December 7, 2021
We're wrapping up our four-part series on New Mexico's new recreational cannabis law with a discussion on enforcement this week. New Mexico Sheriff's Association board member and San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari joins the discussion, sharing his questions and concerns about recreational cannabis. How will officers and deputies tell the difference between what’s legal and what’s not allowed? Sheriff Ferrari also shares his prediction about how this new industry may impact local communities, and his department. Got a question, comment, or suggestion? Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com and gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. For more on this episode, and links to the three other cannabis-focused episodes of the podcast, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.
![New Mexico Hospitals Declare ‘Crisis‘]()
November 30, 2021
Over the last month, at least six New Mexico hospitals have declared "crisis standards of care" (CSC) for their facilities amid a continued high number of COVID-19 cases and sick patients more than a year into the pandemic. New Mexico reported 9,892 COVID cases between 11-16 and 11-22, and an additional 4,991 cases over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. CSC is a rare and serious designation, allowing for hospitals, in part, to pick and choose who they provide medical care for and cancel or delay "non-medically necessary procedures." So far, New Mexico facilities say they're not rationing or "deallocating care," but what would it take to get there? What does Crisis Standards of Care actually mean for our local facilities? This week, Chris and Gabby interview Dr. Jason Mitchell, Chief Medical Officer for the state's largest healthcare provider, Presbyterian Healthcare Services. Mitchell explains how Presbyterian is using the CSC designation, if he foresees a time when the hospitals have to ration medical care, and provides a detailed picture of the grim reality inside New Mexico's hospitals. Got a question, comment, or suggestion? Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com and gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. For more on this episode, visit KRQE.com/podcasts.
November 23, 2021
More than 2,000 people have already started the process of trying to become recreational cannabis producers in New Mexico. What does it take to become a cannabis producer? Who are the people applying for licenses? What motivates some of them? Chris and Gabby breakdown the numbers and demographics behind who's applying with the help of KRQE's Investigative Data Reporter Curtis Segarra. Also, hear from a young father who left his job as a truck driver to dive head-first into the state’s budding new industry. This is the third episode in a four part series on the podcast, looking into the state’s unfolding recreational cannabis industry set to launch sales by April 1, 2022. For more on this episode and links to news stories mentioned in this podcast, visit our website at KRQE.com/podcasts. Got an idea, comment, or a suggestion? Email Chris and Gabby at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com.
November 16, 2021
With recreational cannabis legalization in New Mexico and retail sales on the horizon, KRQE News 13 recently looked to our neighbors in Colorado for perspective on some of the challenges that state has dealt with since its legalization effort. Anchor/reporter Dean Staley traveled to Colorado to interview a prosecutor, sheriff, and educator - and shares what they've seen in their communities in the nearly nine years since cannabis became legal. Gabby, Chris, and Dean dive into some of the cautionary tales from Colorado, and some of the challenges that could make their way to New Mexico. Got an idea for the podcast or some feedback? Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. We've posted links to all of Dean's Colorado cannabis stories in the post tied to this episode on KRQE.com/podcasts.
![‘Rust‘ Shooting Fallout & The Use of Guns On Movie Sets]()
November 9, 2021
The tragic shooting on the film set of ‘Rust’ in Santa Fe sparked lots of discussion about the use of real weapons in movie productions. Investigators say actor Alec Baldwin fired a long colt revolver while rehearsing a scene at Bonanza Creek Ranch, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, and injuring the film’s director, Joel Souza. How did a real bullet get on set and go unnoticed? Should film productions stick with visual effects from now on instead of using real functioning firearms? What is the role of an armorer on a film set? Gabby and Chris tackle these topics and more with a New Mexico military veteran who’s spent part of his career working with weapons on film sets as an armorer. Cory Wilde shares first-hand knowledge about using guns on movie sets, and why he believes education is key to keeping people safe. For more on this and other episodes, visit our website at krqe.com/podcasts. Got a question, comment or suggestion? Email us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com.
![Election Day 2021]()
November 2, 2021
It's Election Day in New Mexico and the November ballot is stacked with issues that could alter the direction of the state's biggest city. Chris and Gabby dive into the heated mayoral race in Albuquerque, a $50 million soccer stadium bond, and city council races. Plus, no incumbents are running to keep their seat on APS' Board of Education (the school board) after the pandemic fueled contentious debates with parents over COVID-related issues. Do voters know who their school board candidates are? Will a soccer stadium revitalize the state's metropolis, or could it cause problems for historic neighborhoods? KRQE Political Analyst and UNM Political Science Professor, Gabe Sanchez, weighs in on these issues and more in this week's episode.
Don't forget to join us for election night coverage on KRQE.com, and KRQE News 13 at 4, 5:30 and 10 on CBS and 6pm and 9pm on FOX New Mexico. Chris will also be livestreaming election results on KRQE.com starting around 7:30 p.m. alongside special guests including Gabe Sanchez and News 13 Investigative Data Reporter Curtis Segarra.
Got an idea? Let us know at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Check out more on this episode and past episodes at our website, krqe.com/podcasts.
![Recreational Cannabis Is Legal, Now What?]()
October 26, 2021
New Mexico state leaders first started talking about decriminalizing marijuana in 1999. Then-Republican Governor Gary Johnson suggested the "war on drugs" was a failure, and that lawmakers should have a conversation about the penalties surrounding drug possession. More than two decades later, the state is now poised to open a recreational cannabis marketplace by April 2022. How does New Mexico's recreational cannabis law work? What's legal right now? And what's still left to be decided with the new marketplace? Chris and Gabby talk with KRQE News 13 Investigative Data Reporter Curtis Segarra about the ins and outs of the new law. Plus, a conversation with one of the longtime cannabis legalization stalwarts of the New Mexico Legislature, Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque,) provides historical context for how we got here. For more on this week's episode, visit KRQE.com/podcasts. Got an idea, comment, or feedback? Send it to chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com.
October 19, 2021
He's been New Mexico's guiding voice in dealing with the pandemic for 19 months. Dr. David Scrase joins the New Mexico News Podcast this week to talk about a wide range of COVID topics, including how the state is doing with booster shots, and the impending push to vaccinate younger kids ages 5 to 11. Dr. Scrase gets candid about how he talks to vaccine-hesitant patients, and his own family about vaccinating grandkids. Are the right people getting booster shots? Will the state pivot toward more rapid testing as the pandemic marches on? And why are continued COVID infections so problematic for the thousands working in New Mexico's health care system? Those questions and more are answered in this week's episode. If you have an idea, let us know at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Check out our webpage for more on each episode at krqe.com/podcasts.
October 12, 2021
New Mexico's voting boundaries are going through a revamp. For the first time ever, an independent group is tinkering with the state's "political map," hashing out where they think the state should redraw the borders for U.S. Congressional districts, state Senate, and House districts. The process could result in a major shift in which lawmakers represent different areas of New Mexico. What is a political map revamp? How does it work? Who's involved? Why should you care? Chris and Gabby tackle those topics this week on the New Mexico News Podcast with special guests UNM Political Science Professor and KRQE Political Analyst, Gabe Sanchez, and KRQE Investigative Data Reporter, Curtis Segarra. For more on the New Mexico News Podcast, visit our website at krqe.com/podcasts.
October 5, 2021
Can you believe it's been two years since Balloon Fiesta took to Albuquerque's skies? After the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown most events in New Mexico through 2020, The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is back from an unprecedented "postponement." Chris and Gabby chat with two titans in the Albuquerque balloon scene. Longtime Fiesta spokesman Tom Garrity and well-known balloon pilot, Scott Appelman of Rainbow Ryders talk about what people can expect from this year's event, and how the hiatus impacted the state of New Mexico. For more on the New Mexico News Podcast, visit our website at krqe.com/podcasts
