New Mexico in Focus
New Mexico In Focus
New Mexico in Focus is NMPBS' s prime time, hour-long news program exploring the issues, people and events shaping New Mexico and the Southwest.
Where to Watch New Mexico in Focus • New Mexico In Focus
46 Episodes
- The State of Local Media in 2025E1
The State of Local Media in 2025This week is our annual Fourth of July 'State of Local Media' special. We'll meet the new leaders of New Mexico's largest newspaper and public radio station. We ask a publisher for 9 local outlets about the challenges his company has encountered. We meet the 505omatic news collective. Staff from small public radio stations talk about the looming federal funding cuts. - Medical Mushrooms & CYFD Reforms Become State LawE2
Medical Mushrooms & CYFD Reforms Become State LawThis week, we break down a handful of new state laws. Two reporters who have covered the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department break down the new changes for the department. Two advocates and a medical expert talk about the state's medical psilocybin program. Three officials from the Higher Education Department tell us about the new loan forgiveness and scholarship programs. - How Trumps Spending Bill Could Reshape NME3
How Trumps Spending Bill Could Reshape NMThis week, we discuss key changes coming with President Trump's tax and spending bill. A Republican state senator praises the bill and urges state leaders to fill funding gaps. An environmental attorney talks oil and gas deregulation. Downwinders are now covered in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. We visit a local farm to learn about the significance of Indigenous food sovereignty. - Recovery in Ruidoso; Public Broadcasting Funds CutE4
Recovery in Ruidoso; Public Broadcasting Funds CutThis week, two local opinion columnists debate federal funding cuts for public broadcasting. We hear from residents and officials in Ruidoso just days after deadly flooding hit the area. We head to the location of the world's first nuclear explosion, as a new sign recognizes the bomb's human toll, 80 years later. Archbishop John C. Wester talks about nuclear proliferation. - Immigration Enforcement and Advocacy in NME5
Immigration Enforcement and Advocacy in NMThis week, we look at immigration in New Mexico. A volunteer group meets with asylum seekers locked inside a private prison in Cibola County. A state senator and former DACA recipient tells us how her experience informs her work. An Albuquerque city councilor calls for the city to cooperate with ICE. Community leaders working for and alongside immigrants who live and work here speak out. - Housing Gaps and Pollution in NM After Fed ShiftsE6
Housing Gaps and Pollution in NM After Fed ShiftsThis week, we focus on two pressing issues in our state: housing and pollution. A state official and the Sierra Club break down recent climate change decisions from Trump's Environmental Protection Agency. An investigative reporter discusses her new book on forever chemicals. Two local nonprofit leaders tell us how a Trump executive order will restrict housing access. - Deadline for Education Fixes Looms; Biz on the RezE7
Deadline for Education Fixes Looms; Biz on the RezThis week, we head to Mescalero, where state public education officials got feedback on their failures to educate vulnerable students. NM Democratic Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez talks immigration and Trump administration changes. Indigenously Positive highlights a nonprofit that helps Native entrepreneurs. A journalist discusses her new book on Indigenous land rights in Hawai'i. - Trump Medicaid Cuts; Wastewater Use Could ExpandE8
Trump Medicaid Cuts; Wastewater Use Could ExpandThis week, NM Democratic Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez talks about President Trump's multi-billion-dollar cuts to Medicaid. A former state senator and an expert on the state's finances dissect how these changes will hurt New Mexico's rural health care system. The state Environment secretary is asked about his department's sudden embrace of expanding the use of oil and gas wastewater. - Election Map Controversy; NM Rivers Still DryingE9
Election Map Controversy; NM Rivers Still DryingThis week, we hear from a state legislator who stepped down from the New Mexico Redistricting Task Force, citing Republican gerrymandering in other states. Three remaining task force members respond to those resignations. We visit the water-starved Rio Grande in Albuquerque and the Elephant Butte Reservoir. Lt. Gov. Howie Morales stops by the studio as his time in Santa Fe winds down. - First Look at ABQ Mayoral RaceE10
First Look at ABQ Mayoral RaceThis week, we ask Albuquerque mayoral candidates Daniel Chavez and Eddie Varela about crime, housing and Albuquerque's sanctuary city status. A former city councilor talks about the barriers political candidates like them face in accessing public financing. Also, David Abbey discusses his decades-long work crafting the state's budget and his new book, "Forty Years in the New Mexico Roundhouse." - Santa Fe, ABQ Mayor Races; Ranked Voting PrimerE11
Santa Fe, ABQ Mayor Races; Ranked Voting PrimerThis week, we return to Albuquerque's mayoral election with two interviews: incumbent Tim Keller and former New Mexico U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez. Reporter Cailley Chella takes us to Santa Fe, where she spoke with three of the city's eight candidates vying for the mayor's office in the City Different. County Clerk Katharine Clark explains Santa Fe's ranked-choice voting system. - Two ABQ Mayoral Hopefuls; NMiF Heads to the FairE12
Two ABQ Mayoral Hopefuls; NMiF Heads to the FairThis week, we conclude our series of interviews with candidates for Albuquerque mayor with political newcomer Mayling Armijo and City Councilor Louie Sanchez. Then, Host Nash Jones chats with New Mexico State Fair patrons and vendors about Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's idea to move the fair from its longtime home and gets an update on that proposal. And our Indigenously Positive series returns. - COVID Vax Confusion; Suicide Prevention MonthE13
COVID Vax Confusion; Suicide Prevention MonthThis week, we speak with the state Health Department's chief medical officer to clear up confusion around COVID vaccine access after changes from federal health agencies. Two Albuquerque Journal reporters explain the massive artificial intelligence data center coming to Southern New Mexico. We explore the statewide uptick in suicides last year - and lift up suggestions for community care. - NM Lawmakers Pass Funding Bills in Special SessionE14
NM Lawmakers Pass Funding Bills in Special SessionThis week, we report from the special legislative session at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, where lawmakers quickly passed a series of funding and other bills meant to shore up health care, public media and COVID vaccine access in the wake of massive cuts from the Trump administration. We also sit down with a Santa Fe mayoral candidate to hear her pitch for the job. - Gov Breaks Down Special Session; SF Mayor's RaceE15
Gov Breaks Down Special Session; SF Mayor's RaceThis week, we feature an exclusive interview with Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who reflects on what state government accomplished - and what it didn't - during the recently concluded special legislative session. Lujan Grisham also looks ahead to the 30-day, regular session that begins in January. Plus, we sit down with two top-tier candidates in the Santa Fe mayor's race. - Race for SF Mayor; 2022 Police Shooting RevisitedE16
Race for SF Mayor; 2022 Police Shooting RevisitedThis week, we conclude our coverage of the race for Santa Fe mayor. As early voting ramps up, Host Nash Jones gets to know two of the top-tier candidates running to replace outgoing two-term Mayor Alan Webber: City Councilor Michael Garcia and County Commissioner Justin Greene. Plus, we revisit a 2022 fatal police shooting that could help shape police accountability in the state going forward. - Amy Goodman on Journalism; Indigenously PositiveE17
Amy Goodman on Journalism; Indigenously PositiveThis week, Host Nash Jones sits down with a journalism icon they've long admired: Amy Goodman. The longtime host and executive producer of Democracy Now. was in Santa Fe for an event and spoke with Nash about the possibilities for journalism as a force for positive change. Plus, we spotlight the New Mexico Sexual Assault Helpline's first anniversary, and Indigenously Positive returns to the show. - NM Search and Rescue; Election Day LoomsE18
NM Search and Rescue; Election Day LoomsThis week, we head to the Cibola National Forest to show you how the almost entirely volunteer-driven New Mexico Search and Rescue shifts from the frenetic hours of looking for a live subject to the search for clues months later. Reporter Cailley Chella digs into how an online rumor about McCall's Pumpkin Farm got started, then spread. And we conclude our Albuquerque mayoral election coverage. - New Mayor in Santa Fe; ABQ Holds Breath for RunoffE19
New Mayor in Santa Fe; ABQ Holds Breath for RunoffThis week, we tackle the results from a jam-packed local Election Day - with a primary focus on Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Host Nash Jones assembles a team of journalists from KUNM, the Santa Fe New Mexican and the Daily Lobo to join longtime political analyst Eric Griego in breaking down who won, who lost and what comes next. Plus, Nash chats with former NMiF host Gene Grant about his new job. - Just-in-Case Special Session; Shutdown EndsE20
Just-in-Case Special Session; Shutdown EndsThis week, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., talks about the end of the nation's longest-ever government shutdown. State lawmakers race to the Roundhouse for a just-in-case special session to preserve SNAP benefits for New Mexicans. We catch up with the latest plans to redevelop the state fairgrounds, and we hear from the state engineer about the 50-year water plan. - Special Election Near; IHS Doctors CensoredE23
Special Election Near; IHS Doctors CensoredThis week, we look ahead to next week's runoff elections in Albuquerque. We break down some key policy differences between Mayor Tim Keller and his opponent, Darren White. Reporter Mary Hudetz reveals how the federal Indian Health Service is censoring doctors on vaccine messaging. The state broadband director describes internet expansion efforts. - Tim Keller Wins Third Mayoral Term in AlbuquerqueE24
Tim Keller Wins Third Mayoral Term in AlbuquerqueThis week, we sit down with two former city councilors to explore Tim Keller's successful run for an unprecedented third consecutive term as Albuquerque mayor. We'll also hear from Bernalillo County Assessor Damian Lara about his changing approach to property valuations. And reporter Cailley Chella takes us to Chaco Canyon, where long-sought protections for the sacred site are hanging by a thread. - Restoring NM Rivers; UNM Signs Check for Coach EckE25
Restoring NM Rivers; UNM Signs Check for Coach EckThis week, two environmental experts tell us why they are pushing state officials to invest more heavily in river restoration. The University of New Mexico's football coach, Jason Eck, has secured a lucrative contract extension. A first-of-its-kind mapping project tracks where local news outlets are and are not in New Mexico. A group of student documentarians explore veganism in Mexican cuisine. - 2025 Rewind: Ruidoso Floods; Healing a Burn ScarE26
2025 Rewind: Ruidoso Floods; Healing a Burn ScarThis week, we take you out of the studio for a look at our favorite field pieces of the year. We head back to the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon burn scar to witness replanting efforts, to meet survivors of the floods in Ruidoso, to learn about search and rescue missions in the Cibola National Forest, to hear calls for educational equity in Mescalero and to the creation of a medical mushroom program. - 2025 Rewind: Mayoral Elections; APD Oversight EndsE27
2025 Rewind: Mayoral Elections; APD Oversight EndsThis week, we revisit big headlines from 2025. We break down the mayoral elections in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Federal oversight of the Albuquerque Police Department ends. A volunteer group meets with asylum seekers locked inside a private prison. Federal funding is cut for public broadcasting. A new sign placed at the site of the world's first nuclear explosion recognizes the bomb's human toll. - Brewhouse Bruises; Speaker Martínez on SessionE28
Brewhouse Bruises; Speaker Martínez on SessionThis week, we check in on newly enacted state and federal laws and spending. State House Speaker Javier Martínez previews the upcoming legislative session. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller begins his third consecutive term. New Mexicans reflect on the fifth anniversary of Jan. 6. A reporter and a blogger discuss our state's brewery scene following the closure of Bosque Brewing. - Previewing the 2026 Legislative SessionE29
Previewing the 2026 Legislative SessionThis week, three seasoned statehouse reporters look ahead to the upcoming legislative session. Oil and gas reporter Jerry Redfern previews his coverage of the fossil fuel industry at the Roundhouse. House Speaker Javier Martinez updates a few bills lawmakers passed last year and how they're faring today. We lay out the long list of candidates who have filed to run for governor. - The 2026 Legislative Session BeginsE30
The 2026 Legislative Session BeginsThis week, we head to Santa Fe for the start of this year's 30-day legislative session. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham gave her final State of the State address. Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth and Republican Sen. Nicole Tobiassen share their legislative priorities. Reporter Jerry Redfern interviews the head of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association. - NM Lawmakers Push Bills on ICE, Climate GoalsE31
NM Lawmakers Push Bills on ICE, Climate GoalsThis week, we cover the second week of the legislative session. Two state representatives introduce a bill to ban local contracts with ICE. A county official questions how that bill might hurt her community. The Clear Horizons Act returns to Santa Fe and has support from a tribal advocate. An immigrant workers advocacy group speaks to lawmakers. New Mexico's top doctor talks vaccines for children. - Medical Malpractice Debate; FEMA Payout QuestionedE32
Medical Malpractice Debate; FEMA Payout QuestionedThis week, we hear from supporters, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, and opponents of a proposed change to the state's medical malpractice laws. A payout to a FEMA director is questioned. A district attorney threatens to arrest federal immigration officers. An elected official and education specialist describe the state's "structured literacy" program. Activists take pilgrimage to Santa Fe. - Budget Balancing Act; Healthy Soil and Water in NME33
Budget Balancing Act; Healthy Soil and Water in NMThis week, Senate Finance Committee members talk to us about the state budget. Two experts let us know about a grant program that helps improve soil conditions across the state. State officials work to take charge of water quality as the Trump administration guts the Clean Water Act. The local Sierra Club director talks about the failed Clear Horizons Act. - Final Week at the Roundhouse 2026E34
Final Week at the Roundhouse 2026This week, we head to Santa Fe as the regular 30-day legislative session comes to a close. A panel of experts breaks down what did and didn't happen at the Roundhouse. Democratic and Republican House leaders talk partisan politics in New Mexico. We see a day in the life of a young mother, highlighting what the state's newly funded universal child care program could mean for parents like her. - Climate Bill Fails; Indigenously Positive ReturnsE35
Climate Bill Fails; Indigenously Positive ReturnsThis week, state Sen. Mimi Stewart reflects on why her climate bill failed. A new study finds a disproportionate number of Black women are victims of homicide. City Councilor Nichole Rogers speaks about the National Guard's Albuquerque assignment. Indigenously Positive returns with a look at a school science program that teaches through Native practices and traditions. - New ABQ, BernCo Leaders' Goals; Epstein CommissionE36
New ABQ, BernCo Leaders' Goals; Epstein CommissionThis week, Albuquerque City Council President Klarissa Peña and Bernalillo County Commission Chair Adriann Barboa discuss key issues affecting the state's largest metro, and what city-county collaboration could look like. State Rep. Andrea Romero, chair of the newly created Epstein Truth Commission, explains her goals - and now to accomplish them. - Governor's Final Session; CYFD Office Stays EndE37
Governor's Final Session; CYFD Office Stays EndThis week, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham sits down with Host Nash Jones to take stock of her final regular legislative session. Journalist Ed Williams talks about the Children, Youth and Families Department and its long history of placing kids in inappropriate housing. NMPBS Senior Producer Tara Walch highlights a creative effort of engineering to harvest the sun while conserving the Rio Grande. - Sunshine Week and Women's History MonthE38
Sunshine Week and Women's History MonthWe're marking Sunshine Week-the annual celebration of the fight for government transparency-with the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government. To honor Women's History Month, we revisit conversations with an astronaut, two Vietnam veterans, students who want to end gendered categories at the Oscars, and Martha Burk, who fought to end discrimination at Augusta National Golf Club. - Reckoning with Forced Sterilization in New MexicoE39
Reckoning with Forced Sterilization in New MexicoThis week, three state senators tell us how they kickstarted an official investigation into the state's long history of forced sterilization of Indigenous women. A policy director with Common Cause New Mexico talks an upcoming ballot initiative to pay state legislators a salary. Indigenously Positive spotlights the Zuni Public Library and their work with the pueblo's census, archives and museum. - Homelessness in Santa Fe; Local Headlines in FocusE40
Homelessness in Santa Fe; Local Headlines in FocusThis week, Carina Julig of the Santa Fe New Mexican dives deep on Urban Alchemy's first year running the capital city's homeless shelter. The Albuquerque Journal's Justin Horwath updates us on Blackstone's efforts to purchase PNM's parent company. Source New Mexico's Patrick Lohmann walks us through three ongoing stories he's covered: immigrant detention, uranium mining and the State Fairgrounds. - Albuquerque's New Public Safety LeadersE41
Albuquerque's New Public Safety LeadersThis week, Cecily Barker talks about the path she took to become chief of the Albuquerque Police Department and her priorities in the new role. New city Public Safety Executive Director Raul Bujanda talks coordination between Albuquerque's police, fire and community safety departments. Daniel Williams of the ACLU weighs in on the city's new public safety leaders. - Leger Fernandez on Iran; Cesar Chavez ReckoningE42
Leger Fernandez on Iran; Cesar Chavez ReckoningThis week, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., discusses the war in Iran and the Trump administrations 's plans to roll back protections for public lands in her district. Sexual assault and child rape allegations against Cesar Chavez have split generations on the Chicano labor icon's legacy. In Focus reporter Cailley Chella dives in. - Trump's Funding Cuts and Potential War CrimesE43
Trump's Funding Cuts and Potential War CrimesThis week, the Institute for American Indian Arts' president talks about Trump's repeated threats to slash the school's federal funding. A constitutional and international law expert considers the war in Iran. We take stock of UNM's new athletic director. And Republican state Rep. Rebeca Dow is back on the ballot. - Forever Chemicals; Raton Outdoor Rec & Gov. DebateE44
Forever Chemicals; Raton Outdoor Rec & Gov. DebateNew Mexico Environment Secretary James Kenney visits our Albuquerque studio to explain new state regulations on PFAS. Correspondent Elizabeth Miller takes us to Raton to learn about an effort to expand public lands for outdoor rec. New Mexico In Depth Reporter Bella Davis visits the Mescalero Apache reservation to learn how high school students are combating climate change. - NM GOP Primary Election 2026: Turner and RodriguezE45
NM GOP Primary Election 2026: Turner and RodriguezThis week, Republican primary candidates Doug Turner and Duke Rodriguez make their case to be the next governor of New Mexico. Former Rio Rancho mayor Gregg Hull, who is leading the GOP race in the most recent public polling, cancelled his scheduled interview. Greg Payne, a former Republican state representative, helps us handicap the contest. - NM Primary Election 2026: Haaland, Bregman, HullE46
NM Primary Election 2026: Haaland, Bregman, HullThis week, we conclude our series of interviews with primary candidates for governor. Host Nash Jones sits with former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and her competitor in the Democratic race, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman. We wrap up the Republican side of the ballot as former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull stops by the studio. - Concerns Over Produced Water and Police OversightE47
Concerns Over Produced Water and Police OversightThis week, an environmental attorney criticizes a recent decision to revisit how and where fracking wastewater can be used in New Mexico. A state senator's legislation to overhaul the state's police misconduct board falls short. "Permanently temporary" workers win a labor fight with the state. Former Congressman Steve Pearce joins the Trump administration. - DOJ Sues NM; State Profits from Wartime Oil PricesE48
DOJ Sues NM; State Profits from Wartime Oil PricesThis week, we explore local reaction to the Trump administration's lawsuit against the City of Albuquerque and New Mexico over their immigration enforcement policies. A community rallies around a veterans' park after one of its own is accused of partially burning it down. A journalist and state budget expert break down the local monetary and political cost of the ongoing energy crisis.