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: Ontario Beach is half eroded away, half underwater., Credit: Veronica Volk
Before you head to the beach on Lake Ontario this summer, you might have to check to see if it's still there... Lake Ontario is still on the rise a...

Bought by WRVO Public Media, WCMU Michigan, WBFO, and WCPN


  • Added: May 26, 2017
  • Length: 01:02
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: A NASA satellite image of western Lake Erie from May 22, 2017, Credit: NOAA
The more rain we have this spring, the bigger the Lake Erie algae bloom this summer -- and it’s been a wet spring, according to projections from th...

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


  • Added: May 26, 2017
  • Length: 01:09
  • Purchases: 5
Caption: Fran Beth took over the bar for her mother-in-law, the original Marge., Credit: Veronica Volk
Spring flooding along Lake Ontario is damaging many homes along the shoreline. It’s also hurting people who have businesses there. As Veronica Vol...

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio, WCPN, WCMU Michigan, WRVO Public Media, North Country Public Radio and more


  • Added: May 25, 2017
  • Length: 03:45
  • Purchases: 7
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The Trump administration released details of its 2018 budget plan today. As expected, it eliminates a $300 million program to help the Great Lakes....

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


  • Added: May 23, 2017
  • Length: 01:07
  • Purchases: 6
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The worst may finally be over for lake front residents. Lake levels have held steady for two days, and experts say the lake may soon begin to recede.

Bought by WRVO Public Media


  • Added: May 18, 2017
  • Length: :49
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Richard Pace, Credit: Matt Richmond, ideastream
Cleveland, which sits on Lake Erie, has big plans for building homes and shop along its waterfront. But the city faces some major obstacles – like ...

Bought by WXXI Rochester, WCPN, and WBFO


  • Added: May 18, 2017
  • Length: 03:36
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Frank Sciremammano, Credit: (Provided)
A member of the IJC board, and strong opponent of Plan 2014, refutes claims that the new lake regulation plan caused this spring's extreme floods.

Bought by WBFO, WCMU Michigan, WRVO Public Media, and WCPN


  • Added: May 15, 2017
  • Length: 01:36
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Tom Piekunka has stacked sandbags along his property line in hopes of keeping the rising water at bay., Credit: Veronica Volk
Flooding continues for a second week along Lake Ontario – and there’s no end in sight. Many residents – and New York’s governor – say the solution ...

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio, WCPN, WCMU Michigan, WRVO Public Media, North Country Public Radio and more


  • Added: May 09, 2017
  • Length: 03:27
  • Purchases: 6
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As flooding continues along Lake Ontario, a nearby dam has started letting more water out of the lake. But, as Great Lakes Today reporter Veronica ...

Bought by WRVO Public Media, North Country Public Radio, and WBFO


  • Added: May 08, 2017
  • Length: :50
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Operators monitor Wellington's raw water, water going to residents, and tap water from the town treatment plant., Credit: Elizabeth Miller/ideastream
Before water contamination emergencies hit Flint, Michigan, a crisis in Canada became deadly. When E. coli invaded the drinking water in Walkerton...

Bought by WCPN, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, WXXI Rochester, WCMU Michigan, and WBFO


  • Added: May 05, 2017
  • Length: 03:35
  • Purchases: 5