Over the new three weeks (March 1, 8, & 15), NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS speaks with three special women in NEW MEXICO MAKERS – Judy Chicago, LaDonna Harris & Gov. Susana Martinez. These New Mexico stories tie-in with the national PBS special, MAKERS: WOMEN WHO MAKE AMERICA, the first film to tell comprehensive story of how women have transformed America over the last half-century. These interviews focus on what led these women to be groundbreakers in their fields. What makes a \u201cMAKER?\u201d<\/p>\n
This week: Judy Chicago – Artist, author, feminist, educator, creator of the multimedia project, The Dinner Party. She now lives in Belen and runs a nonprofit feminist organization, Through the Flower.<\/p>\n
NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS also takes a closer look at government reform & the legislature:<\/p>\n
Efforts are underway at the Legislature to reform the beleaguered New Mexico Finance Authority. Is broad reform needed or was NMFA\u2019s filing of a fraudulent audit merely another embarrassing episode for a New Mexico agency?<\/p>\n
After voters overwhelmingly demanded some new qualifications for Public Regulation Commissioners, lawmakers are trying to balance accessibility to the PRC for potential candidates with standards that will help ensure a more professional commission.<\/p>\n
The Line opinion panel also examines a pair of legislative measures that recently met their end. A bill to ban coyote-hunting contests was shelved by a House panel, as was a proposed constitutional amendment to recognize marriage between same-sex couples. What do the decisions say about the sometimes liberal, sometimes conservative culture in New Mexico?<\/p>\n
Plus, more high profile problems at the Albuquerque Police Department. Have APD officers splashed across the front pages for less-than-heroic actions? What\u2019s ahead for the chief of police in the Duke City? The Line offers perspective.<\/p>\n
Amidst calls for more spending on early childhood education, a line in the sand has been drawn between proponents of a constitutional amendment that would dip into the state\u2019s permanent funds to pay for new programs, and those who say more spending from the funds will endanger their contributions to future generations. NMIF heads to the Capitol to hear from those pleading their case.<\/p>\n
GUESTS:
\nJudy Chicago, Artist, Author, Feminist, Educator, Creator of The Dinner Party
\nAllen Sanchez, President\/CEO, St. Joseph Community Health
\nSenator Steven Neville, R-Aztec<\/p>\n
LINE GUESTS:
\nJavier Benavidez, Center for Civic Policy
\nMargaret Wright, New Mexico Compass<\/p>\n
LINE PANELISTS:
\nJamie Estrada, Former U.S. Commerce Department Official
\nSophie Martin, Editor in Chief, New Mexico Law Review<\/p>\n
CORRESPONDENT:
\nMatt Grubs, NMiF Producer
\nSarah Gustavus, Executive Producer, Koahnic Broadcast Corporation<\/p>\n
HOST\/COMMENTATOR: Gene Grant<\/p>\n
The Producer of NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS is Matt Grubs.\u00a0Associate Producer is Kathy Wimmer. Funding for this\u00a0program was provided in part by the McCune Foundation.\u00a0Subscribe to the\u00a0New Mexico in Focus Podcast on iTunes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Episode 635 for air March 1, 2013<\/p>\n