This week on New Mexico in Focus, Correspondent Megan Kamerick sits down with Bill Jordan from New Mexico Voices for Children to discuss the latest KIDS COUNT Data Book, released this month to coincide with the start of the legislative session.

Last week, the New Mexico Supreme Court cleared the way for ranked-choice voting in Santa Fe’s March 6 municipal election. Producer Sarah Gustavus asks Maria Perez, director of FairVote New Mexico, to explain how ranked-choice voting works, why it is also called “instant runoff” and how her group will help educate voters in preparation for the upcoming election.

Additionally, Host Gene Grant leads the Line opinion panel’s analysis of Gov. Martinez’s State of the State address, which kicked off the 30-day legislative session and the start of her final year in office. The panelists also discuss some of the top expected issues in the legislative session.

The program airs Friday, Jan. 5 on New Mexico PBS, KNME 5.1 and repeats Sunday, Jan. 7 at 7 a.m. Watch New Mexico in Focus again online shortly thereafter.

Studio Guests
Maria Perez, director, FairVote New Mexico
Bill Jordan, New Mexico Voices for Children

Line Panelists
Merritt Allen, Vox Optima LLC
Dan Foley, former House minority whip
Sophie Martin, attorney
Harry Van Buren, professor at UNM Anderson School of Management  

Correspondent
Sarah Gustavus
Megan Kamerick

Host
Gene Grant

New Mexico in Focus is New Mexico PBS’ prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people that are shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. Hosted by Gene Grant, New Mexico in Focus takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic, health, education, and arts 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 Sarah Gustavus with Kathy Wimmer, associate producer. NM PBS Public Affairs executive producer is Kevin McDonald.

Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided in part by the McCune Charitable Foundation. Funding for Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present & Future is provided in part by the Neeper Natural History Programming Fund for KNME-TV.

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