Super Bowl Update

Ken Burns is back with another great new documentary series for PBS - and it's one everyone who is a student of American history should see.

The Dust Bowl, a two-part, four-hour documentary series, will air Sunday and Monday nights on PBS (see below for local broadcast times).

The film takes us back to the time in the first half of the last century when land was cheap, new farm machinery made it easier and faster to convert grassland to farmland, but at great peril.  When an unusually long wet weather period ended in the early 1930s,  the drought and dust storms that followed destroyed the farmland in what is still heralded as the worst man-made ecological disaster in American history.

It is the story of what happened, the people affected - who found ways to survive - and the programs that helped develop new farming and conservation methods to prevent such a disaster from happening again.

It is also part oral history, as 26 survivors of those hard times speak to how the Dust Bowl affected them personally. You'll see written accounts, see previously unreleased films, and hear the music of the late Woody Guthrie, which is truly the soundtrack of its time.

THE DUST BOWL can be seen on the following area PBS stations starting Sunday night at 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET (unless noted otherwise below):

Friday's episode of Sesame Street is being called "very special" ... here's a description from the show's Facebook page:

A hurricane has swept through Sesame Street and everyone is working together to clean up the neighborhood. When Big Bird checks on his home, he is heartbroken to find that the storm has destroyed his nest. Big Bird’s friends and neighbors gather to show their support and let him know they can fix his home, but it will take time.

While everyone on Sesame Street spends the next few days cleaning up and making repairs, Big Bird still has moments where he is sad, angry, and confused. His friends help him cope with his emotions by talking about what happened, drawing pictures together, and giving him lots of hugs. They also comfort Big Bird by offering him temporary places he can eat, sleep, and play. Big Bird remembers all the good times he had at his nest and realizes that once it is rebuilt, there are more good times and memories to come.

Finally the day has come where most of the repairs to Big Bird’s home are done and his nest is complete. As he is about to try it out, though, the city nest inspector says it not safe, yet, because the mud isn’t dry. Big Bird is sad that he has to wait another day, but Snuffy comes to the rescue and blows the nest dry and he passes the test! Big Bird thanks everyone for being his friend and helping to rebuild his nest and his home.

This special episode will air at the following times on the following channels:

• WKYU 24.1 - 8 a.m. CT (9 ET)
• KET - 9 a.m. CT (10 ET)
• WNIN 9.1 - 9 a.m. CT (10 ET)
• WSIU 8.1/WUSI 16.1 - 9 a.m. CT (10 ET)
• WVUT 22.1 - 9 a.m. CT (10 ET)

Check your local listings for additional airings.

UPDATE, 7 p.m.:  The Libertarian candidate, Bart Gadau, did not come to Vincennes for the debate.

The candidates for Indiana's 8th District U.S. House seat are scheduled to debate the issues in Vincennes at 7 p.m. CT (8 ET) this evening.

The incumbent, Republican Larry Bucshon, will face off against Democratic candidate Dave Crooks and Libertarian Bart Gadau in tonight's broadcast debate, which is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Knox and Vigo Counties.

The debate will be held at Vincennes University and televised live on WVUT-TV 22.1 and on the radio on WVUB-91.1 FM.  Online viewers can see the debate by clicking here.

The candidates vying to become Indiana's next governor will meet in Zionsville for their first debate at 6 p.m. CT tonight.

Libertarian Rupert Boneham, Democrat John Gregg and Republican Mike Pence are seeking to succeed current Gov. Mitch Daniels, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third four-year term as the state's chief executive.

WNIN and WFIE's 14Xtra channel (14.2) will televise tonight's debate live in the Evansville viewing area.  WVUT in Vincennes will also carry the debate on TV.

Radio coverage will be available on WNIN-88.3 FM (Evansville), WVUB-91.1 FM (Vincennes) and WIBQ-98.5 FM (Terre Haute).

Stations not broadcasting the debate live but providing a live online stream of the debate are: WIKY Radio, WEHT/WTVW, WTHI-TV and WTWO/WAWV.  (WAWV will carry the debate on air - tape delayed - on Sunday. Check your local schedule for the time.)