Forever Chemicals; Raton Outdoor Rec & Gov. Debate

This week on New Mexico in Focus, state Environment Secretary James Kenney visits our Albuquerque studio to explain new state regulations on PFAS, or “forever chemicals.” Several areas in the state have seen PFAS contamination, including sites around Holloman and Kirtland Air Force bases where toxic firefighting foam was used for years. Runoff from the foam contaminated area groundwater, as reported by former Our Land producer and reporter Laura Paskus.    

Amid decades of economic decline following coal mine closures, the city of Raton is working to use the great outdoors as a more sustainable economic engine. Correspondent Elizabeth Miller takes us to the northern New Mexico town to learn about its history and how a multi-state effort to connect public lands for outdoor rec prioritizes conservation.   

The Albuquerque Journal published a poll over the weekend by Research and Polling, Inc. It found former congresswoman and Interior secretary Deb Haaland way ahead of Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, with 52% of proven Democratic and independent voters planning to vote for Haaland, and 30% for Bregman. Pollster Brian Sanderoff explains his methodology and the demographics where each candidate scored best.   

Mark Fine of the local charitable group Dukes Up chats with NMPBS Executive Producer for Public Affairs Jeff Proctor about the organization’s Democratic primary debate for the governor’s race. Fine explains the mission of Dukes Up and the group’s intention to create a forum for New Mexico citizens to judge the candidates and their positions. NMPBS is serving as the broadcast partner for the debate, airing Thursday, May 7 on channel 5.1.   

In the latest episode of Indigenously Positive, reporter Bella Davis visits the Mescalero Apache reservation to learn how high school students are creating wildfire and flood sensors to protect their community from natural disasters. Indigenously Positive is a collaborative series from NMPBS and nonprofit newsroom New Mexico In Depth telling joyful stories from Native communities around our state. 

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Host: Nash Jones 

Segments: 
New Regulations for Forever Chemicals in New Mexico 
Host: Nash Jones 
Guest:  
James Kenney, Cabinet Secretary, NM Environment Department 

Raton Seeks Revival in the Outdoors 
Correspondent: Elizabeth Miller 
Guests:  
Neil Segotta, Interim City Manager, Raton, NM 
Lori Chatterley, Mayor, Raton, NM 
Brad Cory, Director of the Southern High Plains Initiative, The Nature Conservancy,  
JJ Autry, Southeastern Colorado Project Director, The Nature Conservancy 

Consumer Products & Forever Chemicals 
Host:  Nash Jones 
Guest: 
James Kenney, Cabinet Secretary, NM Environment Department 

Democratic Governor’s Race Primary Polling 
Host:  Nash Jones 
Guest: 
Brian Sanderoff, President, Research & Polling, Inc. 

Behind the Dukes Up Democratic Primary Debate 
Executive Producer: Jeff Proctor 
Guest: 
Mark Fine, Dukes Up 

Saving the World When You’re Still in High School 
Host/Producer:  Bella Davis (Yurok)  
Director/Producer:  Benjamin C Yazza (Diné)  
Guests:  
Cody Rice, Mescalero Apache School junior  
Anavay Wheeler, Mescalero Apache School junior  
Audrina Reynold, Mescalero Apache School sophomore  
Hendrick Aldava, Mescalero Apache School junior  
Nate Raynor, Mescalero Apache School STEM director  
East Padilla, Mescalero Apache Tribe Division of Resource Management and Protection employee  
John Salazar, Mescalero Tribal Fish Hatchery supervisor