Since the late 1980s, four of the five Great Lakes have played host to an increasing number of invasive mussels. First came zebra mussels, followed shortly thereafter by quagga mussels, both members of the Dreissenid family whose native range includes the waters around Ukraine. Today, the filter-feeders comprise more than 90% of the total animal biomass of the Great Lakes (barring Lake Superior, whose depth and water chemistry make it a less suitable habitat for the two species of mussel). Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Congratulations to us for our Public Media Award! During the National Educational Telecommunications Association conference today, Great Lakes Now received the “Best News and Public Affairs” content award in the annual competition open to public broadcasters. A full list of winners is HERE. Congratulations to @detroitpublictv for receiving the Division 1 #publicmediaaward for Content – News & Public Affairs for Great Lakes Now Series #PMA2020 — NETA (@NETA_Tweets) January 26, 2021 Produced at Detroit Public Television, the Great Lakes Now monthly program is carried by more than two dozen PBS affiliates in Great Lakes states and airs on hundreds of Canadian cable providers across Ontario and other provinces. Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

The Great Lakes’ iconic freighters remained common sights on the waters – that much didn’t change during pandemic. But, like many industries, shipping was hit hard by COVID-19. That feels especially salient when shipping is such an integral piece of the Great Lakes economy. As of September 2020, iron ore cargoes were “down 27% from last year at this time,” James Weakley, president of the Lake Carriers’ Association and representative of Ohio on the Great Lakes Commission, said in an interview with Great Lakes Now. Read Now at Great Lakes Now.