New Mexico in Focus (A Production of NMPBS)

New Mexico in Focus Senior Producer kicks off the show with updates on several pieces of legislation moving through the Capitol in Santa Fe. That includes the possibility of a slight increase on alcohol included in an omnibus tax bill, HB 547 , which passed the House Taxation and Revenue Committee Monday morning. This is something we've been covering for months, mainly due to the work of Journalis...

Seven states and two countries share the Colorado River, where demand outpaces supply, especially in a warming world. Recently, Our Land’s Laura Paskus spoke with Estevan López, Upper Colorado River Compact Commissioner for New Mexico, about the current situation on the Colorado and what New Mexicans who rely upon its waters need to consider for the future. Here on the podcast, we share the longer...

New Mexico in Focus Senior Producer Lou DiVizio opens the show with updates on several pieces of legislation moving through the Roundhouse: SB 73 would open primary elections to all voters in the state if passed. Right now only party-affiliated voters can participate. The bill passed the Senate last week and now moves on to the House.  HB 7 would guarantee access to reproductive and gender-af...

New Mexico in Focus Senior Producer Lou DiVizio opens the show with an update on the criminal charges filed in the shooting death of 'Rust' cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. He also updates NMSU's support of AD Mario Moccia after the school canceled its men's basketball season over hazing allegations.  NMiF Host Gene Grant speaks one-on-one with Albuquerque Journal Capitol Reporter Dan McKay a...

New Mexico in Focus Senior Producer Lou DiVizio updates some of the top headlines in our state, including the cancellation of NMSU's men's basketball season.  Then, NMiF Political Correspondent Gwyneth Doland takes us inside the Roundhouse for insight on HB7 , which would guarantee reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare to everyone in the state.  Gene Grant and the Line Opinion Pan...

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 Go...

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...

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 exper...

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 Poli...

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 year...

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 c...

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 And...

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 invest...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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 d...

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 spea...

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 di...

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 ab...

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...

Host Lou DiVizio updates headlines impacting New Mexicans to start the week and previews NMIF's series of Candidate Conversations starting this week on NMPBS.  Gene Grant speaks with Albuquerque's District 7 City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn about the memorial she introduced urging the state to end its ban on rent control. There is a lot of nuance around rent control and rent stabilization and...

Host Lou DiVizio updates the week of wet weather as the 50th Balloon Fiesta comes to a close.  Then, Gene Grant hosts a discussion with our Line Opinion Panel about the recent Governor's Debate on KOB-TV. The panel dissects the performances of both candidates, GOP Nominee Mark Ronchetti and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. The panelists also consider the key issues that are still developing a...

For more than a decade, a coalition of indigenous and environmental groups, along with archaeologists, have called for the federal government to protect the Greater Chacoan Landscape from increased oil and gas drilling. On Sept. 29, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit heard oral arguments on the latest case, in which those groups challenge the Biden administration's continued adherence...