NOVA: Manhunt - Boston Bombers

At 2:50 p.m. on April 15, two bomb blasts turned the Boston Marathon finish line from a scene of triumph to tragedy, leaving three dead, hundreds injured and a city gripped by heartbreak and terror. Less than five days later, the key suspects were identified and apprehended with one dead, the other in custody.

How did investigators transform the chaos of the bombing into a coherent trail of clues, pointing to the accused killers? NOVA follows the manhunt step by step, examining the role modern technology -- combined with old-fashioned detective work -- played in cracking the case. Given hundreds of hours of surveillance and bystander videos, how did agents spot the bad guys in a sea of spectators? Why couldn't facial recognition software I.D. the criminals? How much could bomb chemistry analysis, cell phone GPS, infrared imagery and crowd sourcing reveal about the secrets behind this horrific crime?

With the help of top criminal investigators and anti-terrorism experts, NOVA explores which technological innovations worked -- and which didn't -- in the most notorious case of today, and how the world of crime fighting could be transformed tomorrow.

Queen and Country

London is, indisputably, the capital of Britain's royal life. Here, the young Princess Elizabeth grew up before World War II. Here, she and her sister, Margaret, mingled, incognito, with the joyous crowds on VE Day. It is still the center of a working monarchy.

Join presenter Trevor McDonald as he reports on the tradition of Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace and visits Horseguards to meet the man who is in charge of the troops who guard the queen.

My WEIU Story - Brittney Sager

My name is Brittney Sager and I am a meteorologist for WITI Fox6 News in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Since a young age, I have loved science. It was a Weather and Climate class my freshman year of college that made me realize I wanted to pursue it for a career. I started at a local community college but transferred to Eastern Illinois University after hearing about WEIU-TV.

The hands-on experience WEIU-TV offered was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I started at PBS news writing and got my feet wet on just about every position it took to create a live newscast, even getting in front of the camera. After two years of volunteering at the news station, I was able to put together a resume reel. It allowed me to show future employers I not only had the knowledge of weather through my college courses but was able to explain and present it to viewers throughout central Illinois.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without WEIU-TV and the people involved. I am proud to share where I got my start and cherish friendships I made through the journey.

Pioneers of Television: Westerns

Known everywhere as the quintessential American cultural identity, Westerns filled small screens across the country night after night and were some of the most successful television shows in history. Fess Parker's portrayal of Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett channeled the bravery, independence, honesty and rugged individualism of a young nation - and made Walt Disney enough money to build an empire.

Westerns also gave viewers James Garner, who starred in the giant television hit "Maverick," where he developed the reluctant hero character that would cement his successful TV and film career. Parker and Garner tell their stories, and Linda Evans recalls how two strong female characters emerged with her onscreen interaction with Barbara Stanwyck in "The Big Valley." This episode also examines the success of Robert Conrad in "The Wild Wild West," the popularity of "Bonanza" and the creation of the classic series "Gunsmoke" with James Arness - one of the longest-running television series of all time.

Angle of Attack

The first part of this two-part documentary series begins by following young men and women on their way to "earning their Wings." In a rigorous course of instruction, they learn to lift off and land a supersonic aircraft on the deck of an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean, still considered one of the most difficult and hazardous tasks.

Eugene Ely first attempted the death-defying feat in 1911. Ely's act of landing a fragile bi-plane on a make-shift wooden deck would eventually transform into a weapon of unprecedented power and influence. The episode concludes with World War II and the U.S. victory in the Pacific, when carrier aviation reigned supreme. However, Naval soon would face a threat to its existence - not from an enemy source, but from a competing technology - the nuclear bomb.

Judy - Mattoon, IL

"Being an avid dog lover, I’ve learned much from the veterinarian guests you’ve had on The Paw Report as well as about several animal rescue organizations I didn’t previously know existed. I hope WEIU will continue airing this program. Another of my favorites is Heartland Highways! I’m always wanting to see more interesting facts and video about the communities you visit. Thank you WEIU-TV."

WEIU membership is important to Judy, and you can also be a proud member!

Sam Jones - Ashmore, IL

"I support WEIU because I know that at any time, day or night we can tune in and we can count on good, quality entertainment and good wholesome programming made available to us. WEIU is what I consider to be a family friendly television station because I know that if my children or grandchildren are visiting and they enter the room where I'm watching TV, I don't have to worry about anything inappropriate being on my TV screen. I know that I can trust WEIU and I love that!"

WEIU membership is important to Sam, and you can also be a proud member!

Jack Neal - General Manager

When Did You Start at WEIU? 2010

Favorite Show on WEIU-TV: This is a tough one! I'm a fan of everything we do both on the air as well as in the world of education. But truth be told, my favorites are locally produced programs. Heartland Highways gives me a chance to see some of the many amazing places in this wonderful area we call home. I've seen places on Heartland Highways that lifelong east central Illinois residents didn't know existed...and then made the short drive to see those places up close and personal myself. And I've learned so much about some of the most interesting people who are our neighbors.

Another of my top three would be Four Rivers Ag Report. Though I'm not a farmer, I live on a working farm and see the daily ag activity that drives our area. No matter what we do, we are a part of agriculture. And I find that fascinating. The things I've learned about our farm community as a result of Four Rivers are pretty amazing. And as much as Four Rivers Ag Report focuses on the farmers in our area, it does just as good a job of celebrating our rural lifestyle.

Last but not least is News Watch. There is nowhere else to find the kind of coverage News Watch provides our area. Even in a world of 24/7 online and cable/satellite news services, I find News Watch the only place to watch and learn what's happening in OUR community. It's unique.

What have you learned while working at WEIU? This could be a chapter in itself!In my case, I came to WEIU after working in public broadcasting for decades.I'd worked for many stations in many parts of the country. My fascination with WEIU was two-fold: The fact that WEIU is MORE than a PBS station, and the opportunity to live in this incredible community. Being a part of a non-commercial TV station that goes so far beyond programming what most PBS stations provide has allowed me to learn an amazing number of new things about our world. And being in the east central Illinois community has taught me just how special and unique this place is. I've learned that what may appear on the outside to be an unchanging environment becomes a wealth of different sights, sounds and experiences with the march of the seasons, the constantly varying weather and the beautiful lighting variations of each passing day.

Why should someone become a member of WEIU? WEIU is certainly not like most TV stations. We're obviously nothing like a commercial TV station which is funded by commercials based on the number of people watching each program. Yet, we're also different than most non-commercial TV stations, as well ... both in what we air and who we aim to serve. And that's important to me. As I've seen more of the media universe surround us with an array of programs, news, shopping channels and pretty much anything you could imagine, I still find WEIU the ONLY place where I can learn about MY neighbors and MY community. I know such a service is not going to be supported by other communities or by commercial sponsors. I frankly wouldn't expect it to be. So I find it important to support that service that serves me and the people who are my neighbors. It seems to be part of the American way of taking care of those things that are important to us. At least that's how I see it!

WEIU is very important to me and I hope to you, as well.

Is WEIU as important to you as it is to Jack? Become a member today!