This week on New Mexico in Focus, senior producer Matt Grubs sits down with Steve Terrell, newly retired from the Santa Fe New Mexican after four decades as a newspaper man. They talk about what’s changed over the years since Terrell first started covering the Legislature and New Mexico politics.

In this month’s installment of Our Land, correspondent Laura Paskus and the NMiF crew travel to the border to see firsthand construction of the new wall between the U.S. and Mexico and learn about the its impacts on wildlife and communities.

Gene Grant and The Line opinion panel examine a law that went into effect in July. The law lets judges order guns taken away from domestic violence offenders, but as KRQE-TV reports, it’s lightly used and has a big loophole. The Line opinion panelists also debate the consequences of stricter mandates governing SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). The new rules, approved last week by the Trump administration, could cut food aid to some 37,000 New Mexicans. With its final topic, The Line looks at the 10-day notices the City of Albuquerque gave two convenience stores to get these “nuisance properties” to make improvements for public safety.

Host:
Gene Grant

Correspondents:
Matt Grubs
Laura Paskus

Studio Guest:
Steve Terrell, retired legislative reporter, Santa Fe New Mexican

Line Panelists:
Janice Arnold-Jones, former state representative
Dan Foley, former state representative
Eric Griego, former NM state senator
Serge Martinez, professor, UNM School of Law

This week on New Mexico in Focus, senior producer Matt Grubs catches up with Congresswoman Deb Haaland. The freshman congresswoman has been outspoken on the need for greater investigation into missing and murdered Native women and speaks frankly about how she feels law enforcement needs to prioritize such cases. She also addresses the need for more robust broadband access throughout New Mexico.

Gene Grant and The Line opinion panel take on the announcement, made shortly after the congresswoman was in the NMiF studio for the above interview, that Rep. Haaland was named as co-chair for presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren’s campaign. The Line opinion panelists also discuss how charter schools, especially in New Mexico’s larger cities, are adjusting to the reduction of funds that came with the state legislature’s adjustment of a 40-year-old funding formula for small schools. For the final topic, The Line looks at new numbers from the Albuquerque Police Department that show crime statistics have not decreased nearly as much as originally reported.

Host:
Gene Grant

Correspondent:
Matt Grubs

Guest:
Congresswoman Deb Haaland, Congressional District 1

Line Panelists:
Merritt Allen, Vox Optima
Michael Barrio, executive director, Prosperity Works
Michael Bird, public health consultant
Giovanna Rossi, Collective Action Strategies and The Well Woman Show (KUNM)