Highlights Archive

Racquel Stephen join “Connections” this summer

Evan Dawson, host of “Connections” will be taking a little break this summer. But that doesn’t mean “Connections” is going away!

WXXI’s health, equity, and community reporter, Racquel Stephen will be hosting the noon hour over the summer. She’ll bring you the same long-form conversations, in-depth exploration of issues, and variety of content that you’re used to hearing. You’ll also hear some other voices from our newsroom, as well as those of our other colleagues at WXXI. In the second hour at 1 p.m. each day, we’ll bring back some of our — and your — favorite conversations from the show. It all begins Monday, July 14!

“Connections” airs weekdays from 12 pm. to 2 p.m. on WXXI News (FM 105.9) and streaming live on WXXI News YouTube channel.

Take “Connections” audience survey to help us learn more about you, and make a better show for you.

Summer Bucket List 2025!

Time for a summer full of PBS KIDS adventures! Our WXXI Early Learning Team created a special checklist of summer activities to bring even more fun to your family this summer. Have fun exploring your local community and using PBS KIDS to spark joy with your kids.

Adventure Begins at Your Library! Visit your local public library and join in on summer learning fun. See the full calendars of summer reading programming at your local libraries: Rochester Public Libraries, Monroe County Library System, and OWWL Library System.

Go on a “Rough and Smooth Scavenger Hunt” with Ruff Ruffman! Search for textured treasures! From a prickly pinecone to a soft sweater, everything we touch has texture. How many textures can you find inside or outside of your house? Download the Scavenger Hunt here.

Design your own vest, just like Carl the Collector. Carl and his friends appreciate what makes each of them special and unique. An argyle vest is something Carl likes wearing every day because it makes him feel comfortable and stylish. Encourage your child to express their individuality by designing their own argyle vest. Your child will love creating this vest to dress up and pretend to be just like their favorite character, Carl! Find the directions here.

Observe the moon using Ready Jet Go’s Moon Observation Journal. A moon journal, or phases of the moon worksheet, is a fun way to get young kids interested in observing the sky and encourage scientific curiosity. By charting the moon’s phases with your child, you will help them develop observation skills. Your child will also learn how to record what they notice and practice sharing their research with you and others. Keeping a moon journal is also a great way for children to learn more about space! Download the Moon Journal here.

Learn the steps of the Carrot Cake Dance with the Loops Family! Lyla wants to learn a popular clap and dance sequence that everyone in her family can do…except for her. Watch the full episode and learn the dance with Lyla:

Make a Summer Souvenir Box like Alma. Alma creates a lot of new memories with her family when she visits Puerto Rico — like finding shells on the beach, visiting the El Yunque National Rainforest, eating alcapurias and pasteles, and learning a new poem. One way to remember fun summer days with your family is by creating a souvenir box. The box can be a place to collect items that spark memories. Learn how to make your own souvenir box here.

Listen to the Molly of Denali Podcast. Join Molly Mabray on brand-new adventures in the Molly of Denali podcast! Check out each of the three seasons of storytelling from Molly and her friends and family. Listen to the Molly of Denali Podcast here and check out these tips from PBS KIDS for Parents on “Listening to Podcasts with Kids”.

Create your own t-shirt design and listen to the Jamming on the Job podcast episode about online merchants. This activity will help your child think about some of their favorite things and then create a T-shirt design based off of it. Download the t-shirt here outline and listen to the Jamming on the Job “Online Merchant” episode here.

Look outside or take a walk, and draw a map of your neighborhood. Together with your child, explore your local neighborhood by taking a walk, riding a bike, or riding the bus from home to school. Encourage your child to talk about what they notice along the way. Then, work with them to draw a map of their route from home to school. Find the directions for this activity here.

Watch the cross-over event of the year – Daniel Tiger visits Donkey Hodie in Someplace Else on August 11. More tune-in details soon!

Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision • WXXI-TV

Revisit the Oscar-winning story of Maya Lin, the young architect behind the Vietnam Veterans Memorial whose design was met with widespread controversy and public attacks. At the intersection of art, politics and creativity she remained steadfast in her personal vision.

Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision premieres Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision, directed by Freida Lee Mock, is an Academy Award-winning documentary exploring the life and work of architect and artist Maya Lin. Following Lin’s journey, whose design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was chosen when she was a 21-year-old Yale undergraduate, the film focuses on how Lin’s vision defied expectations as she held her ground amidst intense controversy. The documentary also touches upon Lin’s other significant works such as the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama, and her evolving artistic vision.

Photo: Maya Lin examining the inverted water table for the Civil Rights Memorial
Credit: Provided by PBS

Slumlord Millionaire • WXXI-TV

Winner of the Audience Award at the 2024 DOC NYC Film Festival, Slumlord Millionaire explores the rapid gentrification of New York City neighborhoods and the housing crisis sweeping not only New York but the nation.

Slumlord Millionaire, a VOCES presentation, premieres Monday, July 28, 2025 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Median rents nationwide are higher than ever, and some landlords have become aggressive in getting long-term tenants to leave to turn apartments over to market rate for a high profit. As costs drive up further and displace families who make up the fabric of these neighborhoods, a group of fearless residents, activists, and nonprofit attorneys fight corrupt landlords for the basic human right to a home.

Photo: Slumlord Millionaire key art
Credit: Provided by PBS

The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau Coliseum • WXXI-TV

Watch The Highwaymen perform their well-known and loved hits in this full-length concert film recorded live at Nassau Coliseum in 1990.

The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau Coliseum premieres Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Recorded at the famous arena in Hempstead, Long Island in 1990, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson — “the Mt. Rushmore of country music” — perform classics like “Big River,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Always On My Mind.”

Photo: The Highwaymen sat together
Credit: Provided by PBS

Earth, Wind & Fire: iHeart Radio Live • WXXI-TV

Watch Earth, Wind & Fire as their electrifying setlist, vibrant visuals, and dynamic stage presence take viewers on a thrilling journey through the band’s greatest hits and iconic sound that has captivated generations in this 2024 iHeart Radio Live performance.

Earth, Wind & Fire: iHeart Radio Live premieres Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Join the legendary Grammy Award-winning band for an unforgettable night of music and celebration. With their signature blend of soul, funk, pop and R&B, the band delivers a high-energy performance with timeless hits, including “Shining Star,” “September,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “Let’s Groove,” “Serpentine Fire,” and more.

Photo: Earth, Wind & Fire: iHeart Radio Live key art
Credit: Provided by PBS

Cooking with Legends: Lidia Bastianich & Jacques Pépin • WXXI-TV

Cooking legends Lidia Bastianich and Jacques Pépin pair up for a lively program that showcases each chef’s remarkable ability to teach from their lifetimes of experience on air and in the kitchen.

Cooking with Legends: Lidia Bastianich & Jacques Pépin premieres Friday, July 18, 2025 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Lidia Bastianich and Jacques Pépin double the fun when the two “good-natured bosses” and longtime friends come together to share personal family stories and lifetimes of experience on air, alongside mouth-watering recipes that made their careers. Lidia hailing from Pola on the Istrian Peninsula, and Jacques from Bourg-en-Bresse, France, express their passion for the foods that embody the cuisines of their native cultures as they personify what it means to live the American dream.

Photo: Lidia Bastianich & Jacques Pépin
Credit: PBS PressRoom

Public Media Funding Under Threat – Here’s What You Should Know – A message from WXXI President & CEO Chris Hastings

Dear Friends,

We want to keep you updated on an urgent issue affecting public media. Last month, the House of Representatives passed a proposal to eliminate already-approved funding for public media. This week, the Senate is expected to begin consideration of that proposal.

What happens next is uncertain. The Senate vote will likely be very close, and there is a chance that changes made by the Senate would require another vote in the House before a final decision is reached. We are watching these developments closely with our partners in Washington.

We ask that you reach out to your senators here in New York. They need to hear directly from you about your support for public media and the importance of protecting funding. Please also be prepared to contact your US representatives in the House if the rescission returns there for an additional vote. That is a possibility!

Either way, Congress has until July 18th! So, your voice matters now more than ever.

We also recognize that many communities are facing enormous challenges right now, including the devastating floods in Texas that have claimed many lives. As we advocate to protect public media funding, we do so with deep empathy for all those affected by this tragedy.

Cuts to public media would be devastating, but your support reminds us why this work is so important. We will continue to keep you informed as the situation unfolds.

Thank you for standing with us and for believing in the power of public media to inform, inspire, and strengthen our communities – especially in times of uncertainty and need.

With gratitude,

Chris Hastings
President & CEO
WXXI Public Media