This week on New Mexico in Focus, the Line Opinion Panel talks through the arrest made in the killing of four Muslim men, and how the Albuquerque Islamic community can recover from such a tragic incident.

The Panel also explores the issues facing parents, students, and teachers as a new school year begins. The panelists also react to New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver’s testimony to Congress about the threats she and her colleagues have received since the 2020 election.  

"Our Land" Senior Producer Laura Paskus speaks with two New Mexico leaders in Congress. Senator Martin Heinrich and Representative Melanie Stansbury explain the climate legislation moving through their chambers.  

Photojournalist Benjamin Yazza captures a community coming together at the 100th Intertribal Ceremonial in Gallup. After a horrifying incident that left more than a dozen people injured, strength and resilience prevailed at the historic celebration of indigenous culture.  

New Mexico in Focus airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) Friday, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 14 at 7 a.m., and streaming on the PBS video app.  

Host 
Gene Grant 

The Line opinion panel
Dan Foley, former NM State Representative 
Jessica Onsurez, news director, Carlsbad Current-Argus 
Laura Sanchez, attorney 

NMiF Segments
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich Discusses Climate Legislation 
Correspondent
Laura Paskus 

Guest
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D – New Mexico 

U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury on Water & Climate 
Correspondent
Laura Paskus 

Guest 
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D – New Mexico 

Resilience at the 100th Inter-Tribal Ceremonial in Gallup 
Correspondent
Benjamin Yazza 

Guests
Amber Shandiin Ballenger, Intertribal Ceremonial Queen (Diné) 
Melissa Sanchez, executive director, Intertribal Ceremonial (Laguna Pueblo, Acoma Pueblo) 
Colleen Persson, owner, Sno Den  
Sharon Miller, contemporary potter (Acoma Pueblo) 
Ashkia Trujillo, group leader (Ohkay Owingeh) 

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." 

Senior Producer of New Mexico in Focus is Lou DiVizio with Kathy Wimmer, co-producer. 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. 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. 

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