Drought and Agriculture, a Native Voice in Fashion & Redistricting Progress

This week on New Mexico in Focus, correspondent Antonia Gonzales speaks with Native fashion model Quannah Chasinghorse (Han Gwich’in Sicangu/Oglala Lakota) about her recent turn on the red carpet for the Met Gala and about walking in New York Fashion Week. The 19-year-old has been a Native advocate and environmental activist as long as she’s been a model. Now, with a larger stage, Chasinghorse sees a chance to amplify her message. 

A prolonged drought across the West has hit New Mexico ranchers and farmers especially hard. Environment correspondent Laura Paskus talks with Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte about how the state’s growers are responding. A pivot to more water-wise policies and crops is already happening, but Witte expects new behavior by consumers to play a major role in what is grown in New Mexico. 

With Balloon Fiesta soon to color the pre-dawn around Albuquerque, The Line opinion panel talks about the festival’s decision to forgo a vaccine requirement – and what it might mean for other major events. The group also discusses the final weeks of the state’s redistricting plan, which kicked into high gear with the release of proposed revisions to political boundaries. The panel starts the show with a discussion about how the Texas abortion law is impacting New Mexico and how the state’s politicians and doctors are responding.

Host: Gene Grant 

The Line opinion panel: 
Serge Martinez, UNM Law School 
Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group 
Martha Burk, political psychologist and author of “Your Voice, Your Vote”

Segments: 

Native American Fashion Takes Center Stage 
Correspondent: Antonia Gonzales 
Guest: Quannah Chasinghorse, fashion model 

Agriculture and Drought 
Correspondent: Laura Paskus, environment correspondent  
Guest: Jeff Witte, New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture