Great Lakes Today

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Great Lakes Today, a collaboration of public media stations, was created to highlight issues affecting the lakes. All reports are available to stations for free -- whether or not the station is in the Great Lakes region.

The main partners in the collaboration are WBFO (Buffalo), ideastream (Cleveland) and WXXI (Rochester); other stations in the region will also contribute reports. Great Lakes Today is funded through a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Series

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4 Pieces

Drownings at Great Lakes beaches often have a common cause: dangerous currents similar to those found along the ocean. Over the past decade, some 500 drownings and rescues have been attributed to structural, longshore and rip currents. This four-part series examines the issue from various perspectives, including a grieving mother, scientists developing a warning system, and a Michigan beach where drownings are concentrated. NOTE: Stories can run as a series or individually. Intros and outros are customized

Caption: Victor Small gets help for his asthma at an East Baltimore clinic., Credit: Angelica A. Morrison
3 Pieces

Minorities in the Great Lakes bear the burden of environmental problems such as air pollution, water contamination and waste dumps. This series examines the issue through residents of Cleveland, Buffalo and an indigenous community in Ontario, Canada.

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3 Pieces

The environmental movement is being redefined. Many advocacy groups are reaching out to minorities and addressing issues important to them. This three-part series explains how the movement has changed -- and what still needs to be done.

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5 Pieces

A look at the impact of President Trump's proposed budget cuts


Pieces

Caption: Sandbags line the shore of Ward's Island, on of the Toronto Islands overlooking the city., Credit: Veronica Volk
For a lot of people and business around Lake Ontario, flooding put summer on hold. Now that the water is going down, businesses are coming back, in...

Bought by WCPN, WRVO Public Media, and WBFO


  • Added: Jul 31, 2017
  • Length: :58
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: A slide with slices of otoliths is ready for examination, Credit: A slide with slices of otoliths is ready for examination
Asian carp are a big threat to the Great Lakes. After one was found recently beyond an electric barrier, environmentalists and officials worried th...

Bought by WDET Detroit Public Radio, WORT, Michigan Radio, WXXI Rochester, WVIK and more


  • Added: Jul 31, 2017
  • Length: 03:27
  • Purchases: 10
Caption: Protest in Oswego, N.Y., Credit: Payne Horning
Two replica Christopher Columbus ships are sailing across the Great Lakes this summer, offering visitors a chance to learn about the famous explore...

Bought by Interlochen Public Radio, WFIU, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, WXXI Rochester and more


  • Added: Jul 28, 2017
  • Length: 03:20
  • Purchases: 10
Caption: Mabel Johnson (right) and daughter Betty, Credit: Elizabeth Miller/ideastream
75 years ago, the SPARS were created to take the job of thousands of Coast Guardsmen who had to leave their posts to fight in World War II. 102-ye...

Bought by WXXI Rochester, WOSU, WCPN, and WBFO


  • Added: Jul 27, 2017
  • Length: 01:11
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: The Admiral shipwreck, Credit: Marc Duncan
There’s more than just fish and sand in the Great Lakes – there are thousands of ships, airplanes, and other vehicles under the water. A story on ...

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio, PRX Remix, WRVO Public Media, WCMU Michigan, WXXI Rochester and more


  • Added: Jul 21, 2017
  • Length: 03:34
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: GLRI funding helps projects like the Maple River dam removal, Credit: Ben Thorp
Despite a White House proposal to eliminate $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the House Appropriations Committee voted late ...

Bought by WSKG, WCMU Michigan, WMUK, WCPN, WRVO Public Media and more


  • Added: Jul 19, 2017
  • Length: :57
  • Purchases: 6
Caption: Algae bloom, 2011 , Credit: NASA
Harmful algae blooms generally begin to hit the lake in late July, and are triggered mainly by nutrient runoff from farms in the region. Toxins fro...

Bought by WCMU Michigan, WXXI Rochester, WKSU, WCPN, and WBFO


  • Added: Jul 13, 2017
  • Length: :57
  • Purchases: 5
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Invasive fish and plants that have plagued the Great Lakes region for decades are getting some special attention during a week long series of event...

Bought by WXXI Rochester, WCPN, and WBFO


  • Added: Jul 12, 2017
  • Length: 01:20
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Gov. Andrew Cuomo at Wilson, N.Y., Credit: Mike Mroziak, WBFO
The International Joint Commission isn’t a well-known group. But it has a big responsibility – helping the United States and Canada regulate the Gr...

Bought by WCPN, WCMU Michigan, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, WRVO Public Media, WXXI Rochester and more


  • Added: Jul 07, 2017
  • Length: :48
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: The Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Lighthouse, Credit: Elizabeth Miller/ideastream
Sheila Consaul purchased the Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light in 2011 – and since then, she’s renovated and refurbished her unique summer home.

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio, WLPR , WXXI Rochester, WCMU Michigan, WKSU and more


  • Added: Jul 07, 2017
  • Length: 03:32
  • Purchases: 7