A Dash of the Roundhouse, a Pinch of Aging with Grace

We’ve had a lot of fun — and what I’d like to think is some success — the last two years with deep-dive episodes spotlighting a single topic or issue during the past two years. These have included a four-year retrospective on the COVID-19 pandemic, a close examination of the city of Albuquerque’s halting efforts to address the crisis of unhoused people, the University of New Mexico’s controversial response to campus protests and more. 

But this week’s episode finds New Mexico in Focus at its whip-around, high-variety best. It’s the kind of show that has a little something for everyone. 

We begin at the Capitol, where Politics Correspondent Gwyneth Doland tracked down Democratic and Republican legislators to talk about a handful of bills aimed at creating a more reliable, robust health care network in New Mexico. Of particular note here: a proposal that would reform the state’s medical malpractice laws. 

Next up is the first of a two-part conversation Senior Producer Lou DiVizio had with Dr. Evelyn Plumb, a Taos-based clinical psychologist who is working on a new set of protocols with UNM’s Project ECHO designed to address adverse childhood experiences, known as ACEs. In case you need a little extra incentive to watch this one, New Mexico leads the nation in the rate of kids who have four or more ACEs before they turn 18 — a major indicator of serious problems later in life.  

Next, I ran through a series of legislative proposals designed to protect consumers against some of the dangers of artificial intelligence, then kicked things back to Gwyneth for a Roundhouse update on a bill that would update the state’s reporter shield law for the first time since 1973. 

At the end of the show is a fascinating chat Correspondent Megan Kamerick had with Chip Conley, founder of the Modern Elder Academy. Rather than spoil any of the fun on this one, I will just suggest you click and watch. 

I hope you feel like this week’s show offered some fruits, vegetables, a protein and maybe even a dessert to your news diet.    

– Jeff Proctor, Executive Producer