This week on New Mexico in Focus, Albuquerque’s ban on plastic bags is facing some renewed opposition. Environment reporter Laura Paskus speaks with Councilor Brook Bassan to understand her rationale for sponsoring a repeal of the ban.

Correspondent Megan Kamerick talks with the Archbishop of Santa Fe about his recent pastoral letter calling for nuclear disarmament on an international scale. Host Gene Grant wraps up the regular legislative session talking to political science professor Timothy Krebs. Dr. Krebs explores the ongoing challenges of trying to legislate in just 30 or 60 days, depending on the year. Dr. Kirsten Pai Buick also explains her new role as director of the University of New Mexico’s Africana Studies Department.

The Line Opinion Panel explores the rationale behind the Governor’s decision to end New Mexico’s indoor mask mandate, and recent comments from the State Health Director David Scrase. The also discuss a newly announced decision to keep a coal-fired power plant in the Four Corners open a little longer, to hopefully avoid rolling blackouts this summer. But, how will that move impact the state’s push to move toward more renewable energy sources? And, the panel weighs the possible effects from an Albuquerque Police Department announcement, lengthening officers’ shifts to 12 hours.

New Mexico in Focus airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) Friday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 27 at 7 a.m., and streaming on the PBS video app.

NMiF Segments

Effort to Repeal Albuquerque’s Plastic Bag Ban Correspondent
Laura Paskus
Guest
Brook Bassan, Albuquerque City Councilor, District 4

Pastoral Letter Urging Nuclear Disarmament
Correspondent
Megan Kamerick

Guest
Archbishop John C. Wester, Archdiocese of Santa Fe

Understanding the End of the 2022 Legislative Session
Correspondent
Gene Grant

Guest
Dr. Timothy Krebs, UNM, professor of political science

Africana Studies at the University of New Mexico
Correspondent
Gene Grant

Guest
Kirsten Pai Buick, director, UNM Africana Studies Program

The Line opinion panel
Tom Garrity, Garrity Group public relations
Cathryn McGill, founder and director, NM Black Leadership Council
TJ Trout, radio host, KKOB

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." 

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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