This week on New Mexico in Focus, correspondent Russell Contreras talks with Elizabeth Groginsky, the first secretary of New Mexico’s newly minted Early Childhood Education and Care Department, which will launch next week. Groginsky talks about her plans for creating a cohesive and aligned pre-natal-to-five early childhood system in New Mexico.

Protests against racism and debates over monuments have captivated Santa Fe, where vandals defaced a Civil War obelisk referring to Native Americans as “savage” and the city removed a statue of Don Diego de Vargas from Cathedral Park. Gwyneth Doland talks with Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber about his approach to the conflicts.

Correspondent Laura Paskus continues her conversations with journalists about their coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic as she checks in with Andrew Oxford, formerly with the Santa Fe New Mexican and now reporting for The Arizona Republic.  Unlike New Mexico, Arizona took a less strict approach to dealing with the pandemic and has seen the number of cases rise. Oxford talks about the Arizona state government’s approach to the pandemic, the state’s economy and President Trump’s visit this week.

Gene Grant and The Line opinion panel analyze the outcomes of the special legislative session that spanned five days – including a weekend – and debate whether lawmakers accomplished all they set out to do. The Line also takes on the ever-present COVID pandemic with updates on how it’s affecting New Mexico.

New Mexico in Focus is involved, informed, in-depth media airing weekly on New Mexico PBS. The program debuts Friday nights at 7 p.m. on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME-HD) and appears online shortly thereafter. The show rebroadcasts on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME-HD) Sundays at 7 a.m. and on NMPBS 9.1 (WORLD) on Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.     

In Focus Interviews

New State Agency Opens July 1
Correspondent

Russell Contreras

Guest
Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky, New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Dept.

Mayor Webber and Santa Fe’s Controversial Monuments
Correspondent
Gwyneth Doland

Guest 
Alan Webber, Santa Fe Mayor

Covering COVID-19: Arizona
Correspondent

Laura Paskus

Guest  
Andrew Oxford, reporter, The Arizona Republic

Line Panelists
Merritt Allen, Vox Optima
Serge Martinez, professor, UNM School of Law 
Rachel Sams, editor, Albuquerque Business First  

Host
Gene Grant 

New Mexico in Focus is the New Mexico PBS prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people that are shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. NMiF takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic health, education, and art issues, and explores them in-depth with a critical eye to give them context beyond the “news of the moment.”

The producer of New Mexico in Focus is Matt Grubs, with Kathy Wimmer, associate producer. The NM PBS Public Affairs executive producer is Kevin McDonald.

The McCune Charitable Foundation provides NMiF funding, along with viewers like you.

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