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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Draft report released by the International Joint Commission on progress of protecting the Great Lakes region.

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio, WKSU, WCPN, and WXXI Rochester


  • Added: Jan 18, 2017
  • Length: 01:34
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Building tug Cleveland at Great Lakes Towing, Credit: Elizabeth Miller
During the 10-week break between shipping seasons, ships undergo repairs and crews are laid off from their work.

Bought by WDET Detroit Public Radio, WCPN, WCMU Michigan, and WBFO


  • Added: Jan 18, 2017
  • Length: 03:26
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Graphic showing the way the website looks now, compared to how it looked previously.
Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources revised its website recently, deleting information concerning climate change, including references to g...

Bought by WCPN, WXXI Rochester, and WBFO


  • Added: Jan 16, 2017
  • Length: 03:33
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: The SS Calumet on the Cuyahoga River, Credit: Elizabeth Miller
The Welland Canal closed in December and the Soo Locks will close January 15, which marks the end of shipping season for most vessels on the Great ...

Bought by North Country Public Radio, WXXI Rochester, WCPN, and WBFO


  • Added: Jan 13, 2017
  • Length: :49
  • Purchases: 4
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Lakes are often portrayed as calm and serene environments, but Dave Sanford knows better. The Canadian photographer uses his pictures to reveal a m...

Bought by WCPN, WCMU Michigan, WXXI Rochester, North Country Public Radio, and WBFO


  • Added: Jan 10, 2017
  • Length: 01:13
  • Purchases: 5
Caption: In 1973 waves crashed over Zieres' family's breakwall and flooded their home., Credit: Provided
INTRO: There’s a simmering controversy on the northern border of the United States -- it’s all about water. For the first time in over fifty years,...

Bought by WRVO Public Media, WCPN, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, North Country Public Radio, and WBFO


  • Added: Jan 06, 2017
  • Length: 04:46
  • Purchases: 5
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The United States and Canada are moving to ban microbeads -- the tiny plastic bits in toothpaste and facewash that are big water polluters. Now sci...

Bought by WKSU, North Country Public Radio, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, WXXI Rochester, WCPN and more


  • Added: Dec 29, 2016
  • Length: 03:27
  • Purchases: 7
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The issue of climate change has been a hot topic. And researchers say evidence can be seen in the Great Lakes region every day.

Bought by WBFO, WCMU Michigan, WKSU, North Country Public Radio, WAMC Northeast Public Radio and more


  • Added: Dec 29, 2016
  • Length: 01:05
  • Purchases: 6
Caption: Donald Trump at a Cleveland rally, Credit: Nick Castele/ideastream
Great Lakes Today previews 2017's most anticipated stories.

Bought by WXXI Rochester, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, North Country Public Radio, WCPN, and WBFO


  • Added: Dec 23, 2016
  • Length: 01:20
  • Purchases: 5
Caption: Students from Journey’s End Refugee Services at a cleanup organized by the Alliance for the Great Lakes on the Niagara River, Credit: Alliance for the Great Lakes
A new study from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York tracks how much plastic is getting into the Great Lakes, and where it's going. Spoil...

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


  • Added: Dec 23, 2016
  • Length: 01:15
  • Purchases: 7