As of June 12, 2009, all of Raleigh-Durham's TV stations had made the switch from analog to digital broadcasting. This change was a welcome one for those of us who rely on broadcast TV (as opposed to cable or satellite TV) because the new digital channels offer crystal clear pictures and more programming.

However, there have been a few glitches during the switch. For example, many viewers in the Raleigh-Durham area are having trouble tuning in WUNC-TV (Channel 4, our local PBS affiliate) because the station's digital antenna, which is located in Chatham County, is too weak to transmit its signal throughout the Triangle.

Viewers have also had complaints about Raleigh's ABC-11, which is broadcasting on the VHF frequency, meaning that viewers with UHF antennas aren’t able to tune in to their favorite ABC programming.

If you're having problems tuning into your favorite channels now that they've gone digital, you can contact the stations directly or can get advice from the National Broadcasters Association at 1-888-388-2009.

Click here to see a list of Raleigh-Durham's digital TV stations.

This weekend, the Town of Hillsborough is hosting its 27th annual Hillsborough Hog Day Festival, which features live music, hog calling competitions, and (literally) tons upon tons of fresh-cooked barbecue. Hog Day is the biggest annual festival in Orange County, attracting over 30,000 people most years. This year's festival will open its doors at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 19, and will run through 6:00 p.m. on Saturday evening.

The festival is held throughout downtown Hillsborough, but its headquarters are at the Cameron Park Elementary School grounds at 240 St. Mary's Road.

On Friday night, admission to the festival is free, provided you bring a donation of canned food for the Orange Congregations in Mission. Friday night festival goers will get a chance to enjoy performances by local musicians Vintage Blue and the Wells Family Band and get to watch the barbecue cook-off participants get down to business.

Admission to Saturday's Hog Day events is $5.00 for folks ages 12 and older. Children under 12 get in for free. Saturday's activities include live music, a classic car cruise-in and kid-friendly games and rides.

And though it's Hog Day, festival goers aren't allowed to be pigs: this year's Hog Day is going to be "trash free". All utensils, plates and other items used to prepare or serve food at the festival will be biodegradable (no plastic allowed!) and will be composted. The festival's food waste will be composted as well.

The disaster at ConAgra's Slim Jim plant in Garner has had a devastating impact on the community. In addition to the three workers who lost their lives when the plant exploded last Tuesday, there were also over 40 people who were injured in the blast, and some are still hospitalized with severe burns.

In the aftermath of the explosion, representatives from the ATF and other government agencies have been working diligently to determine the cause of the disaster and ConAgra has pledged to continue paying the plant's workers for an unspecified amount of time. The company has also set up a hotline (1-866-484-9599) that the Slim Jim factory's employees and their relatives can call to learn about the assistance programs that are available to them as well as to get updates concerning the investigation of the explosion.

Fundraisers and prayer vigils for the victims have been taking place throughout Wake County this weekend, and efforts to raise money for the victims of this tragedy are still in full force.

If you're interested in making a donation to those affected by this disaster, consider contributing to the United Way ConAgra Foods Garner Plant Fund, a fund that the United Way of the Triangle established in partnership with ConAgra.

In a press release, United Way of the Triangle stated that 100% of the contributions made to this fund will go directly to the victims and their families. Donations to the fund can be made online, over the phone by calling (919)463-1367 or through the mail at

ConAgra Foods Garner Plant Partners Fund
c/o United Way of the Greater Triangle
P.O. Box 110387
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

The 2009 Komen Triangle Race for the Cure is going to be held this Saturday, June 13 at Meredith College, in Raleigh. The race benefits the Susan G. Komen Foundation, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer. Race day activities, which include several different races as well as shopping and children's activities, begin at 6:00 a.m. and end around noon.

If you would like to become one of the thousands of Triangle Race for the Cure participants, there's still time to register to run or become a race volunteer . If you'd like to further the cause without having to get out of bed so early on a Saturday morning, you can register to "Sleep-in for the Cure" (yes, this really is an option; you get a t-shirt and everything!).

Online registration for the race is available through this evening, and you can also register in person on race day (for the fun-run and non-competitive divisions only), or register the day before the race at one of the Race for the Cure's packet pick-up and one-stop registration locations . Participation fees range from $15-35, depending on which participation option you select.

Finally, if you don't feel like volunteering, sleeping-in or running, but still want to be part of the action, go ahead and be a spectator! There will be plenty going on at Meredith College all morning long: the Race Day Expo will feature educational exhibits as well as vendors giving out lots of free samples, Shop For the Cure will offer shopping for a good cause, the race's KidZone will keep the younger set occupied, and the Survivor Recognition Ceremony will serve as a touching reminder that the Race For the Cure is just that.