Rio Grande Drying, CYFD Overhaul & Concern Over Nuclear Disposal Plan

This week on New Mexico in Focus, the Line Opinion Panel explores possible solutions to a stark reality on the Rio Grande, where about 50 miles of the river are now dry in New Mexico. Plus, the Panel looks through the changes coming to the state’s Children, Youth and Families Department after a review of how the agency handled critical incidents, like child deaths. And our panelists explore whether the State Ethics Commission carries enough power to properly deter and enforce violations.  

Correspondent Antonia Gonzales speaks with two members of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition about the Pope’s apology to Canada for the church’s role in the country’s indigenous boarding school program. She also asks what this means for reconciliation efforts here in New Mexico.  

Our Land Executive Producer Laura Paskus discusses the drying Rio Grande with a professor emeritus of biology to find out the long-term impacts this will have on us as humans in the southwest, but also our surrounding ecosystem. And Laura talks through the concerns one New Mexico Representative has about the plan to bring nuclear waste from around the country here to our state for storage.  

Host: Gene Grant

The Line opinion panel: 
Tom Garrity, Garrity Group Public Relations 
Julia Goldberg, senior correspondent, Santa Fe Reporter 
Dave Mulryan, Mulryan-Nash Advertising

Segments: 

Rio Grande Drying 
Correspondent: Laura Paskus 
Guest: Clifford Dahm, UNM Professor Emeritus, Department of Biology 

Catholic Apology on Canadian Indian Boarding Schools 
Correspondent: Antonia Gonzales 
Guests: Joannie Romero, Pueblo of Cochiti, National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition 
Samuel Torres, Mexica/Nahua, National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition 

Concern Over Nuclear Disposal Plan 
Correspondent: Laura Paskus 
Guest: St. Rep. Angelica Rubio, D-Doña Ana