This week on New Mexico in Focus, extended coverage of the federal government’s effort to document the truth about Native boarding schools. Interior secretary and former New Mexico congresswoman Deb Haaland announced the investigation this summer, on the heels of gruesome discoveries of mass graves at Canadian boarding school sites.

The show excerpts a PBS NewsHour interview with Sec. Haaland, and correspondent Antonia Gonzales speaks with two Native leaders about the need for the painful look back as well as the path forward toward healing.

Thirteen of the University of New Mexico Medical School’s 15 recent residency graduates of the family and community medicine program will stay in state, boosting long-slumping numbers of rural primary care doctors. The school has been focusing on just such an outcome as a way to improve community health. Producer Matt Grubs speaks with a graduate of the program and two doctors who are trying to ensure continued success.

The Line opinion panel talks about the return of masks – even for vaccinated people – in some indoor environments, as well as how schools will handle the CDC’s new recommendation. The group also weighs in on Albuquerque’s upcoming $50 million bond measure to fund a stadium primarily for the New Mexico United soccer team.

New Mexico in Focus airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) Friday, July 30 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 1 at 7 a.m.  

Segments
Reckoning with the Past: Native Boarding Schools

Correspondent
Antonia Gonzales

Guests
Joe Garcia, Head Councilman, Ohkay Owingeh
Angel Charley, Executive Director, Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women
Deb Haaland, Secretary of the Interior (Previously aired PBS NewsHour interview)

UNM Medical Residents Stay in State
Correspondent
Matt Grubs, NMiF Senior Producer

Guests
Dr. Arthur Kaufman, UNM Vice Chancellor for Community Health
Dr. Molly McClain, UNM Family & Community Medicine Residency Director
Dr. Darshan Patel, UNM Family & Community Residency Graduate, Nor-Lea Hospital

The Line opinion panel
Dede Feldman, former state senator
Dan Foley, former state representative
Kristelle Siarza, Siarza Social Digital

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. Get updates, watch and follow New Mexico PBS on FacebookTwitterYouTube, and more.