Luis Valentino resignation, Charges against Secretary of State Dianna Duran, Heroin addiction in NM

Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Luis Valentino resigned this week. On the next New Mexico in Focus, host Gene Grant and this week’s Line opinion panelists debate the latest news in the APS administration scandal this summer that received both local and national attention.

The Line will also discuss the announcement late last week that New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas filed a criminal complaint with 64 charges against Secretary of State Dianna Duran. Duran is accused of tapping campaign funds for personal use at casinos around the state. The charges against Duran include fraud, embezzlement and money laundering. She has vowed to fight the charges in court and Democratic leaders in the New Mexico House are already talking about a potential impeachment.

Heroin addiction is a rising concern across the United States, including here in New Mexico. In part two of our series on heroin addiction and treatment, correspondent Stan Wilson looks at new partnerships between law enforcement and the medical community that aim to address heroin and opiate addiction in our state.

GUESTS:
Joey Peters, senior reporter at NM Political Report
Damon Martinez, US District Attorney for the District of New Mexico
Paul Roth, MD, UNM Health Sciences Center

LINE PANELISTS:
Dan Foley, former NM House Minority Whip
Sophie Martin, attorney and editor of DukeCityFix.com
Rob Nikolewski, Watchdog.org
Laura Sanchez-Rivet, Sanchez Legal Solutions

CORRESPONDENTS:
Sarah Gustavus
Stan Wilson

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 910 airs September 4, 2015