New Mexico in Focus (A Production of NMPBS)

This week on New Mexico in Focus…

Now that the 2020 U.S. Census count is complete, one of the next steps for New Mexico is redrawing congressional and legislative districts. Redistricting is often a political process decided under a veil of secrecy. But this year, lawmakers are debating a bill that would create a new commission to depoliticize the process and restore transparency. Correspondent Gwyneth Doland talks to members of the New Mexico First task force that recommended the commission as part of their work last year to reform the process.

The Line opinion panel will also discuss the redistricting commission proposal and its potential for passage during the 2021 legislative session. The panelists take a closer look at several bills that would change New Mexico’s liquor rules and regulations. One such proposal would allow for the delivery of some pre-packaged liquor, in an effort to help bars and restaurants maintain income during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But, given New Mexico’s troubled history with alcohol and high-profile drunk driving cases, is this really a good idea? Lastly, the panelists will delve into one lawmaker’s decision to leave his party over a vote on another high-profile bill, which would keep abortions in New Mexico from being illegal, even if the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn Roe v. Wade.

This week also marks the return of “Our Land” New Mexico’s only broadcast series dedicated to covering environmental issues in our state. Correspondent Laura Paskus explores the power of what we name places in New Mexico, and talks with U.S. Representative Deb Halland (D) –

President Biden’s pick to lead the Department of the Interior – about legislation she is proposing that hopes to make those names more culturally sensitive and inclusive.

Host: Gene Grant

Line Panelists:

Segments:

Our Land: Place Names

In this special episode of New Mexico in Focus, host Gene Grant talks to New Mexico Poets about the power of the spoken word in light of inaugural poet Amanda Gorman's performance at Super Bowl LV. Albuquerque Poet Laureates Hakim Bellamy and Jessica Helen Lopez join us, along with state Poet Laureate Levi Romero. The group talk about the power of language, and what they expect from Gorman's performance on the nation's biggest stage. 

This week on New Mexico in Focus… The Line opinion panel looks at the mad dash by school districts across the state to consider reopening after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham gave the okay to return kids of all ages to the classroom during her State of the State address. The group discusses the approach districts are taking as they consider bringing educators and students back to school. 

As the Biden administration rolls out its climate change response, states like New Mexico that are dependent on revenue from extractive industries are nervous. Correspondent Laura Paskus speaks to New Mexico State University economist Jim Peach about the impact of a pause on new drilling leases on federal land.  

Host: Gene Grant

Line Panelists:

Segments:

This week on New Mexico in Focus… NMiF producer Matt Grubs interviews New Mexico In Depth reporter Bryan Metzger about his deep dive into the role of lobbyists in the state’s legislative process. With pandemic restrictions at the Roundhouse this year, lobbyists have found themselves on the outside of a process in which they’re often the ultimate insiders. Metzger recently looked at the role of lobbyists as experts in a citizen legislature.

Gene Grant and The Line opinion analyze Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s State of the State address. In a departure from pre-COVID tradition, the address was pre-recorded, then broadcast and streamed one week after the beginning of the legislative session. The Line panel looks at some of the key issues the Governor talked about – such as opening up schools February 8 – and also addresses some of her omissions. The panelists also look at progress on the COVID vaccine rollout, and some hiccups along the way. Lastly, The Line deals with the topic of New Mexico legislators who accepted pandemic aid for their small businesses.

This week on New Mexico in Focus… PFAS, toxic man-made chemicals, are showing up in New Mexico’s waters, according to a state study.  Scientists have found these PFAS chemicals – associated with products like firefighting foams, nonstick cookware and fire-retardant fabrics – in waters across the state, from pretty remote reaches of the Gila River to right here in Albuquerque’s stretch of the Rio Grande. Correspondent Laura Paskus speaks with the New Mexico Environment Department’s Rebecca Roose to find more about the state study and what it means.

Correspondent Megan Kamerick talks with band manager Sydney Counce about the pandemic’s impact on live music in New Mexico. Counce, who works with local act Dust City Opera, was about to hit the road on tour with the group when COVID-19 struck. Since then, musicians have struggled to make ends meet and often ended up missing out on assistance programs.

Gene Grant and The Line opinion panel discuss the first week of the New Mexico Legislature’s 60-day session.  Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this gathering of lawmakers will be very different from those of previous years. The Line discuss whether government transparency – and public buy-in – is possible. The Line panelists also debate the effects of President Biden’s immigration plan on our border state and look at national conservative politics through a New Mexico lens.

This week on New Mexico in Focus… The Navajo Nation is one of the largest tribes in the United States, both geographically and by population.  The Navajo have been hit hard by COVID-19, with more than 25,000 positive cases and more than 800 deaths. Jonathan Nez, president of the Navajo Nation, has been fighting the pandemic with curfews and lockdowns and has aggressively ramped up vaccination efforts. Correspondent Antonia Gonzales talks with President Nez about plans for the new year.

Dr. Tracie Collins, the secretary-designate of New Mexico’s Dept. of Health, and a group of medical experts from Presbyterian, Lovelace and UNM hospitals held press conferences this week to explain the roll-out of vaccinations so far. They also talked about moving into the next phase of vaccinations for older New Mexicans and those with underlying conditions. New Mexico in Focus includes part of that discussion.

Gene Grant and The Line opinion panelists preview the two-month session of the New Mexico Legislature that is set to start next week. COVID protocols will dictate the process of holding a full session during this pervasive pandemic, and while finalizing and approving a balanced budget is a number one priority, there are many other bills that will be on the docket. The Line also looks at how the COVID vaccine is being delivered – and how the message of its importance is being communicated.  For their final topic, the Line panelists voice their opinions on how New Mexico’s conservative leaders have responded to violent rhetoric from President Trump.

Host: Gene Grant

In Focus Interviews:

Health Secretary, Medical Experts on COVID Vaccinations

The Line Opinion Panel:

This week on New Mexico in Focus…

The COVID pandemic has thrown many people into financial crisis and has spotlighted how important adequate shelter is to health. Correspondent Megan Kamerick talks to law professor and housing advocate Serge Martinez about housing as a human right and how to stem the flood of evictions once the moratorium is lifted.

This month’s installment of Our Land looks back to an early 2020 conversation between correspondent Laura Paskus and Eugene Herrera, former governor of the Pueblo of Cochiti. Now, in 2021, Sen. Martin Heinrich’s plans to reintroduce a bill to change Bandelier National Monument into Bandelier National Park. While other northern New Mexico Pueblos support the measure, leaders at Cochiti still oppose it. Former governor Herrera tells why the people of Cochiti believe such a designation would damage spiritual and sacred sites.

Gene Grant and The Line opinion panelists talk about newly elected Republican Congresswoman Yvette Herrell’s objection to certifying electoral college votes for President-elect Joe Biden. They then debate the fines imposed on Legacy and Calvary megachurches for packing their Christmas services beyond capacity limits and not enforcing mask mandates. The Line panelists also voice their opinions on Albuquerque’s passage of the CROWN Act, which prohibits discrimination based on ethnic hairstyles or head coverings like burqas.

This week on New Mexico in Focus… The Line opinion panelists wrap up our list of the top stories of 2020. Once again this week, our list is dominated by the various impacts and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic here in New Mexico. Also making our top 5 list is the surge of protests over racial inequality and controversial historical monuments and statues. Tune in to find out what made the top of the list and what our special panel of working journalists have to say about this unforgettable year.

Also, on the heels of the December 29th broadcast of the PBS American Masters show “Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page,” we revisit an interview correspondent Megan Kamerick did in May of 2018 with Santa Fe author Caroline Fraser. Her book, “Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder,” won the Pulitzer Prize for biography. “Prairie Fires” puts Wilder’s life in historical context alongside key events, from the settlement of the Great Plains to the Dustbowl. You can still watch that American Masterpiece special on Wilder on the NMPBS webpage.

This week on New Mexico in Focus… The Line opinion panelists begin our annual countdown of the top stories of the year. 2020 was dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts in New Mexico, but there are many specific issues our special panel of working journalists is ready to examine. This week, they take on stories 10-6, including the rise of Zoom and remote working, and the impacts of COVID-19 on our schools and entire education system. They wrap up the list on next week’s show with the top 5 stories of 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also sparked renewed interest in all kinds of content, from streaming media, to books and even video games. That includes the classic works of Shakespeare. Correspondent Gwyneth Doland talks to UNM English Professor Marissa Greenberg about how artists and creators are breathing new life into the bard’s stories and characters. They also explore why his writings are still so vibrant all these centuries later.

Correspondent Laura Paskus continues her coverage of the groundwater contamination at a handful of New Mexico military installations, resulting from the past use of aqueous firefighting foams which contained dangerous PFAS chemicals. Her work is part of our ongoing investigation “Groundwater War.” Paskus explains why New Mexico’s complicated military legacy makes it harder to get the military to take action, including mapping the full extent of the contamination and the challenges of cleaning up the PFAS chemicals.

This week on New Mexico in Focus… Of the nearly six thousand missing and murdered Indigenous women reported each year in the U.S., many are never identified. This is due in part to an outdated database.  Correspondent Gwyneth Doland talks to UNM professor Heather Edgar, who has been working with Native tribes and experts to find a respectful, high-tech solution.

Wildlife experts believe there were many factors that caused a massive die-off of birds migrating through New Mexico early this autumn. Correspondent Laura Paskus talks with NMSU professor Martha Desmond about why the bird carcasses were severely emaciated and what that might mean for the future.

Gene Grant and The Line opinion panelists weigh good news against bad news in an update on the pandemic’s effect on New Mexico. While COVID-19 vaccines have started to arrive in the state and case numbers have been easing, there’s still the holiday break to get through and hospitals are still overwhelmed. The Line also debates problems with rural broadband and looks at the state’s U.S. Supreme Court victory in a water battle with Texas.