This week on New Mexico in Focus, correspondent Antonia Gonzales looks at sports gambling, with a focus on Isleta Resort and Casino. A 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision opened the door for previously banned commercial sports betting, and a number of New Mexico tribes have opened sports books at their casinos. Gonzales examines how and why Isleta Pueblo chose to open its sports book, what business is like, and what other tribes are weighing before they act.
Correspondent Gwyneth Doland travels to Santa Fe to talk to lawmakers about the push for an extreme risk firearm protection order law. The controversial bills, sometimes referred to as “red flag” measures, would let the state temporarily take a gun from someone found by a court to be a danger to themselves or the community. Doland speaks to lawmakers who both favor and oppose such a law.
Gene Grant and The Line panle debate the worth of an agreement between two "nisance" convenience stores and the city of Albuquerque. The stores have agreed to stop selling alcohol in miniature and pint-sized bottles to better self-police their properties. The Line also examines the progress of Senate Bill 115, the cannabis legalization bill that psed its first committee along party lines on Tuesday. For the final topic, The Line looks at New Mexico’s problem with a backlog of wage theft complaints linked to the enforcement of the state’s minimum wage law.
New Mexico in Focus is involved, informed, in-depth media airing weekly on New Mexico PBS. The program debuts Friday nights at 7 p.m. on NMPBS 5.1(KNME-HD) and appears online shortly thereafter. The show rebroadcasts on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME-HD) Sundays at 7 a.m. and on NMPBS 9.1 (WORLD) on Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.
Studio Guests
- Edward Calabaza, former Isleta Tribal Council member
- Staci Chafins, Isleta Casino Player Development Manager
Field Guests
- Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez, (D) Albuquerque
- Rep. Bill Rehm, (R) Albuquerque
- Rep. Joy Garratt, (D) Albuquerque
Correspondents
- Gwyneth Doland
- Antonia Gonzales
Line Panelists
- Merritt Allen, Vox Optima
- Michael Barrio, executive director, Prosperity Works
- Dan Foley, former state representative
- Sophie Martin, attorney
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.
Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided by the McCune Charitable Foundation and viewers like you.
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