New Mexico in Focus (A Production of NMPBS)

With Laura Paskus, NMPBS celebrates five years of “Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present and Future.” 

In this look back on some of the show's segments, we explore the state’s rivers and landscapes with an eye toward understanding climate change, habitat restoration, community farming, traditional knowledge, and more.

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/

Find Our Land on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OurLandNM

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

Today's topic, with Laura Paskus at NMPBS, is healthy masculinities. And maybe you're wondering, what does that have to do with the environment? 

Looking around the world, it's clear that we can’t have healthy communities or healthy landscapes without healthy men. But it can be hard to have honest conversations about that.

Earlier this year, the New Mexico Healthy Masculinities Collaborative, created in 2018, released a Healthy Masculinities Toolkit.

Here, we talk about what healthy masculinities are and why this toolkit is unique to New Mexico. We also talk about how anyone can engage in this work.

Guests include Christopher Ramírez and Luis Colunga with Together for Brothers, Dr. Corrine Sanchez with Tewa Women United, and Carli Romero with NewMexicoWomen.Org.

NM Healthy Masculinities Toolkit: https://masculinitiesnm.org/

More on "Our Land: New Mexico's Environmental Past, Present, and Future":

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

Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OurLandNM/videos

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

Host Lou DiVizio reports the latest breaking news in the case of four Muslim men murdered in the city of Albuquerque. Police say they've arrested a suspect in the case. More details to come. 

Lou also runs through the top headlines impacting New Mexicans, including a look back at the incident in Gallup during the 100th Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Celebration. Navajo Nation President reacts to the tragedy, and urges anyone struggling with the incident to seek help. Plus, what you can expect from the celebration as the week goes on. 

Gene Grant speaks with reporter Ted Alcorn about his recent series published in New Mexico In Depth, 'Blind Drunk.' Alcorn explains the nuances if reporting on a delicate issue like alcohol misuse. Alcorn will be hosting webinar on the subject on August 18th. You can register to participate at this link: 

Investigating Alcohol Harms in Your Community

Finally, Laura Paskus interviews St. Rep. Angelica Rubio about the proposal to bring 10,000 cannisters of nuclear waste to New Mexico for storage. 

Host: Lou DiVizio

Correspondents: Gene Grant, Laura Paskus

Guests: 

Ted Alcorn, reporter

St. Rep. Angelica Rubio, D - Doña Ana County

For More Information:

Albuquerque Police: Suspect Detained in Murder of Muslim Men - KRQE

Blind Drunk – New Mexico In Depth

Help Us Learn: Share Your Story With Alcohol

If you or a loved one is impacted there are resources available with the Navajo Nation Department of Mental and Behavioral Health at 988 or your local Indian Health Services at:

•    Tsehootsooi Medical Center (928) 729-8000

•    Nahata’Dziil Health Center (928) 688-5600

•    Gallup Indian Medical Center (505) 722-1000

•    Crown point Health Care Facility (505) 786-5291

•    Sage Memorial Hospital (928) 755-4500

•    Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility (928) 674-7001

•    Winslow Indian Health Care Clinic (928) 289-4646 or (800) 786-8907

•    Tuba City Regional Health Care Corp (866) 976-5941

•    Kayenta Health Center (928) 697-4000

•    Inscription House Health Center (928) 672-3000

•    Northern Navajo Medical Center (505) 368-6001

•    Four Corners Regional Health Center (928) 656-5000

•    Dzilth Na O Dith Hle Health Center (505) 960-1801 or 1 (888) 531-7233

•    Chinle Comprehensive Health Care (928) 722-1000

•    Dilkon Field Clinic (928) 657-3800

At the end of July, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin finally stopped holding up a climate, energy and tax package. The Inflation Reduction Act is a huge bill that some say, if passed, could transform America’s policy on climate change and energy.

As luck would have it, we already had New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich coming into the NMPBS studio to talk about climate change legislation. On this episode of the podcast, Laura Paskus talks with Heinrich about the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as a bill related to wildlife and another that would designate a stretch of the Gila River in New Mexico as Wild and Scenic.

The conversation also delves into Holtec International’s plans to bring commercial nuclear waste to New Mexico, gun reform, and January 6. 

For more information:

Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present and Future

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Laura Paskus, Executive Producer of "Our Land: New Mexico's Environmental Past, Present, and Future," on NMPBS talks with U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-NM, about her three water bills that passed the U.S. House of Representatives for inclusion in the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act.

At the end of July, just as Stansbury's bills were moving through the House, people living in Albuquerque watched the Rio Grande dry through the city for the first time in almost forty years.

For decades, that river’s also been drying to the south during the summer irrigation season, sometimes for long stretches, in the San Acacia and Isleta reaches of the river, near Los Lunas and Socorro.

As we covered that drying on New Mexico in Focus and on social media, lots of people reached out, asking what they can do.

It's a hard question to answer. But someone who is doing something and has lots of ideas about what more can be done is Stansbury.

For more information:

Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present and Future

Our Land on YouTube

Follow us on Instagram

Sign up for Our Land Weekly, our free Tuesday morning email

Host Lou DiVizio recaps a weekend of events in Albuquerque, including the main event of TedxABQ. If you'd like to watch or listen to the facebook live interview between Gene Grant and Teresa Robinson, you can do so here: https://fb.watch/eE2uh1CNCL/

Our Land Executive Producer Laura Paskus talks with Clifford Dahm, professor emeritus at the University of New Mexico’s Department of Biology, about the historic drying we're seeing along the Rio Grande. Dr. Dahm has been studying desert rivers for decades. He talks about the impacts of drying, what people should be paying attention to right now as the river dries, and what the future holds for desert rivers worldwide.

Then, Gene and the Line Opinion Panel explore possible solutions to a stark reality on the Rio Grande, where about 50 miles of the river are now dry in New Mexico.

And, New Mexico in Focus correspondent Antonia Gonzales speaks with two members of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition for their reaction to Pope Francis’ apology to Canada over abuse at residential boarding schools. They address where New Mexico fits in this equation.

For More Information:

Dry Times – Our Land Weekly

River Managers Brace for More Drying – The Paper

Canada Says Pope’s Apology Isn’t Enough – Associated Press

Pope Apologizes for ‘Catastrophic’ School Policy in Canada – Associated Press

Senior Producer Lou DiVizio updates you on the headlines impacting New Mexicans right now, including an announcement from the state's Children, Youth and Families Department on changes coming to the agency. 

Then, Gene Grant and the Line Opinion Panel weighs in on a new boom in oil and gas revenues and the delicate process of trying to spend that money. 

Our Land Executive Producer Laura Paskus analyzes this year’s historic fire season with New Mexico State Forester Laura McCarthy. She explains why this year has been so devastating, and how we can use treatments like prescribed burns more safely.

Finally, the Panel debates the proposal to round up nuclear waste from around the country and store it here in New Mexico. 

Host: Lou DiVizio

Line Host: Gene Grant

The Line opinion panel:

Diane Snyder, fmr. New Mexico State Senator

Kristelle Siarza, Siarza Social Digital

Guests:

Laura McCarthy, New Mexico State Forester

For More Information:

CYFD Critical Incident Review

New Mexico’s Oil & Gas Revenues are Breaking Records and Complicating Budgets – The Paper

Oil & Gas Continue to Drive New Mexico Budget – Carlsbad Current-Argus

Reviewing our Prescribed Fire Program – U.S. Forest Service

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Holtec One Step Closer to Nuclear Waste Facility License – Rio Rancho Observer

Environmental Impact Statement – Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Gov. Lujan Grisham Statement on NRC Decision – Governor's Officer

Senior Producer Lou DiVizio digs through the controversy surrounding a new committee at the state’s Children Youth and Families Department. He asks Sec. Barbara Vigil why the first two meetings of the steering committee were been closed to the public, and how she plans to help the department regain community trust. 

Plus, Lou catches up with the watchdog group New Mexico Foundation for Open Government to ask about this particular situation, and the work it's been doing for years to push CYFD to be more transparent. 

Host: Lou DiVizio

Guests:

Barbara Vigil, Secretary, New Mexico Children Youth & Families Department

Melanie Majors, interim executive director, New Mexico Foundation for Open Government

For More Information:

New CYFD Committee Meetings Not Open to the Public – Albuquerque Journal

Law Firm Calls CYFD Out For Lack of Transparency - KRQE

CYFD Eroding Credibility by Hiding Outside Evaluation – Albuquerque Journal

New Mexico Foundation for Open Government

On this episode of New Mexico in Focus the podcast, host Lou DiVizio recaps the headlines impacting New Mexicans at the start of the week. 

Gene Grant conducts a conversation on new drought research showing evidence that drought feeds heat, and vice versa. The panel explores the implications this may have for New Mexico and the southwest as a whole. 

Our Land Executive Producer Laura Paskus talks with a New Mexico sportsman and gun owner about the influence national lobbying groups have on the conversation surrounding gun ownership and gun rights. 

And, Gene and the panel parse through a new ballot initiative that would divert more money from the land grant permanent fund to education. 

Host: Lou DiVizio

The Line Host: Gene Grant

The Line Opinion Panel:

Merritt Allen, Vox Optima Public Relations

Sophie Martin, attorney

Michael Bird, public health consultant

Guest:

Garrett VeneKlasen, New Mexico hunter, gun owner

For More Information:

New Study Shows How Drought Led to Deadly Temperatures in 2021 – NM Political Report

Critics: U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on EPA Huge Blow for Climate – NM Political Report

Gun Owners Must Speak Up – Santa Fe New Mexican

How the NRA’s Creed Defines America’s Gun Debate - WBUR

Push to Tap NM Land Grant Permanent Fund for Education – Source NM

NM School Trust Feels Pressure, Voters Weigh Changes - KOB

Host Lou DiVizio runs down some of the biggest headlines impacting people in New Mexico this week. Then, Gene Grant hosts a discussion about how the recent reversal of Roe V. Wade could impact the race for Governor here in New Mexico. One of the key questions is whether or not the issue will drive turnout for democratic voters. 

This week, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission recommended approval of Holtec International's license to store up to 10,000 drums of nuclear waste here in our state. In a conversation from April, Our Land Executive Producer Laura Paskus talks with State Senator Jeff Steinborn about the proposal and the potential issues it could cause. 

Finally, correspondent Antonia Gonzales gives us a peak inside the newly-redesigned exhibit, Here, Now & Always, open now at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe. 

Host: Lou DiVizio

Line Host: Gene Grant

The Line opinion panel:

Merritt Allen, Vox Optima Public Relations

Sophie Martin, attorney

Michael Bird, public health consultant

Guests:

Jeff Steinborn, New Mexico Senator (District 36)

Tony Chavarria, curator of Here, Now and Always, Santa Clara Pueblo

Diane Bird, curator of Here, Now & Always, Santo Domingo Pueblo

For More Information:

Abortion Providers Make Plans to Open Clinics Near NM Border – NM Political Report

NM Gov. Enacts Protections for Abortion Seekers, Providers – SF Reporter

Ronchetti Cuts into Lujan Grisham’s Fundraising Advantage – Albuquerque Journal

TVA Report

‘Too much at stake to gamble’: Barnstable Town Council condemns Holtec plan – Barnstable Patriot

Trial evidence details little supervision over big tax breaks – NJ Spotlight News

Here, Now & Always - Museum of New Mexico Foundation

Here, Now & Always – Museum of Indian Arts and Culture