This week, New Mexico in Focus speaks with a tipster who may have helped launch the FBI investigation into alleged corruption at the Albuquerque Police Department's DWI unit. Journalist Elise Kaplan of City Desk Albuquerque asks legal malpractice attorney and former State Rep. Daymon Ely about the information he passed along to federal agents from potential victims of an alleged scheme to get drunk driving cases tossed out of court. Also, Ely comments on how the case has harmed public trust in the legal system. 

Plans to construct a new soccer stadium for New Mexico United have been paused following a decision from a land-use hearing officer last month to send the project back to Albuquerque's Environmental Planning Commission for review. The move comes after months of vocal pushback from neighbors concerned with the team's plans to build the stadium at Balloon Fiesta Park. In January — before the project was sent back to the EPC — Andy Lyman, editor of the alternative newsweekly The Paper., spoke with one of those concerned neighbors about why she and others want a foul called on the new field. 

State legislators passed a bill last month that would expand access and make it easier for the state to distribute money from its Land and Conservation Fund.  Senate Bill 169, one of the 60-plus bills awaiting a signature from the governor this month, appropriates $10 million from the fund, removes a population cap eligibility requirement and prioritizes projects for tribal and smaller governments. Lawmakers hope the legislation will help the state avoid wasting millions in federal money, as it has for years now. 

In January, journalist Elizabeth Miller spoke with Michael Casaus, the state director of the Wilderness Society, about New Mexico's troubled history with the fund and how that federal money could have helped city parks and open spaces. 

It's been two years since Russian forces invaded Ukraine, and a group of Ukrainians in our state wants to make sure everyone remembers the war is not over. Michael Kamins, NMPBS executive producer of cultural affairs, documented a rally held at Albuquerque's Civic Plaza by the Ukrainian Americans of New Mexico, as organizers memorialized the grim milestone. 

NMiF airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) on Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 3 at 7 a.m., and streaming on the PBS video app. 

NMiF Segments

Attorney Daymon Ely Tips FBI On Alleged APD DWI Unit Corruption 
Correspondent
Elise Kaplan 

Guest
Daymon Ely, attorney, former state representative 

Concerned Neighbors Appeal Against Building New Mexico United Stadium 
Correspondent
Andy Lyman 

Guest
Brooke Jordy, concerned neighbor 

State Parks Division Forfeits Millions in Federal Funds Due to Missed Deadlines 
Correspondent
Elizabeth Miller 

Guest
Michael Casaus, New Mexico State Director of the Wilderness Society 

Ukrainian Americans in New Mexico Reflect on Two-Year Anniversary of Russian Invasion 
Correspondent
Michael Kamins 

Host
Lou DiVizio

New Mexico in Focus is the New Mexico PBS prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people 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.

NMPBS Executive Producer, Public Affairs, is Jeff Proctor. New Mexico in Focus's senior producer for public affairs is Lou DiVizio. “Our Land” Senior Producer is Laura Paskus. The producer of New Mexico in Focus is Antonio Sanchez, and co-producer is Kathy Wimmer.

Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided by the McCune Charitable Foundation and Viewers Like You.

Funding for the Your New Mexico Government Project comes from the Thornburg Foundation and New Mexico Local News Fund.

The Neeper Natural History Programming Fund for KNME-TV provides funding for Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present & Future.