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KCET's Award-Winning Weekly Series 'SOCAL CONNECTED' Looks at the Growing Number of Concussions Among High School Football Players and Whether Enough is Being Done to Protect Young Athletes

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BURBANK, CA , October 23, 2014 - SOCAL CONNECTED, KCET's Emmy® and Peabody® Award-winning series investigates football, the sport that produces two out of every three high school sports-related concussions. In this reprised story, reporter John Ridley looks at how concussions are endangering lives as ever younger players try to emulate the professionals. Is "playing through the pain" appropriate for teen athletes?

The story airs on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at 8 p.m.

This week's SOCAL CONNECTED also features:

Next Step for the Endeavour: At the California Science Center, the payload doors on the Endeavour opened in a delicate operation that usually happens in zero gravity. After millions watched the Endeavour inch its way across Los Angeles streets in 2012, reporter Conor Knighton looks at the progress being made to get the shuttle ready for its vertical positioning in 2018.

The Dean of Radio - Art Laboe: He's been on the airwaves since 1943, endearing himself to audiences as diverse as they are large. Reporter Nic Cha Kim profiles the DJ who was the first to play rock 'n roll on the West Coast, the first to do radio dedications and the first to broadcast live from Scrivner's Drive-In. (Based on a story from Departures.)

Coffee Farming in Southern California: Can the land of vineyards also grow coffee beans? One organic farmer in Goleta decided to dedicate some of his land to coffee beans, and so far it's a success. California blend anyone? (From KCET Food's web series,California's Small Farms).

Broadcast Premiere Date:  Wednesday, October 29 at 8 p.m.

Repeated: Friday, October 31 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, November 2 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 Magazine's "Best New Local TV Program" of 2009, airs exclusively on KCET. For more information, to view episodes online or to leave comments, please visitwww.socalconnected.orgSOCAL 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 children's 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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