New Mexico in Focus (A Production of NMPBS)

Host Lou DiVizio runs through the top headlines to start the week, including news New Mexico State Senator Daniel Ivey-Soto has been removed from his position as chairman of the New Mexico Finance Authority interim committee. 

Then, Gene Grant and the Line Opinion Panel talk about the other recent developments in the sexual harassment accusations against Senator Ivey-Soto. 

Gene and the Panel also talk through Republican Nominee for Governor Mark Ronchetti's call for a statewide referendum on abortion. 

And, our panelists have one final conversation about the possibility the state legislature could raise alcohol taxes in the upcoming 2023 session.

Host: Lou DiVizio

Line Host: Gene Grant

Line Opinion Panelists:

Dede Feldman, fmr. NM State Senator

Merritt Allen, Vox Optima Public Relations

Martha Burk, Author & Political Psychologist

For More Information:

Leaked report roils harassment probe of New Mexico senator- AP News

NM senator defends his reputation while policy silences the people accusing him of misconduct-Source NM

SFR Exclusive: Investigator Found Probable Cause in Ivey-Soto Harassment Case-Santa Fe Reporter

GOP candidate wants referendum on abortion in New Mexico-AP News

Lawmakers say alcohol on 2023 session agenda- New Mexico In Depth

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On today's episode, Our Land Senior Producer Laura Paskus talks with author Erica Gies about the slow water movement. 

In her new book, “Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge,” Gies writes about how development choices and centralized infrastructure have exacerbated the water extremes many regions of the world are experiencing as the planet warms. She also writes about the “slow water” movement and how communities can shape solutions and adapt to the changing world.

In conversation, Gies also discusses the dominant culture’s historic shift away from observing and understanding how water works – and how in our relationships with water, “privileging ourselves isn’t working.” 

And, Gies explains, curiosity about water in our own neighborhoods and cities can help us “recalibrate within ourselves our attitude toward water.”

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Host Lou DiVizio runs through the top state headlines, including news that lawmakers plan to take up alcohol taxes in the upcoming 2023 session.

Then, Gene Grant talks through the U.S. Forest Service's decision to end a ban on prescribed burns. Gene and the Line Opinion Panel debate if this is the right time and if new precautions are enough to prevent another catastrophe like the Hermit's Peak Calf Canyon Fire.

Gene and the panel also discuss a report from the Legislative Finance Committee that shows New Mexico is lagging on behavioral health outcomes, despite having above-average access.

And, Gene talks with Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health about new COVID-19 boosters, flu shots & Monkey Pox's limited impact in New Mexico to this point.

Host: Lou DiVizio

Line Host: Gene Grant:

Line Opinion Panelists:

Dave Mulryan, president, Mulryan-Nash Advertising

Julie Ann Grimm, editor & publisher, Santa Fe Reporter

Edmund Perea, attorney and public safety consultant

Guest:

Dr. Laura Parajon, deputy secretary, New Mexico Department of Health

For More Information:

Lawmakers Say Alcohol on 2023 Agenda - New Mexico In Depth

Forest Service releases prescribed burn policy recommendations- Santa Fe New Mexican

USDA Forest Service Chief Randy Moore’s statement announcing actions-USDA Forest Service

Learning from NM mistakes, Forest Service to better heed drought factor before burns-Source NM

Behavioral health system a ‘weak chain’-Albuquerque Journal

2015 behavioral health tax benefits so far unrealized-Albuquerque Journal

Behavioral health crisis unit scheduled to open in 2024-Albuquerque Journal

Find a COVID-19 test here: https://findatestnm.org/

If you'd like a COVID-19 Booster:https://goodtimes.vaccinenm.org/stay-ahead-nm/

Last week, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D, joined Our Land Senior Producer Laura Paskus in the studio to talk about some of the state’s most pressing environmental issues. 

In the conversation you'll hear, the two discuss New Mexico’s devastating fire season, a private company’s plans to store more nuclear waste in the state, the military’s contamination of groundwater with PFAS, oil and gas drilling, hydrogen development, climate change, and funding for water planning.

Want more environmental coverage from NMPBS? Visit the NMPBS Video App:

https://portal.knme.org/show/our-land-new-mexicos-environmental-past-present-and-future/

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This week on the podcast, host Lou DiVizio runs down the top headlines impacting New Mexicans, including the announcement from the U.S. Forest Service on prescribed burns. 

Then, Gene Grant and the Line Opinion Panel talk through the historic ruling that removes Couy Griffin from his position as Otero County Commissioner, and bars him from holding future public office. 

Gene and the Panel then weigh in on a new survey that shows 70% of Albuquerque citizens are unhappy with the city’s response to homelessness. 

Plus, our panelists react to data from a new investigation that shows New Mexico has used its red flag law just eight times since 2020, a time period where 600 New Mexicans died from gun violence.

Host: Lou DiVizio

Line Host: Gene Grant

The Line Opinion Panel:

Michael Bird, public health consultant

Tom Garrity, Garrity Group Public Relations

Cathryn McGill, founder, director, NM Black Leadership Council

For More Information:

NM AG declines to charge deputies in woman’s shooting death – Associated Press

Behavioral health system a ‘weak chain’ - Albuquerque Journal

US to award $35M in grants to tribes for 988 crisis line – Associated Press

Judge removes C4T leader Couy Griffin from Office for Role in Jan.6 Attack

Court bars Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin from holding public office

School district, city teaming up over concerns at Wilson Park

ABQ residents unhappy with city’s homelessness response, survey shows

New Mexico among states with little use of ‘red flag’ gun law

NMDOH HB68: Violence Prevention Act Grant Funds Update

Gene Grant speaks with two leaders at an Albuquerque nonprofit, dedicated to giving unhoused people life-saving resources. The representatives from the New Mexico Harm Reduction Collaborative share their perspective on the root causes of homelessness and the recent debate around homeless encampments.

Host: Lou DiVizio

Correspondent: Gene Grant

Guests:

Ash Charzuk, executive director, New Mexico Harm Reduction Collaborative

Steph Charzuk, operations manager, New Mexico Harm Reduction Collaborative

For More Information:

School district, city teaming up over concerns at Wilson Park

ABQ residents unhappy with city’s homelessness response, survey shows

New Mexico Harm Reduction Collaborative

Host Lou DiVizio previews the week ahead at New Mexico in Focus, and runs through the top state headlines impacting New Mexicans. 

Gene Grant hosts a discussion with our Line Opinion Panel about new polling in statewide races that shows Democrats with big leads. 

Gene and the Panel also assess the dire situation in Las Vegas where ash and wildfire debris have contaminated the city’s drinking water source.

New Mexico in Focus Correspondent Antonia Gonzales sits down with a Navajo novelist to talk about her new book ‘Shutter,’ which follows a young woman from the Navajo Nation who becomes a forensic photographer. Author Ramona Emerson also explains why she thinks it’s so important for indigenous people to tell indigenous stories.

Host: Lou DiVizio

Line Host: Gene Grant

The Line Opinion Panel:

Algernon D’Ammassa, investigative & enterprise reporter, Las Cruces Sun-News

Rebecca Latham, CEO, Girl Scouts of New Mexico

Dede Feldman, fmr. New Mexico State Senator

Guests: Ramona Emerson, author, filmmaker, Diné

For More Information:

Poll: Lujan Grisham maintains small lead over Ronchetti-NM Political Report

Democrats lead big in races for 4 state offices, poll results say- Albuquerque Journal

Poll: Lujan Grisham leads Ronchetti by 7 points, Dems lead other statewide races- NM Political Report

‘This has turned itno hell’- Santa Fe New Mexican

Las Vegas struggles with post-fire water pollution- Santa Fe New Mexican

The Age of Consequence: Wildfires in New Mexico- NM Political Report

Forest Service to reseed McBride Fire burn scar- Albuquerque Journal

Las Vegas Now Faces Water Shortage After State’s Largest Wildfire- The Paper

Host Lou DiVizio runs through the top headlines in New Mexico, including news taxpayers could be on the hook for covering cleanup costs if PFAS contamination expands beyond the borders of Cannon Air Force Base. 

Then, Gene Grant speaks with Albuquerque's District 4 City Councilor Brook Bassan about her recent reversal regarding homeless encampments. 

And, Gene and the Line Opinion Panel react to that interview and discuss possible solutions. 

Host: Lou DiVizio

Line Host: Gene Grant

Guest: Brook Bassan, Albuquerque City Councilor, District 4

Line Opinion Panelists:

Merritt Allen, Vox Optima Public Relations

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

Serge Martinez, professor, UNM School of Law

For More Information:

City Councilor Brook Bassan Introduces Legislation to Repeal Sanctioned Encampments – City of Albuquerque

Martineztown Residents Push Back Against Planned Homeless Camp - KRQE

Neighbors, Mayor Declare Truce Over Gibson Center: Homeless Shelter Ok’d - The Paper

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Host Lou DiVizio rounds up key headlines in our state, including an update on a temporary water treatment facility in Las Vegas, where ash and wildfire debris are contaminating drinking water. 

Then, in collaboration with New Mexico In Depth, an exclusive roundtable discussion on alcohol in New Mexico. Journalist Ted Alcorn and a panel of experts discuss his extensive, 7-part series called 'Blind Drunk.' It exposes the fact that alcohol is killing New Mexicans at a higher rate than anywhere else in the country. In this conversation, Gene Grant explores the factors at play, from drunk driving, to alcohol’s impact on violent crime, poisonous myths when it comes to who carries the burden of this problem, failings in our state’s public policy, and the overarching issue of addiction and how it’s treated. 

Host: Lou DiVizio

Panel Host: Gene Grant

Guests:

Ted Alcorn, independent journalist

Kamilla Venner, PhD, associate professor of clinical psychology at UNM

Dr. Jennie Wei, internal medicine physician, Gallup Indian Medical Center

St. Rep. Joanne Ferrary, D - Doña Ana County

For More Information:

Blind Drunk – New Mexico In Depth

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Host Lou DiVizio runs through the top headlines in New Mexico, including the confirmed cause of the deadly McBride Fire. 

Gene Grant moderates a timely conversation about priorities for parents as they send their kids back to the classroom. Our Line Opinion Panelists talk through new security changes at some NM districts, and touch on some troubling statistics that place New Mexico 50th in education according to new Kids Count data. 

Then, Gene speaks with Dr. Diana Dragomir, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Dragomir explains what's inside new photos from the most powerful telescope in the world, the James Webb Telescope. Plus, she explains UNM's role in capturing these images, and learning from them. 

Host: Lou DiVizio

Line Host: Gene Grant

Line Opinion Panelists:

Dan Foley, fmr. NM State Representative

Jessica Onsurez, news director, Carlsbad Current-Argus

Laura Sanchez, attorney

For More Information:

2022 Kids Count Data Report Shows Improvements in New Mexico - KRQE

New Mexico School District Recruiting Parents to Patrol Schools – Las Cruces Sun-News

First Images from James Webb Space Telescope - NASA