Jeans 'R' Us
Discover the fascinating story of this iconic American garment. From their roots in slavery to the Wild West, hippies, high fashion and hip-hop, jeans are the fabric on which the history of American ideology and politics are writ large. American Experience: Riveted:The History of Jeans, February 8 at 9pm
Birthdays
None this time. :-(
WPSU Radio Highlights
The Invention of Race - Friday, February 4, 7:00 p.m.
This history special traces the development of racial, and racist, ideas, from the ancient world -- when "there was no notion of race," as historian Nell Irvin Painter puts it -- up to the founding of the United States as fundamentally a nation of and for white people (despite the "all men are created equal" language of the Declaration of Independence). Relying on the work of Painter, National Book Award-winning historian Ibram Kendi, and a recorded workshop presentation by the Racial Equity Institute, host and reporter John Biewen tells a story that names names: The Portuguese writer who, commissioned by the slave-trading leaders of his country, literally invented blackness, and therefore whiteness, in the 1450s, according to Kendi.
Ida B. Wells Special from Humankind - Friday, February 11, 7:00 p.m.
Born to enslaved parents on a Mississippi plantation during the Civil War, Ida B. Wells emerged as a powerful investigative journalist. She overcame death threats and published widely in her quest to document the domestic terrorism against African Americans that came to be known as lynching. Ida Wells published the first major study of that crime. A close associate of Frederick Douglass, she helped to found the NAACP and advocated the right to vote for women and black Americans. Her amazing life story is finally gaining recognition, nearly 90 years after her death.
In Case You Missed It . . .
Democracy Works: When Religion And Democracy Collide
This episode features author David M. Elcott who wrote "Faith, Nationalism, and the Future of Liberal Democracy.” Elcott is the Taub Professor of Practice in Public Service and Leadership at the Wagner School of Public Service at NYU and director of the Advocacy and Political Action specialization. Listen here.
Take Note: Infectious Disease Expert Andrew Read On Why Omicron Doesn't Mean Covid-19 Is Evolving To Be Less Severe
Andrew Read, director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State, talked with WPSU's Min Xian about the unpredictability of virus evolution. Researchers are studying the omicron variant: how transmissible it is, how sick it could make those infected and what this variant tells us, if anything, about how COVID-19 is evolving.
WPSU Television Highlights
Through the Banks of the Red Cedar - Tuesday, February 1 at 9:00 pm
In 1963 Michigan State Head Coach Duffy Daugherty gave 23 African American young men the opportunity of a lifetime. The daughter of Minnesota Vikings football legend Gene Washington deepens her connection to her father as she uncovers how the first fully integrated college football team in America changed the game forever.
NOVA “Arctic Sinkholes” - Wednesday, February 2 at 9:00 pm
Scientists investigate colossal explosions in Siberia and other evidence that rapidly melting soil in the Arctic is releasing vast amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. What are the implications for our climate future?
American Experience “Riveted: The History of Jeans” - Monday, February 7 at 9:00 PM
Discover the fascinating story of this iconic American garment. From their roots in slavery to the Wild West, hippies, high fashion and hip-hop, jeans are the fabric on which the history of American ideology and politics are writ large.
American Masters “Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands” - Tuesday, February 8 at 9:00 PM
Discover an international singer who captivated royalty in Europe and defied the conscience of 1939 America. Watch rare archival footage and hear audio recordings exploring her life and career from the Metropolitan Opera to the State Department.
Nature “Penguins: Meet the Family” - Wednesday, February 9 at 9:00 PM
A celebration of one of Earth's most iconic and beloved birds, featuring footage of all 17 species of penguins for the first time, from New Zealand, Cape Town, the Galapagos Islands and Antarctica.
Why We Dance: The Story of THON - Monday, February 14 at 9:00 PM
To many people, Penn State's THON is a weekend-long event with 46 straight hours of dancing. They may also know that THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. What they may not see is an entire year spent raising awareness and money to conquer childhood cancer. Why We Dance: The Story of THON introduces viewers to the inspirational children battling cancer and the Penn State students who participate in THON, dedicating themselves to making a difference for others.
Independent Lens “Bulletproof”- Monday, February 14 at 10:00 PM
In an era of mass shootings, lockdown drills and teacher firearms training are as much a part of life in American schools as homecoming dances and basketball practice.
American Experience “The American Diplomat” - Tuesday, February 15 at 9:00 PM
Discover how three Black diplomats broke racial barriers at the US State Department during the Cold War. Asked to represent the best of American ideals abroad while facing discrimination at home, they left a lasting impact on the Foreign Service.
Industry News
NPR Asks Federal Court To Throw Out Discrimination Lawsuit
NPR asked a federal court Jan. 11 to dismiss an employment discrimination lawsuit filed by a former broadcast engineer. The plaintiff, 58-year-old Kevin Langley, alleges that his supervisors engaged in discrimination on the basis of both race and age. In a motion filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, NPR countered that Langley, who is Black, released his discrimination claims against the nonprofit when he signed a separation agreement in August 2019. The agreement provided that Langley would be paid $20,000, which NPR said it gave him in January 2020. In exchange for that payment, the separation agreement acquitted NPR of any discrimination claims related to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, according to the network’s motion. Full story here.
Security In Covering Right-Wing Rallies Is A ‘Constant Issue,’ Say ‘Frontline’ Producers
Producing an investigative documentary for Frontline has always required diligent reporting and compelling video, but lately it’s also involved taking security measures to prevent reporters and camera crews from harm. During a PBS presentation for Plot to Overturn the Election, which examines the fraudulent claims made about the 2020 election, reporter A.C. Thompson revealed threats to his safety to a Zoom audience attending the PBS portion of the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour. Full story here.
Governmental Relations
FEDERAL NEWS
Two weeks ago, the top appropriators in the House and Senate met to discuss the groundwork for a possible government funding package for fiscal year (FY) 2022, which began on October 1, 2021, that can be passed with bipartisan support. However, there is no indication that they are close to reaching an agreement soon. As a reminder, the government is currently operating under a Continuing Resolution, a short-term funding measure that extends government funding, including funding for public media, at FY 2021 levels through February 18, 2022.
If a bipartisan agreement on funding levels and policy riders is not reached before that date, another short-term funding measure would be needed until a long-term funding bill can be passed.
Public media remains in as strong a position as possible with both the House-passed bill and Senate Chair’s mark containing the full funding we are seeking for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) at $565 million, Interconnection at $20 million, and Ready To Learn at $30 million in the Senate and $31.776 million in the House. The House bill also provided the full $20 million we are seeking to establish a fund to support public broadcasting’s public safety infrastructure funding at FEMA.
However, negotiations on appropriate levels of defense and non-defense funding may reduce the overall allocation for the final Labor-HHS-Education bill — and perhaps the funding levels for public broadcasting.
STATE NEWS
An engaging meeting was held Thursday, January 27 at Senator Jake Corman’s Bellefonte office. Greg Petersen, WPSU Board Chair, Dave Capparrella, Supporter of WPSU and local business owner, Toni Irvin, Director of Community Outreach and Education and Carolyn Donaldson, Community Engagement Manager met with the Senator and his District Director Matt Wise to thank the Senator and his staff for their continued funding and to share impact information about WPSU’s reach and engagement to his 34th Senatorial District and the entire 24+ county service area. Corman pledged his continued support through the upcoming state budget process.
To The Batcave!
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.— The Missouri State Highway Patrol alert sent cellphones blaring statewide: Authorities in Gotham City, Missouri, were searching for a purple and green 1978 Dodge 3700GT. But there is no Gotham City, Missouri, and the car referenced was the one used by the Joker in the 1989 “Batman” movie. Soon after the Tuesday evening alert, the patrol sent another saying to disregard it. In a brief news release, the patrol said a routine test of Missouri’s Blue Alert system was inadvertently transmitted statewide. “During the test, an option was incorrectly selected, allowing the message to be disseminated to the public,” the news release stated. A message left with patrol on Wednesday seeking additional information wasn’t immediately returned. [AP - 1/19/22]
Food For Thought
Groundhog Day. When Punxsutawney Phil sticks his head out of the ground and says, “Ok people, now it's really time to take down the Christmas decorations."
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