Early and absentee voting is just days away for many New Mexicans, including in Albuquerque, where voters will be picking a mayor. This week, New Mexico in Focus livestreamed the New Mexico Black Voters Collaborative Candidate Forum with incumbent Tim Keller and challengers Manny Gonzales and Eddy Aragon. The Line opinion panelists break down the race so far, and offer predictions about whether or not the campaign to lead New Mexico’s largest city is headed to a run-off election.

With Balloon Fiesta just around the corner, this is the time of year when eyes are drawn upward to our beautiful fall skies. But, the safety and oversight of the ballooning community is also drawing plenty of attention as a National Transportation Safety Board investigation continues into a deadly crash last summer. Senior Producer Matt Grubs talks with the founder of a local balloon tour company, Rainbow Ryders, about what changes he’d like to see and why some companies choose to monitor their pilots more closely than the industry requires.

Correspondent Russell Contreras (also the race and justice reporter for Axios) speaks with recent “Genius Grant” winner, MacArthur Fellow Monica Muñoz Martinez. The educator and public historian was awarded the prestigious fellowship earlier this week for her work to address racial injustice, particularly anti-Mexican violence in border territories. The pair talks about the common threads between 19th, 20th and 21st century incidents and how the past informs the way America views power.

Line Panel:

Dan Foley, former state representative

Laura Sanchez, attorney

Michael Bird, public health expert

Guests:

Scott Appelman, President & CEO, Rainbow Ryders

Monica Muñoz Martinez, University of Texas Historian

Riley Gardner, Santa Fe Reporter