Billie Jean King Featured on Next METROFOCUS

A new edition of the award-winning series MetroFocus will premiere in the New York metro area Wednesday, September 4 at 7:30 p.m. on WLIW21 and Thursday, September 5 at 8:30 p.m. on THIRTEEN and at 10:30 p.m. on NJTV.

The edition will feature:

*The final candidate interview in the continuing "NYC Votes 2013" series: Democratic candidate Bill Thompson, the nominee in 2009 and former city comptroller, talks to host Rafael Pi Roman about some of the key issues in the campaign, including stop and frisk, transportation, and taxes. "I've always said, and said at the last debate, that tax increases are a Last Resort not a first option and some of my opponents have chosen to lead with tax increases," Thompson said. "I think that's a mistake." Morgan Pehme, editor-in-chief of City & State, and Jarrett Murphy, executive editor of City Limits, join Pi Roman to review the months-long collaborative reporting project Five Borough Ballot. The project brings to light the issues that voters are focused on and whether they intend to cast ballots in the September 10 th primary election.

*A new study gets underway in New Jersey to see if a "microgrid" can keep the transit system online if another superstorm hits the region." NJ Today reporter David Cruz has the story from Secaucus.

*Forty years ago Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes on the tennis court. Find out what made King a fighter for equal rights on and off the court in excerpts from the upcoming documentary American Masters Billie Jean King, which premieres nationwide September 10 at 8pm on PBS (check local listings).

*A walk on the wild side in Central Park as part of the 24-hour "BioBlitz," where scientists, park volunteers and students from the Macaulay Honors College at the City University of New York came together to try to find out how many species of plants, animals and insects live in the 843-acre urban park.

MetroFocus Series Overview

MetroFocus is an award-winning multi-platform news magazine focusing on the New York region. The MetroFocus television program features interviews, in-depth reporting, content from many partners and solutions-oriented reports from the community. Major areas of coverage include sustainability, education, science and technology, the environment, transportation, poverty and underserved communities. MetroFocus.orgamplifies that reporting with daily updates and original stories that also cover culture, government and politics, the economy, urban development and other news in the metropolitan region. More information at:thirteen.org/metrofocus/about-us-faq/

MetroFocus is a production of WLIW21 in association with WNET, parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21. For 50 years, THIRTEEN has been making the most of the rich resources and passionate people of New York and the world, reaching millions of people with on-air and online programming that celebrates arts and culture, offers insightful commentary on the news of the day, explores the worlds of science and nature, and invites students of all ages to have fun while learning.

MetroFocus is made possible by James and Merryl Tisch, Cheryl and Philip Milstein Family, Jody and John Arnhold, Charlotte and David Ackert, Betty and John Levin and the Ford Foundation. Corporate funding is provided by Mutual of America.

Website: thirteen.org/MetroFocus

Facebook: facebook.com/MetroFocus

Twitter: @MetroFocus

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