Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has been shepherding New Mexico through the COVID-19 crisis since the first case hit the state in March. NMiF senior producer Matt Grubs talks to her about trying to balance life and livelihood as she deals with the devastating effects of the pandemic on New Mexicans. 

Correspondent Laura Paskus is back with a new installment in her ongoing series of conversations with journalists covering COVID-19 in their communities. This week she welcomes Jessica Onsurez, editor of the Carlsbad Current Argus, to talk about covering the virus in a part of New Mexico where case prevalence continues to rise amid resistance to the governor’s public health orders.  

Gene Grant and The Line opinion panel give their insights and opinions on how the governor has been handling the COVID crisis so far and look at what the future might hold concerning education and the economy. The Line panel also analyzes the recent New Mexico Supreme Court ruling that affirmed the governor’s power to issue sizable fines to enforce public health orders. For the final topic, The Line looks at efforts to do away with qualified immunity. That’s the legal doctrine designed to protect public employees from crippling lawsuits, but some say it comes at a too-high cost of civil rights. 

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 

The Governor on Bringing New Mexicans Through COVID Crisis 

Correspondent 

Matt Grubs
 

Guest  
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham 

Covering COVID-19 in the Carlsbad Area 

Correspondent  
Laura Paskus 

Guest
Jessica Onsurez, editor, Carlsbad Current Argus 

The Line Opinion Panel:   

Host 
Gene Grant 

Panelists
Dede Feldman, former state senator  
  
Dan Foley, former state representative  
  
Giovanna Rossi, president, Collective Action Strategies
 

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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