Solutions To Native American High School Dropout Rate, & Proposed Fix To Public Retirement Programs

Ep.623: This week, NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS goes in-depth to examine solutions to the high school dropout rate among Native Americans.

Correspondent Tara Gatewood, host of the nationally syndicated radio program Native America Calling, leads a conversation with students who’ve met the unique demands of being a Native American high school student. As the news this week shows, the dropout rate for New Mexican students from all communities is among the nation’s highest. This conversation is part of the ongoing American Graduate series, which highlights solutions to the dropout crisis.

The Line opinion panel returns to discuss a proposed fix to financially unstable public retirement programs. When lawmakers return to Santa Fe next month, they’ll look hard at asking public employees to contribute more to their pensions as a way to shore up funds that are projected to be billions of dollars short of what they promise to public retirees.

The group looks at upcoming votes to elect leaders among legislators for the next session.

As always, The Line then goes “on the clock” to tackle some of the week’s more notable headlines.

THE LINE GUEST:
Viki Harrison, Executive Director, Common Cause New Mexico

THE LINE Panelists:
Dan Foley, Former NM House Republican Whip
Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group PR
Sophie Martin, Editor in Chief, New Mexico Law Review

Correspondent: Tara Gatewood, Host, Native America Calling

Host/Commentator: Gene Grant

The Producer of NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS is Matt Grubs. Associate Producer is Kathy Wimmer. Funding for this program was provided in part by the McCune Foundation. Subscribe to the New Mexico in Focus Podcast on iTunes.