This week, New Mexico in Focus considers the lessons that drought, fire, and flood taught us in 2022. 

Laura Paskus sits down with New Mexico State Forestry’s Collin Haffey and Staci Timmons with the New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources to talk about fire, post-fire flooding, and also the state’s water challenges. 

University of Arizona Professor Andrew Curley discusses what’s missing from the narrative of climate crisis when we ignore the experience of Indigenous people.  

NMPBS Chief Engineer Jason Quinn explains the damage done to a key piece of infrastructure during the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. The Our Land crew documents the destruction in the Mora area and shows how losing such a seemingly small piece of broadcast technology can have a major impact on the community it serves.   

The Pueblo of Acoma’s director of the Historic Preservation Office, Theresa Pasqual, talks about the cultural significance of Chaco Canyon, ongoing effort to stop new extraction projects from starting in the area, and what’s gained when we protect special places.  

New Mexico in Focus airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) Friday, Dec. 23 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 25 at 7 a.m., and streaming on the PBS video app. 

NMiF Segments

NM is ‘Losing the War’ on Climate, Fire & Flood 
Correspondent
Laura Paskus 

Guest
Collin Haffey, Coordinator of the Forest & Watershed Health Office, NM State Forestry 

Wildfires Damage Critical Broadcast Infrastructure 
Correspondents
Laura Paskus, Kevin Maestas, Benjamin C. Yazza, Antony Lostetter 

Guest
Jason Quinn, NMPBS, chief engineer & manager of broadcast technology 

Upending the West’s Water Narratives 
Correspondent
Laura Paskus 

Guest
Andrew Curley, University of Arizona, School of Geography, Development & Environment 

What We Learned About Water in 2022 
Correspondent
Laura Paskus 

Guest
Stacy Timmons, associate director, Hydrogeology Programs, New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources 

Protecting Chaco requires a commitment from ‘all levels’ 
Correspondent
Laura Paskus 

Guest 
Theresa Pasqual, Pueblo of Acoma, director, Historic Preservation Office 

What We Gain When We Protect Special Places 
Correspondent
Laura Paskus 

Guest 
Theresa Pasqual, Pueblo of Acoma, director, Historic Preservation Office 

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." 

New Mexico in Focus Senior Producer for Public Affairs is Lou DiVizio. "Our Land" Senior Producer is Laura Paskus. Co-producer of New Mexico in Focus is Kathy Wimmer. Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided by the McCune Charitable Foundation and Viewers Like You.

Funding for the Your New Mexico Government Project comes from the Thornburg Foundation and New Mexico Local News Fund.

Funding for Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present & Future, is provided in part by the Neeper Natural History Programming Fund for KNME-TV.