Shows
No More NormalYour NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.22.21The 2021 Legislative Session is now over... or is it? Lawmakers ended a whirlwind couple of months by passing 158 bills, but as always the time ran out on dozens of other measures. In today's update we run down the big bills that made it across the finish line, and the ones that will have to wait for another year. One of those bills was the adult-use cannabis legalization measure, which just ran out of time and oxygen in the last hours of the session. But, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham thinks the proposal is close enough, she has already announced a...
2021-03-2211 min
No More NormalYour NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.19.21A lot of fireworks throughout the night and into the wee hours of the morning. All of that means we are in for a wild ride in the last day and a half of the 2021 legislative session. Some of the big highlights and takeaways of the last 24 hours: the Land Grant Permanent Fund Amendment (HJR 1) made it through the Senate and appears to be headed to a ballot near you, after years of effort. Also, the Healthy Workplaces Act (HB 20), which was changed back early this morning to only affect private sector employers, who would have to give their...
2021-03-1912 min
No More NormalYour NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.18.21A late night/early morning helps push cannabis legalization legislation one step closer to the finish line. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 5-4 to advance House Bill 12 to the full Senate just after 1:30am this morning. That was after hours of amendments and debate, which will no doubt foreshadow an epic showdown when and if the bill comes up for a vote of the full chamber. Read more about it all, and another bill that would limit reciprocity practices within the medical cannabis program in this morning's New Mexico Political Report. Andy Lyman is always right on top of...
2021-03-1814 min
No More NormalYour NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.17.21A lot of the activity here in the last days of the session, not surprisingly, is focused on money matters. The first order of business each year is of course the budget (HB 2), and that seems to be nearing the finish line with just three and a half days left to go. Also, lawmakers in the House yesterday unanimously approved a Capital Outlay package (HB 285). Now it's up to the Senate to pick up the baton.
A measure to tap more money from the Land Grant Permanent Fund is also moving forward to the full Senate, after a...
2021-03-1713 min
No More NormalYour NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.16.21Things are definitely moving fast and furious in the Roundhouse, as you would expect with only 4 and half days left in this year's session.
One of the fastest moving bills is House Bill 47, which is the Medical Aid in Dying Measure that recently passed through the full House. It followed suit yesterday in the Senate after more than two and a half hours of emotional debate and discussion. Three democrats joined the republicans in opposing the bill, which now heads back to the House for concurrence on the changes made in the Senate. From there, it is h...
2021-03-1609 min
No More NormalYour NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.15.21A busy weekend in the Roundhouse, capped off by yes votes for Medical Aid in Dying and Mandatory Paid Sick Leave measures. But, the big news of the weekend was the lack of action on cannabis legalization, as both of the remaining bills did not come up for discussion in the Senate Judiciary Committee. One of those bills was actually pulled from consideration just minutes before the meeting. And, of course, all of the proposed measures are up against the clock, with time set to run out on this year's session at noon on Saturday. We'll be back with...
2021-03-1507 min
No More NormalA Year In PandemicTwelve months ago, team NoMoNo was busy having conversations about how we were going to make a show that covered the response to a global pandemic. What did we want to talk about? What was not being talked about? What was the vital info? What were the nuances? What life-and-death decisions were being made by public officials. Who needed help—and where is the help? We’ve worked hard over the last year to provide those answers.
The thing about the pandemic is that we’re all going through it. Every single one of us. In the past y...
2021-03-151h 13
No More NormalYour NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.12.21We're now just a little over a week away from the end of the 2021 legislative session. And outside of some changes to the state's liquor laws, and pandemic relief for New Mexico businesses, not a lot has crossed the finish line. But, no doubt we are in for a flourish of activity in the last 7 and a half days in the Roundhouse. In today's episode we update several bills we've been tracking pretty closely, and discuss some measures we haven't touched on yet at all. Here's the rundown:
HB 211 - Redistricting Reform. This bill has largely been...
2021-03-1213 min
No More NormalYour NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.11.21If you are interested in the most inner workings of state government, today's Your NM Government update is just for you! The work Wednesday in the Roundhouse was somewhat overshadowed by technical problems with the virtual proceedings. But a lot of the business that was considered had to do with how the sausage is made, so to speak. Here's a quick rundown of what we talked about in today's update:
Senate Bill 74 - This is a measure designed to curb the Governor's powers during a public emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic. This is something Republican lawmakers have...
2021-03-1110 min
No More NormalYour NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.10.21And then there were 2 --- cannabis legalization bills. At least that's the way things seem to be shaping up in this 2021 Legislative Session.
Yesterday, the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee moved ahead both HB 12 and SB 288, although with changes to both measures. Those changes actually bring the two bills closer in line, with the big difference being oversight of a new legal cannabis market. HB 12 leaves that to Licensing and Regulation, while SB 288 would create a new supervisory panel. The other difference is, HB 12 has a shorter path to potential passage, since it has already worked it...
2021-03-1013 min
No More NormalYour NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.9.21The big news in the Roundhouse yesterday had nothing to do with specific legislation, but an announcement from the Department of Education that schools should reopen for in-person learning by April 5th. This comes on the heels of another announcement by the Department of Health that all educators and school support staff should be able to get at least the first round of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of March. Students and parents would still be able to choose to finish out the year virtually, but bottom line, any student that wants to head back to the classroom will...
2021-03-0914 min
No More NormalYour NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.8.21Another busy week in store for the session, and today also marks the second to last Monday of the 2021 Legislative Session. Lawmakers will definitely have their hands full in these last days, with plenty of high profile measures still to decide.
Today we talk the status of House Joint Resolution 1, which is an annual effort to allow the state to take more money from the permanent land grant fund and put that money (about $170 million a year) toward early childhood programs. This measure has often been a political hot potato, but it passed out of Senate Rules...
2021-03-0811 min
No More NormalWho Carries Story?Where do you get your news? Rather, where do you get your stories? Even more: how do stories shape us? And who are the people crafting these stories—what’s their story? For our second episode on black history, we are looking into storytelling and the people who craft the narrative, offering us insights we may have passed by.
We featured stories and conversations with host Khalil Ekulona's family last week, but family is not the only place that provides us with stories. We get it from the news we read as well. In episode 23, we get to k...
2021-03-071h 00
No More NormalYour NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.5.21One of the big stories to come out of the Roundhouse yesterday actually involves Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. State Auditor Brian Colon announced that he was moving ahead with a special audit of the Governor's discretionary fund, after local reporting discovered more than $13,000 in groceries, liquor purchases and dry cleaning over a six-month period in 2020. A group of Republican lawmakers also requested the audit in a letter to Auditor Colon. The Governor's office has said the purchases were appropriate but may have been excessive at times.
In the House, we saw movement on HB 111 which would offer n...
2021-03-0513 min
No More NormalYour NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.4.21Thanks for joining us again for this short legislative update, coming to you straight from my garage! We're working on our floors right now, so the usual spot in the closet was taken today. Another busy day in the Roundhouse, including another long night in the House. That will likely continue for the rest of the session as the pattern now is to start the daily House Floor sessions at 4:30pm. The Senate Floor sessions are happening starting around 11am. And, of course, committee meetings are still in play throughout the day as well. Some of the highlights from...
2021-03-0411 min
No More NormalPassed Down The LineWhen host Khalil Ekulona thinks about his purpose in life, he often thinks of my family. Family is where we get our first lessons and introduction to the world. On Episode 22, Khalil enters conversations with his family about the meaning and purpose of familial love, support, and collective dedication to passing those lessons along.
Whatever Khalil and his siblings' individual interests were, their parents encouraged their kids to go and experience them. And they keep it going for a new generation. You'll hear from his mother, his father, four of his siblings and four of his cousins...
2021-03-041h 39
No More NormalYour NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.3.21A definite potpourri of legislative topics for you today, starting with an update on proposals to deal with the learning loss caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We also talk about some movement regarding predatory lending practices in New Mexico, which spurred several hours of debate yesterday in the Roundhouse. Our partners at the Santa Fe Reporter have done a lot of great reporting on the issues that are wrapped up in that debate, and we encourage you to read up on that background when you can. We also referenced a report by the Albuquerque Journal's Dan McKay about...
2021-03-0310 min
No More NormalYour NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.2.21The week started off with some legislative drama, both on the Senate Floor and in committee. We run down some of the big news, including a potential compromise on efforts to reform how the state handles the once a decade process of redistricting. NMPBS Executive Producer Kevin McDonald runs down some of the key highlights from Monday and previews some of the scheduled committee discussions for Tuesday. How is the session going for you this year? What do you think of how both chambers are handling public comment. We want to hear from you!
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Your...
2021-03-0212 min
No More NormalYour NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.1.21Today, we kick off our daily updates on the 2021 Legislative session, which is now in the home stretch. A busy weekend was kicked off last night by a narrow vote in favor of mandatory paid sick leave in New Mexico. You can read more on that vote from Daniel J. Chacon at the Santa Fe New Mexican.
Also in this update we check in on the progress of cannabis legalization legislation. You can read more on that from Andy Lyman at the New Mexico Political Report and of course, tune in to our other podcast, "Growing Forward" w...
2021-03-0127 min
No More NormalYour NM Gov: Slow Growing Support For Cannabis LegislationCannabis is the topic. As part of the continuing coverage from Your New Mexico Government it is time for an update on the legislative session at the Roundhouse. To discover more about the Cannabis legislation under debate at the state Capital, KUNM's Khalil Ekulona sat down with Juile Ann Grimm, editor for The Santa Fe Reporter.
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Your New Mexico Government is a collaboration between KUNM, New Mexico PBS and the Santa Fe Reporter. Funding for our coverage comes from the New Mexico Local News Fund, the Kellogg Foundation and KUNM listeners like you, with support for...
2021-02-2611 min
No More NormalOld-School Shoutout Show 2It's the return of our Old-School Shoutout Show on Episode 21. The first one, we did back in May. Now, as the pandemic wears on, we wanted to hear from callers: Who do you love? Who do you miss? Who do you want to celebrate or honor? We did the episode live this year.
Because of the rules around copyright, we can't post the audio as it aired with some of our favorite songs, curated by DJ and NoMoNo host Khalil "Always Keep It Real" Ekulona. This post and podcast version makes use of contributed music instead. If...
2021-02-2237 min
No More NormalYour NM Gov: Climate Bills Reach CommitteeYour New Mexico Government is continuing its coverage of everything that happens at the Roundhouse with an interview of Laura Paskus from New Mexico PBS. Paskus talks about the Clean Water Act, SB 86, which proposes regulations on oil & gas companies in regards to produced water. And she tells us all about the Climate Solutions Act, HB 9, which looks to find solutions to the climate change issues New Mexico is facing, while using those efforts to boost the state's economy.
Get updates on the legislative session by listening to No More Normal. Sunday's at 11 a.m. on KUNM or...
2021-02-1513 min
No More NormalWhen Piggy Banks FlyWe get into what money really is. We take a dive into a bill that looks to create a public bank. We talk with a member of a financial innovation group about how universal basic income has helped businesses during the pandemic. We grapple with student loans. We hear the journey of how difficult it is to start a business as a pandemic is raging. And we have a talk with the secretary of workforce solutions about where the jobs are going to be.
In episode 20 we are talking about money: you may know it as cash...
2021-02-071h 03
No More NormalOur Common PurposeIf you have listened to the show for a while, a few months back, you may have heard an interview we had with Stephen Heintz, a co-chair of the Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship. The commission is charged with discovering ways to activate participation of U.S. citizens in democratic civil life. So that's what they did.
After spending two years and hundreds of hours talking with people all around the country about what’s working and what’s not, a group of 35 scholars, business leaders, and civic catalysts from all over the political and soci...
2021-02-0154 min
No More NormalConsequencesOur democracy is being tested right now. It is not the first time. But it feels like a tipping point, and our very lives are in the balance. Can we find truth? Will we come to a place of peace? Can we resolve not to look the other way when the view is uncomfortable? Will those who stormed the Capitol, who aided and abetted seditionists, and who proliferated racism and dangerous lies, face punishment? Episode 18 is all about the fallout.
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Dear President Biden and Vice President Harris,
First, let us offer our congratulations o...
2021-01-2454 min
No More NormalHow We Got HereAnyone who’s been paying attention to racism and white privilege in this country knows that what happened in D.C. has been brewing a long time. There’s a lot of good research and reporting happening right now outlining what’s been missed, suppressed and ignored when it comes to the rise of extremist militias in the U.S. We get into it in episode 17.
Just a few days into 2021, a mob of thousands of people marched on the Capitol building and attempted to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. Things quickly turned...
2021-01-1859 min
No More NormalJourney Through Election Week 2020Wow, we just had a tense bunch of days, each one filled with anticipation and impatience and consternation. From people worrying about how the election was going to play out, to some keeping an eye on potential violence, it would be an understatement to say that anxieties were high. It makes sense, 2020 has been mad anxious as my East Coast compatriots would say. But the electoral college digits that just wouldn’t move are not the only numbers the United States has to grapple with. Most of the country spent so much of their attention on the election, news of...
2020-11-0959 min
No More NormalWe Need A PlanThe final presidential debate of 2020 got passing marks because the candidates managed to take turns. But rarely did they roll out the kind of action plans the moderator was looking for. She kept asking: If elected, what will you do about this big problem we are facing? Still, candidates did not venture into specifics. We think that was by design. The strategy was, make debate No. 1 so bad that by the time debate No. 2 comes around, expectations are so low, everyone will just be grateful it’s not incoherent shouting and call it good. But in a time with mu...
2020-11-0254 min
No More NormalThe Disinformation AgeThe NoMoNo team was talking about ideas for our election coverage in early August: The potential for violence, attempts to subvert the vote and the importance of media literacy. It is not hyperbole to state that for most of us, this is the most important election we have ever taken a part in. That said, it is imperative that we are not only informed about our voting rights, but we ensure they are protected. That means becoming savvy about misinformation and disinformation and the ways that you and some people you may know are possibly being manipulated.
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2020-10-2654 min
No More NormalThe Real CrimeAttack ads and contemporary political rhetoric about crime have a disturbing campaign ancestor: The Willie Horton ad that may have cost Michael Dukakis the presidential election in 1988. It relied on racism for its efficacy, and it ushered in an era of so-called "tough-on-crime" laws and posturing that nearly broke criminal legal systems, like the one in Albuquerque. Executive Producer and longtime criminal justice reporter Marisa Demarco navigates in Episode 13 how racist, fear-based electioneering warped the country's approach to crime. That continues to this day, favoring quick vengeance over long-term solutions that might have a real impact on crime rates...
2020-10-1959 min
No More NormalWhat's at Stake?Let’s take a breath. In episode 12, we try to fend off that wild pandemic election news cycle we’ve been living inside of, which can feel like a deluge of disorganized tragedies and failures. And we put the focus on what’s hanging in the balance these next couple of weeks as we cast our ballots.
Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree: climate change is real. That comes from NASA. You’re probably sweating a little more than usual. Your world is getting hotter. Or maybe temperatures near you snap all of a sudden instead of the seas...
2020-10-1254 min
No More NormalGet Out and VoteMillions of people around the U.S. have already voted early. Simultaneously many people are preparing to fill out their ballots, but are concerned with how they will deliver them, and, more importantly, if their vote will be counted. So many questions. Here at NoMoNo, we are going to dig deep to find answers for you. Episode 11 is all about preserving and exercising your right to vote. We talk with New Mexico's secretary of state, the president of the Albuquerque chapter of the American Postal Workers Union, a national election law expert, activists who protecting voting rights for underserved...
2020-10-0554 min
No More NormalCounting On ItThe census is one of the more important events in our democracy. Every 10 years each person is counted so that resources can be allocated, programs created, and a general understanding of the population is had. It should be a clean process. Should be. The 2020 census has proven to be anything but clean. Mud has been thrown on the process, as people and institutions attempt to manipulate the numbers, subsequently stripping power from some and giving it to others. Peppered throughout this episode is an editorial from NoMoNo about why the census matters: The state is counting on us to...
2020-09-2154 min
No More NormalHighlights From The Last 6 Months—Or 1,000 Years?he crew at NoMoNo headquarters takes a look at where we’ve been since the pandemic started, reflecting a little—hard to find time to do it when we’re all stuck in an unending news cycle. But hopefully, this is a pleasant look back if you’ve been hanging in there with us. We want to thank all of you who listened to the show when it was Your New Mexico Government back in March—you know, 1,000 years ago.
Executive Producer Marisa Demarco says in this episode that she's never seen a moment where the decisions politicians...
2020-09-1454 min
No More NormalMental WellnessAs the summer season transitions into fall, it is important to note that September, the ninth month of the year, isn’t just for football and the start of school. It is also a month to raise awareness of suicide prevention and recovery. Both are already long-standing issues in our society—especially here in New Mexico. Coupled with the pandemics of COVID-19 and racism, hard feelings and thoughts can balloon. Left unattended or unnoticed, these issues lead to tragedy. But can we stop those tragedies before they happen? Talking things out and finding resources are two key solutions, and Epis...
2020-09-071h 04
No More NormalThe Survival BasicsSummer is winding down and harvest season is quickly approaching. The change of the season is always very beautiful, but before the excitement of the leaves changing colors begins, we have to understand the dangers that many people are facing. With food security concerns around the state and a potential eviction crisis on the horizon it is important to ensure that everyone has the basics for survival. In Episode 7, we look at the essentials of survival—shelter, health care and food—and attempt to see not only what the problems are, but how they can be fixed.
New...
2020-08-311h 11
No More NormalThis Will Be On The ExamIn the old days—like last year—mid-August was a time when students prepared to get back to class. A time to reconnect with friends and compare summer vacation stories and to show off the fashion of your new school outfits, if you were so lucky. In 2020, instead of students worrying about who has a crush on who, they’re thinking about who has COVID and who doesn't. Parents are concerned with how their kids will get a quality education. Teachers are not only focused on the adjustment to teaching remotely but on the health risks of being called back t...
2020-08-2457 min
No More NormalHuman Rights on ICEWhen President Trump and ICE got in on the act of separating families and locking kids in cages, it spurred a public outcry. Millions of people were appalled that the land of the free would treat people in such a manner—especially people who were counting on the United States to provide safety, as they were often fleeing life-threatening situations. As usual in this country, the news cycle changed, and a majority of the public stopped talking about it. Then COVID-19 came, and the call to release detainees has picked up again, a call to save lives, a call to...
2020-08-161h 18
No More NormalThe Struggle ContinuesSometimes history repeats itself. When host Khalil Ekulona talks to his African American friends who are parents, he says they express joy and sadness: Joy in watching their kids grow and discover the wonders of life. Sadness in having to repeat conversations with their children about growing up Black in America—the same conversations their parents had with them decades ago. Episode 4 is all about the journey to racial equality, and some of the factors to consider as we travel along the road.
Dr. Charlene Reid is the CEO and founder of Excellence Community Schools in the Br...
2020-08-101h 22
No More NormalThe Streets Are HotIn the last weeks of July, we saw high temperatures across the country. The streets heated up, and we’re not talking about the weather. We’re talking about federal forces sent to Portland, Chicago, Albuquerque and other cities. The arrival of these agents was met with public outcry and increased skepticism by lawmakers and residents alike. Others support the move. In episode 3, we take a look at what exactly is going on and what it means for our civil liberties and our democracy.
After President Trump suddenly announced that he was sending federal agents to Albuquerque as p...
2020-08-0354 min
No More NormalDisappearing ActsThis week, we get into what has disappeared from our lives—good or bad—during the pandemic. Episode 2 is all about what’s going, going, gone, maybe for good. We learn of attempts to erase people from the Census. We talk to Sen. Martin Heinrich about the erosion of our civil liberties. We reflect on what’s fading from our relationships and mental wellness. We hear from a COVID-19 survivor, so the realities of the virus don’t slip away. We examine the consciousness of community and the loss of a collective future with an international futurist. We reflect on a disap...
2020-07-271h 08
No More NormalLessons of EnduranceNo More Normal is a new show brought to you by the same crew behind YNMG. On episode 1, we’re talking endurance. In the last few months, how many times have you heard someone say, “We’re in this for the long haul”? It’s going to take all kinds of gritty willpower to keep each other alive and to make it through the changes in our world. This week we learn from younger folks. We get lessons, advice and stories from civil rights activists. We talk about the endurance of people who’ve been fighting racist mascots and imagery for...
2020-07-201h 05
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: How Are You Doing?In episode 82, we discuss how the question “How are you?” is part of documenting changing people and a changing globe. The answer reveals a lot about us. Are we good? We hear from a high school athlete who is worried about going back to a crowded campus, a woman who lost her mother to COVID-19, an anti-police brutality activist who sees focused protesters demanding positive local change, a community organizer whose family was torn apart after their activism, and an advocate who networks community groups to pay people to make masks. We know everyone out there is working hard in o...
2020-06-2728 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: The One That Got AwayIn episode 81 we check back for new developments on some of the impactful stories from YNMG from the past couple of months. Did UNM Hospital cleaning crews who work in harm’s way get the PPE they need? What about the Albuquerque police who waited down the road when a peaceful protest became a violent scene where a man was shot? Finally, are the restaurants we love and miss, and all the employees who keep them running, doing ok? It’s not often in a fast moving news environment that we get to take a look back. Today’s episod...
2020-06-2635 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: The Balls That Got DroppedWe come back to life’s essentials like housing and education in episode 80, and the systemic problems that can easily slip past us if we’re not vigilant. As we continue to endure, it's easy to drop the ball on issues New Mexico has been battling for years. Today we hear from journalists from around the state on how the pandemic is affecting schools and teachers, the affordability of housing, and whether the corrections system is fulfilling its human rights obligations.
Longtime education reporter and KUNM News Director Hannah Colton tells us what public school days might look...
2020-06-2528 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: The Special Universe Of This Legislative SessionIt’s a weird time. We’ve got a global pandemic, an uprising against racist police violence and a special legislative session dropped in the middle of it—the likes of which no one’s ever seen before. Maybe one that people still aren’t seeing because there’s been so many access issues. In episode 79 we dig in to bring you what’s new and developing with the emergency legislative session. What bills have been passed, what is on the way, and what is being held until January are just a few of the topics we cover. We talk with jour...
2020-06-2328 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: The Doors are LockedIn episode 78 we discuss what’s happening in Santa Fe at the legislative special session. It’s a unique situation up there; COVID-19 precautions have led to a locked-in session with no opportunity for citizens to attend in person. But first, we hear from organizers of the Albuquerque Juneteenth celebration commemorating 155 years since the official end of slavery in Texas, with the entire United States following soon after.
Hosanna Scott and Kieran Freeman of Black Voices ABQ are spearheading the Juneteenth celebration in Albuquerque this year. They’ve taken safety precautions in light of COVID-19, but they say it...
2020-06-2030 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Emergency Session Day OneIn episode 77 we dive into the state’s special legislative session that started today. The primary reason for the emergency meeting is to address the unexpected budget shortfall brought on by COVID-19 and the decimation of oil and gas markets that provide much of New Mexico’s public funding. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, however, has asked legislators to also consider other reforms like making adjustments now to state election rules and policing procedures rather than waiting for the regular legislative session next January. It’s a full schedule for a session that is only going to last a few days...
2020-06-1928 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: On This DayIn episode 76, we discuss criminal justice reform, from policing to prisons. We get a preview of the Albuquerque mayor and a city councilor plans to remake the public safety system. A criminal justice reporter tells us about COVID-19 in state prisons and reminds us that there is little race or ethnicity data to show us who is affected. But first, YNMG Executive Producer Marisa Demarco tells us what it was like to be at a protest this week where someone she knows was shot by a man trying to protect a statue of a genocidal Spanish conquistador.
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2020-06-1828 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Keeping An Eye On YouIn episode 75, we're talking data privacy, surveillance, sophisticated bots, racially biased tech and misinformation on social media in the time of COVID, BLM and the upcoming election. We check in with researchers, privacy advocates and an artist/activist, who talk about how our data is valuable to corporations or governments that want to exploit their knowledge of us for policing, political or capitalistic reasons.
David Carroll is an Associate Professor of Media Design at The New School’s Parsons School of Design. He took on Cambridge Analytica to get his data back and is featured in the Ne...
2020-06-1342 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Defund? Demilitarize? Dismantle?The country is grappling with practical steps for ending police brutality and racism in policing. We explore some local ideas in episode 74, from completely burning down the system to moderate reform to minor policy changes. Community and Black Lives Matter organizers, Albuquerque’s mayor and City Councilor Lan Sena, and activists who work with and against police weigh in on what the future of public safety could look like.
Frankie Grady is a community organizer who works for opportunities for African Americans in Albuquerque, especially fighting the school-to-prison pipeline. He helped organize the recent Black Lives Matter pr...
2020-06-1234 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Reponse: Men With RiflesIn episode 73, we talk to and about militia groups in New Mexico that have floated around the edges of demonstrations against racist police violence and white supremacy. Robert Whitmon of the American Patriots of New Mexico, one such group, says they've been working with police for years. Regardless of their claims of support for protesters, demonstrators say they raise tension and anxiety, and they're already concerned about state-sanctioned violence and the possibility of retribution for speaking out.
We hear from Andres Valdez, Selinda Guererro and Amelia Brown. They are among the protesters and organizers of last week’s...
2020-06-1137 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: The Bitter WorkWe are nearly halfway through the year of 2020, it is June and reality is forever changed. While learning to adjust to life during a global pandemic, the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers has given rise to protests globally. In Episode 71, we talk about what it takes to safely navigate a pandemic and the beginnings of a revolution. It’s a heavy lift. Today we talk with a military veteran, a few activists and educators, and host Khalil Ekulona’s dad to get a deeper perspective.
Monique Salhab, a veteran and a member of the Nati...
2020-06-0628 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: The Heavy LiftWe are nearly half way through the year of 2020, it is June and reality is forever changed. While learning to adjust to life during a global pandemic, the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers has given rise to protests globally. In Episode 71 we talk about what it takes to safely navigate a pandemic and the beginnings of a revolution. It’s a heavy lift. Today we talk with a military veteran, a few activists and educators, and host Khalil Ekulona’s father to get a deeper perspective.
Monique Salhab, a veteran and a me...
2020-06-0528 min
No More NormalBlack Lives Matter In AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque residents have joined people around the world in protest following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. In the media, peaceful demonstrations have been conflated with property damage done by smaller groups of people, playing into narratives that give rise to aggressive responses like what the Trump administration is pushing. In episode 70, we talk about how law enforcement responses to recent protests seem to differ for different groups. We speak with an organizer, a youth detained after a protest, Albuquerque Police Department leadership, and a longtime criminal justice reporter.
We hear from Noah Tapia, a...
2020-06-0428 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Faith in the SystemDo you have faith in the systems? How has government response to the pandemic eroded or reinforced that for you? It seemed important back in what we collectively refer to as “normal times.” But what have public officials done to instill our faith? In Episode 69, we talk about the long list of pre-pandemic ills that plague us during this plague. We talk with the secretary of state about what it takes for politicians to keep voters invested and journalists about why there is a lack of faith—and whether it can be restored.
Secretary of State Maggie Toulous...
2020-05-3028 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Elections Have ConsequencesWhile many of us are focused on the demands of the pandemic, the primary election came up quick in New Mexico, and the general election is right around the corner. What is the consequence of doing nothing at all this election cycle? In episode 68, we take a look at the primary coming up on Tuesday, June 2, with a narrow focus on the state and local elections. The fast spread of coronavirus has forced elected and appointed officials to make urgent life-or-death decisions, so we need all the information possible to make the best choice. And we learn about the...
2020-05-2928 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Business As UnusualNow that the state is slowly relaxing the shutdown orders, some are considering getting back to business. In episode 67 we talk with small business owners and those who support them about how they have to come up with innovative ways to sell to their customers, get their employees back, keep the lights on and keep everyone safe. We hear from restaurant owners, a statewide business incubator, a journalist and Workforce Solutions Secretary Bill McCamley.
Katherine Lewin, a journalist with the Santa Fe Reporter, tells us about her article The Band-Aid Loans, which explores the complexities of accessing f...
2020-05-2831 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Race, Privilege And ReopeningThe past few weeks have seen a rise to anti-shutdown protests in many parts of the country. Some have observed the number of weapons at some of these protests, others have observed that most of the participants are white. That made us think, how does race factor into the conversations around re-opening? In episode 66, we talk with some of the louder voices in the state speaking out against New Mexico’s shutdown, and national anti-racism activist Tim Wise. And we hear from a guy who’s worked for years to grapple with his own privilege. These conversations might give us a...
2020-05-2332 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Love in a Time of a PandemicIt's springtime, and love is in the air -- but the virus is making things complicated. In episode 65, we explore shifts the pandemic has wrought for many kinds of love: for family, for friends, for oneself, for longtime spouses, and yes, for lovers. A sex educator schools us on sexual risk assessment, healthy communication and creative ways to date safely. And New Mexicans, whether they're partnered, dating or single, share how they're navigating new challenges around connection and intimacy in their stay-at-home lives.
We hear from Albuquerque relationship expert Hunter Riley of Self Serve on sexual health, ho...
2020-05-2228 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: What's New?Now that we are at the beginning of a small reopening, some people are taking it into their own hands to provide a little something special to their communities. In episode 64, we learn about a new online radio station designed to give live performers a platform to connect to their audience in a fresh way. We hear about how popular the Sunday cruise on the mother road has been since it's naturally socially distant but still all about community. Mobile drive-in movies are back. Plus, we dive into the symbolism of the many moths newly emerging in our city...
2020-05-2131 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Hail Sanitation!The streets are quieter. Restaurants and bars are empty. But the trash is still picked up each week, homes are still getting cleaned and hospitals are still sanitized for safety. On episode 63, we honor the bravery of domestic cleaners, hospital janitors, sanitation workers and home health workers. They're front-line workers who need more than just thanks—they need fair pay and proper protection during the pandemic.
We hear from Delmy Nova and Alicia Hernandez, two housekeeping staff at UNM Hospital who say they aren't being given the same PPE as doctors and nurses even though they work in...
2020-05-1628 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Get CoveredAccess to medical care could not be more important than it is at this moment. And plenty of people either don’t have health insurance or lost it because they lost their jobs during the pandemic. On Episode 62 we look into what options exist for the underemployed and recently unemployed, what a hospital worker experienced when she got a $1,500 COVID-19 test bill she was not expecting, and we talk to the superintendent of insurance to discover what the state is doing to help.
We hear from Stephanie Nelson and Eddie Nelson, who tell us what happened when Edd...
2020-05-1528 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: A Test You Can't Study ForAs Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham eases restructions in New Mexico starting Saturday, we talk about the factors that signal when and how to reopen the country: testing, contact tracing, modeling, antibody tests and treatment. In episode 61, we hear about test expansion and antibody test development, a new treatment involving plasma from revovered COVID-19 patients, and what it's like to be sick with the virus.
We hear from David Morgan, spokesperson with the New Mexico Department of Health, about expanding free COVID-19 testing to anyone in the state, and says residency is the only thing people are asked...
2020-05-1428 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Old-School Shoutout ShowEpisode 60 we maximize the connective power of radio in service of appreciation and love for the people we might not be able to talk to—whether they're in a hospital, somewhere that phone service or net isn't so good, a senior living facility, a jail or prison, or just far away. And if you have any worries we've strayed too far from our mission, you know, with "government" in the name of this show, it's all good. We do have shoutouts from some government officials, too.
Because of the rules around copyright, we can't post the audio as...
2020-05-0931 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Still Behind the WallsMany New Mexicans are being told to stay at home and distance themselves from others to minimize the cases of COVID-19 in the state. But that’s not an option for those stuck in the incarceration system, who usually have close contact with each other in tight spaces. Expanding on an earlier episode, this conversation is all about the dangers that these inmates face – as well as the staff who oversee them, and the community at large.
We start our conversation with Jeff Proctor from the Santa Fe Reporter and New Mexico In Depth. He tells us how...
2020-05-0828 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: We Can Work It OutThe stay-at-home order is dragging on and things are getting kind of grim. People have been cooped up together for weeks now, money issues are coming to a head, and uncertainty and instability are persistent facts of our everyday lives. After yesterday's discussion of domestic violence, this episode is all about how to get through this difficult time—spiritually, psychologically and emotionally.
We start our conversation with Reverend Amani Malaika of the Albuquerque Center for Spiritual Living. She tells us how to build up the spiritual muscles necessary to face this crazy time through the practice of me...
2020-05-0734 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: When Home Isn't a Safe Place to ShelterIn Episode 57, we talk about the dangers that domestic violence survivors face during shelter-in-place orders when home isn’t a safe place. We hear what advocates, agencies, and the government are doing to help survivors of abuse stay safe, and how they’re keeping services running during social distancing. Calls to police in Albuquerque for violence at home are about the same, officials said during a news conference today, but they’ve more often resulted in arrests.
We hear from Pam Wiseman, executive director of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence about the significant rise in home vio...
2020-05-0632 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Reopening at a Spring Fever PitchIn episode 56, we explore New Mexico’s upcoming limited reopening of restaurants and retail stores. What needs to be considered in terms of how to stay safe during a reopening and what are the best practices? The current statewide death total is 156, but there are significant disparities in where cases are reported, with counties in the Northwest and Indigenous communities around the state being hit harder than other areas. Native Americans make up more than half of the state’s confirmed cases—55 percent—despite only being 11 percent of the state’s population, according to the Journal. Antibody tests are emerging, KO...
2020-05-0529 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Coming Home to a PandemicIn episode 55, we return to the conversation around recovery from substance use during the pandemic. It's a special episode devoted to a conversation between Executive Producer Marisa Demarco and her cousin, Orlando Watts, who went to a remote rehab before the pandemic, and then returned home after it was in full swing. A lot of the conversation around reckoning with a loss of control, being present, sitting with discomfort and reaching out to conncet could be useful for anyone during this time—not only people in recovery or seeking treatment.
And a news update: Gov. Michelle Lujan Gri...
2020-05-0228 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: The People Beyond The NumbersToday we honor the memory of four people who lives were ended by COVID 19. These are not conversations about the virus, nor are they conversations about the state of our response. Today we talk about the people, who they were and how they lived. Beyond the data, the numbers or projections, it's about the humans who lived and the legacies they have left with their families and communities.
We hear from Mariaelena Lopez, who tells us all about her mom and best friend, Maxine Roybal Lopez, who taught her all about never giving up and pushing yourself...
2020-05-011h 09
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Sober In A ShutdownEpisode 53 is all about re-entering the world from jail or prison during the pandemic, and holding onto your recovery from addiction during quarantine. What does the world feel like right now if you've spent some part of your last years inside a prison? And what do you do if a requirement of your probation or parole is that you find a job when there isn't one to be found right now? How are folks managing their sobriety during a time of isolation or social distancing? What's keeping them on track?
We hear from Cory Lee, executive director at...
2020-04-3028 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Hail the Hospital Workers!We devote episode 52 to some of the many people working on the front lines of the pandemic caring for COVID patients in New Mexico, sometimes without enough protective gear to feel safe. We ask them what urgent calls to reopen the economy sound like from where they're standing. And we find out how it's going for them, whether they're supported and heard by the institutions they work in.
We hear from Tessa Jenner, an Emergency Department trauma tech at the University of New Mexico Hospital, who talks about wishing there were hazard pay so if she does...
2020-04-2929 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Did You Eat?In episode 51, we talk about food access, cooking and gardening during the pandemic. Being able to get healthy food is a problem for many people all the time in New Mexico, but it's become even more of a struggle these last weeks. Many people are working to make sure folks here have food despite new obstacles, like people buying up some items at grocery stores and disrputing the supply chain, social distancing, and extra sanitation precautions to avoid the spread of coronavirus.
We hear from Sonya Warwick from Roadrunner Food Bank about some soup kitchens and food...
2020-04-2828 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Sports, Sports, SportsEpisode 50 is all about athletes and sports, and the pandemic's impacts on the players, the communities, the economy—and our spirits. What are games like when the stands are empty? How do student athletes support each other as they navigate missed opportunities for big seasons, and maybe scholarships? How do physical activity and teamwork help keep folks connected and on the right track? And what do you do when some of that's gone for a minute?
Host Khalil Ekulona (who's 50 for 50 so far this season) starts by talking with EPSN's John Brickley, anchor and play-by-play commentator across co...
2020-04-2528 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: To Be Heard And CountedEpisode 49 is all about the elections that are still coming up and the 2020 census. Advocates tell us that New Mexico is hard to count because it's big, area-wise, and because plenty of communities are intentionally discouraged from filling it out through fear tactics. The census determines how much federal funding comes to the state for all kinds of programs over the next 10 years, and it's how voting districts are determined. If brown and black communities around the U.S. don't participate in the census, advocates tell us, their political power is diluted.
Some elections and census dates you...
2020-04-2431 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Walking the Coronavirus BeatEpisode 48 dives back into how the pandemic is affecting people experiencing homelessness as the weeks drag on. KUNM News Director Hannah Colton goes further into the story of the city breaking up encampments, despite the CDC advising against it in this time, and she brings us the perspective of Cypher Johnson, who's passing through Albuquerque and spending time on the streets. We talk to people who work with unsheltered folks around the state about what an outbreak at a shelter would mean for the whole community, about what needs to change right now—and what needs to change in the...
2020-04-2333 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Checking For Those ChecksEpisode 47 is all about this relief money folks have been promised. Where's that unemployment? That stimulus money? That small business relief? That food assistance?
We hear from Lindsay Cutler from the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty about a sudden deadline the IRS announced for people getting federal benefits—who haven't filed taxes in the last couple of years—to fill out an online form to get $500 in stimulus funds for their children. The deadline is tomorrow, Wednesday, April 22, at 10 a.m. MST. More on that story here. And here's a link to the form the IRS i...
2020-04-2228 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Making It HappenWe devote Episode 46 to local companies and makers who have switched up what they create or kicked production into high gear to make personal protective equipment and parts for ventilators. They're trying to fill the gaps at hospitals, for first responders and for other essential workers in New Mexico.
Until the pandemic, 5 Ton Monkey did fabrication for movie sets. Now, they've been cranking out thousands of face shields. Folks there are also helping other shops figure out how to do the same thing, and they're developing a kit box so most people can put them together at...
2020-04-2128 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Update, Unpack, Look BackIn episode 45, we take a look back on four weeks of COVID coverage on the show. We offer about updates to stories we covered, revisit interviews and examine the impact to our lives and what we’ve learned in covering the pandemic so far.
Updates: On the April 9 show "ICE Detention, Migrants And Refugees," we talked with Nkazi Sinandile from the Immigrant and Refugee Resource Village of Albuquerque. And while the interview took place, she told us that a family was in the process of being evicted. Today, Sinandile checked in on the family. She told us the...
2020-04-1828 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: The Systems Aren't Colorblind, But Coronavirus IsIn episode 44, we talk about CDC data and state data showing that the virus is harming, disproportionately, brown and black people around the U.S.—and here at home. We hear from Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez about the bureaucratic hurdles to accessing billions of dollars alloted to tribes in the relief package, and why that money hasn't reached the ground yet, despite the dire public health emergency unfolding for tribes.
We also talked to Dr. Suzet McKinney, the executive director of the New Mexico's prisons in the context of systemic racism.
Dr. Felisha Rohan-Minjares from...
2020-04-1728 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Essential, Just Not Paid Like ItIn episode 43, we talk about how not everybody's at home waiting out the pandemic. We hear from people around the state who are still employed and in public—but who don't make a lot of money—about their working conditions, their support from their employers and their fears about the virus.
We also hear from Marcela Diaz, from Somos un Pueblo Unido, Marian Mendez-Cera from El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos and Stephanie Welch from the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty.
And a news update: In New Mexico, there are 90 more coronavirus patients in hospita...
2020-04-1628 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Keeping the FaithIn episode 42, we talk to people of diverse faith backgrounds about how the pandemic is affecting them and their worship practices. On Monday, Legacy Church filed a lawsuit against the state, saying Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's weekend order banning gatherings—even in places of worship—was unconstitutional. We spoke about the lawsuit with Legacy Church Pastor Daniel McCabe, who clarified what they're fighting for.
We hear from Archbishop John Wester of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe about his declaration that this year, for Holy Week, home is the only holy place.
Our partner New Mexico PBS share...
2020-04-1528 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: No News Is Bad NewsIn episode 41, we're tackling the impact of the shutdowns on local news outlets and thinking about the public service of journalism, and reporters and producers as essential information disseminators. We also hear about a proposal to include funds specifically for local news, as papers and broadcasters make impossible choices while they try to cover the pandemic for their communities.
We talk to Editor Julie Ann Grimm from our collaborative partner newsweekly, the Santa Fe Reporter, about staff cuts and how the paper is making it all work. Freelance reporter Ryan Lowery dives into what it's like to c...
2020-04-1428 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: The Lost ArtsIn episode 40, we talk about the shutdown's impacts on local arts and culture. The arts are not only providing a distraction as we watch movies and listen to music at home right now, but they offer solace, reflection and they give us something that helps make sense of our experience. They also become part of documenting, in a visceral way, what we are going through.
We hear from Alex DeVore, a longtime writer for the Santa Fe Reporter, about what the pandemic is doing to Santa Fe's arts community and economy. Juli Hendren, executive director of Tricklock...
2020-04-1128 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: ICE Detention, Migrants And RefugeesEpisode 39 is focused on migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees in our communities, and on Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers, which are often overcrowded around the United States and are criticized for bad medical care. ICE announced it will review cases one-by-one and release vulnerable people. Officials and advocates say that's not anywhere near fast enough as COVID cases are cropping up around the country in ICE detention centers.
We hear from Arifa Raza from the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center about what people inside detention centers are facing. Rep. Debra Haaland tells us about the coalition of...
2020-04-1028 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Down To BusinessIn Episode 38, we're talking about the state's small businesses struggling to hang on during the shutdown and what resources they can find from government. We also try and find out what the holdup is with the federal relief money destined for the state's businesses.
We talk to Bianca Encinias, executive director for the South Valley MainStreet, about special problems facing the popular mom-and-pop shops in Albuquerque's neighboring area. We also hear from Emily Esterson, owner of E-Squared Editorial Services, about troubles she's having chasing down those Small Business Administration loans.
Economic Development Department Secretary Alicia...
2020-04-0928 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Environmental Protection RollbacksIn Episode 37, we're talking about companies and federal officials squeezing through changes to environmental regulation, oil and gas leases and laws about anti-pipeline demonstrators while the nation's been focused on the pandemic.
We hear from longtime state environment reporter Laura Paskus about the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to allow "regulated industries to use their own discretion to report violations of clean air and water laws," which came about during the pandemic. And we hear Paskus' interview with New Mexico Environment Department Secretary James Kenney about what this means for our state.
Then, Liz McKenzie, who w...
2020-04-0828 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: The Roof And The LightsIn Episode 36, we're talking about the struggle to pay rents or mortgages and to keep the lights on during the pandemic. Because when money's tight, people are forced to make choices. And some of those choices—about food and medicine—could interfere with their health and immune systems as we all try to avoid this virus.
Mayor Tim Keller tells us about relief money from the city to help pay your rent, though that fund is going quick. PNM shares details about the pay-what-you-can plan, the company's promise to not turn off your lights during the pandemic and...
2020-04-0728 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: What's Changing In What You Care About?In episode 35, we ask people to reflect on shifts in their perspectives, about their lives, about how things have been working or not working for people in our country or around the world. KUNM's Nash Jones reports on delivery drivers working for corporate apps who saw a big shift in the urgency and necessity of their work. They speak about the human connections keeping them in it, despite the dangers.
Executive Producer Marisa Demarco talks to folks who usually do community organizing work, creating gatherings around art, culture and music. How are they shifting their skills to...
2020-04-0458 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Hospital ReadinessIn Episode 34, we discover how prepared hospitals and health care facilities in New Mexico really are. And we go all over the state for this one.
We hear from Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, who was on Let's Talk New Mexico this morning, about how things are looking in the southern part of the state. Reporter Algernon D'Ammassa from the Las Cruces Sun-News tells us about what questions journalists there are asking of their regional hospitals.
Dr. David Pitcher, executive physician for the UNM Health System answers questions about how well they're prepared and about a cr...
2020-04-0358 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Tribal ConcernsIn episode 33, we learn about obstacles for tribes as they try to quell the virus' spread, including bureaucratic hurdles in accessing billions in federal funding that's been allotted to sovereign nations. National Native News anchor Antonia Gonzales tells us what she's learned from the reporting she's done. We also get to listen to her interviews with Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Stacy Bohlen, CEO of the National Indian Health Board. Our host Khalil Ekulona interviews Cabinet Secretary Lynn Trujillo of the state's Department of Indian Affairs. Then Chili Yazzie, president of the Shiprock Chapter, let's us know what hi...
2020-04-0259 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: HomelessnessIn episode 32, we talk about how the homeless population in New Mexico is being served in the era of Covid-19. We hear from Johnathon Stubbs, a person who has experienced homlessness. Elise Kaplan from the Albuquerque Journal joins the show to talk about her story "Exposed and at risk." Nicole Martinez of Mesilla Valley Community Of Hope tells us about the measures they are taking in Las Cruces to help flatten the curve. We also hear from CYFD Secretary Brian Blalock and Albuquerque Healthcare For The Homeless Policy Director Rachel Biggs. And Lisa Huval, the deputy director of Housing...
2020-04-0158 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Behind the WallsEpisode 31 is all about jails and prisons during the pandemic, and it's packed. (Plus, Your NM Gov is airing weeknights at 8 p.m. on KUNM this week.)
We hear from:
Longtime criminal justice reporter Jeff Proctor from the Santa Fe Reporter and New Mexico In Depth
Santa Fe Public Defender's Office attorney Jennifer Burrill, who contracted COVID
Selinda Guerrero, a community organizer with Millions For Prisoners New Mexico
Barron Jones, criminal justice advocate with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico
Matthew Coyte, lawyer and longtime advocate for limiting solitary confinement in the state
Cabinet...
2020-03-3158 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Cram To UnderstandIn episode 30, hear from college students whose futures are seemingly on hold. Mandolin Eisenberg and KUNM's own Taylor Velazquez tell us about their experiences. (And after their interviews, host Khalil Ekulona's ready to vote for either one for U.S. pres should they run.) We also hear from National Native News anchor and New Mexico PBS correspondent Antonia Gonzales about challenges students on tribal lands are facing in trying to get their educations online. And Dr. Stephanie McIver, the counseling director for Student Health and Counseling at UNM, talks about being easy with yourself as you make sense of th...
2020-03-2835 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Help WantedIn episode 29, we hear from people who are creating resources and helping out in their communities. Longtime organizer Selinda Guerrero talks about all of the people working together on the Mutual Aid network, providing food and other necessities to folks that many government efforts don't reach. Rebecca Jones talks about the grassroots Navajo and Hopi COVID-19 relief project started by Ethel Branch. Szu-Han Ho and Miriam Langer are two N.M. college art instructors mobilizing a network of people to sew reliable masks for folks in the state. Plus, Gilbert Ramírez, deputy director of the city's Health Programs, tells...
2020-03-2741 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Home SchoolIn episode 28, we talk to parents about what it's like to become the primary educators of their kids—and to be at home with them pretty much around the clock. And Amy Biehl High School Counselor Kathleen Moore offers wisdom and tips on working with your teen in this new world.
Plus Albuquerque's director of Family and Community Services Carol Pierce talks about what the city's offering, including youth programming at community centers for the kids of parents whose jobs are still essential, like nurses and first responders.
And a news update: Gov. Michelle Lujan Gr...
2020-03-2633 min
No More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Closed for BusinessIn this episode, hear from tipped service-industry workers about the challenges they're facing as restaurants and bars around the state close their doors—unless you're ordering to-go. And host Khalil Ekulona calls his old boss, Ken Carson, who owns Nexus Brewery & Restaurant to talk about shuttering a location because of the impact of the COVID health measures.
2020-03-2537 minNo More NormalCOVID-19 Response: Call Your ParentsYour NM Gov is back and shifting gears with weekday news updates on coronavirus, plus community stories, resources and an eye on government response.
In this episode, host Khalil Ekulona of KUNM Radio calls his folks. Then, he talks with Karen Meyers, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Initiative about scammers who are using COVID fears to prey on people. We also hear from Aging & Long-Term Services Secretary Katrina Hotrum-Lopez about what the state's seniors need, how people can pitch in and what changes are being made around the state.
Plus, a news update: Gov...
2020-03-2435 minNo More NormalSession Wrap-up With KUNM's Marisa DeMarcoIt is the session wrap up with executive producer Marisa Demarco. We talk a lot about the theme of transparency in government and some things that we would like to see changed in legislative structure. Be on the lookout for live events. Just because the session ended doesn't mean that our work in informing you has!
2020-03-0430 min