This week on NMiF, correspondent Laura Paskus goes to the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge for the latest installment of NMIF’s monthly series “Our Land.”

The first urban refuge designated in the Southwest, the Valle de Oro was once a dairy farm that is now being restored as a habitat for wildlife and recreational area for visitors. 

Additionally, correspondent Martha Burk sits down with two candidates, Tim Keller and Dan Lewis, in the runoff to become the next mayor of Albuquerque. Excerpts from the conversation will be shown and the full interview available online.

Host Gene Grant and the Line opinion panelists will take on a few of the top stories in the news this week, including the announced retirement of APD Chief Gorden Eden, who will leave just before Albuquerque’s new mayor takes office, and omissions in proposed end-of-course exams that have some parents worried that certain history and health subjects will be omitted in the classroom. The Line also looks at the tragic shooting in a Texas church and the gunman’s ties to New Mexico.

New Mexico in Focus regularly airs Fridays at 7 p.m. and repeats Sundays at 7 a.m. on Channel 5.1, and Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. on Channel 9.1, except during pledge drives.

Studio Guests
Tim Keller, Albuquerque mayoral candidate
Dan Lewis, Albuquerque mayoral candidate

Line Panelists
Mark Boitano, former N.M. state senator
Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group PR
Sophie Martin, attorney
Laura Sanchez-Rivét, attorney at Cuddy and McCarthy, LLP

Correspondents
Martha Burk
Laura Paskus

Host
Gene Grant

New Mexico in Focus is New Mexico PBS’ prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people that are shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. Hosted by Gene Grant, New Mexico in Focus takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic, health, education and arts 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 Sarah Gustavus with Kathy Wimmer, associate producer. NM PBS Public Affairs executive producer is Kevin McDonald.

Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided in part by the McCune Charitable Foundation.

Involved, informed, in-depth media: watch New Mexico in Focus again online shortly thereafter.

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