Of the nearly 6,000 missing and murdered Indigenous women reported each year in the U.S., many are never identified. This is due in part to an outdated database. Correspondent Gwyneth Doland talks to UNM professor Heather Edgar, who has been working with Native tribes and experts to find a respectful, high-tech solution.

Wildlife experts believe there were many factors that caused a massive die-off of birds migrating through New Mexico early this autumn. Correspondent Laura Paskus talks with NMSU professor Martha Desmond about why the bird carcasses were severely emaciated and what that might mean for the future.

Gene Grant and The Line opinion panelists weigh good news against bad news in an update on the pandemic’s effect on New Mexico. While COVID-19 vaccines have started to arrive in the state and case numbers have been easing, there’s still the holiday break to get through and hospitals are still overwhelmed. The Line also debates problems with rural broadband and looks at the state’s U.S. Supreme Court victory in a water battle with Texas. 

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

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

Correspondent  
Gwyneth Doland

Guest 
Heather Edgar, forensic anthropologist and associate professor of anthropology, University of New Mexico

Avian Mortality

Correspondent
Laura Paskus

Guest
Martha Desmond, professor, New Mexico State University's Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation

The Line Opinion Panel    
Merritt Allen, Vox Optima 
Dede Feldman, former state senator  
Serge Martinez, professor, UNM School of Law 
Laura Sanchez, attorney  

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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