Oil & Gas Revenues Booming, CYFD Transparency Concerns & Analyzing NM’s Historic Fire Season

This week on New Mexico in Focus, the Line Opinion Panel weighs in on a new boom in oil and gas revenues and the delicate process of trying to spend that money. The Panel also debates the proposal to round up nuclear waste from around the country and store it here in New Mexico. Plus, our panelists underscore the importance of the state’s new 9-8-8 crisis line, and how we can better combat the issues facing young people in our state.  

Senior Producer Lou DiVizio investigates the controversy surrounding a new committee at the state’s Children Youth and Families Department. He asks Sec. Barbara Vigil why those meetings have been closed to the public. And he catches up with a watchdog group that’s been pushing the department to be more transparent for years.  

Our Land Executive Producer Laura Paskus analyzes this year’s historic fire season with New Mexico State Forester Laura McCarthy. She explains why this year has been so devastating, and how we can use treatments like prescribed burns more safely.

Host: Gene Grant

The Line opinion panel: 
Dede Feldman, fmr. New Mexico State Senator 
Diane Snyder, fmr. New Mexico State Senator 
Kristelle Siarza, Siarza Social Digital 

Segments: 

Transparency Concerns Over New CYFD Committee 
Correspondent: Lou DiVizio 
Guest: Melanie Majors, interim executive director, New Mexico Foundation for Open Government 

State of NM Fire Season 
Correspondent: Laura Paskus 
Guest: Laura McCarthy, New Mexico State Forester 

CYFD Responds to Transparency Concerns 
Correspondent: Lou DiVizio 
Guest: Barbara Vigil, Secretary, New Mexico Children Youth & Families Department