Great Lakes Today

GroupAccount image
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

Series image
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.

Series image
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.

Series image
5 Pieces

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


Pieces

Caption: This photo captures the bloom's peak, on August 13, 2018., Credit: NOAA
Lake Erie’s harmful algae bloom season is over for the year – and it wasn’t as bad as scientists had expected. Great Lakes Today's Elizabeth Miller...

  • Added: Oct 31, 2018
  • Length: :40
Caption: PRX default Piece image
A Great Lakes conference hopes to bridge gaps between different people working in climate adaptation.

Bought by WVBI-LP


  • Added: Sep 25, 2018
  • Length: 01:26
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Lake Erie North Shore
A new study shows a boost in economic activity in communities along the Great Lakes Corridor where Great Lakes Restoration Initiative projects took...

Bought by WVBI-LP, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, WLPR , and WKSU


  • Added: Sep 25, 2018
  • Length: 01:12
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Peter Lent in Oatka Creek , Credit: Caitlin Whyte, WXXI
A look at citizen science, through a project in western New York.

Bought by WDET Detroit Public Radio, Interlochen Public Radio, and WCMU Michigan


  • Added: Aug 24, 2018
  • Length: 03:48
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Children protest at Love Canal, Credit: Center for Health, Environment & Justice
This week marked the 40th anniversary of the federal emergency declaration at Love Canal, the New York neighborhood endanger by industrial pollutio...

Bought by WDET Detroit Public Radio, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, and North Country Public Radio


  • Added: Aug 10, 2018
  • Length: 05:12
  • Purchases: 3
Piece image
If you’ve noticed more fireflies lighting up your backyard, you’re not alone. WXXI’s Veronica Volk brings us this story about the little summer icon.

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio, WVBI-LP, WSKG, WCPN, WNIJ and more


  • Added: Jul 18, 2018
  • Length: 01:34
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Western Lake Erie in September 2017 , Credit: Elizabeth Miller/ideastream
The annual algae bloom forecast for western Lake Erie is out and scientists predict a significant bloom.

Bought by WCMU Michigan, WKSU, and Interlochen Public Radio


  • Added: Jul 13, 2018
  • Length: :48
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: The effects of erosion in Euclid, Ohio, Credit: Elizabeth Miller/ideastream
Great Lakes water levels are high right now – Lake Erie’s are two feet above average, which threatens coastal properties from Ashtabula to Toledo. ...

Bought by WVBI-LP, WKAR, WOUB, WDET Detroit Public Radio, and WCMU Michigan


  • Added: Jun 15, 2018
  • Length: 03:54
  • Purchases: 5
Caption: Last year's floods affected shoreline homes, including residences along Edgemere Drive in Greece., Credit: Veronica Volk
It looks like Lake Ontario may have already reached its peak high for the season, which is good news for lakefront home owners and business owners.

Bought by WVBI-LP, WSKG, WCPN, North Country Public Radio, and WCMU Michigan


  • Added: Jun 13, 2018
  • Length: :57
  • Purchases: 5
Piece image
Canada is moving to legalize recreational use of marijuana, and officials predict that it’s likely to happen by the end of the year. As pot supplie...

Bought by WDET Detroit Public Radio, WCPN, WVBI-LP, North Country Public Radio, WAMC Northeast Public Radio and more


  • Added: May 29, 2018
  • Length: 04:11
  • Purchases: 7