Dear friend of WKAR,
Thank you to everyone who reached out with notes of support and encouragement for WKAR’s election coverage. As we transition to post-election reporting, you can continue to count on WKAR News to report on community issues, lifestyles, and the latest local and national political news. And 90.5 Classical continues to offer you inspiration and -- when you need it -- respite from the news of the day.
This week, I offer a look ahead at new shows for you from NOVA, PBS KIDS and Ken Burns. Plus, new episodes from WKAR originals “Binary Minds” and “Beyond the Score.”
Tonight (Wed., Nov. 13) at 9 p.m., NOVA brings us the first of three episodes in a new limited series, “Building Stuff.” You’ll experience ups and downs with engineers as they design, build, and test their way through challenges, inspiring the inner “maker” in all of us.
Beginning this Thursday (Nov. 14), “Carl the Collector” comes to WKAR. From PBS KIDS®, the new animated series follows the everyday adventures of Carl, a warm-hearted autistic raccoon who enjoys collecting things, and solves problems with his friends while working and playing together. The series airs daily on WKAR-TV 23.1 at 8:30am with additional viewing times on WKAR PBS KIDS 23.4. It’s also available to stream on the free PBS KIDS® app.
WKAR's “Binary Minds” returns this week (Thu., Nov. 15) at 10 p.m. with a second episode in the three-part series. “Digital Diagnosis” explores the many ways artificial intelligence is being used in healthcare. The following Thursday (Nov. 21), “Beyond the Score” delves into mental health issues in athletics.
All WKAR originals are available to watch free at video.wkar.org and in the free PBS app, including our recently debuted documentary “Support Line: America and the Track to Ukraine,” which follows the journeys of Dmytro Shynkaruk, a Ukrainian student at Michigan State University, and Boyd Byelich, a Michigan farmer turned advocate for Ukraine.
Airing Mon., Nov. 18 and Tue., Nov. 19 at 8 p.m., “Leonardo da Vinci” is a two-part, four-hour documentary directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon. Set against the rich and dynamic backdrop of Renaissance Italy, the film brings the artist’s towering achievements to life through his prolific personal notebooks, primary and secondary accounts of his life, and on-camera interviews with modern scholars, artists, engineers, inventors, and admirers.
Throughout the month of November, WKAR invites you to celebrate and explore Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month with special programming on WKAR World 23.2. Featured programs include “Bring Her Home,” “Sand Creek Massacre,” and episodes of “Native America” and “America ReFramed.” Visit these TV Listings for dates, times and descriptions.
These program offerings reflect our commitment to serving the range of interests that exist throughout our community. Thanks to our WKAR originals and PBS and NPR programming, viewers and listeners have access to a variety of high-quality content that educates, informs, and inspires.
Best,
Shawn Turner
WKAR General Manager
Michigan State University
P.S.: As you get into the holiday spirit and spend time with family and friends don’t forget about Giving Tuesday. A gift to WKAR will benefit your entire community by helping maintain the public media programming that has served the capital region for over a century.
