AG Torrez on Western New Mexico University Mess & 2025 Legislature Preview

This week on New Mexico in Focus, Politics Correspondent Gwyneth Doland interviews three journalists to preview the 2025 legislative session, which begins next week in Santa Fe. Trip Jennings, executive director of New Mexico In Depth, Julia Goldberg, editor-in-chief at Source New Mexico and Dan Boyd, Capitol Bureau chief for the Albuquerque Journal weigh in on some of the key issues lawmakers are prioritizing this year. Gwyneth starts by asking how the state might spend a record $11 billion in state revenue. Then, she shifts to other areas of interests for New Mexicans including public safety and behavioral health reforms.  

Joshua Bowling, an investigative reporter at Searchlight New Mexico sits down with state Attorney General Raúl Torrez to talk about the lawsuit over a $1.9 million buyout for Western New Mexico University’s outgoing president, Joseph Shepard. Bowling broke the story of lavish spending and other possible misconduct at the school in 2023. This week, he asks Torrez how the alleged misuse of public money went unnoticed for so long.  

Senior Producer Lou DiVizio interviews educator and Democratic state Rep. Andrés Romero about potential changes to federal education policy. Romero, who chairs the Legislative 

Education Study Committee, says he’s preparing for the possibility of cuts to Title I funding.  

Host: Lou DiVizio

Segments: 
Cutting Down the Golden Parachute 
Correspondent: Joshua Bowling 
Guest: Raúl Torrez, New Mexico Attorney General 

2025 Session Preview: State Budget Decisions 
Correspondent: Gwyneth Doland 
Guests: 
Trip Jennings, Executive Director, New Mexico In Depth 
Dan Boyd, Capitol Bureau Chief, Albuquerque Journal 
Julia Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief, Source New Mexico 

Fortifying New Mexico’s Education Priorities 
Correspondent: Lou DiVizio 
Guest: G. Andrés Romero, (D) NM State Representative, District 10, Bernalillo County 

2025 Session Preview: Public Safety & Behavioral Health Priorities 
Correspondent: Gwyneth Doland 
Guests: 
Trip Jennings, Executive Director, New Mexico In Depth 
Dan Boyd, Capitol Bureau Chief, Albuquerque Journal 
Julia Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief, Source New Mexico