Dr. David Scrase, cabinet secretary for the Human Services Department, knows that as the Labor Day weekend approaches, New Mexicans will want to gather and may be tempted to flout public health rules on masking and social distancing. NMiF producer Matt Grubs talks to Scrase about what he and the pandemic response team are doing to prevent a spike in COVID cases. 

Our Land producer and NMiF correspondent Laura Paskus, who is also an environmental reporter, has authored a new book. At the Precipice: New Mexico’s Changing Climate looks at the state’s fragile place in a warming natural world. 

Gene Grant and The Line opinion panel discuss mounting tension between Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the Public Regulation Commission, as the PRC gets evicted from its headquarters in downtown Santa Fe. The Line also looks at the UNM Lobo football team’s reaction to comments made by former Lobo Brian Urlacher regarding the shooting of Jacob Blake, and how attitudes toward race and justice are playing out in New Mexico. The panel also discusses the progress of Operation Legend in Albuquerque, which sent dozens of federal agents into the city to fight violent crime alongside local law enforcement.

New Mexico in Focus is involved, informed, in-depth media airing weekly on New Mexico PBS. The program debuts Friday nights at 7 p.m. on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME-HD) and appears online shortly thereafter. The show rebroadcasts on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME-HD) Sundays at 7 a.m. and on NMPBS 9.1 (WORLD) on Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.     

In Focus Interviews

Coping With COVID Pandemic During Labor Day Weekend 

Correspondent 
Matt Grubs 

Guest
Dr. David R. Scrase, Cabinet Secretary for Human Services Department

New Mexico and Climate Change  

Correspondent 
Matt Grubs 

Guest   
Laura Paskus, environmental reporter and author, At the Precipice: New Mexico’s Changing Climate 

The Line Opinion Panel   

Host 
Gene Grant 

Panelists 
Justine Fox-Young, former NM state representative
Serge Martinez, professor, UNM School of Law’s Economic Justice Clinic   
Kristelle Siarza, Siarza Social Digital  

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 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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