Broadcasters Educate Communities on Rx Drug and Heroin Abuse

Nearly 78 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. To address the epidemic, NAB has teamed with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids (Partnership) on a multi-faceted campaign through the end of 2017. NAB has developed a digital toolkit with resources such as PSAs, digital messaging and programming ideas for broadcasters to educate their communities. NAB and the Partnership announced the initiative on September 13 at a press conference on Capitol Hill featuring prominent broadcasters and members of Congress who are invested in the issue. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) (pictured with NAB President and CEO Gordon H. Smith) and other members of Congress praised broadcasters for their outstanding, ongoing efforts to fight the epidemic. Other speakers included Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Reps. Judy Chu (D-CA), Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ).

WTMX-FM's Eric & Kathy Raise Almost $1 Million

Hubbard Radio's WTMX-FM Chicago raised $986,673 in the 17th annual "Eric and Kathy Radiothon" for Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, held September 12 - 16. The "Eric & Kathy Morning Show" broadcast live from Lurie Children's Hospital on September 16. The event has raised over $25 million in total.

WTOC Raises $218,000 for Children's Hospital

Raycom's CBS affiliate WTOC-TV Savannah raised $218,000 on September 9 in its annual "Day of Giving," held in partnership with iHeartMedia's WYKZ-FM and WTKS-FM. The money will help fund equipment and programs at the Children's Miracle Network's Willett Children's Hospital of Savannah.

WDVE Collects $605,000 for Children's Hospital Of Pittsburgh

iHeartMedia's WDVE-FM Pittsburgh raised $605,000 in the annual radiothon for Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. On-air personalities Randy Baumann, Bill Crawford, Val Porter, Mike Prisuta, Michele Michaels and Sean McDowell broadcast live from September 15 - 17. "We want to thank WDVE and its listeners for their tremendous support," said Greg Barrett, President, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation. In its nine-year history, the event has brought in more than $4 million.

'Help Me Hank' Revamps Schools

Graham Media's NBC affiliate WDIV Detroit recently adopted Thurgood Marshall Elementary and Middle School for a 10-month makeover. WDIV's Consumer Unit, "Help Me Hank," developed "Help Me Hank: The School Project" to clean, paint and restore the local schools. The cafeteria and front office have already been fixed. "As a reporter in Detroit for the last 16 years, I've seen school children and teachers trying to learn and teach in appalling conditions and it is unacceptable," said consumer reporter Hank Winchester.

KSAS Produces 'Girls on the Run' PSA

Sinclair's Fox affiliate KSAS-TV Wichita produced a new PSA for the local chapter of Girls on the Run. The program uses interactive lessons and running games to teach girls to be healthy and confident, while they learn life skills, understanding and teamwork. It also shows girls that they can achieve difficult goals.

WFAA Collects 2,000 Books

TEGNA's ABC affiliate WFAA Dallas collected and donated 2,000 books to Children's Health Hospitals during "Shelly's Summer Bookworms," held August 19 – September 2. Each Tuesday during the campaign, reporter Shelly Slater shared tips on how to make reading cool for kids and featured adults who are inspiring change within literacy programs.

WCRL-AM Raises $302,000 for Local Schools

Our Town Radio's WCRL-AM Oneonta, Ala. raised a record $302,000 for Blount County School System in an annual radiothon held September 22. All of the money will support the Blount County School System.

WAVE Launches 'Taking Back Your Streets'

Raycom's NBC affiliate WAVE Louisville will host a community event later this month as part of "Taking Back Your Streets," an on-air and online initiative to address the area's growing violent crime problem. In the first nine months of 2016, Louisville had more than 80 murders.WAVE dedicated its 7:30 p.m. newscast on August 31 to a special program that launched the campaign. "Taking Back Your Streets" investigates reasons for the increase in violence, uses former police officers as safety experts to inform viewers about how to protect themselves and highlights successful tools to affect change.

WXYZ Explores the Muslim American Experience

Scripps' ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV Detroit launched a multipart digital video series "Muslim American: Inside a Growing Michigan Community" on September 14. WXYZ explores issues that impact Muslim Americans and help debunk myths associated with Islam in order to build bridges in the community. The series visits Dearborn, Mich., which has one of the highest concentrations of Muslim Americans, and takes viewers into the Islamic Center of America to help explain the teachings of Islam. Some videos feature people sharing their personal experiences while others use graphics and animation.

WAGA Uncovers Corruption at Fire Department

Fox-owned WAGA-TV Atlanta aired "Commissioner Agrees I-Team Uncovers Double Dipping" on September 21. In parts of Georgia, fire departments charge both insurance companies and residents following vehicle accidents. During an exclusive with Reporter Dana Fowle, the fire commissioner conceded that fire department employees were improperly double charging for emergency services.

Univision Encourages Voter Registration

Univision Communications (UCI) leveraged all of its 126 local television and radio stations, plus digital assets, to guide Hispanics and diverse communities through the voter registration process on National Voter Registration Day. UCI collaborated with national organizations to activate voters across the country as part of its nonpartisan, multiplatform Vote for Your America" initiative.

KYW-TV Lights Philly Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

CBS-owned KYW-TV Philadelphia partnered with Susan G. Komen to light the Philadelphia skyline pink for all of October, as part of the 15th annual "Lights for the Cure" campaign. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Since the campaign began, KYW-TV and CW affiliate WPLG-TV have aired over 2,000 reminders for viewers to schedule a mammogram. "This October, Komen launches our new bold goal to reduce the number of U.S. breast cancer deaths by 50 percent within 10 years," said Komen Philadelphia CEO Elaine Grobman. "We couldn't pursue such an aggressive goal, nor could we have accomplished all we have in the past 30 years, without all-out supporters like CBS 3 by our side."

WPLG Airs Town Hall Meeting on Gun Violence

Berkshire Hathaway's ABC affiliate WPLG Miami aired an hour-long primetime special about gun violence on September 16. The program is part of its "My Future, My Choice" initiative, which focuses on youth and gives voice to parents who lost children to gun violence. "We are fully invested in this endeavor, and we want this town hall meeting to also serve as a youth summit where young minds can hear, contribute to the dialogue and feel free to respond to ideas for solutions," said WPLG President Bert Medina.

WAWZ-FM Produces 'Empty Shoe Memorial'

Pillar of Fire's WAWZ-FM Princeton, NJ built an "Empty Shoe Memorial" to honor the 9/11 anniversary. WAWZ staff visited local businesses in July and August to collect 2,996 pairs of shoes, one for each life lost at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and the four plane crashes. WAWZ displayed the shoes in a meadow from September 10 – 18 before donating them to Soles 4 Souls, an organization that fights poverty.

Georgia Radio Informs Listeners During Hermine

The Georgia Association of Broadcasters shared information with Inside Radio on how radio served Georgia with "expert coverage" as Hurricane Hermine hit on September 2. For 10 hours, Black Crow's WVGA-FM Lakeland provided updates on shelters, power outages and how to keep safe. WVGA simulcast on WWRQ-FM and WVLD-FM Valdosta and WKAA-FM Willacoochee. Vidalia Communications' WTCQ-FM and WYUM-FM Vidalia also provided constant updates and information to listeners.

KRGV Collects Money and Donations for Flood Relief

Manship Station's ABC affiliate KRGV-TV Welasco, TX raised $74,000 on August 29 to support the American Red Cross flood relief efforts in Louisiana. The station also filled two semi-trucks with 150,000 pounds of supplies, including water, cleaning materials and diapers. "This is an awesome display of human kindness, of human graciousness for people they don't even know [who] are suffering and need help," said Mary McMinn of the American Red Cross.