025 Editor

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.