Dolly Parton & Friends: 50 Years at The Grand Ole Opry
A celebration of the country music legend’s 50 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, this special captures Dolly Parton delivering some of her biggest hits on one of the most iconic stages in the world. Featuring new interviews with Parton and guest appearances by some of her superstar friends, including Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris, Chris Janson, Toby Keith, Lady A, and more. Airs Sunday, February 28 at 8:00 pm.
Birthdays
2/23 Jeff Luck
2/26 Chris Kugler
WPSU Radio Highlights
BookMark 2/18 & 02/21 – "Plagued by Fire: The Dreams and Furies of Frank Lloyd Wright" by Paul Hendrickson
This week — a new biography of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The book explores the life of tortured genius Frank Lloyd Wright. Reviewer Brady Clemens is the district consultant librarian at Schlow Centre Region Library.
In Case You Missed It . . .
Penn State In-Person Classes To Resume As More Contagious COVID-19 Variant Becoming Dominant WPSU’s Anne Danahy reports on Penn State’s plans for the spring semester vis a vis COVID-19.
Democracy Works: Direct Democracy's Dark Side Jenna Spinelle talks with Ted Lascher and Joshua Dyck, authors of "Initiatives Without Engagement: A Realistic Appraisal of Direct Democracy's Secondary Effects." In the book, they develop and test a theory that can explain the evidence that the ballot initiative process fails to provide the civic benefits commonly claimed for it, and the evidence that it increases political participation.
WPSU Television Highlights
The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song “Episode 1” - Tuesday, February 16 at 9:00 pm
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of African American religion beginning with the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the extraordinary ways enslaved Africans preserved and adapted faith practices from the brutality of slavery to emancipation.
The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song “Episode 2” - Wednesday, February 17 at 9:00 pm
Discover how the Black church expanded its reach to address social inequality and minister to those in need, from the Jim Crow South to the heroic phase of the civil rights movement, and the Black church's role in the present.
Out of the Woods: Battlefields of Western Pennsylvania - Sunday, February 21 at 6:30 pm and 10:30 pm
In the mid 1700s, the world's two greatest military powers, France and Great Britain, focused their attention on Western Pennsylvania. With stunning photography and fascinating interviews, the 30-minute documentary takes viewers to historic sites including Fort Ligonier, Fort Necessity, Fort Pitt, Bushy Run Battlefield, Braddock's Battlefield, and historic Hannastown.
Seaside Hotel - Sunday nights at 11:00 pm starting February 21
At Andersen’s Seaside Hotel by the North Sea dunes, meet the chambermaid Fie, the merchant's daughter Amanda, and the local fisherman Morten, whose fates are intertwined, as they seek to emancipate themselves from the plans other people have made on their behalf. From Walter Presents, in Danish with English subtitles.
Independent Lens “Mr. SOUL!” - Monday, February 22 at 10:00 pm
Celebrate SOUL!, the public television variety show that shared Black culture with the nation. Ellis Haizlip developed SOUL! in 1968 as one of the first platforms to promote the vibrancy of the Black Arts Movement. Its impact continues to this day.
Conversations Live! COVID-19 Vaccination - Thursday, February 25 at 8:00 pm
As COVID-19 vaccines are distributed in Pennsylvania and across the country, there are still questions and concerns. How effective are the vaccines? Can someone transmit the virus even after getting vaccinated? When will things return to "normal"? On our next episode of Conversations Live, we'll answer these questions and more with guest experts.
Betty White: First Lady of Television - Saturday, February 27 at 8:30 pm
The definitive look at Betty White's life and career. Thanks to exclusive access, you'll see Betty behind the scenes at work, entertaining at home and interacting with her close friends, one of whom is a 900-pound grizzly bear.
Dolly Parton & Friends: 50 Years at the Opry - Sunday, February 28 at 8:00 pm
Join the country music superstar to celebrate her 50 years at the Grand Ole Opry. Bringing together five decades of hits into one unforgettable evening, Dolly is joined by special guests including Emmylou Harris, Toby Keith and more.
Industry News
Proposal In Pennsylvania To Zero Out Pubcasting Funds Is A ‘Starting Point,’ Say Station Leaders
Leaders of Pennsylvania’s public media stations say that they expect to receive state funding in fiscal year 2022 despite a proposed governor’s budget that would eliminate support. Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed budget, released Feb. 2, zeros out a line item for “public television technology.” If approved, Pennsylvania would become one of 16 states that do not give direct funding to public broadcasters. In a statement, Casey Smith, communications director for the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, said that public media “plays an important role in our society, and the Wolf Administration stands committed to supporting this industry.” The department is a state agency that advises officials about investments. Full story here.
Pubmedia’s Meeting Organizers Say Virtual Conferences Are Here To Stay
Public media’s conference organizers are placing calculated bets on when and whether to resume in-person meetings. PBS, which completely canceled its spring 2020 conferences because of the coronavirus pandemic, announced plans to convene a virtual Annual Meeting this May and an in-person PBS Technology Conference in October. In a Feb. 2 message announcing PBS’ plans, President Paula Kerger advised those who want to meet in Las Vegas this fall to “consider making travel arrangements at a later date.” PBS will continue to monitor developments with coronavirus spread and provide booking details in July, she said. More here.
Edner Flores, 34, entered a PNC Bank branch in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood on Jan. 27 and allegedly tried to rob it by handing a teller a note stating that he wanted $10,000, with "no die (sic) packs," and that he was armed, according to a federal criminal complaint. The teller activated a silent alarm and asked the man to fill out a blue withdrawal slip, which he did, then asked for his ATM card. The helpful Flores instead produced a temporary Illinois state ID card, authorities said. WMAQ-TV reported police arrived while Flores was still at the window, arrested him and found a knife in his jacket, according to a police report. [NBC Chicago, 1/28/2021]
Quotables
"Hey Elsa! Just so you know, the cold bothers the rest of us!"
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