New Mexico in Focus (A Production of NMPBS)

New Mexico in Focus Senior Producer Lou DiVizio updates state headlines, including a new lawsuit filed by a local news nonprofit seeking public records from the Lujan Grisham administration concerning alcohol policy. According to reporting in the Santa Fe New Mexican, New Mexico In Depth filed it's complaint Monday on behalf of journalist Ted Alcorn. Alcorn requested communications between the Governor and staffers discussing alcohol policy within the administration. The Governor's Office withheld nine of those communications citing executive privilege. This comes after Alcorn published an 7-part series for New Mexico In Depth on alcohol use in New Mexico. You can read that series here. 

Then, Gene Grant and our Line Opinion Panelists discuss a series of bills introduced in the state legislature that would update primary and general election laws. That includes a bill called the Voting Rights Act, which would automatically register voters when receiving a driver's license, and restore voting rights to felons once they are no longer incarcerated.

Finally, Gene Grant checks in on the 'Rust' shooting case with industry insider Gene Maddaus. Maddaus is a senior reporter for Variety Magazine in Los Angeles and has been closely following the case. The two discuss the involuntary manslaughter charges formally filed against actor and ‘Rust’ producer Alec Baldwin, and the task of proving the actor’s culpability in the incident.

Host: Lou DiVizio

Line Host: Gene Grant

Line Opinion Panelists:

Merritt Allen, Vox Optima Public Relations

Dave Mulryan, president, Mulryan-Nash Advertising

Cathryn McGill, founder, director, NM Black Leadership Council

Correspondent: Gene Grant

Guest: Gene Maddaus, senior reporter, Variety

For More Information:

Black History Month Events – City of Albuquerque

News Nonprofit Sues Over Records Request Concerning Alcohol Policy – Santa Fe New Mexican

Judge Sets First Court Date in Alec Baldwin ‘Rust’ Prosecution – KRQE

NM Governor Names New Indian Affairs Secretary – AP News

New Mexico house bill proposes changes to state primary elections- KOAT7

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Host Lou DiVizio updates state headlines, including the announcement that Public Education Secretary Kurt Steinhaus has resigned his position. 

Then, Lou introduces Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's recent press conference on public safety. The Governor delivered remarks from her office while being joined by legislative leaders from both parties. During her comments, she addresses some of the key issues she wants to address during the session while giving an assessment of the state's current crime problems. 

Political Correspondent Gwyneth Doland catches up with one of the lawmakers involved in the bipartisan push on public safety. St. Rep. Pameyla Herndon explains the safe storage bill's she's introduced that would create new penalties if a child is allowed access to a firearm. 

Then, Gwyneth speaks with Senate Minority Leader Gregory Baca about his concerns when it comes to some of the new public safety proposals. 

Next, Gene Grant and the Line Opinion Panel for the week discuss our state’s pretrial detention process. Specifically, legislators are expected to take up a tool used to analyze the likelihood of a defendant showing up to court and/or committing a new crime if released. 

Finally, our panelists return to the issue of modernizing our state legislature. A recent poll showed a majority of New Mexicans support changes like paying lawmakers, hiring more legislative staff & lengthening session, but should term limits be under consideration as well?

Host: Lou DiVizio

Correspondent: Gwyneth Doland

Line Host: Gene Grant

Guests: 

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, (D) New Mexico

St. Rep. Pamelya Herndon, NM District 28, Bernalillo County

St. Sen. Gregory A. Baca, (R) NM District 29, Bernalillo & Valencia Counties, Senate Minority Leader

Line Opinion Panelists: 

T.J. Trout, radio host, KKOB

Andy Lyman, reporter, Santa Fe Reporter

Rebecca Latham, fmr. NM Cabinet Secretary

For More Information: 

NM Losing Third PED Secretary in Four Years – AP News

Governor and lawmakers pledge action on crime at news conference - Santa Fe New Mexican

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham pledges to prioritize public safety - KUNM

Lujan Grisham proposes ‘public safety investment strategy’ - The New Mexico Political Report

New public safety council to address organized retail crime in New Mexico - Albuquerque Journal

Governor: N.M. prison medical care contracts leave ‘a lot to be desired’ - Source NM

Brady McGee, Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Our Land senior producer Laura Paskus discuss f2754, the Mexican wolf who traveled from her pack in southeastern Arizona to northern New Mexico and was recently captured on private land near Angel Fire.

Mexican wolves that disperse north of Interstate-40 and out of the designated Mexican wolf experimental population area are closely monitored. “This wolf moved north into an area and settled on private land, and after 14 days it was pretty obvious it wasn't going to move back down south,” McGee said. “And at the request of the landowners, we've captured it and it's currently in a pen at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge.”

Want to see more environmental coverage from NMPBS?

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NMiF Senior Producer Lou DiVizio kicks off the show with headlines from around the state, including an update on the detention status of the suspect charged in the string of shootings targeting lawmakers. 

Then, listen to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's 2023 State of the State Address for context on her priorities as lawmakers begin discussions on potential legislation. 

And, NMiF Political Correspondent Gwyneth Doland speaks with three state lawmakers about where they'd like to focus some of that $3.6B surplus.

Host: Lou DiVizio

Correspondent: Gwyneth Doland 

Guests: 

St. Sen. Crystal R. Diamond, (R) NM District 35 - Doña Ana

St. Sen. Roberto J. Gonzales, (D) NM District 6 – Los Alamos

St. Rep. Jason Harper, (R) NM District 57 – Sandoval County

For More Information: 

New Mexico lawmakers launch 60-day session in busy capitol- Albuquerque Journal

State of the State response: GOP says gov. can't spend way out of state's problems- Santa Fe New Mexican

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Senior Producer Lou DiVizio introduces the show and tosses things over to Gene Grant for his exclusive interview with Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. During their one-on-one conversation, Gene speaks with Mayor Keller about the city's 'Housing Forward' initiative and questions how the city fell so far behind on housing. Gene also asks if the plan to create 5,000 new rental units in the next two years is feasible. The mayor addresses the ongoing back-and-forth on safe outdoor spaces and comments on his relationship with City Council given recent disagreements on homelessness issues.

Host: Lou DiVizio

Correspondent: Gene Grant

Guest: Tim Keller, Mayor of Albuquerque

For More Information:

Housing Forward Initiative – City of Albuquerque

Predictions for the Albuquerque Housing Market in 2023 - KOB

Council Approves Funds for Low-Income Housing Projects - KRQE

City-sanctioned Safe Outdoor Spaces moving forward-KRQE News

Opposition against ABQ ‘safe outdoor space’ continues- KRQE News

Safe outdoor spaces back before City Council- Albuquerque Journal

Chaplain takes to streets to help homeless- Santa Fe New Mexican

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Host Lou DiVizio updates state headlines, including the Governor's picks for the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. 

Then, Gene Grant and a panel of political experts talk through the new budget surplus available for lawmakers when session starts later this month. 

Gene and the panel also explore proposed legislation on guns. 

And, Gene and our panelists discuss the pros and cons of modernizing the state legislature, with potential changes like paying lawmakers and lengthening sessions. 

Host: Lou DiVizio

Line Host: Gene Grant

Line Opinion Panelists:

Dede Feldman, fmr. State Senator

Diane Snyder, fmr. State Senator

Dan Foley, fmr. State Representative

For More Information:

Tribes get Advisory Role in New Mexico Public Utility Regulation – AP News

New Mexico state government reaps budget windfall from oil- AP News

New Mexico gun safety bills could spark debate at Roundhouse amid rise in firearm deaths- Albuquerque Journal

Voters are sending more women to the New Mexico Legislature. Will structural changes follow? - Albuquerque Journal

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This week on New Mexico in Focus, we consider the lessons that drought, fire, and flood taught us in 2022.

Our Land Senior Producer Laura Paskus sits down with New Mexico State Forestry’s Collin Haffey and Staci Timmons with the New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources to talk about fire, post-fire flooding, and also the state’s water challenges. And University of Arizona Professor Andrew Curley discusses what’s missing from the narrative of climate crisis when we ignore the experience of Indigenous people.

NMPBS Chief Engineer Jason Quinn explains the damage done to a key piece of infrastructure during the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. The Our Land crew documents the destruction in the Mora area and shows how losing such a seemingly small piece of broadcast technology can have a major impact on the community it serves.

And the Pueblo of Acoma’s director of the Historic Preservation Office, Theresa Pasqual, talks about the cultural significance of Chaco Canyon, ongoing effort to stop new extraction projects from starting in the area, and what’s gained when we protect special places.

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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.