Correspondent Megan Kamerick interviews end-of-life planner Gil Rubin, who is the coordinator of the upcoming Before I Die Festival. As the world battles a pandemic, it is especially apt to talk about facing death and dying, a topic many people would rather avoid.

NMiF producer Matt Grubs talks with New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver about how voters should handle absentee ballots in the closing weeks of the election, as well as how county clerks will have a head start – if they take advantage of it – in counting absentee ballots, thanks to a state law that lets those ballots be tabulated much the same as early in-person votes are in the days leading up to Nov. 3. 

NMiF began the week by hosting a debate between the three candidates hoping to fill the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated by Sen. Tom Udall at the end of this year. Vying for the position are current U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (Democrat), former TV meteorologist Mark Ronchetti (Republican) and retired nuclear scientist Bob Walsh (Libertarian). This week’s NMiF contains an excerpt of that conversation. The full hour-long debate, which aired on NMPBS last week Sunday, can be seen in its entirety at the VOTE 2020 page on newmexicopbs.org

Gene Grant and The Line opinion panelists look at how Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham continues to try to bring down record-breaking coronavirus case numbers by restricting – but not shutting down – businesses throughout the state. New rules that go into effect Oct. 23 include a 10:00 p.m. closing time for retail shops, and mandatory certification for restaurants to stay in business.

The Line also looks at more fallout over last week’s destruction of a monument on the Santa Fe Plaza. The toppling of the controversial obelisk left the city divided; many had been calling for its removal, while others wanted it left alone. The Line ends with a debate over Attorney General William Barr’s praise of Operation Legend in Albuquerque during a visit last week. 

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

Things to Do Before You Die 
Correspondent
Megan Kamerick 

Guest 
Gail Rubin, end-of-life planner 

Making Sure Your Vote Counts 
Correspondent 

Matt Grubs 

Guest 
Maggie Toulouse Oliver, New Mexico Secretary of State 

Excerpts from the Senate Debate 
Moderator 

Gene Grant 

Guests
Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D), candidate for U.S. Senate 
Mark Ronchetti (R), candidate for U.S. Senate 
Bob Walsh (L), candidate for U.S. Senate 

The Line Opinion Panel    
Serge Martinez, professor, UNM School of Law 
H. Diane Snyder, former state senator 
TJ Trout, radio personality 

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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