12:00: Remembering former President Jimmy Carter
1:00: The latest on the Los Angeles wildfires
Former President Jimmy Carter will be laid to rest on Thursday. From approximately 9:30-11:30 a.m., WXXI will bring you live coverage of the state funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral. On Connections at noon, we host our second conversation on President Carter’s life and legacy. Our guests share their perspectives on the former president’s impact, and we take your questions and comments. You can join the conversation by calling 844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994 or by emailing connections@wxxi.org. Our guests:
- Matt Flanigan, president and CEO of Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity
- Bill Johnson, former mayor of Rochester
- Norm Silverstein, recently retired WXXI president and CEO, and former journalist who covered the Carter administration
Then in our second hour, at least five people have been killed and more than 1,000 structures have been destroyed as wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area. That’s according to the Associated Press Thursday morning. The fires started Tuesday and were exacerbated by powerful winds, extreme drought, and other weather events. This hour, we talk with Los Angeles residents about what they are experiencing. We’re also joined by a local scientist who helps us understand the role climate change has played in the fires and how climate-related policies could help mitigate future disasters. Our guests:
- Nathan Eddingsaas, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry in the School of Chemistry and Materials Science at RIT
- Dewey Lovett-Gardner, comedic author originally from Bergen, NY, who is now living in Los Angeles
- Ryan Dawson, Los Angeles resident
