This week on New Mexico in Focus, the Line Opinion Panel reviews the state’s new draft plan to address the Yazzie Martinez lawsuit. Among other things, that plan sets new goals for graduation rates, along with math and science proficiency. Panelists will discuss whether the plan goes far enough to bridge the gaps in education access highlighted in the 2018 lawsuit. 

Plus, new information from a legislative economist shows the state could be in for even more surplus revenue than expected. The Panel brainstorms how the money could be most effectively used, and how New Mexico's reliance on oil and gas revenue impacts the state’s shift towards renewable energy. 

The Panel also discusses the now record-setting wildfire burning near Las Vegas. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham wants the federal government to cover all the costs for all our fires, but is that a realistic request? 

Environment Reporter Laura Paskus talks with an expert from The Nature Conservancy to understand how maps of these wildfires are plotted each day, and how important that data is for both active firefighting as well as understanding the impacts of climate change. 

Paskus also provides a bit of a reality check when it comes to our perceptions of the changing environment, during a discussion with a professor from the University of Arizona.  

New Mexico in Focus airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) Friday, May 20 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 22 at 7 a.m., and streaming on the PBS video app. 

NMiF Segments

Wildfire Mapping 
Correspondent
Laura Paskus 

Guest
Steve Bassett, director, Planning and Spatial Analysis with The Nature Conservancy 

Upending the West’s Water Narratives 
Correspondent
Laura Paskus 

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

The Line opinion panel
Merritt Allen, Vox Optima public relations 
Laura Sanchez, attorney 
Dan Boyd, capitol bureau chief, Albuquerque Journal 

Hosts
Lou DiVizio 
Kevin McDonald 

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 program debuts Friday nights at 7 p.m. on NMPBS 5.1(KNME-HD) and appears online at New Mexico in Focus. The show rebroadcasts on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME-HD) Sundays at 7 a.m. and on NMPBS 5.4 on Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

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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