This week New Mexico in Focus premieres a new series, “Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present and Future,” which will air on the second Friday of each month. Correspondent Laura Paskus (environment reporter for NM Political Report), will take NMiF out into the field to talk with local experts and community leaders about a range of environmental issues.

NMiF 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.

In this premiere “Our Land” story, Paskus examines the long-term impact of the Las Conchas wildfire in the Jemez Mountains.

Six years after threatening Los Alamos and burning thousands of acres into four Pueblos, including Santa Clara Pueblo’s watershed, what has happened to the land?  This was a fire which blazed so hot and fast, that it behaved as fires don’t – burning down hills, scorching across previously burned scars, baking the soil and vaporizing all seeds. How does the land recover from such devastation? What is needed and how long will it take? Is there still danger of flash flooding?

Correspondent Gwyneth Doland continues to look at counteracting the “Brain Drain” of young, talented New Mexicans leaving the state for jobs and economic opportunities. In this second of a four-part series titled Rural Drain, which also airs Friday, July 14, Doland sits down with Terry Brunner of Grow New Mexico and Guadalupe County Hospital’s Christina Campos to discuss what’s being done in rural communities.

The problems identified by the Jobs Council Report were all most acute in rural areas. In many parts of New Mexico there are few high-quality jobs and the jobs that do exist often don’t pay well. Many young people have the impression that if they’re going to build a career and succeed they need to leave. And in many cases that may be true. What would help ensure rural communities can thrive and young people will want to stay or come back?

Guests

  • Terry Brunner, Grow New Mexico
  • Christina Campos, Guadalupe County Hospital

Upcoming "Brain Drain" Topics include:

  • Segment 3:  Young People - July 21
  • Segment 4:  Job Alignment - July 28

For more information on this series, visit Brain Drain.

Also this week, NMiF host Gene Grant and the Line opinion panelists take on some of the top stories in news headlines, including how the race to become New Mexico’s future governor is shaping up, and what tighter financial controls will mean for the UNM athletics department.

Studio Guests

Correspondents  

  • Gwyneth Doland
  • Laura Paskus

Line Panelists

  • Merritt Allen, Vox Optima LLC
  • Tom Garrity, the Garrity Group PR
  • Sophie Martin, attorney and editor of DukeCityFix.com
  • Laura Sanchez-Rivét, attorney at Cuddy and 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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