Gov. Lujan Grisham on Everything — an Annual Tradition

On this week’s episode of New Mexico in Focus, you’ll hear a lot from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who just passed the signing-day deadline following her final regular legislative session in office. Host Nash Jones had a long conversation with the second-term, Democratic governor earlier this week — a post-session deep dive into successes, failures and TBD’s that has become something of an annual tradition for us during her tenure.   

We’ve broken the interview into three parts — mostly to help viewers catch their breath at a few key points in the discussion.   

We also take a look at an executive order from Lujan Grisham that went into effect last week. It bans the Children, Youth and Families Department from continuing its long-time practice of placing foster kids not in homes, with parents, but in their own office buildings with case workers.    

We’ll get the latest from journalist Ed Williams of Searchlight New Mexico, who’s been reporting on the beleaguered agency and the kids caught up and hurt by it for years. 

And at the bottom of the hour, we’ve got a bit of a palate cleanser for you. It comes courtesy of Tara Walch, a producer for Colores the NMPBS arts and culture show. Her story spotlights an innovative solar project meant to help farmers more effectively grow crops, create energy — and save precious water in and along the Rio Grande. 

– Jeff Proctor, NMiF Executive Producer