Protests this week centered on a statue of Juan de Oñate in Albuquerque. The conquistador's violent role in New Mexican history has been controversial since his own times, and protestors tried to yank down his likeness as a self-appointed group of armed guards riled the crowd. 

NMiF discusses the incident and its larger implications both on The Line opinion panel and with Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, who talks about the response of both city leaders and the police. 

New Mexico’s special legislative session gets underway Thursday. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has outlined an ambitious agenda for lawmakers, as debate continues about whether they should focus exclusively on a predicted $2 billion budget shortfall for the financial year that starts next month. The governor included tax relief measures, as well as election and police reform laws.

The Line once again tackles the analytical side of the session, and correspondent Russell Contreras speaks with children’s advocate Mark Kennedy Shriver about New Mexico’s efforts to boost child welfare amid a stark budget outlook. 

Laura Paskus continues her series of interviews with journalists who have been covering the COVID-19 pandemic. A longtime photojournalist with the Albuquerque Journal, Roberto Rosales recounts the personal stories he has told through his lens as New Mexico grapples with the novel coronavirus. 

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 

Albuquerque Police Reform and Response 
Correspondent - Gwyneth Doland 
Guest - Tim Keller, Albuquerque Mayor 

Journalist Conversations 
Correspondent - Laura Paskus 
Guest - Roberto Rosales, photographer, Albuquerque Journal 

Early Childhood Crisis 
Correspondent - Russell Contreras 
Guest -  Mark Kennedy Shriver, Save the Children Action Network 

Line Panelists 
Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group PR 
Sophie Martin, attorney 
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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