New Mexico in Focus (A Production of NMPBS)

With redistricting decisions very much in flux, the Line Opinion Panel explores the issues standing in the way of New Mexico lawmakers. Will legislators truly consider the input of Tribal Nations, and if not, what could the legal ramifications be? Panelists give their take on that, and the possibility of Albuquerque being split into three separate congressional districts. Correspondent Gwyneth Dol...

Wildlife doesn’t adhere to borders – that's the message from an urban ecologist as Environment Reporter Laura Paskus explores the animal life in New Mexico cities. She asks how humans can coexist with foxes, coyotes, bobcats and raccoons, and more. This special episode features video and images from viewers around New Mexico who shared information about the wildlife they see in their neighborhoods...

The Line Opinion Panel dives into the special legislative session on redistricting . Could Albuquerque be split into multiple districts? And what could that mean for representation in rural areas? Panelists share their thoughts and concerns as we await a final decision . The Line Panel also reacts to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission’s decision to nix the proposed PNM merger . Panelists...

Environment Reporter Laura Paskus sits down with executives involved in a potential multi-billion-dollar public utility merger that could have big implications for citizens across the state. Hear why those corporate leaders say this will be a good thing for customers in New Mexico, despite concerns over Avangrid’s past issues on the East Coast. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland is moving...

A preview of the upcoming special session for the New Mexico Legislature. Chris Nordstrum, Communications Director Senate Majority for the Senate Majority, explains new COVID-19 preventative measures, including a vaccination requirement for all visitors at the Capitol. He also explains what security will look like now that a ban on firearms is in place. The Line Opinion Panel also reacts to the ne...

It was one of the stand-out shows of 2021. Reservation Dogs gives a unique, sometimes comedic and sometimes poignant glimpse inside the lives of a group of Native American teenagers. Correspondent Laura Paskus explores what makes the show so unique, including the musical score. She talks to composer Mato Wayahi about his involvement and process. And, on this Thanksgiving weekend we offer our appre...

November is a month dedicated to the contributions of Native Americans. Stereotypes, myths and misunderstanding of Tribes are still very much part of public perception, however. Correspondent Antonia Gonzales talks with some members of the Native Community about how we can all celebrate Native people without promoting stereotypes or appropriating their culture. Environment Correspondent Laura Pask...

The New Mexico Legislature is expected to begin a Special Session in just a couple of weeks to the next steps in the state's new Redistricting process. The newly formed Citizen Redistricting Commission has approved a series of new election maps for those lawmakers to consider. But will they take those suggestions as is, or make their own changes to those maps? And will the entire process prove tha...

Highlights from the hours-long public forum on the proposed changes to the state’s social studies curriculum. Parents, teachers, activists and community members share their thoughts and concerns on the guiding principles used in the process, as well as the standards themselves. Host Gene Grant speaks with Jaqueline Costales of the Public Education Department about the proposed changes to the state...

The FDA and CDC have both approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11. How will the rollout look here in New Mexico? The Line panel addresses the decisions ahead for parents, what this could mean for masking mandates and the potential impact on the push to get older New Mexicans booster shots. In 2017, the Our Land team visited the Petrie family in the East Mountains. Their well had...

The Line panel digs into Tuesday’s election results in races around the state. Both Albuquerque and Santa Fe re-elected their progressive, incumbent mayors. How will Mayor Keller navigate a second term in Albuquerque with a more conservative city council? And what was the key for Alan Webber in Santa Fe as he sailed to a clear victory? The panel also digs into the decisive decision on a publicly f...

New Mexicans are facing some potentially big changes when it comes to the state’s electrical utility, thanks to a proposed merger between PNM Resources and Avangrid, the U.S. subsidiary of a Spanish power company, Iberdrola. If the merger goes through, Avangrid would buy PNM Resources, which includes Public Service Company of New Mexico and Texas-New Mexico Power. According to the Santa Fe New Mex...

Days away from the upcoming election, our Line Opinion Panel discusses the mayoral races in the state’s two largest cities. What role is fundraising playing in both races? Plus, they react to a recent poll from the Albuquerque Journal showing a majority of residents opposed to the bond proposal to build a soccer stadium. How did this become such a polarizing issue? A group of interested individual...

In his latest book, “The Trail to Kanjiroba: Rediscovering Earth in an Age of Loss,” New Mexico author William deBuys chronicles his travels in Nepal, where he joined extended medical expeditions. Along the way, he reflects on the landscapes and cultures of northern New Mexico, where he has lived for four decades, and considers the ways in which caring for the Earth—rather than trying to save it—w...

The Citizen Redistricting Committee has wrapped up its work and the focus now shifts to the state legislature. The Committee approved a series of maps for lawmakers to consider on how to redraw election districts for the next ten years. That decision will likely happen sometime in December. Much of the conversation among the Redistricting Committee focused on communities of interest and how the ne...

NMiF senior producer Matt Grubs talks about New Mexico’s pretrial detention conundrum with the director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, Artie Pepin. The office recently asked UNM social researchers to evaluate the 2nd Judicial District Court’s (Bernalillo County) effectiveness at keeping the right people free until trial, an innocence-before-guilt approach reinforced with a voter-appro...

The Line opinion panel breaks down the latest campaign finance numbers in the governor’s race. While the general election is still a year away, the most recent reporting period sheds new light on the Republican primary field. State Rep. Rebecca Dow says her $440,000 take makes her the frontrunner. Meanwhile, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham took in $2.5 million as she looks to build an unassailable war...

Some 60,000 behind-the-scenes workers in the film industry could soon walk off the job , after a historic vote from union members to approve a possible strike. Many of those employees live and work right here in New Mexico, and are members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). It's a union that is more than 100 years old, and never dealt with a situation quite like t...

This week on New Mexico in Focus, as voting begins in local elections across the state, NMiF teams with the New Mexico Black Voters Collaborative to present a mayoral forum in the state’s largest city. Incumbent Mayor Tim Keller has three challengers, including one write-in candidate. The other two challengers –  Eddy Aragon and Manny Gonzales – joined Keller on stage at Highla...

Standardized testing was so sparse in New Mexico in 2020 and 2021 that the state isn’t bothering to release last year’s testing results . COVID protocols and remote learning caused the lack of usual standardized measurements , but it’s easy to see that students have fallen way behind in reaching grade-level markers in math and reading. New Mexico’s public education bu...

Early and absentee voting is just days away for many New Mexicans, including in Albuquerque, where voters will be picking a mayor. This week, New Mexico in Focus livestreamed the New Mexico Black Voters Collaborative Candidate Forum with incumbent Tim Keller and challengers Manny Gonzales and Eddy Aragon. The Line opinion panelists break down the race so far, and offer predictions about whether or...

It's been another challenging year for New Mexico’s farmers and ranchers, who have experienced drought and, in some places, extreme precipitation events. New Mexico Department of Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte spoke with environment reporter Laura Paskus about conditions and what they mean for farmers, as well as consumers. Witte also talks about how what’s happening in the Colorado River Basin,...

Quannah Chasinghorse is having a moment. The Native model (Hän Gwich’in, Sicangu/Oglala Lakota) walked in several shows during New York Fashion Week and then made a turn on the red carpet at the Met Gala wearing a gold gown and stunning Navajo jewelry. Correspondent Antonia Gonzales speaks with the 19 year old about her environmental activism and bringing more Native voices to the fashio...

Growing Forward podcast co-hosts Megan Kamerick and Andy Lyman talk to three members of the state’s cannabis regulation advisory board about efforts to provide equitable business opportunities as the state rolls out new recreational cannabis laws. The Line opinion panel debates vaccine and mask mandates.   Will the federal vaccine mandate make it easier for businesses to lay the blame at the...

When our homes and our forests are threatened, we all appreciate the federal wildland firefighters who show up for us from all over the country. But they face bigger challenges every year, especially as climate change lengthens fire season and spawns bigger and more severe fires. They also face struggles the rest of us never see, including long assignments away from their families and support netw...