In this 30th anniversary special, gain access to some of America’s best railway adventures, from the Rocky Mountaineer to the Skyrail as they offer a glimpse into our nation’s legacy of railroad that rewrote the history of transportation and defined the spirit of North America.

Great Scenic Railway Journeys 30th Anniversary Special airs Friday, September 5 at 4 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Hop aboard the Rocky Mountaineer for unparalleled views of the American west with vista dome cars, tour the legendary Canadian rail line spanning from the Atlantic to the Pacific with non-stop views of the country’s majestic scenery, or head back in time to 1872 with the East Broad Top railway of Pennsylvania. This special also takes viewers on a breathtaking journey by steam along the ocean’s edge with the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, a quaint tour through Pennsylvania on the Reading Blue Northern Railroad that includes a stop at Jim Thorpe, PA, and a scenic ride on the Potamic Eagle Scenic Railway with fantastic views of bald eagles in nature.

Photo: A man taking pictures of a scenic ride from a train.
Credit: American Public Television.

Determined to hold major pharmaceutical companies accountable, West Virginian attorney Paul Farrell takes an unprecedented step by filing a civil suit in his county, aiming to secure justice for those suffering from addiction.

The Bitter Pill airs Monday, September 22 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

When attorney Paul Farrell Jr. takes on pharmaceutical giants to help his opioid-ravaged West Virginia hometown, his innovative legal strategy gains traction. As his local battle transforms into the largest civil litigation in U.S. history, he must navigate increasingly high stakes to secure justice—not just for his community, but for an entire nation in crisis.

Photo: Paul Farrell Jr. typing on a keyboard.
Provided by PBS

Discover the visionary world of legendary African American painter and philosopher Dewey Crumpler as he connects the slave trade to modern globalization and demonstrates what it means to be a working artist with a conscience in today’s society.

Post Atlantic: The Art of Dewey Crumpler airs Thursday, September 18 at 10:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Artist Dewey Crumpler’s beautiful, often abstract paintings explore slavery, Black liberation, globalization, and pop culture. A crucial figure in the Black Arts Movement, Dewey challenges orthodoxies, exclusions, and foregone conclusions. This documentary offers viewers an intimate portrait of a working artist in his studio, at home, at the Oakland port, and at a recent high-profile opening at a New York gallery.

Photo: Dewey Crumpler sitting in front of his painting
Provided by APT

This heartwarming program sheds light on the incredible bond between guide dogs and their owners, highlighting the vital role these dogs play in the lives of those with visual impairments.

The Secret World of Guide Dogs With Martin Clunes airs Thursday, September 4 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

This film accompanies Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) after he adopts Laura, a retired black Labrador guide dog. Exploring the history of guide dogs, from the first four trained in 1931 to the current process used at Britain’s best-loved charity, this film follows all the ups and downs of the serious and challenging responsibility of preparing each dog for this daunting role.

Photo: Martin Clunes with Jaina Mistry and four guide dogs surrounding them.
Credit: American Public Television.

The documentary film chronicles the studio’s creation, including track breakdowns of Hendrix classics, and featuring interviews with original staff members and musical collaborators.

Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision airs Saturday, September 27 at 10:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Rising from the rubble of a bankrupt Greenwich Village nightclub, Electric Lady Studios became a state-of-the-art recording facility inspired by Jimi Hendrix’s vision — the first artist-owned commercial recording studio. The film includes track breakdowns of Hendrix classics such as “Freedom,” “Angel,” and “Dolly Dagger,” along with interviews of original Electric Lady staff members and musical collaborators. 

Photo: Jimi Hendrix playing an electric guitar to a concert crowd.
Credit: American Public Television.

Discover how Rita Moreno defied her humble upbringing and racism to become one of a select group of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winners with new interviews, clips of her iconic roles and scenes of the star on set today.

Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It airs Friday, September 26 at 4 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

This documentary explores the star’s rich, 70-year long career using vérité footage of Moreno today, archival footage of her roles and appearances, reenactments of her childhood, and animation and interviews with Moreno, those close to her and performers she influenced. It also delves into the lesser-known struggles Moreno faced on her path to stardom, including pernicious Hollywood sexism and sexual abuse, a toxic relationship with Marlon Brando and an attempted suicide a year before she won her Oscar. Film interviewees include Gloria Estefan, Morgan Freeman, Mitzi Gaynor, Whoopi Goldberg, and more.

Photo: Portrait of film and Broadway actor Rita Moreno as she puts on makeup in the mirror.
Credit: PBS.

A new “innovation district” tests local democracy in a divided Brooklyn community.

POV “Emergent City” airs Monday, August 18 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Residents of Sunset Park, Brooklyn face rising rents, a legacy of environmental racism and the loss of the industrial jobs that once sustained their community. When a global developer purchases a massive industrial complex on the waterfront and lays plans for an “innovation district,” a battle erupts over the future of the neighborhood and of New York City itself. Co-produced with ITVS