WCMU Public Media

01/24/2025

People have a myth stuck in their heads that during the Holocaust, Jews went to their deaths “like sheep to the slaughter.” But this is where the real story begins. Jews did not go as sheep to the slaughter. They fought back.

Discover their story in "Resistance: They Fought Back" on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Monday, January 27 at 10 p.m.

01/24/2025

Exactly 300 sites in Michigan are contaminated by toxic “forever chemicals.” That’s the state’s official number for known sites, and that 300 mark was reached just this month.

WCMU’s David Nicholas spoke with environmental reporter Teresa Homsi about state testing and what people need to know if their community becomes a "place of interest."

Click the link to listen to the full story:

WCMU’s David Nicholas spoke with environmental reporter Teresa Homsi about state testing and what people need to know if their community becomes a "place of interest."

01/23/2025

As we finish out the first full month of 2025, "Homespun" takes us on a journey with the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Reno & Smiley, and Claire Lynch! We also celebrate the life of Garth Hudson, the last remaining member of “The Band”, and say, “Happy Birthday” to legendary folk singer Joan Baez. Join Tom Ball on Saturday, January 25 at 6 p.m. on WCMU!

01/23/2025

WCMU’s AJ Jones chatted with News Director Rick Brewer about Canada's upcoming election, and how a potential trade war between the U.S. and Canada could impact Michigan.

Click the link to listen:

WCMU's AJ Jones chatted with News Director Rick Brewer about Canada's upcoming election for their next prime minister, and how a potential trade war between the U.S. and Canada could impact Michigan now that President Donald Trump is back in the White House.

01/23/2025

The Great Lakes are one of the most important economic drivers in Michigan, yet we know more about the surface of the moon than the floor of the lakes. That's why a team of researchers are pushing to map all five lake bottoms by 2030.

01/22/2025

Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse spoke with Grand Traverse County commissioners during their meeting Wednesday morning, in hopes of finalizing a plan to extend their services year-round.

The shelter currently operates from Oct. 15 to April 30, but community leaders say operating year-round will connect people struggling with homelessness to local resources.

“(Homelesses is) a region-wide challenge that impacts everyone. It affects those experiencing homelessness, but also our residents, businesses and service providers," said Dave Mengebier, the president and CEO of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation.

Click the link for the full story:

Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse spoke with Grand Traverse County commissioners during their meeting Wednesday morning, in hopes of finalizing a plan to extend their services year-round.

01/22/2025

We return to our conversation with CMU Professor Emeritus of Political Science James Hill. His trilogy of novels has focused on the role of the ordinary citizen when it comes to affecting change when it comes to government or elections in our modern times. His fictional character is a young Native American woman from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and a story centered on actual events of nearly seventy years ago when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dumped munitions waste into Lake Superior. Professor Hill picks up the story of Velvet LeBlanc as she becomes an example for all of us to recognize the role any one of us could play to bring about real change.

Listen to "Central Focus: Political Book Trilogy Part 2" today, January 22 at 4:44 p.m., Thursday, January 23 at 8:45 a.m., and Friday, January 24 at 2:34 p.m.

01/22/2025

🎉We’re thrilled to introduce Jamie Mankiewicz, WCMU's new Multimedia Producer! A proud Michigander, Jamie has a deep love for nearly every corner of the state. Her passion for storytelling began in Sault Ste. Marie and led her to a broadcasting career at WNMU at Northern Michigan University. After graduating, she moved to Cadillac and spent 17 years as a news producer in local television.

An award-winning journalist, Jamie has been an active member of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, where she has worked to support and inspire young journalists. From the Upper Peninsula to the Lower, Jamie is excited to bring her enthusiasm and unique perspective to WCMU’s mission of educating, informing, inspiring, and engaging viewers and listeners across Michigan.

When she’s not at work, you can find Jamie enjoying adventures with her husband, three teenage boys, and their energetic labrador named Mackinac.

Got a story to share? Jamie would love to hear it!

01/22/2025

The smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked-from-scratch croissants invited over 300 Midlanders to visit the opening of Chef Sergey’s Bakery on Saturday, Jan. 18.

For Sergey Pokanevych, the chef and owner, this opening was his dream had come true. He said his family started a new life in the United States after fleeing Ukraine after the Russian invasion. Now he is excited to share authentic European baked goods with a community that welcomed and supported them.

Click the link for the full story:

The European-style confections at Chef Sergey’s Bakery are prepared by a family of Ukrainian refugees, who fled the country shortly after the Russian invasion.

01/22/2025

DeWitt Public Schools takes on Ludington Area School District to compete in WCMU’s Quiz Central. Don’t miss this battle tomorrow, January 22 at 7:30 p.m. Tune in to see who will come out on top!

If you missed last week's episode, you can find it on WCMU's YouTube Channel or by following this link https://www.pbs.org/video/linden-vs-traverse-city-central-zjlvia/

01/20/2025

A northern Michigan homeowner was surprised to see a hummingbird at his feeder in the middle of winter. But the intrigue only increased when the little bird turned out to be a male Anna's hummingbird, a species native to the West Coast.

Brian Allen, with the Audubon Society in Manistee, said he was called over to a home in Arcadia where the hummingbird was hanging around a heated feeder, and he confirmed the species.

He said the birding community is rooting for the bird ahead of a forecasted cold snap.

Follow the link for the full story:

A northern Michigan homeowner was surprised to see a hummingbird at his feeder in the middle of winter. But the intrigue only increased when the little bird turned out to be a species that's native to the West Coast.

01/20/2025

The WCMU team had a blast bowling this past Saturday! 🎳 It was all about great connections and well-deserved fun outside the office.

01/20/2025

Today, we honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and reflect on the principles he stood for.

01/19/2025

🐆🛸Dive into the wild of Botswana at 8 p.m. with "Nature: Big Cats, Small World" as lion, leopard, and cheetah parents navigate the challenges of raising their cubs. Then, at 9 p.m., "NOVA: What are UFOs?" explores the mysteries of Unidentified Flying Objects, as NASA finally studies these mysterious phenomena scientifically. Don’t miss an evening of nature and space this Wednesday, January 22!

01/18/2025

Join WCMU Public Media for live coverage of Inauguration Day when Donald Trump assumes the office of U.S. President. The ceremony in Washington, D.C. marks President Trump's second term in office. Watch at 10:30 a.m. on WCMU Public Television and listen at 11 a.m. on WCMU Public Radio on Monday, January 20.

01/18/2025

Listen to WCMU Classical on Monday for a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Chorus join with the Ebenezer Baptist Church Chorus and Band for reflection and celebration. Special guests include singer Gregory Porter with words from the Reverend Dr. Raphael G. Warnock and works by composers Carlos Simon and Joel Thompson. Listen at 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Monday, January 20, on WCMU Classical.

01/18/2025

Sunday night, on “The Juke Joint” broadcast Robert Barclay will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday with an evening of gospel music and songs of the civil rights movement. We’ll hear from the Staple Singers, Odetta, Pete Seeger, Peter Yarrow, Bob Dylan, the Clara Ward Singers and the Harmonizing Four. Join Robert on Sunday, January 19 from 8 to 11 pm (eastern time) on WCMU and online: radio.wcmu.org

01/17/2025

This week in the WCMU newsroom: Lansing judges heard arguments regarding the Line 5 tunnel permit, researchers are working on a breathalyzer for psychoactive drugs, and JetBlue announces new flights to Cherry Capital Airport.

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