The New Mexico Environment Department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have launched a new task force to investigate and prosecute environmental crimes. These crimes can range from things like dumping hazardous waste to falsifying records. For New Mexico in Focus, Our Land’s Laura Paskus talks with NMED Secretary James Kenney and the EPA’s special agent in charge of the criminal investigation unit, Kim Bahney.

To submit a tip online to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: https://echo.epa.gov/report-environmental-violations

To report known or suspected environmental crimes to the New Mexico Environment Department: https://www.env.nm.gov/general/report-an-environmental-issue-or-incident/

Want to see more environmental coverage from NMPBS?

Visit the NMPBS Video App: https://portal.knme.org/show/our-land-new-mexicos-environmental-past-present-and-future/

Subscribe to Our Land Weekly: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/woyxJ21/ourland

Host Lou DiVizio looks ahead to the holiday season at NMPBS, and updates the week's top headlines. 

Then, Gene Grant and our Line Opinion Panelists discuss the decision ahead for the Governor as she considers her options for the new Public Regulation Commission. The PRC Nominating Committee recommended nine names to the Governor. She'll have to choose three of those nominees to form the final commission. 

Gene and the Line Panel also talk through a proposal from Albuquerque City Council to change the city's 'Zero Fare' program by requiring riders to show state-issued photo ID to ride for free. 

Finally, Gene expresses his frustrations with council in recent months in his Final Thoughts for the week. 

Host: Lou DiVizio

Line Host: Gene Grant

Line Panelists:

Tom Garrity, founder & president, The Garrity Group Public Relations

Inez Russell Gomez, editorial page editor, The Santa Fe New Mexican

Algernon D'Ammassa, editor, The Deming Headlight

For More Information:

Nominating Committee-NM Public Regulations Committee

Slate of New Mexico regulatory candidates sparks concern- AP News

Albuquerque bus fare bill deferred until early 2023- Source NM

Proposal to replace ‘zero fare’ bus program postponed- KRQE News

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Host Lou DiVizio checks in and updates headlines in our state to start your week. 

Gene Grant speaks with the executive director of Common Cause New Mexico about a new poll from Research & Polling Inc., showing broad support for modernizing the state legislature. The two discuss potential changes like lengthening sessions, expanding legislative staff and paying lawmakers. 

Host: Lou DiVizio

Correspondent: Gene Grant

Guest: Mario Jimenez, executive director, Common Cause New Mexico

Watch New Mexico in Focus every Friday night at 7pm on NMPBS. 

Host Lou DiVizio recaps some of the top headlines in New Mexico after the holiday weekend. Then, correspondent Antonia Gonzales speaks with the first Native American woman ever to travel to space, astronaut Nicole Mann. Antonia also catches up with a Navajo novelist to talk about her debut book, 'Shutter.' And, Antonia sits down with the newly crowned Miss Indian New Mexico to talk about her role, and work engaging young people in indigenous communities. 

Host: Lou DiVizio

Correspondent: Antonia Gonzales

Guests:

Nicole Mann (Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes), NASA Astronaut, Crew Commander: SpaceX Crew-5

Ramona Emerson, author, filmmaker, Diné

Alysia Coriz (Kewa Pueblo), 2022 Miss Indian New Mexico

For More Information:

Nicole Mann - NASA

Nicole Mann Becomes First Native American Woman to go to Space - NPR

Miss Indian New Mexico Inc.

Host Lou DiVizio updates developing stories from last week's election, including early plans from NM Democrats for the 2023 legislative session.  

Then, Gene Grant and the Line Opinion Panel dig into results from election day, starting with the Governor's Race. The panel debates the successes of the Governor's campaign and the failures from Mark Ronchetti’s team. 

Gene asks our panelists how Gabe Vasquez was able to hold on to his slim lead in Congressional District 2, and if there could be any lingering controversy around the race with a pending lawsuit over district lines.

The Line Panelists round out their election discussion with a look at other key state results, including Attorney General and Secretary of State. 

Host: Lou DiVizio

Line Host: Gene Grant

The Line Opinion Panel:

Dede Feldman, Fmr. NM State Senator

Rebecca Latham, CEO, Girl Scouts of New Mexico and Fmr. NM Cabinet Secretary

Dan McKay, Staff Writer, Albuquerque Journal

For More Information:

2022 Unofficial General Election Results-New Mexico Secretary of State

Expert: Moderate Dems Helped Lujan Grisham Top Ronchetti – Santa Fe New Mexican

Herrell Concedes to Vasques in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District – Deming Headlight

Vasquez Declares Victory in CD2 Race – Albuquerque Journal

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Host Lou DiVizio previews election day 2022 and rounds up NM headlines to start your week. 

Then, Gene Grant and our Line Opinion Panel analyze recent polling in statewide races for Governor, Attorney General and Secretary of State. 

Gene and the Panel also take a look at contradictory polling in the race for Congressional District 2. Will Rep. Yvette Herrell hang on to her seat, or is data from the Albuquerque Journal correct, showing Gabe Vasquez with a slight lead? 

Host: Lou DiVizio

Line Host: Gene Grant

Line Opinion Panelists:

Laura Sanchez, Attorney

Dave Mulryan, President, Mulryan Nash Advertising

Dan Foley, Fmr. NM State Representative

For More Information:

Voter Information Portal – NM Secretary of State

Candidate List for 2022 General Election – NM Secretary of State

Native American Election Information Program – NM Secretary of State

KRQE Poll: Governor’s race near dead heat-KRQE News

Latest polls show race between Lujan Grisham, Ronchetti tightening- Santa Fe New Mexican

Trump backs Ronchetti in NM race for governor-Albuquerque Journal

Journal Poll: Democrats hold leads in four statewide races-Albuquerque Journal

Journal Poll: Democrats has edge in race for US House seat-Albuquerque Journal

Herrell leads Democrat in New Mexico House race:poll

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On this bonus episode of New Mexico in Focus the podcast, host Lou DiVizio introduces our final two candidate conversations of the 2022 election season. 

KRWG Public Media's Director of Content, Anthony Moreno, sits down with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to talk about a variety of issues including bail reform, climate change and education. 

Then, NMiF Correspondent Gwyneth Doland speaks with Democratic Challenger for Congressional District 2 Gabe Vasquez and asks why he think's he's the right person to represent New Mexico citizens in Washington. 

For More Information:

Voter Information Portal – NM Secretary of State

Candidate List for 2022 General Election – NM Secretary of State

Native American Election Information Program – NM Secretary of State

Host Lou DiVizio runs through state headlines to lead off the show and introduces NMiF's latest round of Candidate Conversations. 

New Mexico in Focus Correspondent Gwyneth Doland speaks with District 3 Congressional Incumbent, Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez. 

Then Gwyneth talks to the challenger in District 3, Republican Alexis Martinez Johnson.

Gene Grant and the Line Opinion Panel discuss a recent warning from NM Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver about a rise in election misinformation and the possibility of partisan poll watchers disrupting election day. 

Finally, Gwyneth speaks with District 1 Congressional Incumbent, Democrat Melanie Stansbury.

Host: Lou DiVizio

Correspondent: Gwyneth Doland

Line Host: Gene Grant

Guests:

U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, (D) New Mexico, District 3

Alexis Martinez Johnson, (R) Candidate for Congress, New Mexico, District 3

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, (D) New Mexico, District 1

Line Opinion Panelists:

Sophie Martin, attorney

Tom Garrity, president, The Garrity Group Public Relations

Leah Romero, reporter, Las Cruces Sun-News

For More Information:

Teresa Leger Fernandez-Campaign website

Q&A: 3rd Congressional District Candidate Teresa Leger Fernandez – Albuquerque Journal

Alexis Martinez Johnson-Campaign website

Q&A: 3rd Congressional District Candidate Alexis Martinez Johnson – Albuquerque Journal

New Mexico braces for confrontational poll watchers - Associated Press

NM prepares for poll challengers - Albuquerque Journal

Melanie Stansbury- Campaign website

Q&A: 1st Congressional District Candidate Melanie Stansbury – Albuquerque Journal

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Host Lou DiVizio introduces the show and highlights top headlines in New Mexico. 

Then, New Mexico in Focus Correspondent Antonia Gonzales kicks off our series of Candidate Conversations, speaking with Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. 

Antonia also speaks with the challenger for Navajo Nation President, Dr. Buu Nygren. 

Gene Grant and the Line Opinion Panel for the week talk about the Attorney General's race and whether or not New Mexico should change its pretrial detention policies. 

Host: Lou DiVizio

Correspondent: Antonia Gonzales

Line Host: Gene Grant

Line Opinion Panelists:

Dede Feldman, fmr. NM State Senator

Merritt Allen, Vox Optima Public Relations

Serge Martinez, UNM School of Law

For More Information:

Native American Election Information Program – NM Secretary of State

Navajo Election Administration

Approach to Crime Divides Attorney General Candidates – Santa Fe New Mexican

Q & A: Attorney General Candidate Jeremy Gay – Albuquerque Journal

Q & A: Attorney General Candidate Raul Torrez – Albuquerque Journal

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Today in southern New Mexico, the Rio Grande typically only flows when its channel is used to convey water from Elephant Butte and Caballo reservoirs to cities and farmers downstream. In conversation with Laura Paskus, Esperanza Chairez Uriarte, communications coordinator with Nuestra Tierra, talks about what that means for communities along the river – and how to envision a better future for that stretch of the Rio Grande.

To watch a companion episode of Our Land about the lack of water rights for New Mexico’s rivers, visit: https://youtu.be/psLhcCgNqgw

And to watch the 2020 episode with Nuestra Tierra’s executive director, Ángel Peña, that’s mentioned in this interview: https://youtu.be/oCHD2JRaeR4

You can also visit the NMPBS Video App: https://portal.knme.org/show/our-land-new-mexicos-environmental-past-present-and-future/

Or, subscribe to Our Land Weekly: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/woyxJ21/ourland