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

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Due to heavy spring rains, Lake Ontario is overflowing its banks. Some New Yorkers want to lower the lake by releasing water from a dam downstream....

Bought by North Country Public Radio, WCPN, WRVO Public Media, WCMU Michigan, and WBFO


  • Added: May 04, 2017
  • Length: :45
  • Purchases: 5
Caption: Old Fort Niagara / French Castle, Credit: Old Fort Niagara
This week’s winds and rains brought flooding and water damage to communities along Lake Ontario. At Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown officials fear t...

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


  • Added: May 03, 2017
  • Length: 01:33
  • Purchases: 5
Caption: Federal funding helps fight invasive species like the sea lamprey, Credit: Angelica Morrison
President Trump's budget priorities have put funding for the Great Lakes in danger. His 2018 budget outline eliminated $300 million in annual fund...

Bought by WRVO Public Media, WKSU, WCMU Michigan, WCPN, WXXI Rochester and more


  • Added: May 01, 2017
  • Length: :37
  • Purchases: 6
Caption: Residents assess the damage of flooding along the south shore of Lake Ontario., Credit: Veronica Volk
Residents along the south shore of Lake Ontario are cleaning up after a storm pushed flood water into their yards and homes. With heavy rains forec...

Bought by North Country Public Radio and WBFO


  • Added: May 01, 2017
  • Length: :58
  • Purchases: 2
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The Great Lakes are so big that they can act just like an ocean -- with punishing waves that erode the shore. And with Lake Ontario 20 inches highe...

Bought by WCPN, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, WCMU Michigan, WRVO Public Media, and WBFO


  • Added: Apr 28, 2017
  • Length: 03:26
  • Purchases: 5
Caption: Prescription Drug Take Back Day
The New York Sea Grant is urging residents and those who live in the Great Lakes basin to help protect the fresh water source.

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


  • Added: Apr 27, 2017
  • Length: :53
  • Purchases: 5
Caption: The Maumee River in the Western Lake Erie Watershed, Credit: Elizabeth Miller/ideastream
The lawsuit involves a dispute over whether Lake Erie should be classified as an impaired waterway.

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


  • Added: Apr 25, 2017
  • Length: 01:07
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: EPA Photo / Fish Advisory , Credit: EPA Photo / Fish Advisory
The EPA Office of inspector General (OIG) issued a report regarding fish advisory risk communications. The agency found that several states and tri...

Bought by North Country Public Radio, WKSU, WCPN, and WBFO


  • Added: Apr 24, 2017
  • Length: 01:25
  • Purchases: 4
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With its harbor closed because of silt and other sediment -- and no help in sight from the federal government -- the town of Leland found an unusua...

Bought by WDET Detroit Public Radio, WXXI Rochester, WCPN, and WBFO


  • Added: Apr 19, 2017
  • Length: 03:16
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Stock Photo , Credit: Stock Photo
The Great Lakes have been struggling for years in its battle against phosphorous loading. While experts say much of the phosphorous is coming from ...

Bought by WCPN, WCMU Michigan, WXXI Rochester, and WMUK


  • Added: Apr 18, 2017
  • Length: 01:38
  • Purchases: 4