This week on New Mexico In Focus, Producer Sarah Gustavus looks at how Bernalillo County’s DWI Recovery Court has helped make the county safer for more than 20 years by focusing on treatment for the county’s repeat DWI offenders.

Gustavus talks with Presiding Judge Edward Benavidez and Daniel Blackwood, executive director of the private counseling firm Evolution Group, to learn how the program is keeping repeat drunk drivers off the street and helping people struggling with alcohol addiction.

The show regularly airs Fridays at 7 p.m. and repeats Sundays at 7 a.m. on Channel 5.1 and Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. on Channel 9.1, except during pledge drives.

Also on the program, correspondent Jeff Proctor looks into a controversial Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms sting that occurred in Albuquerque recently, and talks with attorney Brian Pori who is defending a man arrested in the federal operation.

Finally, host Gene Grant and the Line opinion panels take on the latest news headlines, including what might happen with New Mexico’s budget when the special legislative session starts next week. They also discuss concerns over the Albuquerque Police Department’s crash rate and look ahead to the 2018 New Mexico governor’s race.

Host
- Gene Grant

Correspondents
- Sarah Gustavus, Jeff Proctor

Studio Guests
- Judge Edward Benavidez, Bernalillo County DWI Recovery Court
- Daniel Blackwood, The Evolution Group
- Brian Pori, attorney

Line Panelists
- Janice Arnold-Jones, former state representative
- Dede Feldman, former state senator
- Tom Garrity, the Garrity Group PR
- Laura Sanchez-Rivét, attorney, Cuddy & McCarthy, LLP

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.

Involved, informed, in-depth media: watch New Mexico in Focus again online shortly thereafter.

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