New Mexico in Focus (A Production of NMPBS)

In an extra podcast episode from New Mexico in Focus, we're looking ahead to this Friday’s 100th Zozobra in Santa Fe. Every year tens of thousands of New Mexicans gather in Fort Marcy Park to burn away their gloom – in the form of a 50-foot monster names Old Man Gloom. The event is put on each year by the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe led by event chair Ray Sandoval. Lou DiVizio speaks with Ray Tuesday for a look ahead at what people can expect for this special centennial celebration.

For More Information:

100th Burning of Zozobra

Lou DiVizio kicks off the podcast with headlines from around the state, including news New Mexico is failing to leverage Medicaid dollars for home visiting programs.

Then, Whitney Holland, president of New Mexico's chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, is one of 45 delegates who attended this month's Democratic National Convention in Chicago. KUNM's Nash Jones catches up with Holland for a look at what happened inside the convention hall and some perspective on how the party platform could impact New Mexicans.

After that, we explore minimum wage rates around our state. Senior Producer Lou DiVizio speaks with New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions Secretary Sarita Nair on state protections for minimum wage employees and tipped workers. Then, Lou asks New Mexico Restaurant Association CEO Carol Wight whether businesses consider a city's minimum wage rate for tipped workers before opening a new location. Later, Marcela Díaz of Somos Un Pueblo Unido tells Lou about the many barriers standing in the way of minimum wage workers who are trying to climb the economic ladder.

Segments:

New Mexico's Role at the Democratic National Convention

Correspondent: Nash Jones

Guest: Whitney Holland, NM Delegate, President, American Federation of Teachers - NM

Secretary Sarita Nair on State Protections for Minimum Wage Workers

Correspondent: Lou DiVizio

Guest: Sarita Nair, Secretary, NM Department of Workforce Solutions

NM Restaurant Association CEO on Paying Tipped Workers

Correspondent: Lou DiVizio

Guest: Carol Wight, CEO, New Mexico Restaurant Association

Economic Barriers Minimum Wage Workers Face in NM

Correspondent:  Lou DiVizio

Guest: Marcela Díaz, Founding Executive Director, Somos Un Pueblo Unido

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This week on the podcast, Lou DiVizio updates you on some statewide headlines including news Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will be speaking at the DNC in Chicago Tuesday night.

Then, two advocates examine a recording that captures APD officers using racial slurs and violent language, taken moments after police shot and killed a 30-year-old man.

Daniel Williams of the ACLU of New Mexico tells Executive Producer Jeff Proctor why that recorded conversation is indicative of the “culture of aggression” at the Albuquerque Police Department.

Tiffany Jiron of the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women talks to Jeff about the troubled history with APD and the city’s Indigenous community.

Host: Lou DiVizio

Segments:

Racist Remarks by Officers and APD’s ‘Culture of Aggression’

Correspondent: Jeff Proctor

Guest: Daniel Williams, Policing Policy Advocate, ACLU of New Mexico

APD's Troubling History with Indigenous Community

Correspondent: Jeff Proctor

Guest: Tiffany Jiron, Executive Director, Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women

For More Information:

New Mexico Downwinders Push for National Recognition - NMiF

Camera captures APD officers using racial slurs, espousing violence at scene of fatal police shooting – Albuquerque Journal

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Lou DiVizio returns to the podcast with headlines from around the state, including news that 1-in-3 New Mexico counties is considered a "maternity care desert."

Then, Lou speaks with three experts about the City of Albuquerque’s approach when dealing with a growing number of homeless people. Attorney Peter Cubra, Rachel Biggs from Health Care for the Homeless and District 6 City Councilor Nichole Rogers share their perspectives on how city officials deal with encampments, the data being used and ignored that could help paint a more detailed picture of homelessness in the city, and how the various entities working to solve this problem can create a more collaborative relationship.

After that, Executive Producer Jeff Proctor zooms in on the Albuquerque Human Rights Board’s recent draft report alleging the city routinely “violates the autonomy, dignity and rights” of people experiencing homelessness.

First, Jeff speaks with the chair of the board that created the report, Anami Dass. Jeff asks about the methodology behind the report, the allegations the board has made and recommendations to remedy the situation.

Then, Jeff speaks with Albuquerque City Attorney Lauren Keefe for the city’s response to the report and for an update on the city’s policies and practices for clearing encampments. Jeff also asks about recent reporting that Mayor Tim Keller is interested in working with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on an ordinance similar to California Governor Gavin Newsome’s executive order calling for state government and local municipalities to remove encampments.

Host: Lou DiVizio

Segments:

Understanding Encampment Responses Since SCOTUS Decision

Correspondent: Lou DiVizio

Guests:

Peter Cubra, attorney, Coalition for a Safer Albuquerque 

Nichole Rogers, Albuquerque city councilor, District 6 

Rachel Biggs, chief strategy officer, Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless

ABQ Human Rights Board Alleges Violations of Homeless Rights

Correspondent: Jeff Proctor

Guest: Anami Dass, chair, Albuquerque Human Rights Board

ABQ City Attorney Explains City’s Homelessness Policies

Correspondent: Jeff Proctor

Guest: Lauren Keefe, city attorney, City of Albuquerque

Working Towards Solutions for Albuquerque’s Unhoused

Correspondent: Lou DiVizio

Guests:

Peter Cubra, attorney, Coalition for a Safer Albuquerque 

Nichole Rogers, Albuquerque city councilor, District 6 

Rachel Biggs, chief strategy officer, Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless 

Report & Recommendations on the Rights of People Experiencing Homelessness – Albuquerque Human Rights Board

Homelessness increased again across NM since last year, according to latest ‘point-in-time’ count – Source New Mexico

2024 Point-In-Time Count – New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness 

For seven years on NMPBS, “Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present, and Future” has covered so many aspects of climate change: from the oil and gas industry’s greenhouse gas emissions to how human-caused warming affects our rivers, forests, and public health.  In an all-new special, “Loving Our Changing Homelands,” Our Land Senior Producer Laura Paskus  explores the role that love must play in adapting to a changing climate. 

This special was supported in part by PBS's Climate Station Engagement Initiative. 

Across the Navajo Nation, contaminated uranium mines have been polluting the air and water and making people sick for generations. As part of a plan to finally clean up more than a million cubic yards of contaminated uranium and radium waste at just one of those sites, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed relocating the waste to private land within the town of Thoreau. Relocating it to the Red Rocks Disposal Facility would move the uranium off the lands of the Navajo Nation, but as the students point out, the town of Thoreau is predominantly Navajo.

This spring, a representative from the EPA met with the students, who listened to a presentation and interviewed him for their podcast. Our Land Senior Producer Laura Paskus visited Thoreau High School in May and then invited the teens into the studio in Albuquerque to talk about what they’re learning, and who they’re hoping will listen.

Thoreau Teens Oppose Radioactive Dump

Correspondent: Laura Paskus

Guests:

Reagan Russette, Thoreau High School

MiaBella Burrola, Thoreau High School

Ezekiel Gonzales, Thoreau High School

For More Information:

Navajo teenagers fight to prevent radioactive waste in their community – Albuquerque Journal 

Lou DiVizio opens the podcast this week with headlines from around the state including how a Supreme Court decision on homeless encampments might impact New Mexico.

Then, we look ahead to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's special session in July.

You’ll hear from the Governor’s public safety advisor as we ask about the specific problems the administration is hoping to solve with her proposals.

And, a special panel will analyze the potential effectiveness of those bills and the likelihood that they’ll make it through the Roundhouse next month. The proposals have changed quite a bit, even since the Governor announced the special session this spring, so be prepared for even more changes in the coming weeks. 

To stay up to date with the plan for the session, you can keep up with the work of the Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee. Representatives from the Governor’s office presented to committee members during and after our recordings this week. They’re scheduled to meet again July 15, ahead of the first day of the special session on July 18.

State Senior Public Safety Advisor on July's Special Session

Correspondent: Jeff Proctor

Guest: Benjamin Baker, Senior Public Safety Advisor to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

NM’s Shift in Public Safety Policy Ahead of Special Session

Correspondent: Lou DiVizio

Guests:

Dede Feldman, Democratic Former NM State Senator

Trip Jennings, Executive Director, New Mexico In Depth

Daniel Williams, Policing Policy Advocate, ACLU-NM

The Politics of Gov. Lujan Grisham's Special Session

Correspondent: Lou DiVizio

Guests:

Dede Feldman, Democratic Former NM State Senator

Trip Jennings, Executive Director, New Mexico In Depth

Daniel Williams, Policing Policy Advocate, ACLU-NM 

For More Information:

U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Will Allow More Aggressive Homeless Encampment Removals - Pro Publica

Mayor Tim Keller Responds to Grants Pass Ruling - City of Albuquerque

Why is New Mexico's governor calling a special session now? – KOAT

Both Republicans and Democrats skeptical of guv’s proposals for special session – New Mexico Political Report 

Lou opens the podcast with an update on the South Fork and Salt Wildfires burning in the Ruidoso area.

For More Information:

NM Fire Info

National Interagency Fire Center

U.S. Supreme Court rejects NM and Texas deal on Rio Grande - Source NM

Our Land Weekly - Sign Up!

Albuquerque celebrates diversity with 2024 Pride parade – Daily Lobo 

Equality New Mexico

In photos: A day in the life of a rural Latina superintendent – Axios

Meet Vic Vela, the Incoming Host of New Mexico in Focus

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Lou DiVizio opens the podcast this week with headlines from across the state, including news Santa Ana Pueblo is taking back 60,000 acres of ancestral lands.

Then, Lou sits down with a group of leaders in New Mexico's Black community to ask about the importance of celebrating Juneteenth.

In the first of three conversations, Senior Producer Lou DiVizio asks Joe and Rita Powdrell about the roots of Juneteenth celebrations in New Mexico.

Then, Ron Wallace talks about his work covering Black communities at the magazine he founded, The Perspective, before Rev. Dr. Charles E. Becknell tells Lou about the importance of protecting Juneteenth festivities from becoming commercialized.

In their final discussion, Tim Green IV and Marsha K. Hardeman reflect on how younger generations can help preserve the historical and cultural significance of Juneteenth.

Segments:

Celebrating Juneteenth in NM 
Correspondent: 
Lou DiVizio 
Guests: 

Joe Powdrell, Director, Juneteenth Albuquerque 1976-1989 

Rita Powdrell, President, African American Museum and Cultural Center of NM 

Marsha K. Hardeman, Professor, Africana Studies, University of New Mexico 

Rev. Dr. Charles E. Becknell, Sr., Pastor Emeritus of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Rio Rancho

How Juneteenth Brings Generations of Black New Mexicans Together 

Correspondent: 
Lou DiVizio 
Guests: 

Marsha K. Hardeman, Professor, Africana Studies, University of New Mexico 

Rev. Dr. Charles E. Becknell, Sr., Pastor Emeritus of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Rio Rancho 

Ron Wallace, Publisher, 'The Perspective' 

Tim Green IV, Culture Change Leader, City of Albuquerque

Preserving the History and Culture of Juneteenth 

Correspondent: 

Lou DiVizio 

Guests: 

Joe Powdrell, Director, Juneteenth Albuquerque 1976-1989 

Rita Powdrell, President, African American Museum and Cultural Center of NM 

Marsha K. Hardeman, Professor, Africana Studies, University of New Mexico 

Tim Green IV, Culture Change Leader, City of Albuquerque 

For More Information:

Our Land: Ancestral Connections - NMPBS

Heinrich introduces a bill to help tribes better manage buffalo herds - Source NM

‘Community Juneteenth 2024’ - Black Chamber of Commerce New Mexico

History of Juneteenth (Video) - UNM African American Student Services

Juneteenth in New Mexico – Maxwell Museum of Anthropology

Let’s Talk about Juneteenth in New Mexico - KUNM

Juneteenth – National Museum of African American History & Culture

Celebrating Juneteenth in New Mexico – NMPBS (2023) 

This week on the podcast, Lou DiVizio updates the status of the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act which came to an end late last week.

Then, Source New Mexico reporter Danielle Prokop asks U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., about his efforts to expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to cover New Mexico.  

For context on the efforts to extend and expand RECA, we included a 2021 interview between Russell Contreras and Tina Cordova from the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium. Cordova has been fighting for compensation for New Mexicans for decades.

Finally on the show, we break down last week's primary elections with Dr. Timothy Krebs, chair of UNM's Political Science Department. Lou DiVizio asks Krebs to consider why two high-profile district attorney races went well for the incumbents, and whether big wins for progressive Democrats will shape the governor's approach to her policy agenda. 

Host: Lou DiVizio 

Segments: 

Sen. Ben Ray Luján on Expanding RECA 

Correspondent: Danielle Prokop

Guest: Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-NM

Tularosa Downwinders Try Again (2021) 

Correspondent: Russell Contreras 

Guest: Tina Cordova, Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium 

NM Primary 2024 Election Results 

Correspondent: Lou DiVizio

Guest: Dr. Timothy Krebs, Chair, UNM Department of Political Science 

For More Information:

Time’s run out for the Radiation Exposure and Compensation Act - Source NM

RECA faces sunset June 10 while its future remains in limbo – Source New Mexico 

New Mexican voters pick new blood to represent them in Santa Fe – Source New Mexico 

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