Homes, Invaders – Episode 2206
2022-06-23
Controlling invasive sea lamprey, hazards in our homes, and a Great Lakes news update.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/06/homes-invaders-episode-2206/
The Catch: Policy news facing the Great Lakes region
2022-06-03
This month of The Catch features stories from our partners in the Great Lakes News Collaborative. The collaborative’s investigation of the cost of water in the Great Lakes region was the focus of the latest episode.
In Chicago, journalist Laura Gersony is rolling out a new biweekly offering from Circle of Blue called Fresh: A Great Lakes Policy Briefing.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/06/the-catch-policy-news-great-lakes-region/
The Catch: Current issues in Canadian water infrastructure
2022-06-01
This month of The Catch features stories from our partners in the Great Lakes News Collaborative. The collaborative’s investigation of the cost of water in the Great Lakes region was the focus of the latest episode.
Toronto-based journalist Andrew Reeves discusses a piece he wrote for Great Lakes Now about the history and current issues in Canadian water infrastructure.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/06/the-catch-canadian-water-infrastructure/
The Catch: E. Coli and faulty septic systems
2022-05-31
This month of The Catch features stories from our partners in the Great Lakes News Collaborative. The collaborative’s investigation of the cost of water in the Great Lakes region was the focus of the latest episode.
Michigan Radio‘s Lester Graham discusses a story he’s been following in northern Michigan on Elk Lake, where plant life and E.Coli are showing up in previously crystal-clear water.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/05/the-catch-septic-systems/
Water’s True Cost – Episode 2205
2022-05-17
The Great Lakes News Collaborative looks at the cost of water in the region and beyond.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/05/waters-true-cost-episode-2205/
The Catch: Tribal fishermen in the Great Lakes region
2022-05-13
In Traverse City, Michigan, Anishinaabe journalist Sierra Clark has been reporting about tribal fishermen throughout the Great Lakes region.
“The story I have been covering came out of talking to a few tribal fishermen in past stories that I had done, and it covers harassment regarding tribal fishing,” Clark said.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/05/the-catch-tribal-fishermen-great-lakes-region/
The Catch: A Great Lakes Authority?
2022-05-11
Aiming to better coordinate efforts to restore the Great Lakes, promote related educational opportunities, and boost the region’s economic prospects, an Ohio legislator crafted a bill to create a federal Great Lakes Authority.
Since Rep. March Kaptur, D-Toledo, and several other Democrats introduced the bill in Congress this spring, not much has happened.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/05/the-catch-great-lakes-authority/
The Catch: Climate Change and Your Allergies
2022-05-09
Wheeze. Sniffle. Sneeze.
If you already suffer from seasonal allergies, get ready for more severe symptoms as the Great Lakes region experiences climate change in the coming decades.
Atmospheric scientist Allison Steiner of the University of Michigan and some colleagues recently published a new study about the impacts of climate change on pollen season in the Midwest and beyond.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/05/the-catch-climate-change-allergies/
Winning Work: Great Lakes Now collects 12 journalism awards
2022-05-06
From TV segments to news articles, collaborative work with partners to social media strategy, environmentally focused coverage to community news, Great Lakes Now walked away from the Society of Professional Journalists – Detroit Chapter’s 2022 Excellence in Journalism award ceremony with a dozen acknowledgements for the work the regional team did in 2021.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/05/great-lakes-now-collects-12-journalism-awards/
Great Lakes News Collaborative examines Water’s True Cost
2022-04-27
As the nation prepares to pour billions of federal dollars into rescuing water systems, the Great Lakes News Collaborative investigates the true cost of water in Michigan with a special series of reports and events during May. Reporters from Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now, and Michigan Radio have combined their resources for the most extensive coverage on the cost of water in Michigan to date.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/04/great-lakes-news-collaborative-waters-true-cost/
Join the Conversations: Events on “Water’s True Cost” will answer your questions about water infrastructure
2022-04-25
Throughout the Great Lakes region and across the United States, water systems are aging.
In some communities, this means water bills that residents can’t afford or water that’s unsafe to drink. It’s also leading to increased pollution in some of Michigan’s most pristine lakes. From shrinking older cities and small towns to the comparatively thriving suburbs, the true cost of water has been deferred for decades.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/04/waters-true-cost-events/
Water’s True Cost: Episode Sneak Peek Watch Party
2022-04-25
In this episode sneak peek watch party, join GLN Producer Anna Sysling for a preview of the May show and a conversation with several guests who all played a part in this episode’s story about the complicated financial, public health and infrastructural implications of our drinking water.
Catch more news at Great Lakes Now:
Join the Conversations: Events on “Water’s True Cost” will answer your questions about water infrastructure
The Catch: Benton Harbor’s lead pipes and the plan to replace them
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/04/waters-true-cost-watch-party/
The Catch: Interlochen Public Radio podcast finds ‘[Un]Natural Selection’ in nature
2022-04-15
![The Catch: Interlochen Public Radio podcast finds ‘[Un]Natural Selection’ in nature](https://www.greatlakesnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Unnatural-Selection-Logo-240x135.jpg){kind=logo}
Broadcasting in our monthly PBS television program, The Catch is a Great Lakes Now series that brings you more news about the lakes you love. Go beyond the headlines with reporters from around the region who cover the lakes and drinking water issues. Find all the work HERE.
Turns out what used to be natural selection is becoming a bit unnatural.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/04/the-catch-unnatural-selection/
The Catch: A dune moves inland
2022-04-13
Broadcasting in our monthly PBS television program, The Catch is a Great Lakes Now series that brings you more news about the lakes you love. Go beyond the headlines with reporters from around the region who cover the lakes and drinking water issues. Find all the work HERE.
Mount Baldy is moving inland.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/04/the-catch-dune-moves-inland/
Surf and Slide – Episode 2203
2022-03-22
Sailing on ice, Lake Ontario winter surfing and three Lake Michigan news stories.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/03/surf-and-slide-episode-2203/
The Catch: Benton Harbor, Indiana Dunes National Park, shoreline armoring
2022-03-14
Great Lakes Now introduced a new segment in Episode 2203 – The Catch.
In it, we take you around the region to hear bite-sized updates from reporters about the issues they’re covering and how it impacts our environment and the people who live around it.
In the premiere segment, we look at a range of Lake Michigan stories from reporters Leonard Fleming, Joseph S.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/03/the-catch-benton-harbor-indiana-dunes-shoreline-armoring/
Lakes Learning: Great Lakes Now adds more free educational activities, teaching plans, PBS programs
2022-02-21
From the segment “Love for a Lighthouse” comes an activity where students can imagine what it was like to live in a Great Lakes lighthouse and a STEM lesson plan teaching students how to measure the light’s intensity.
Another Great Lakes Now lesson plan guides students in building their own aluminum foil boats and testing their buoyancy by loading them with pennies, after taking them on a virtual visit to the Great Lakes Boat Building School.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/02/news-free-lesson-plans-pbs/
Episode 1031: (Pollution) Free Shipping
2022-02-17
This lesson will expose students to the science and engineering practice of developing and using models. Through an exploration of measures that the shipping industry is taking to reduce environmental impact, students will investigate possible solutions and mathematically model how they might work.
Lesson Objectives
- Know the problems facing the shipping industry with regard to environmental impact
- Understand the measures shipping companies are taking to make their processes “greener”
- Be able to develop and use mathematical models to evaluate potential solutions to a problem
Click on the picture below to access and download the entire lesson plan including teacher background information, worksheets and more.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/02/episode-1031-pollution-free-shipping/
Episode 1030: The Power of Perspective
2022-02-17
This lesson will provide students opportunities to build perspective and empathy as they explore multiple points of view on a common issue by observing, and participating in discussions, of issues with people from different points of view. In doing so, they will explore and interpret different sources of information for point of view, context, bias, frame of reference, or perspective, as well as articulate their perspective on the issue after being informed about it.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/02/episode-1030-power-of-perspective/
Shrinking Winter – Episode 2202
2022-02-16
The science of shrinking ice coverage, Great Lakes ice fishing and skating on wild ice.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/02/shrinking-winter-episode-2202/
Our Latest Episode: Watch the Great Lakes Now program here
2022-01-24
If you’re new to Great Lakes Now, find our latest episode below and ALL our monthly shows here.
If you’re a regular viewer of our monthly program on your local PBS station or our YouTube channel, thanks!
If you were looking for our show on Detroit Public Television on Wednesday, Jan.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/01/our-latest-episode/
Monty and Rose: Those Chicago piping plovers, where are they now, what are they doing?
2021-12-23
Everyone loves Monty and Rose – and Great Lakes Now featured the charming piping plover pair earlier this year.
Now Monty and Rose have chicks and even grand-chicks, many of whom are thriving as they fly south for the winter.
Chicago-based filmmaker Bob Dolgan has documented the progress of Monty and Rose and their offspring over the years.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/monty-rose-chicago-plovers/
Storms, Sanctuary and Suckers – Episode 1026 Rebroadcast
2021-12-14
Plovers nest on a Chicago beach, suckers spawn in Wisconsin, and storms rage in Duluth.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/storms-sanctuary-and-suckers-episode-1026-rebroadcast/
Pipes and Ports – Episode 1031
2021-11-18
Greener shipping in Indiana, the Benton Harbor lead crisis and water safety in Ontario.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/11/pipes-and-ports-episode-1031/
From NPR: Check if you have lead pipes in your home
2021-11-09
The harmful effects of lead are well known. When consumed, it can damage childrens’ brains and nervous systems, stunt their growth and affect their ability to focus. Children with high levels of lead in their blood are more likely to drop out of school or have brushes with the law.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/11/check-lead-pipes-home/
Wooden Boats, Metal Trash, Stoney Fossils- Episode 1029
2021-09-24
Building boats, cleaning up trash and uncovering amazing fossils around the Great Lakes.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/09/wooden-boats-metal-trash-stoney-fossils-episode-1029/
Great Lakes Protection Fund: Award celebrates work tackling plastics, invasives, equity
2021-09-21
Their daily work aims at reducing microplastics and invasive species in the Great Lakes, increasing attention to equity in the region’s environmentalism, helping communities finance water infrastructure, and better connecting foundations in coastline cities.
For this, six individuals from around the Great Lakes region earned a 2021 leadership award from the Great Lakes Protection Fund.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/09/great-lakes-protection-fund-award-plastics-invasives-equity/
Tokyo Time: How to watch the Great Lakes sailors in Olympic competition
2021-07-26
Six sailors from Ontario, along with three from Wisconsin and one from Illinois are in Japan and ready for the Olympic sailing competition.
Great Lakes Now Host Ward Detwiler spoke with three of them in advance of their travels:
Here’s how to watch and follow these Great Lakes sailors in the Games:
Reports from World Sailing
US Sailing Olympic Homepage
Sail/Voile Canada Olympic Homepage
Links to Live Coverage:
CBC Streaming Schedule for Sailing Events: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/sailing/streaming-schedule
NBC Olympics Streaming Site for Sailing Events:
https://www.nbcolympics.com/schedule/sport/sailing
Events and Schedules for the Great Lakes Sailors – start times for sailing events are 11 p.m.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/07/watch-great-lakes-sailors-2021-olympics/
Winning Work: Great Lakes Now garners awards for collaborations, videography, environmental coverage and more
2021-06-09
Great Lakes Now’s work that appeared on-air, online, and through social media and audience engagement events garnered several awards from the Society of Professional Journalists – metro Detroit chapter.
The honors were announced in a virtual ceremony last night.
“It’s nice to be recognized,” said Sandra Svoboda, program director for the initiative, which includes a monthly TV program carried on dozens of PBS channels and hundreds of Canadian cable providers as well as the GreatLakesNow.org website, an educational initiative and dozens of annual events including Facebook watch parties.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/06/2021-spj-awards/
Combined Mussels: Great Lakes Now and Flathead Reservation newspaper partner to share stories
2021-05-28
As the official newspaper of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation, the Char-Koosta News has frequent coverage of environmental issues in western Montana especially in tribal lands and waters.
One of those issues is invasive mussels – the same zebra and quagga mussels that plague the Great Lakes and inland rivers and lakes throughout the region.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/05/great-lakes-now-flathead-reservation-newspaper-partner-invasive-mussels-stories/
Sarah Douglas: From Lake Ontario to the Tokyo Olympics
2021-05-26
Canada has nine sailors heading to the Olympics, six of which hail from the Great Lakes. Sarah Douglas is one of them.
“I’m excited, you know, I’m trying to treat it like any other competition,” Douglas said, “I think with the restrictions that we have, it’s going to be easier, the less distractions, but I’m just going out there to race.”
Douglas, a Toronto native who grew up in Barbados, will be competing in the Laser class in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/05/douglas-lake-ontario-tokyo-olympics/
Tapped Out: Power, justice and water in the West
2021-05-24
On the West side of the United States, residents are seeing problems crop up in their waters. Great Lakes region residents will find those issues familiar.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/05/tapped-out-power-justice-water-west/
News Up North: Great Lakes Now teams up with Alpena publication for more news about Lake Huron
2021-05-10
With regular coverage of marine sanctuary research, Lake Huron’s fishing and other recreational activity and watchdog journalism, The Alpena News daily newspaper brings readers the latest about a four-county Great Lakes community.
Through a new partnership with Great Lakes Now, those stories will reach a larger audience as they will be regularly published on the GreatLakesNow.org website.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/05/alpena-publication-lake-huron-partnership/
Memorable Moments: The Great Lakes Now team shares their favorite stories of working on the initiative
2021-04-27
As Great Lakes Now approaches the two-year anniversary of the launch of our monthly program, we asked our staff and contributors about their favorite moments working Great Lakes Now. Their thoughts were as diverse as the show.
Here’s what they shared:
Colleen O’Donnell, social media manager
After some Detroit Public Television staff reorganization at the beginning of the pandemic, Colleen joined the team in June 2020.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/04/memorable-moments-great-lakes-now-team/
Test Your Knowledge: Rivers on Great Lakes Now
2021-04-24
It’s been two years since Great Lakes Now first premiered on Detroit Public Television. There’s been a lot of changes and expansions in the time since, including 24 episodes of the monthly show.
So now we have a challenge for you. If you’ve been paying attention, can you answer these seven questions about rivers that have been shown on Great Lakes Now?
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/04/test-your-knowledge-rivers-great-lakes-now/
Freighter Mystery: Can you help Great Lakes Now with more clues to identify people and places in a historic film?
2021-03-29
The Great Lakes Now supervising producer, Rob Green, wants your help figuring out more about an old movie shot aboard a freighter. He’s done what he can to identify the ship, ports, time period and people in a mysterious black-and-white video he found in an online archive.
Green knows someone out there can help with more clues to answer: who shot this footage?
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/03/freighter-mystery-identify-people-places-historic-film/
Mussel Pains – Episode 1023
2021-03-26
Invasive mussels are hastening the deterioration of historic Great Lakes shipwrecks, like the submerged Prins Willem V off Milwaukee. Zebra and quagga mussels are also a big problem for water treatment and power plants. But science — and another invader, the round goby—could help fight them.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/03/mussel-pains-episode-1023/
History, Mystery and Chemistry – Episode 1022
2021-02-19
A mysterious decades-old home movie chronicles a Great Lakes freighter journey, and our team of experts answer some questions about the film. Can our audience help with more information? And a journalist wondered how much PFAS was in his blood, his home, and his cat so he tested everything and shared the results.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/02/history-mystery-and-chemistry-episode-1022/
PBS Project: Great Lakes Now and the Belle Isle Conservancy are hosting a high school intern
2021-02-15
Are you a Detroit high school student interested in the environment, TV production and planning community events?
(Or maybe you know one and could share this with them?)
With funding from PBS Education, Great Lakes Now and the Belle Isle Conservancy are offering a paid internship for a high school student to help plan the April 24 Spring Clean Up on Belle Isle event AND produce a video about it to help other students and organizations have similar events to raise environmental awareness.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/02/pbs-great-lakes-now-belle-isle-conservancy-high-school-intern/
Watch Party: Coastal Wetlands, Part 1
2021-02-15
Coastal wetlands have largely disappeared in many areas surrounding the Great Lakes. But in this Facebook Watch Party, originally broadcast live on Friday, Feb.5, 2021, learn more about restoration projects on Lake St. Clair and on the Rouge River in metro Detroit.
This watch party is part of an ongoing series of “first Friday” events, co-hosted by Great Lakes Now, the Belle Isle Conservancy and WDET-FM 101.9, Detroit public radio.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/02/watch-party-coastal-wetlands-part-1/
National Recognition: Great Lakes Now wins “Best News and Public Affairs” program for public broadcasting
2021-01-26
Congratulations to us for our Public Media Award!
During the National Educational Telecommunications Association conference today, Great Lakes Now received the “Best News and Public Affairs” content award in the annual competition open to public broadcasters.
Congratulations to @detroitpublictv for receiving the Division 1 #publicmediaaward for Content – News & Public Affairs for Great Lakes Now Series #PMA2020
— NETA (@NETA_Tweets) January 26, 2021
Produced at Detroit Public Television, the Great Lakes Now monthly program is carried by more than two dozen PBS affiliates in Great Lakes states and airs on hundreds of Canadian cable providers across Ontario and other provinces.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/01/great-lakes-now-best-news-and-public-affairs-program-broadcasting/
New Channel: Great Lakes Now anchors Saturday evenings on Michigan Learning Channel
2021-01-25
Even the youngest Great Lakes fans can learn more about the world’s largest surface freshwater system – and they can do it while watching educational television.
The Michigan Learning Channel launched statewide earlier this month as a new distance-learning initiative. All six Michigan PBS stations are involved in the channel, with Detroit Public Television leading the effort.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/01/great-lakes-now-saturday-evenings-michigan-learning-channel/
The Great Lakes Agenda – Episode 1021
2021-01-22
The White House and the U.S. Senate have changed hands, and the federal government may move in a new — and in some ways dramatically different — direction. What does the future look like for the Great Lakes with Joe Biden in the Oval office? The economy, the environment, the climate and our health hang in the balance.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/01/the-great-lakes-agenda-episode-1021/
Great Lakes Quiz: Which Great Lake are you?
2020-12-29
Great Lakes Now is hosting a watch party for our December episode on Dec. 29 at 7:15 p.m. ET. Get more information at the event page here.
As the year comes to an end, one question undoubtedly still plagues the minds of people everywhere: which Great Lake am I?
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/12/great-lakes-quiz-which-lake-are-you/
Ships and Shipwrecks – Episode 1002 Rebroadcast
2020-12-27
Come aboard a boat that delivers mail to ships on the Great Lakes. Learn about life on a Great Lakes freighter, and dive into some incredible shipwrecks that you don’t necessarily need a scuba tank to see in the Great Lakes’ only national marine sanctuary.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/12/ships-and-shipwrecks-episode-1002-rebroadcast/
Index: International Joint Commission’s 2020 Triennial Assessment of Progress Report
2020-12-10
If you read the International Joint Commission’s 2020 Triennial Assessment of Progress Report or
watched the webinar where the IJC announced and discussed the findings, you might be curious about some of the other reports and documents referenced.
For the 2020 triennial report, go to the IJC’s website.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/12/index-international-joint-commission-2020-triennial-assessment-of-progress-report/
Join Us LIVE: Release of the IJC 2020 Triennial Assessment of Progress Report on Great Lakes Water Quality
2020-12-03
The report is an independent review of the Canadian and U.S. governments’ progress to restore and maintain the Great Lakes under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/12/ijc-2020-triennial-assessment-of-progress-report-on-great-lakes-water-quality/
High Water Levels On Tap This Winter As November Marks The Start Of A New Water Year
2020-12-02
For most people, the new year is still a month away. For hydrologists and climate scientists, the new year has already started. The water year begins in November, to account for when water enters a system and begins accumulating.
Data from the last water year indicated record-breaking levels in the Great Lakes, and this year looks to be much of the same.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/12/high-water-levels-water-year-wdet-watch-party/
Legal Translation: Environmental attorney explains the latest on Enbridge Line 5 news
2020-11-20
With so many twists and turns in the Line 5 story, it’s hard to keep up with the legal filings and positions from Enbridge Energy Corp., various Michigan governmental agencies and groups trying to stop or keep the pipeline.
But in the following conversation, attorney Nick Schroeck, who is the director of the environmental law clinic at University of Detroit Mercy, and Great Lakes Now Program Director Sandra Svoboda have this update about the latest legal actions and a refresher about what the pipeline is all about.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/11/legal-translation-environmental-attorney-explains-latest-enbridge-line-5/
Watching the Waters – Episode 1020
2020-11-19
Lake levels rise, COVID’s in wastewater and invasive species weave new food webs.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/11/watching-the-waters-episode-1020/