This week on New Mexico in Focus, Gene Grant and the Line Opinion Panel take a deep dive into several notable pieces of legislation moving through the Roundhouse.
First, the Panel talks through a bipartisan tax plan that would once again cut the state’s gross receipt tax. Second, the panelists discuss a bill that would increase alcohol taxes by 25 cents per drink, while dedicating more funding to alcohol abuse treatment. Finally, the Line debates a proposal that would mandate 12 weeks of paid family leave for all workers in the state.
New Mexico in Focus Political Correspondent Gwyneth Doland catches up with State Representative Reena Szczepanski at the Roundhouse to talk about a bill that would create a new state agency to support creative industries. Rep. Szczepanski explains how it would work, and how it could help grow the state’s economy.
Our Land Senior Producer Laura Paskus talks with reporter Danielle Prokop and visual journalist Diana Cervantes about their new series in Source New Mexico, “Crisis on the Rio Grande.” The three talk about the crisis along the river, the series, and the questions New Mexicans all need to ask themselves, as the Rio Grande continues to be stretched beyond capacity.
New Mexico in Focus airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 19 at 7 a.m., and streaming on the PBS video app.
NMiF Segments
Bill to Support State Artists
Correspondent
Gwyneth Doland
Guest
State Rep. Reena Szczepanski, (D) NM District 47 – Santa Fe – Majority Whip
Behind the Source New Mexico Series: ‘Crisis on the Rio Grande’
Correspondent
Laura Paskus
Guests
Danielle Prokop, environment reporter
Diana Cervantes, independent visual journalist
The Line Opinion Panel
Dan Foley, former NM State Representative
Giovanna Rossi, president, Collective Action Strategies, LLC
Kristelle Siarza, owner & CEO, Siarza Social Digital
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."
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.