NMiF talks Democratic Lt. Governor election; Estancia water crisis

This week, New Mexico in Focus looks ahead to this weekend's election of a new Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver first won the nomination in June's primary election but resigned several weeks later, citing health challenges.

Host Nash Jones sits down with Democratic Party of New Mexico Communications Director Daniel Garcia and State Central Committee members Martin Chavez and Colton Dean to talk through how the process works.

A 20-year ban on new oil and gas developments within 10 miles of the Chaco Cultural National Historic Park could soon be reversed. The U.S. Interior Department opened two weeks of public comment this month, on its environmental assessment of the proposal to revoke the drilling ban.

Late last month, Estancia officials declared a water emergency. On top of that, the town has had to navigate the crisis without its mayor, who went on leave back in April. Mountainair Dispatch reporter and editor Todd Brogowski breaks down the details he's uncovered around how bad things are and where they stand now.

The Endangered Species Act has protected at-risk animals and their habitats from harm for more than 50 years. Now, a new rule change from the Trump administration meant to favor the logging and drilling industry would strip away those decades of protections. KUNM reporter Bryce Dix speaks with Nash on what this rule change could mean for the state and the threatened Mexican Spotted Owl.

NMiF airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) on Friday, July 24, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 26 at 7 a.m. and streaming on the PBS video app. Involved, informed, in-depth media: watch New Mexico in Focus again online shortly thereafter.

Host
Nash Jones

NMiF Segments
N.M. Dems to Vote on Lieutenant Governor Nominee
Host
Nash Jones

Guests
Daniel Garcia, communications director, Democratic Party of New Mexico
Martin Chavez, State Central committee member, former Albuquerque mayor
Colton Dean, State Central committee member, Adelante Progressive Caucus chair

Feds Consider Removing Ban on Chaco Oil Drilling
Host
Nash Jones

Water Crisis in Estancia
Host
Nash Jones

Guest
Todd Brogowski, editor and reporter, Mountainair Dispatch

Local Impact of Weakened Endangered Species Protections
Host
Nash Jones

Guest
Bryce Dix, reporter, KUNM

New Mexico in Focus is the New Mexico PBS prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. NMiF takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic, educational, and art issues, exploring them in depth with a critical eye to provide context beyond the "news of the moment."

NMPBS Executive Producer, Public Affairs is Jeff Proctor. New Mexico in Focus's senior producer for public affairs is Lou DiVizio. Host and producer of New Mexico in Focus is Nash Jones. The producer is Antonio Sanchez, and the multimedia journalist is Cailley Chella.

Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided by the McCune Charitable Foundation and Viewers Like You. Funding for the Your New Mexico Government Project comes from the Thornburg Foundation and New Mexico Local News Fund. Funding for Our Land: New Mexico's Environmental Past, Present & Future is provided in part by the Neeper Natural History Programming.