With the school year quickly approaching and coronavirus cases surging, New Mexico schools are going to be fully online until at least Sept. 8. New Mexico in Focus Correspondent Megan Kamerick talks with single mother Bridget Montoya, who is also a nurse working with COVID-19 patients, about balancing her work schedule with her children’s education and safety. 

Host Gene Grant talks to the new face of the Black Lives Matter movement in New Mexico: young organizers and activists. Organizers and activists from Learning Alliance of New Mexico and Fight For Our Lives discuss the message behind the movement and what specific reforms and changes they are seeking. 

Gene Grant and The Line opinion panel look further into pushback against Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and her administration’s public health orders, particularly from some New Mexico mayors who object to closing indoor dining in restaurants. Eighteen mayors signed a letter protesting the governor’s recent op-ed threatening to remove elected officials if they didn’t comply with mandates.  

The Line panel also looks more closely at the purpose of Operation Legend, the initiative that will send 35 federal law enforcement agents to Albuquerque to fight crime. Some state and local leaders are concerned that sending officers to New Mexico is just an attempt by the Trump administration to politicize the issue of public safety, while others welcome the added help. For the final topic, The Line takes on the implications for candidates endorsed by Cowboys for Trump after the racist comments made recently by that group’s leader.  

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

Working and Parenting During COVID-19 Pandemic 

Correspondent
Megan Kamerick 

Guest
Bridget Montoya, full-time nurse and single mother
 

Young Activists and the Black Lives Matter Movement  

Correspondent  
Gene Grant
 

Guest
Zoey Craft, Fight For Our Lives 
Janelle Astorga Ramos, Learning Alliance of New Mexico
 
Tatiana Sarif, Fight For Our Lives
 

The Line Opinion Panel

Panelists
Serge Martinez, professor, UNM School of Law  
 
Kristelle Siarza, Siarza Social Digital 
 
Steve Terrell, retired reporter, Santa Fe New Mexican  
 

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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