This week on New Mexico in Focus, The Line opinion panel zeroes in on the bills being signed (and not) by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Friday marks the deadline for the governor to approve legislation. Anything not signed, vetoed, or singled out for a line-item veto is automatically vetoed after that. The governor put her name to numerous significant bills, and the group discusses what they mean for New Mexico in the coming months and years.
NMiF looks at the state’s vaccination plans and its rollout. All New Mexicans over age 16 are now eligible to receive a vaccination, but that doesn’t mean a shot is at the ready. The Line discusses New Mexico’s effort and its political implications. Senior Producer Matt Grubs also talks with Health Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins about what’s ahead as the state tries to vaccinate as many people as possible before COVID variants take hold.
Our Land returns, as correspondent Laura Paskus travels to Elephant Butte Reservoir to chronicle the changing nature of New Mexico’s snowpack and what it means for the Rio Grande, the lifeblood of much of New Mexico. In addition, Paskus interviews the co-creator of a new art installation about the Rio Grande: There Must Be Other Names for the River.
New Mexico in Focus airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) Friday, April 9 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 11 at 7 a.m.
NMiF Segments
Health Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins
Correspondent
Matt Grubs, NMiF senior producer
Guest
Dr. Tracie Collins, New Mexico Dept. of Health
Our Land: Changing Rio Grande
Correspondent
Laura Paskus, NMiF environment reporter
Guests
Dagmar Llewellyn, hydrologist, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Gary Esslinger, treasurer/manager, Elephant Butte Irrigation District
There Must Be Other Names for the River
Correspondent
Laura Paskus, NMiF environment reporter
Guest
Marisa Demarco, co-creator and journalist
Line opinion panel
Sophie Martin, attorney
Dan Foley, former NM House minority whip
Julie Ann Grimm, editor and publisher, Santa Fe Reporter
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.
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