The American Buffalo, a new two-part, four-hour series, takes viewers on a journey through more than 10,000 years of North American history and across some of the continent’s most iconic landscapes, tracing the animal’s evolution, its significance to the Indigenous people and landscape of the Great Plains, its near extinction, and the efforts to bring the magnificent mammals back from the brink.
For thousands of generations, buffalo (species bison bison) have evolved alongside Indigenous people who relied on them for food and shelter, and, in exchange for killing them, revered the animal. The stories of Native people anchor the series, including the Kiowa, Comanche, and Cheyenne of the Southern Plains; the Lakota, Salish, Kootenai, Mandan-Hidatsa, and
Blackfeet fromthe Northern Plains; and others.
The American Buffalo - Monday, October 16 and Tuesday, October 17 at 8:00 PM
The dramatic story of how America's national mammal, which sustained the lives of Native people, was driven to the brink of extinction. Ken Burns recounts the tragic collision of two opposing views of the natural world.
Nature “The Platypus Garden” - Wednesday, October 18 at 8:00 PM
Witness the story of Pete Walsh, a Tasmanian man who befriends a platypus he names Zoom. With the help of experts, Pete learns more about the platypus’s secret world in a mission to protect them from the dangers of urban development.
Conversations Live! “Ask a Veterinarian” - Thursday, October 19 at 8:00 PM
We’ll be joined by local veterinarians who will answer pet-related questions such as proper diet and exercise, and more!
Keystone Stories “State Parks” - Monday, October 23 at 9:00 PM
The Pennsylvania State Park System began in 1893. Today there are 124 state parks covering more than 300,000 acres in our state. From the rare orchids found in the Black Moshannon bog to the spectacular tapestry of stars above the Cherry Springs, a visit to a state park in central Pennsylvania is an excellent way to enjoy the natural beauty of the Keystone State.
The Local Groove Presents “Eric Ian Farmer & Friends” - Saturday, October 28 at 10:00 PM
On the season two premiere of The Local Groove Presents, Eric Ian Farmer & Friends perform what they call "heart music."
American Experience “The War on Disco” - Monday, October 30 at 9:00 PM
Explore the culture war that erupted over the spectacular rise of disco music. A story that’s about much more than music, The War on Disco looks at how the powerful anti-disco backlash revealed a cultural divide that to some seemed to be driven by racism and homophobia.
Frontline “McConnell, the GOP & the Court” - Tuesday, October 31 at 10:00 PM
How Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell helped transform the Supreme Court and U.S. politics. Amid scrutiny of the high court and a power struggle in the GOP, Frontline examines McConnell’s rise and role in pushing the judiciary to the right and America’s polarized democracy.
Governmental News
Federal
House Republicans have chosen Majority Leader Steve Scalise as their nominee for speaker and he will need 217 votes to win and take the place of Kevin McCarthy. Depending on how long it takes, legislative action in the House could be delayed. This delay would include the additional funding bills that House leadership had planned to bring to the House floor.
With only weeks left before the Continuing Resolution (CR) expires, this could affect congressional leadership’s ability to finalize fiscal year (FY) 2024 funding or pass another CR before funding runs out on November 17, 2023. The House Appropriations Committee could try to complete its work on the FY 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (Labor-HHS-Education) bill, which includes no funding for public broadcasting. If there is such movement, stations will be alerted and given guidance on how to weigh in with Members of Congress. On another note, the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill which included $40 million for the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) has been approved by the House.
APTS announced registration is open for the 2024 Public Media Summit, to be held next February 26-28 at the Salamander Hotel here in Washington, D.C. The theme of the 2024 Summit is Partners in Public Service, and will highlight the work that stations are doing with government agencies and other partners to serve the American people. Members of WPSU Staff and Board plan to be in attendance.
State
Members of each of PA's public TV stations have been meeting with key legislators to encourage increased funding for public TV. Upcoming meetings have been rescheduled with Senator Wayne Langerholc - serving Cambria, Centre (part) and Clearfield Counties and on October 13th with Senator Cris Dush - serving Cameron, Centre (part), Clinton, Elk, Jefferson (part), Mckean and Potter Counties.
Industry News
AI Deepfakes Plague Newsrooms, Reporters
Only 10% of the more than 1,000 videos CBS News has sifted through related to the latest Israel-Hamas war can be used, says CEO Wendy McMahon, who notes the volume and sophistication of AI-generated content and misinformation being supplied to newsrooms is increasing. Many deepfake news stories posted on social media that feature real reporters have fooled viewers and have left newsrooms working to combat this misinformation, writes Forbes' Alexandra Levine, adding, "These made-up segments featuring real-life broadcasters are drawing more eyeballs than legitimate clips posted on news organizations' blue-check social media accounts.” Full story.
Journalists Worry About Removal Of Headlines On X Platform
Elon Musk's decision to eliminate headlines on the X social media platform has made it difficult to distinguish news stories from memes and could contribute to the spread of misinformation, journalists warn. Some news sites are circumventing the change by including headlines in photos, which still appear on the platform. Full story.
Poll: State Broadcasters See EAS Test As A Success
Fema carried out a successful Emergency Alert System on October 4, its first such national test since 2021, state broadcasters said via results of an informal survey. The EAS test was delivered for the first time via the internet to stations, which FEMA asserts is a vital step in making the system more reliable. Full story.
"I Told You We Should Have Turned Right at Des Moines!"PORT WASHINGTON, Wis.— Five flamingos that showed up in Wisconsin to wade along a Lake Michigan beach attracted a big crowd of onlookers eager to see the unusual visitors venturing far from their usual tropical setting.
The American flamingos spotted Friday in Port Washington, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of Milwaukee, marked the first sighting of the species in Wisconsin state history, said Mark Korducki, a member of the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology.
The birds stood quietly 25 feet off Lake Michigan’s western shoreline as waves lapped against their thin legs. Three were adults, identifiable by their pink plumage, and two were juveniles clad in gray.
Wildlife biologists hypothesized that the flamingos were pushed north in late August by the strong winds of Hurricane Idalia, the Journal Sentinel reported.
The typical range of the American flamingo is Florida and other Gulf Coast states as well as the Caribbean and northern South America. - [AP 9/23/23]
Ya Gotta Believe
“There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people:
religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.” – Linus of "Peanuts."
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