Alexander Heffner on Millennial Civic Engagement, David Gutzler on New Mexico Water

This week, on NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, Alexander Heffner from PBS’s THE OPEN MIND sits down with correspondent Gwyneth Doland to talk about civic engagement among the millennial generation. Heffner offers his insights into what might encourage more young people to vote in the next national election.

Last month, rain across New Mexico pulled many parts of the state out of severe drought conditions, but will that last? NMiF producer Sarah Gustavus sits down with David Gutzler, a climatologist and professor at UNM, to talk about the outlook for water in New Mexico this year.

Host Gene Grant and The Line opinion panelists debate some of the stories in the headlines this week. The Albuquerque Journal recently reported on a plea deal that put the man accused of killing a Rio Rancho police officer back on the street instead of behind bars. Do procedures for plea deals need to change?

The Line also talks about a new legislative report on teen pregnancy in New Mexico and the announcement that lottery scholarships will be larger than expected after warnings earlier this year about scholarship funding.

GUESTS:
Alexander Heffner, host of The Open Mind
David Gutzler, UNM professor – Department of Earth and Planetary Science

LINE PANELISTS:
Diane Denish, former New Mexico Lieutenant Governor
Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group
Viki Harrison, Common Cause New Mexico
Phil C. Marquez, Talk Radio, Inc.

CORRESPONDENT:
Gwyneth Doland
Sarah Gustavus

HOST:
Gene Grant

The Producer of NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS is Sarah Gustavus. Associate Producer is Kathy Wimmer. Funding for this program was provided in part by the McCune Foundation Communications Fund, Santa Fe Community Foundation.

Episode 847 airs June 5, 2015