Water Crisis in the West, Author TaraShea Nesbit, Tesla Motors factory, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
This week, NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS looks at a new monthly series, Water Crisis in the West: Thinking Like a Watershed, that kicked off in February and will run through June at the KiMo Theater in downtown Albuquerque. NMIF talks with the series organizer, Jack Loeffler, aural historian and author of Thinking Like a Watershed, and author John Nichols, whose novels often include storylines around water issues, about the series and what the future looks like for water in New Mexico.
In the One-on-One segment, NMIF Producer Megan Kamerick sits down with author TaraShea Nesbit, whose new novel, The Wives of Los Alamos, explores the lives of the women who accompanied their scientist husbands to The Hill, the nickname for the secret city where the first atomic bomb was developed during World War II. Hampered by a lack of infrastructure and housing, and left in the dark about what their husbands were actually doing, these women bring a unique perspective to a crucial period of history, as well as voices that have been largely absent in that narrative.
The Line opinion panel looks at legislation signed and vetoed by Governor Susana Martinez, including the state budget. Martinez vetoed about $27 million worth of proposed spending but included pay raises for many state employees and entry-level teachers, as well as money for water projects and more funds for some early childhood programs.
The group also delves into the battle to land the giant $5 billion Tesla Motors factory, that would build the electric cars batteries, a competition that pits New Mexico against three other states for a projected 6,500 jobs.
The panel also looks at the latest developments at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, since a radiation leak was detected there last month.
GUESTS:
Jack Loeffler, Aural Historian
TaraShea Nesbit, Author
John Nichols, Author
LINE PANELISTS:
Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group
Sophie Martin, Attorney
Laura Sanchez, New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce
LINE GUEST PANELIST:
James Monteleone, Albuquerque Journal
HOST/COMMENTATOR: Gene Grant
The Producer of NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS is Megan Kamerick. Associate Producer is Kathy Wimmer. Funding for this program was provided in part by the McCune Foundation.
Episode 737 for air March 14, 2014