This week on New Mexico in Focus, Our Land returns to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Las Conchas Fire, which burned 156,000 acres of the Jemez Mountains. Here in New Mexico, wildfire season is getting longer. Wildfires, bigger. And these trends will continue in our warming world. Laura Paskus examines how climate change is altering New Mexico’s forests—and what the future holds. 

A 30-year veteran of the battle for affordable housing, Mike Loftin of Homewise talks with senior producer Matt Grubs about the ABQ Home for Life program. The effort by the city to attract new residents was born of work-from-home discoveries about the workforce. Loftin explains why it’s important to think holistically about housing costs. 

The NMiF crew also takes a trip to the Santa Fe Farmers Market to find out how growers are emerging from the pandemic. The shutdown’s impact has forced changes in how some growers do business, including innovations that seem here to stay in a post-pandemic world. 

The Line opinion panel reacts to a unanimous decision this week from the New Mexico Supreme Court denying financial compensation from the state to businesses affected by the COVID-19 public health order. The group also discusses Sen. Martin Heinrich’s call to have open and honest discussions about unidentified flying objects and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The Pentagon is expected to release a report later this month on these unexplained phenomena. The Line will also take a closer look at the committee charged with bringing fairness to the process of redrawing political boundaries after each Census count. The redistricting panel has all been appointed, but critics say it lacks geographic and cultural diversity. 

New Mexico in Focus airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) Friday, June 11 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 13 at 7 a.m.  

NMiF Segments 
Our Land: Forests Under Siege 

Correspondent: 
Laura Paskus 

Guests 
Daniel Denipah, Pueblo of Santa Clara   
Chad Brown, Pueblo of Santa Clara    
Lindsey Quam, New Mexico Forestry Division   
John Formby, New Mexico Forestry Division 

Housing and Economic Development 
Correspondent

Matt Grubs, NMiF senior producer 

Guest 
Mike Loftin, Homewise 
 
Farmers and Growers Emerge from Pandemic 
Producer

Matt Grubs 

Guests
Debbie Burns, Santa Fe Farmers Market 
Dan Bohnhorst, Green Tractor Farm 
Manny Encinias, Trilogy Beef 
Natasya Gundersen, Mr. G’s Organic Produce 
Felisa Orozco, Mendez Produce 

The Line opinion panel 
Sophie Martin, attorney 
Laura Sanchez, attorney 
H. Diane Snyder, former state senator 

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.