This week on New Mexico in Focus correspondent Megan Kamerick sits down with the candidates in district 3 and district 5 in this year’s city council races in Albuquerque. Additionally, Producer Sarah Gustavus talks with University of New Mexico Sociology Professor Richard Wood about faith leaders who are speaking out about race and equality across the country. 

NMiF host Gene Grant and the Line panelists take on some of the top stories in news headlines this week, including what New Mexico’s education plan, newly approved by the U.S. Education Department, will mean for the state’s schools. They also discuss a judge’s ruling that 10 of Gov. Susan Martinez’s vetoes from this year’s legislative session were invalid, and look at New Mexico’s reactions to the racial violence that erupted in Charlottesville, Va.

NMiF regularly airs Fridays at 7 p.m. and repeats Sundays at 7 a.m. on Channel 5.1 and Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. on Channel 9.1, except during pledge drives.

Studio guests

  • Klarissa Peña, District 3 Candidate (Incumbent)
  • Christopher Sedillo, District 3 Candidate
  • Robert J. Aragon, District 5 Candidate
  • Cynthia Borrego, District 5 Candidate
  • Catherine Trujillo, District 5 Candidate
  • Richard L. Wood, professor, UNM Department of Sociology

Line Panelists

  • Merritt Allen, Vox Optima LLC
  • Laura Sanchez-Rivét, attorney at Cuddy and McCarthy, LLP
  • H. Diane Snyder, former state senator
  • Harry Van Buren, professor in UNM Anderson School of Management

Correspondents 

  • Sarah Gustavus
  • Megan Kamerick

Host

  • Gene Grant

New Mexico in Focus is New Mexico PBS’ prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people that are shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. Hosted by Gene Grant, New Mexico in Focus takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic, health, education and arts 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 Sarah Gustavus with Kathy Wimmer, associate producer. NM PBS Public Affairs executive producer is Kevin McDonald.

Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided in part by the McCune Charitable Foundation.

Involved, informed, in-depth media: watch New Mexico in Focus again online shortly thereafter.

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