New Mexico in Focus (A Production of NMPBS)

Former Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez explains how he’s approaching his new position as state infrastructure adviser. Chávez shares some of his priorities with correspondent Gwyneth Doland and explains how the public can get involved in the process of allocating $3.7B in federal infrastructure funding. Host Gene Grant talks with Charles Ashley III about his goals in his new role as Albuquerque's...

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham isn’t giving up on her plan to make New Mexico a hub for Hydrogen power. The Governor recently signed a partnership agreement with Colorado, Wyoming and Utah to lobby jointly for a piece of $8B up for grabs from the federal government. Our Line Panelists debate whether this is a prudent move for our state’s energy future. Tens of thousands of New Mexicans are scramb...

The Line Opinion Panel recaps the New Mexico Republican Party’s pre-primary convention. Delegates there selected three candidates to lead the party’s section of the ballot, with one notable exception. Panelists also touch on voting issues at the convention, and disappointment from some party members about how the convention was conducted. A philosophy professor sheltering outside the Ukrainian cap...

Environment reporter Laura Paskus talks with Albuquerque City Councilor Brook Bassan (District 4 - Northeast Heights) about her proposal to repeal the city's plastic bag ban, and why she thinks her constituents want it to end. Patrol shifts for Albuquerque police officers have been extended to twelve hours to help cover staffing shortages at the department. Our Line Panelists weigh the possible po...

The Line Opinion Panel reacts to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s decision to end the statewide indoor mask mandate. State Health Secretary Dr. David Scrase cites a significant drop in cases, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. Panelists try to understand the rationale and discuss the burden school districts must now carry. Correspondent Megan Kamerick speaks with the Archbishop of Santa F...

The city of Albuquerque has been involved in conversations with Pueblos and Tribes since June, when 215 unmarked graves of unidentified Indigenous youth were discovered at the site of a former Indian Boarding School in British Columbia. Correspondent Antonia Gonzales talks with Dr. Theodore Jojola about this difficult history and the current efforts to acknowledge that history and foster healing....

The 2022 Legislative Session ended at noon on Thursday, February 17th. A frantic finish helped push many of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s top priorities over the finish line, including a record budget, substantial teacher raises, and a package of crime bills. Our Line opinion panel of working journalists break down those key issues and the tactics used to get them to the governor’s desk. Gover...

Environment Reporter Laura Paskus talks with Rep. Melanie Stansbury (CD-1) about her latest efforts in Washington, D.C. including introducing the Water Smart Access for Tribes Act. On average, temperatures in New Mexico have risen three degrees since the 1970s. Retired UNM Professor David Gutzler talks about the impacts of warming on New Mexico’s landscapes, rivers, and communities – and discusses...

The Super Bowl kicks off today, and for many people that will also include some form of gambling. As the industry reaches more and more into the world of professional sports, the Navajo Nation is taking steps to launch its first Sportsbook. Correspondent Antonia Gonzales learns more about how it works and what it might mean for the Nation and it's finances.  Gonzales also continues her covera...

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s push to make New Mexico a hub for hydrogen is barely hanging on. The Line Opinion Panel explores the changes made in a third piece of legislation, and panelists debate the apparent strategic failures in the rollout of this plan. The panel also reacts to a call for help from the union president at the Bernalillo County Jail. With staffing shortages inching towards...

New Mexico is in the process of deciding how to spend billions of dollars in federal infrastructure dollars. It is no secret that the needs stretch far beyond just our urban communities. Host Gene Grant and Pivotal New Mexico CEO Terry Brunner discuss a new report addressing the infrastructure shortcomings in rural communities and the systemic issues that continually stand in our way when securing...

A package of anti-crime initiatives is gaining support in the state Legislature. Our Line panelists break down what’s included in those proposals and debate the potential impacts the bills could have. Plus, how the recent social outcry for police reform factors into this decision-making process. More than three years after a court ruling mandating change, the state legislature is considering a tri...

Lawmakers are considering new legislation that would put New Mexico on a pathway to become a leader in hydrogen energy production. But is there enough science to merit such an investment? Our Line Opinion panelists explore the unknowns of the controversial energy source, and weigh the potential economic consequences for New Mexico if lawmakers hesitate on taking the lead. Gene Grant sits down with...

Correspondent Gwyneth Doland speaks one-on-one with Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver about a set of new voting reforms moving through the legislature. The proposed changes are aimed at expanding access and participation in our elections. The Secretary also touches on a recent survey measuring voter confidence in our electoral system. The Line Opinion panel reacts to our interview with Sec...

Environment Report Laura Paskus is joined by Michael Dax, Western Program Director for Wildlands Network, to talk about a draft Wildlife Corridors Action Plan from the New Mexico Department of Transportation and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. The plan comes out of the Wildlife Corridors Act of 2019 and identifies 11 priority safe passage projects to protect wildlife and drivers. These...

This week on New Mexico in Focus, Gene and the Line Opinion Panel dig into Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s 2022 State of the State Address, analyzing the Governor’s stated priorities, and what she may have left out. Now that the state has a significant budget surplus, the Governor is calling for aggressive action on several fronts, including teacher pay, tax issues and job growth. Our panelists...

COVID-19 cases are surging since the introduction of the new Omicron variant. Officials from UNM Hospital and Presbyterian Medical Services update the public on the impacts of Omicron on their daily operations and specifically Emergency Rooms. Our Line panelists also react to those warnings about longer wait times for minor health issues and the growing issues individuals are having when trying to...

Political correspondent Gwyneth Doland previews the upcoming legislative session with Senate President Pro Tem, Mimi Stewart. Senator Stewart lays out the Democratic agenda and gives background on some of the key issues scheduled to come up starting January 18th. Host Gene Grant also catches up with former State Rep. Alonzo Baldonado after his recent resignation. Baldonado shares his thought proce...

Parker Williams is a bioclimatologist who studies drought and wildfire in the western United States. He spoke with correspondent Laura Paskus about today’s ongoing drought and how it compares and contrasts with droughts in the ancient past. The two also talked about wildfire in the West and how climate change and warmer temperatures affect fire season and landscapes. Williams is an associate profe...

The Line Panel reacts to the most recent updates from the Department of Health on the Omicron variant. Early data seems to suggest it is a milder version of the virus, but spreads at more than 3-times the rate of the Delta variant. As we wait for more data to give us more information, how should the public react? State lawmakers are getting set to take on crime during the 2022 Legislative session....

In this episode we share thoughts on the Environment as we enter 2022, with guests from past Our Land episodes. In addition, we share part of a recent conversation with the new director for the Cannabis Control Division, from our sister podcast, "Growing Forward". Subscribe today, wherever you get your podcasts!

This week on New Mexico in Focus, we wrap up our annual countdown of the top 10 stories of the year that was. We're joined once again by a special Line opinion panel of journalists from across the state as they offer thoughts and reflections on these defining moments. This week it’s stories #5-#1. The Line opinion panel: Julie Ann Grimm, editor and publisher, Santa Fe Reporter Algernon D’Ammassa,...

This time on New Mexico in Focus, we go back to class to separate fact from fiction when it comes to inflation. Dr. Janie Chermak from the UNM Economics Department helps host Gene Grant understand what exactly inflation is, and what's driving our current spike in prices for everyday items like milk, bread and gasoline. Are the soaring prices just another offshoot of COVID-19 and the current supply...

This week on New Mexico in Focus, we bring back an annual tradition on the show, the countdown of the Top Ten stories of the year. A special Line opinion panel of journalists from across the state offers thoughts and reflections on these defining moments. This week it’s stories #10-#6. The Line opinion panel: Julie Ann Grimm, editor and publisher, Santa Fe Reporter Algernon D’Ammassa, reporter, La...

The synthetic drug fentanyl is wreaking havoc on the state of New Mexico, specifically the city of Albuquerque, becoming the number 1 drug driving crime in the state’s largest city. The Line opinion panel weighs in on what can be done to control the rising number of users, and overdoses. Plus, the mindset parents should take when discussing the relatively new, and highly potent drug. Also this wee...