KCETs Award-Winning Weekly Series SOCAL CONNECTED Explores Regional Heal and Ecological Hazards Arising from the Troubled Salton Sea

KCETs Award-Winning Weekly Series SOCAL CONNECTED Explores Regional Health and Ecological Hazards Arising from the Troubled Salton Sea

BURBANK, Calif - December 5, 2014 - SOCAL CONNECTED, KCETs Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series goes to the Salton Sea, a strange and fascinating body of water that has gone from winter tourist destination to abandoned desert lake. The Salton Sea, the largest lake in California, is shrinking from dwindling water sources and evaporation. Lower water levels have made the area less appealing to tourists and therefore have forced businesses to close. Higher saline levels have killed thousands of fish and the Imperial County Air Pollution Quality District believes if water levels continue to fall, toxic dust from the dry lakebed could eventually increase asthma among Imperial Valley children. Some scientists call it an ecological time bomb that will have regional and international effects. SOCAL CONNECTED reporter Derrick Shore looks at the problems and proposed solutions to keep the Salton Sea alive. (Based on a story from KCETs Redefine that looks at environmental issues in California.)

The story airs on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 8 p.m.

This weeks SOCAL CONNECTED also features:

The Future of Farming: Anchor Val Zavala visits a tomato farm that uses no soil, produces its own energy, recycles every drop of water and produces millions of tomatoes year round. Is this the future of vegetable farming in drought-stricken California?

Oscar Wilde in Los Angeles: How did the largest collection of a famous Irish novelist, playwright and essayist end up in Los Angeles? Reporter Conor Knighton goes inside the elegant UCLA Clark Library to find out. (Based on a story from Artbound.)

Sign Spinner Extraordinaire: Justin Brown is among the rare group of people who have turned sign spinning into an art, a sport, a dance and a career. What motivated Brown to transform a temporary, low-paying job into a personal passion and incredible street performance?

Broadcast Premiere Date: Wednesday, December 10 at 8 p.m.

Repeated: Friday, December 12 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 14 at 6:30 p.m.

SOCAL CONNECTED is anchored by 16-time Emmy -Award winner, Val Zavala. Contributors include science journalist Cara Santa Maria, reporters Derrick Shore, Jennifer Sabih, Conor Knighton, documentary filmmaker Nic Cha Kim and writer Nick Hardcastle.

The television broadcast executive producer for SOCAL CONNECTED is Val Zavala; digital executive producer is Zach Behrens; and Linda Burns is senior producer.

ABOUT SOCAL CONNECTED

SOCAL CONNECTED, winner of a Peabody and two duPont Awards, 23 Emmy Awards, 24 Golden Mikes, 48 LA Press Club Awards, two Gracie Awards, and four regional and one national Edward R. Murrow Awards, including Best News Documentary and Los Angeles Magazines Best New Local TV Program of 2009, airs exclusively on KCET. For more information, to view episodes online or to leave comments, please visit www.socalconnected.org. SOCAL CONNECTED is made possible through the generous support of The Ahmanson Foundation, Chapman University and the MaddocksBrown Foundation.

ABOUT KCET

On-air, online and in the community, KCET plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world. Throughout its 50-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions, its quality educational family and childrens programs, its outreach and community services and its website, kcet.org. KCET is a donor-supported community institution. For additional information about KCET productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org. KCET is a service of KCETLink.

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