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Great Lakes Now Presents

Episode 1030: A Political Blind Date

Can two Great Lakes mayors with opposing views agree on how to protect the region’s water?

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A Political Blind Date – Episode 1030

Karen Weaver was mayor of Flint, Michigan during the height of the city’s water crisis, which was caused when state officials failed to safeguard the drinking water. Mitch Twolan is mayor of Huron-Kinloss in Ontario. He thinks officials can maintain safety at a proposed nuclear storage facility on the shores of Lake Huron. The two mayors meet for a frank exchange of views in this episode, which originally aired on the Canadian network TVO as part of the “Political Blind Date” series.

 

 

WHERE WE TAKE YOU IN OCTOBER


 

GREAT LAKES LEARNING:

Explore this month’s hands-on lesson plans designed to help your middle schoolers understand the Great Lakes — all at home or in the classroom. They’re aligned to standards and free to download.

Lesson Plans

 

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When to Watch?

Check your local station for when Great Lakes Now is on in your area.

Premieres on DPTV

Wednesday, October 27, at 7:30 PM

STATIONS CARRYING THE SERIES


DPTV
Detroit, Michigan

WEAO
Akron, Ohio

WNEO-TV
Alliance, Ohio

WCML-TV
Alpena, Michigan

WDCP-TV
Bad Axe, Michigan

BCTV
Bay County, Michigan

WBGU-TV
Bowling Green, Ohio

WNED-TV
Buffalo, New York

WCMV-TV
Cadillac, Michigan

WTTW-TV
Chicago, Illinois

WVIZ-TV
Cleveland, Ohio

WKAR-TV
East Lansing, Michigan

WQLN-TV
Erie, Pennsylvania

WCMZ-TV
Flint, Michigan

WGVU-TV
Grand Rapids, Michigan

WPNE-TV
Green Bay, Wisconsin

WGVK-TV
Kalamazoo, Michigan

WHLA-TV
La Crosse, Wisconsin

WHA-TV
Madison, Wisconsin

WNMU-TV
Marquette, Michigan

WHWC-TV
Menomonie-Eau Claire, Wisconsin

WMVS-TV
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

WCMU-TV
Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

WLEF-TV
Park Falls, Wisconsin

WNIT-TV
South Bend, Indiana

WCNY-TV
Syracuse, New York

WGTE-TV
Toledo, Ohio

WDCQ-TV
University Center, Michigan

WNPI-TV
Watertown, New York for Ontario signal

WPBS-TV
Watertown, New York for U.S. signal

WHRM-TV
Wausau, Wisconsin

In the Month of October on Great Lakes Now

Here is a description of Episode 1030 with related content.

Former Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, Huron-Kinloss Township Mayor Mitch Twolan, and Ontario Power Generation Senior Manager Fred Kuntz tour the storage facilities at Bruce Nuclear Generating Station, a nuclear power plant in Kincardine, Ontario. (Photo Credit: Open Door Co./Nomad Films Inc.)

Watch The Feature

A Political Blind Date

FULL EPISODE | Flint, Michigan; Huron-Kinloss, Ontario; Walkerton, Ontario

Karen Weaver was mayor of Flint, Michigan during the height of the city’s water crisis, which was caused when state officials failed to safeguard the drinking water. 

When authorities say, “Don’t worry,” she worries.

Mitch Twolan is mayor of Huron-Kinloss in Ontario. He thinks officials can maintain safety at a proposed nuclear storage facility on the shores of Lake Huron. 

The two mayors meet for a frank exchange of views in this episode, which originally aired on the Canadian network TVO as part of the “Political Blind Date” series.

“This is a learning exercise about doing something with an issue that we have right now, and that’s nuclear waste,” says Twolan. “It’s being stored above ground. Is that the most realistic way of handling the waste for now, and in the foreseeable future? I don’t think it is.”

 

Here is other Great Lakes Now work on politics and the Great Lakes:

Biden appoints Debra Shore to lead EPA Midwestern office

Q&A: Doctor who exposed Flint’s lead levels sees similarities in Benton Harbor water crisis

Hoping to avoid Enbridge Line 5 shutdown, Canada asks U.S. to negotiate

 

Here is other Great Lakes Now work on the Flint water crisis:

Seven Years On: The Flint water crisis has yet to conclude

How much should lawyers make in the Flint water crisis settlement?

‘Some crumbs’: Critics urge rejection of $641M Flint deal

Drinking Water Roundup: Biden administration invests millions in rural water, treatment plant uses ultraviolet, lead pipe removal in Flint

 

Here is other Great Lakes Now work on nuclear energy:

Nuclear Question: Debate continues over long-term storage of nuclear waste in the Great Lakes

Animal Check: New project to monitor aquatic species that live near proposed nuclear storage sites

2 nuke plants, 1 bribery scandal, no answers: Towns on edge

Unexploded Ordnance: Lake Erie shoreline site of long-term munitions study

Videos from Episode 1030
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Digital Credits
The Great Lakes Now Series is produced by Rob Green and Sandra Svoboda.