>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, NATIONAL ACTION ON CLIMATE.

TWO OF OUR STATE'S CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS EXPLAIN HOW RECENT LEGISLATION WILL IMPACT OUR STATE'S ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURE.

>> NOT ONLY MY FRIENDS, MY FAMILY, THE YOUNG ONES, YOU KNOW, AFFECTED BY IT, BUT TO SEE THEM IN HARM'S WAY.

I AM JUST HAPPY I REACTED THE WAY A WARRIOR SHOULD HAVE.

>> Gene: STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE AT THE GALLUP TRIBAL CEREMONIAL AFTER A TERRIFYING INCIDENT LEFT MORE THAN A DOZEN INJURED.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

NEW MEXICO'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS MAKING IMPACTS IN WASHINGTON.

THIS PAST WEEKEND THE SENATE PASSED HISTORIC CLIMATE ACTION AND NEW MEXICO'S MARTIN HEINRICH WAS A KEY PLAYER.

IN 10 MINUTES HE'LL SIT DOWN WITH OUR LAND'S, LAURA PASKUS, TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS IN THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT AND HOW IT COULD HELP OUR ENVIRONMENT.

THE SENATE ISN'T THE ONLY CHAMBER TAKING CLIMATE ACTION IN THE HOUSE.

NEW MEXICO REPRESENTATIVE MELANIE STANSBURY INTRODUCED THREE BILLS ON WATER THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL WILDFIRE RESPONSE AND DROUGHT RESILIENCY ACT.

IN ABOUT 25 MINUTES SHE EXPLAINS HOW THOSE BILLS WILL HELP PROTECT OUR STATE FROM FURTHER DROUGHT DAMAGE.

WE START WITH THE ARREST MADE IN THE MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN.

POLICE ARE CHARGING MUHAMMAD SYED WITH TWO OF THE MURDERS AND SAY HE IS THE PRIME SUSPECT IN THE OTHER TWO KILLINGS.

THE CASE BROUGHT WEEKS OF PARALYZING FEAR TO THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY.

IT IS TIME TO BRING IN OUR LINE OPINION PANEL TO ASSESS WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.

WELCOME TO LINE OPINION PANELISTS THIS WEEK.

HAPPY TO BE JOINED BY LAURA SANCHEZ, SHE IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE REGULARS.

FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND HOUSE MINORITY WHIP DANIEL FOLEY IS WITH US.

AND THE NEWS DIRECTOR AT THAT CARLSBAD CURRENT ARGUS, JESSICA ONSUREZ.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND MUCH OF THE STATE IS EXHALING AFTER POLICE ARRESTED A SUSPECT IN THE KILLINGS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN.

I KNOW THIS CASE BROUGHT A LOT OF ANXIETIES TO THE SURFACE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, NOT JUST THOSE IN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY.

SO, LAURA, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT THE ARREST?

LET'S JUST START THERE.

>> Laura: FIRST OF ALL, I WAS RELIEVED THAT IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY.

I AM SURE DAN WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE POLICE RESPONSE BUT I THINK THAT IT WAS A LOT MORE SWIFT THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN A LOT OF SITUATIONS.

THAT WAS GOOD.

THERE WAS INTERAGENCY RESPONSE, EVERYBODY WORKED TOGETHER, AND IT HAD THE LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE THAT IT SHOULD HAVE HAD FOR SOMETHING SO SHOCKING TO THE COMMUNITY.

BUT TO BE HONEST, THERE HAD BEEN SO MUCH INFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT THIS BEING A POTENTIAL HATE CRIME WITH A PATTERN OF MULTIPLE MUSLIMS INVOLVED AND THEN ONCE THERE WAS AN ARREST I DIDN'T AT ALL THINK IT WOULD BE ANOTHER MUSLIM WHO HAD BEEN ARRESTED FOR THIS CRIME BUT SO IT TOLD ME THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DID KIND OF ALL JUMP TO SOME CONCLUSIONS BUT IT -- TO ME IT SHOWED IT IS A LOT MORE COMPLICATED THAN MAYBE WE HAD FIRST EXPECTED IT TO BE.

SO, I THINK WE'LL BE HEARING A LOT MORE AS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, PAIRS OUT WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.

I THINK IT WAS KIND OF SHOCKING ALL THE WAY AROUND AND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, IN PARTICULAR, AHMAD ASSED, WHO HAS BEEN ON THE NEWS A LOT.

HE IS AN ATTORNEY.

EVERYBODY KNOWS HIM LOCALLY IN THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK HE DID A GOOD JOB AT REPRESENTING FROM HIS COMMUNITY'S PERSPECTIVE HOW MUCH FEAR THAT THIS ENGENDERED IN EVERYBODY.

I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT AND I AM GLAD THERE WAS A QUICK RESPONSE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> Gene: JESSICA, I AM PICKING UP ON FEAR.

BEFORE THE ARREST WE HAD HEARD REPORTS OF PEOPLE LEAVING THE STATED.

WE HAD FOLKS WRITING TO US HERE AT NEW MEXICO PBS TO TAKE DOWN OLD INTERVIEWS WE HAD DONE WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID THEY WOULD BE PUBLICLY IDENTIFIED AS MUSLIM.

AND THAT FEAR DOESN'T GO AWAY OVERNIGHT OR FROM AN ARREST OR WHATEVER THE OUTCOME.

HOW CAN WE REPAIR THIS DAMAGE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH JUST, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS?

>> Onsurez: LET ME JUST SAY THAT I THINK WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORD OF REPORTING FAITHFULLY AND ACCURATELY ON ANY OF OUR MINORITY COMMUNITIES.

WHEN A TRAGEDY LIKE THIS HAPPENS THAT IS COMPOUNDED.

THAT TRUST ISSUE IS COMPOUNDED.

FEAR IS ALWAYS THE LEADING FACTOR WHEN, YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR THAT SOMEONE IS SHOT, AND THEN YOU HEAR THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS BEING TARGETED, WE HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THIS PART OF THE STATE OR THIS PART OF THE NATION, EXCUSE ME, WITH THAT UP, YOU KNOW.

THIS BROUGHT TO MIND FOR ME THE SHOOTINGS AT WALMART IN EL PASO.

WE HAVE MINORITY COMMUNITIES THAT ARE TARGETED ALL THE TIME SO I THINK THAT FEAR WAS JUSTIFIED.

AND I THINK IT IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF WORK ON TRUST TO GET US BACK TO WHERE, WELL, AS MEDIA WE CAN COVER THESE TYPES OF THINGS AND NOT MAKE IT WORSE BUT ALSO MAKE IT FAIR FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES AND BRING THEM SOME SORT OF SENSE OF THEY HAVE A PLACE, THEY HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAGEDIES LIKE THIS HAPPEN.

>> Gene: THAT IS A GOOD POINT THERE BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS A DANGER, JESS, THAT FOLKS WILL ROLL BACK THEIR CONCERN FOR ANOTHER COMMUNITY JUST BY SAYING, OH, WELL, IT IS AN INSIDE THING, LET THEM HANDLE IT, THAT KIND THING.

ARE ANY OF OUR PUBLIC LEADERS OBLIGATED TO SAY SOMETHING EVEN AT THIS POINT ABOUT THIS SITUATION, IN YOUR VIEW?

>> Onsurez: I THINK THAT AT THIS POINT THE ONLY THING THEY CAN EXPRESS IS SYMPATHY AND CONCERN.

I WILL ECHO LAURA AND SAY THAT THE SITUATION WAS HANDLED FAIRLY SWIFTLY.

IT MIGHT BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IS, YOU KNOW, QUICKLY FORGOTTEN, IF WE LET IT BE.

SO I DO THINK THAT IT IS UP TO OUR ELECTED LEADERS TO, YOU KNOW, TO KEEP TURNING ON THE LIGHT AND MAKE SURE THAT JUSTICE IS SERVED IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.

>> Gene: DANIEL, INTERESTINGLY, COURT DOCUMENTS SHOW MR. SYED HAD BEEN ARRESTED THREE TIMES ON MISDEMEANOR BATTERY CHARGES, TWO OF WHICH INVOLVED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST HIS WIFE AND SON.

THE CHARGES WERE DISMISSED IN BOTH CASES.

WHAT SHOULD WE READ INTO THAT AND PARTICULARLY ABOUT GUNS?

BECAUSE DON'T FORGET POLICE SAY MULTIPLE FIREARMS WERE TAKEN FROM HIS HOME WHEN THEY EXECUTED THAT SEARCH WARRANT, ONE OF WHICH WAS AN AK 47 HIS SON SAYS HE BOUGHT A SCOPE FOR THE DAY OF ONE OF THE SHOOTINGS.

IS THERE SOME CONNECTION HERE WE CAN MAKE?

>> Dan: YEAH, I MEAN THERE IS ALWAYS A CONNECTION, GENE.

PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS TRY TO MAKE CONNECTIONS.

THE BIGGER CONNECTION IS TWO THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT.

ONE HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID IS I THINK YOU ASKED A QUESTION TO JESSICA AND SAID HOW DO WE CONVEY THIS MESSAGE TO THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN HARMED IN THESE SITUATIONS, COMMUNITIES.

I THINK THE FACT THAT THEY ARE CALLING SAYING TAKE DOWN INTERVIEWS SHOWS A FEAR THAT EXISTS AT A LEVEL THAT MOST OF US THAT ARE BORN AND RAISED IN THE UNITED STATES, WE DON'T SEE THAT FEAR, RIGHT?

WE ARE NOT BORN WITH THAT SAME FEAR.

AND I THINK IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAD THIS CONCERN AND THE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE STATE POLICE, THIS BECAME A PRIORITY, I MEAN, HOW QUICKLY THEY REACTED.

SO, YOU SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO INTERACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, NO.

1.

NO.

2, I THINK IT IS ALSO SHOWING THE FAILURE OF OUR COURT SYSTEM.

I MEAN, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU COULD HAVE MULTIPLE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES, I MEAN, LISTEN, YOU KNOW, THERE HAS GOT TO BE -- WE HAVE STRENGTHENED THESE LAWS AND TRIED TO OVER THE YEARS WHERE WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, THERE WAS A BIG PROBLEM OVER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

BY THE TIME THE POLICE SHOWED UP, THE WIFE IS BEATEN HALF TO DEATH.

THE GUY IS STANDING OVER THERE IN A T-SHIRT AND THE WIFE SAYS, NO, HE DIDN'T DO IT, I FELL DOWN.

AND THE POLICE HAD TO LEAVE.

IF THE WIFE DIDN'T AGREE TO PRESS CHARGES.

WE CHANGED THE LAW AND IT SAYS, HEY, LISTEN, IF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS STUFF AND WE SHOW UP ON SCENE, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE SPOUSE SAYS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO ARREST SOMEBODY.

HOW DOES SOMEBODY GET INVOLVED MULTIPLE TIMES IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

HOW DOES SOMEBODY HAVE SUCH ANGER ISSUES AND SUCH ISSUES AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, I THINK IT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I AM NOT SURE OF THE RIGHT TERM, BUT I WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY POLICING, RIGHT?

THAT COMMUNITY IS SUCH A SMALL COMMUNITY AS IT IS, I WONDER IF THAT COMMUNITY AIDED IN THE APPREHENSION OF THIS INDIVIDUAL AND THERE IS PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, LOOK, THAT IS THE GUY.

IF YOU'RE SAYING THIS MAY BE WHO THE PERSON IS, WE THINK IT MAY BE THAT GUY.

>> Gene: I BET YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> Dan: I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY THE MESSAGE THAT NEEDS TO COME OUT OF THIS IS NOT POLITICAL POSTURING BY ANYBODY, NOT SAYING HOW DO WE MAKE THIS A GUN ISSUE OR MUSLIM ISSUE OR MINORITY ISSUE.

IT SHOULD BE TWO THINGS.

ONE, POLICE RESPONDED, POLICE REACTED, MADE IT A PRIORITY, AND, TWO, WHEN YOU'RE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES YOU SHOULDN'T BE FEARFUL OF GOING TO PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP YOU, STATE POLICE, LOCAL POLICE.

REGARDLESS OF ALL THE THINGS YOU'RE HEARING, THAT IS THE PLACE TO GO.

>> GENE: SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

WE ARE JUST DOWN TO A COUPLE MINUTES.

I HAVE ONE QUESTION I WANT ALL THREE OF YOU TO TAKE A CUT AT.

LET ME START WITH YOU, INITIALLY THERE WERE FEARS THAT THIS CASE AND AN INCIDENT WHERE A DRIVER SPED THROUGH THE GALLUP CEREMONIAL PARADE WERE MOTIVATED BY RACISM.

IT APPEARS NEITHER WERE.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT OUR SOCIETY WHEN THAT IS THE FIRST PLACE WE LOOK?

HOW SHOULD WE FEEL ABOUT THE WAY THOSE INCIDENCES PLAYED OUT.

>> Laura: I THINK THAT IS EXACTLY THE POINT HERE THAT THE PROBLEM IS WE REACT TO PATTERNS, RIGHT?

ALL OF US DO.

WE HAVE SEEN SIMILAR SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE TARGETED BASED ON RACE SO IT IS HARD FOR US NOT TO PUT THAT SAME FRAME ON IT.

AND THEN, AGAIN, IT IS A SURPRISE, AT LEAST TO ME AND MY OWN IGNORANCE, I WAS SURPRISED IN BOTH SITUATIONS IT WASN'T A RACIALLY MOTIVATED ISSUE BUT IT SPEAKS TO A LARGER SYSTEMIC PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IN THE GALLUP COMMUNITY.

THERE WAS DRINKING INVOLVED.

THERE WERE OBVIOUSLY HUGE PROBLEMS THERE.

>> Gene: OFFICERS GOT HURT.

IT WAS TERRIBLE.

DANIEL, I REMIND YOU AND THE FOLKS OF THAT SITUATION BACK IN JANUARY OF 2019 WHERE THOSE KIDS AT THE -- THERE WAS THAT CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE KENTUCKY CATHOLIC SCHOOL KIDS AND THAT NATIVE AMERICAN ELDER IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND EVERYBODY JUMPED UGLY ON THAT AND IT TURNED OUT ONCE THE CONTEXT WAS WIDE AND THE LENS WAS WIDE, IT TURNED OUT THE KID IN THE MAGA HAT WAS NOT EXACTLY DOING WHAT FOLKS SAID HE WAS DOING INITIALLY.

AND THAT BECAME A HUGE DEAL FOR THE ENTIRE SPRING ALMOST, IT SEEMED LIKE.

SAME QUESTION, ARE WE JUMPING TOO QUICKLY AT THESE THINGS OR WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THEM?

>> DAN: WE ARE JUMPING TOO QUICK.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO POINT AT THE WORST IN HUMANS EVERY TIME THEY SEE SOMETHING AND WE HAVE THESE SITUATIONS.

I AM NOT SAYING THAT WE DON'T HAVE ISSUES IN OUR COUNTRY AND ISSUES IN OUR GOVERNMENT.

THERE IS NO DOUBT PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED, BUT WE ARE RUNNING OUT RIGHT AWAY TO POINT THIS HAS TO BE -- BOTH OF THESE ISSUES, SOMEBODY HAS TO BE TIED TO RACE YET THERE IS 40 OR 50 PEOPLE A WEEK SHOT IN CHICAGO.

AND IT IS RACE-ON-RACE CRIME AND NOBODY SAYS ANYTHING.

RIGHT?

WE CAN'T PUSH THAT TO THE FRONT AND SAY, THIS IS THE WORST OF THE HUMAN BEING.

I THINK THAT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MEDIA.

INSTEAD OF GETTING THE STORY RIGHT, THEY WANT TO AGGRANDIZE THE STORY AND SCARE PEOPLE.

>> GENE: I HEAR YOU.

JESS, WE ARE SHORT ON TIME AND I WANT TO GET YOU IN ON THIS ONE TOO, PLEASE.

>> Onsurez: SURE.

SO, LET ME JUST SAY I THINK SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING TO DAN, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO FRAME WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE EVERYDAY IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE FOR LEADERS, SPEAKING AS A PERSON IN THE MEDIA.

SO, OUR INTENT IS NOT TO POINT AND SAY, HEY, THAT IS THE BAD GUY, THIS IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR SOCIETY.

RATHER, HERE IS HOW OUR SOCIETY IS FUNCTIONING AND PERFORMING AND HERE IS WHY WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS, WHICH IS, THE MEDIA DOES HOLD SOME -- HAS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE WAY THEY REPORT ON INCIDENTS LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY WHEN RELATED TO A MINORITY COMMUNITY.

I THINK WE HAVE BECOME, AS AN INDUSTRY, MORE APT TO LOOK AT OUR SMALLER COMMUNITIES AS OTHER OR OUTSIDE AND REFUSE TO REPORT ON THEM AS JUST MEMBERS OF OUR NATION AND NOT A SEPARATE ENTITY.

SO, THAT IS A FAILING ON OUR PART, SOMETHING THAT I HOPE THAT WE CAN FIX IN THE FUTURE BUT UNTIL THEN, THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO IS JUST TO KEEP DIGGING UP THOSE FACTS AND SHARING THEM AS WE CAN.

>> Gene: WELL SAID.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT CASE.

WE'LL BE BACK HERE AT THE VIRTUAL ROUNDTABLE IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS ON THE MINDS OF PARENTS AS THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTS BACK UP.

>> THIS IS ONCE A YEAR WHERE ALL TRIBES COME TOGETHER TO REALLY CELEBRATE AND STAND IN OUR INDIGENOUS CULTURE AND THIS IS SO EMPOWERING AND YOU CAN SENSE THE SACRED ENERGY THAT IS AROUND US HERE.

>> Gene: THERE HAS BEEN A LOT GOING ON IN THE CONGRESS IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS FROM THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, A CLIMATE ENERGY TAX BILL, TO THE JANUARY 6 HEARINGS AND WORKING TO FIND A WAY TO COME TOGETHER AS A COUNTRY.

AT THE END OF JULY, U.S.

SENATOR MARTIN HEINRICH VISITED THE STUDIO FOR A WIDE RANGE OF CONVERSATION WITH OUR LAND SENIOR PRODUCER, LAURA PASKUS.

>> Laura: WELCOME SENATOR HEINRICH.

THANKS FOR COMING INTO THE STUDIO.

>> Heinrich: ALWAYS GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Laura: WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE END OF JULY.

THE BIG NEWS THIS WEEK WAS WEST VIRGINIA SENATOR JOE MANCHIN FINALLY STOPPED HOLDING UP ENERGY, CLIMATE TAX BILL.

THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.

IF PASSED WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CRITICAL CLIMATE PROVISIONS IN THAT BILL?

>> Heinrich: IF WE CAN GET THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, AND WE ARE NOT THERE YET, BUT IT WOULD BE FAR AND AWAY THE BIGGEST THING EVER DONE ON CLIMATE.

THERE ARE AN ENORMOUS SUITE OF TAX INCENTIVES AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT COULD REDUCE THE U.S.' POLLUTION OUTPUT IN TERMS OF CARBON DIOXIDE BY AS MUCH AS 40% BETWEEN NOW AND 2030.

WE HAVE JUST NEVER MOVED THE NEEDLE THAT MUCH, SO, THERE IS TAX CREDITS FOR WIND AND SOLAR, A WHOLE SUITE OF POLICIES DESIGNED AT BRINGING MANUFACTURING FOR ALL THOSE CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES, BATTERIES WIND, SOLAR STORAGE BACK TO THE U.S.

THERE ARE REBATES TO HELP INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES WITH THE COST OF THEIR ENERGY BURDEN AND REALLY GETTING THEM THE BEST, MOST EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES NOW, AT THE SAME PRICE AS OLD FASHION TECHNOLOGY.

SO, THEN THEY CAN SAVE ON THEIR BILLS MONTH AFTER MONTH AFTER MONTH.

SO, THERE IS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT IN THIS BILL.

OBVIOUSLY IT IS THE RESULT OF YEARS WORTH OF NEGOTIATING AND COMPROMISE, BUT A GIANT STEP FORWARD FOR CLIMATE.

>> Laura: IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING TO GO WATCH THE DEBATE GOING ON AND I KNOW THAT SENATOR SCHUMER WAS NEGOTIATING.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OF WHAT FINALLY SWAYED THE WEST VIRGIN SENATOR TO SUPPORTING THIS?

>> Heinrich: YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE WAS A MOMENT THERE WHEN THINGS REALLY SEEMED TO COME APART.

AND I AM NOT SURE THAT THE SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA WAS QUITE READY FOR THE SCALE OF THE BACKLASH AT THAT MOMENT.

AND THAT IS ON POLICY GROUNDS BUT IT IS ALSO JUST ON THE GROUNDS THAT WE WERE ALL TRYING TO ENGAGE IN THIS IN GOOD FAITH FOR WELL OVER A YEAR.

AND IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ACTUALLY MAKE A DECISION AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEN, THAT IS A VERY BAD PLACE TO BE AND I THINK HE REALIZED THAT WE WERE CLOSE ENOUGH THAT WE CAN GET THERE AND MAKE IT WORK FOR ALL 50 SENATORS INVOLVED.

>> Laura: I KIND OF WANTED TO MOVE TOWARD JANUARY 6 A LITTLE BIT.

YOU LIVED THROUGH THAT HISTORIC INSURRECTION AND I AM CURIOUS YOUR THOUGHTS LOOKING BACK WITH THE HEARINGS GOING ON RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE AS A NATION HEAL FROM SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> Heinrich: I THINK WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, IN TERMS OF EVEN MUCH MORE SO THAN THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, THE HEARINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW HAVE REALLY FORCED PEOPLE TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THINGS THAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DID IN THOSE DAYS RUNNING UP TO JANUARY 6.

THERE IS A LOT MORE TRANSPARENCY AROUND THIS NOW THAN THERE WAS.

I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HOW WE COME TO GRIPS WITH HOW THIS HAPPENED AND HOW WE TRY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF HOW WE PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.

I NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS THOUGHT THAT I WOULD SEE THE THINGS THAT I SAW ON JANUARY 6.

IT IS SOMETHING I STILL, YOU KNOW, STILL THINK ABOUT EVERYDAY AND, YOU KNOW, I KNEW, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CAPITOL POLICE THAT I USED TO SAY HI TO EVERY OTHER DAY THAT AREN'T WITH US.

SO, I HOPE THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE WE REALIZE THAT DEMOCRACY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST CONTINUES WITH THE INERTIA OF TIME BUT WE HAVE TO INVEST IN IT AND WE HAVE TO REINVEST IN IT AND I THINK WE ALL TOOK THAT DEMOCRATIC PROCESS FOR GRANTED FOR TOO LONG UNTIL IT WAS TESTED AND, BOY, IT NEARLY BROKE BUT IT DIDN'T.

AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HOLD ONTO THIS AND TRY TO MOVE FORWARD IN A WAY THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THE NEXT TIME AROUND THAT ELECTIONS ARE DECIDED BY VOTERS.

>> Laura: I CAN'T BELIEVE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THESE SORTS OF THINGS IN THE UNITED STATES NOW BUT POLITICS REALLY FEELS TO ME AS SOMETHING THAT HAS BECOME LIKE THIS CRAZY SPECTATOR SPORT AND ON THE OUTSIDE OF IT, LIKE, I AM TIRED.

I AM TIRED OF WATCHING IT.

AND I AM JUST CURIOUS IF BIPARTISANSHIP IS SOMETHING OF THE PAST OR IF WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS A NATION.

>> Heinrich: I THINK TO SOME DEGREE IT IS UP TO -- IT WILL BE DECIDED BY VOTERS WHO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHETHER WHICH CULTURAL TEAM THEY ARE ON IS MORE IMPORTANT OR WHETHER THEY WANT GOVERNANCE AND STABILITY OF DEMOCRACY AND THE REALITY THAT WE MOVE FORWARD THROUGH A PROCESS OF COMPROMISE.

WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD THING GOING IN THIS COUNTRY.

WITH ALL OF OUR CHALLENGES WE HAVE HAD HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE HAD A VERY STABLE COUNTRY THAT WAS ALWAYS AT THE FRONT EDGE, IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE GLOBE, OF EXTENDING RIGHTS AND TAKING BETTER CARE OF PEOPLE.

WE HAVE HAD THIS MOMENT WHERE THAT CALLS ALL OF THAT INTO QUESTION AND I HOPE THAT IT WILL MAKE ALL OF US REALIZE JUST HOW GOOD WE HAVE IT AND HOW IT IS COMPLETELY WORTH REINVESTING IN THIS PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PASSING ON BETTER OPPORTUNITIES TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> Laura: THANK YOU SENATOR.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> Heinrich: GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> Stansbury: AFTER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES WE ARE ALREADY SEEING THE SIGNATURE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN OUR RIVERS, RIVER SYSTEMS AND THE CHANGING WEATHER PATTERNS, THE LACK OF SNOWPACK AND THESE STRANGE STORMS AND RAIN PATTERNS THAT WE ARE SEEING, AND, SO, IF WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE LONG-TERM RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE OUR RIVER.

>> Gene: THAT INTERVIEW WITH REPRESENTATIVE STANSBURY IS COMING UP IN JUST ABOUT 10 MINUTES.

ONLINE RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN WATCH LAURA'S FULL CONVERSATION WITH SENATOR HEINRICH.

THEY TOUCH ON SOME OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL BILLS AS WELL AS PLANS TO BRING NUCLEAR WASTE TO NEW MEXICO.

IT'S ALL UP ON YOUTUBE.

JUST SEARCH OUR LAND NEW MEXICO.

LET'S GET BACK TO THE LINE TO TALK THROUGH SOMETHING THAT IS ON THE MINDS OF EVERY PARENT IN THE STATE, SENDING THE KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL.

WE PUT THE QUESTION OUT TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS THIS WEEK ASKING, WHAT IS AT THE TOP OF MINDS FOR PARENTS HEADING INTO SCHOOL THIS YEAR?

SADLY AND UNDERSTANDABLY, MANY SAID SECURITY.

NOW, JESSICA, IS THERE ANY FEAR STUDENTS WILL BE IN THE SAME MINDSET?

I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT THIS?

>> Onsurez: I THINK KIDS FEED OFF OF PARENTS AND ADULTS AROUND THEM ARE THINKING AND FEELING.

I THINK IF YOU GO TO ANY SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, HIGH SCHOOL, PRIVATE OR PUBLIC, YOU ASK THESE KIDS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST THOUGHTS ON THE UPCOMING YEAR.

YOU'LL LIKELY GET THE RESPONSE, AM I SAFE COMING TO SCHOOL?

THEY ARE NOT IGNORANT, THEY SEE THE NEWS, THEY SEE WHAT IS GOING ON, ONLINE.

I AM SURE THAT MANY, ESPECIALLY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, HAVE THAT CONCERN.

YOU KNOW, I HAD A CONVERSATION, THOUGH, WITH A PARENT JUST THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THIS VERY SAME TOPIC AND IT WAS STRIKING TO ME THAT HER RESPONSE WAS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT MY KIDS' SCHOOL TO BECOME A PRISON.

I DON'T WANT IT TO BE ON LOCK DOWN WITH CAMERAS AND GATES AND FENCES AND GUARDS THAT ARE ARMED, BUT IF THAT IS WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP MY KID SAFE THEN THOSE ARE THE MEASURES WE SHOULD TAKE.

>> Gene: ANYTHING LOCAL FOR YOU DOWN THERE OF NOTE FOR SECURITY, PARTICULARLY FOR SCHOOLS?

>> Onsurez: YEAH.

WE WERE WATCHING CARLSBAD POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE EDDY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE THE OTHER DAY CONDUCT THIS MASSIVE DRILL FOR ACTIVE SHOOTERS AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW, NATURALLY WE STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS.

WELL, WHAT ARE WE DOING THIS YEAR THAT MIGHT BE NEW OR DIFFERENT TOO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE?

AND A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS OF INTEREST.

WHEN I SAY LOCKDOWN I LITERALLY MEAN LOCKING DOWN SCHOOLS.

GATES ARE CLOSED, DOORS ARE LOCKED, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THREE PEOPLE BEFORE YOU CAN GET IN THE FRONT DOOR OF ONE OF THE LOCAL SCHOOLS HERE.

OVER IN MY HOME TOWN OF LOVING, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PICK UP YOUR KID OR IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMEBODY PICK UP YOUR KID FOR YOU, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE THING ON YOUR WINDSHIELD THAT SAYS YOU'RE AUTHORIZED.

IN ALAMOGORDO KIDS ARE WEARING ID'S WITH ALL THE PERTINENT INFORMATION, ANOTHER MEASURE TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

OF COURSE, I THINK, EVERYBODY HERE MIGHT HAVE HEARD WHAT IS HAPPENING IN LAS CRUCES WHERE PARENTS ARE ASKED TO VOLUNTEER TO BASICALLY BE THE EYES AND EARS ON CAMPUS IN SITUATIONS WHERE SCHOOLS EITHER DON'T HAVE THE PERSONNEL OR DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO ADD THAT ADDITIONAL SECURITY.

THEY ARE BEING PROACTIVE, AND SAYING, HEY, YOU WANT TO SECURE YOUR SCHOOL AND YOUR KID, COME HELP US DO THAT.

>> Gene: JESS -- I AM SORRY.

JESS WAS JUST SPEAKING.

LAURA, SORRY.

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAYS IT HAS BEEN ADDING FENCING, LOCKS, CAMERA SYSTEMS.

MORE INCIDENT TRAINING FOR STUDENTS AND ALL THIS KIND OF THING.

I AM INTERESTED IN YOUR TAKE, JUST HEARING WHAT JESSICA MENTIONED ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT OF LEARNING, SO TO SPEAK.

>> Laura: YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TIME CERTAINLY THAN WHEN ANY OF US WENT TO SCHOOL.

I AM MAKING AN ASSUMPTION HERE, JESSICA, BUT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP AND I LOVED GOING TO SCHOOL.

I COULDN'T EVEN SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL BECAUSE I WAS SO EXCITED BY MY NEW CLASS AND MY CLASSMATES AND GETTING BACK INTO IT.

AND BEING AFRAID FOR MYSELF, PHYSICAL SAFETY OR BEING AFRAID OF A SHOOTER WAS JUST NEVER EVEN A POSSIBILITY.

IT WASN'T IN THE REALM OF REALITY OF SOMETHING THAT I MIGHT BE AFRAID OF.

SO, WE HAVE STUDENTS NOW THAT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH SO MANY CHANGES, WHETHER IT IS FROM COVID OR READING ABOUT ACTIVE SHOOTERS OR A STUDENT BRINGING A GUN TO SCHOOL AND HAVING AN INCIDENT.

SO I THINK A LOT -- WE HAVE UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF INCIDENTS AND SCHOOLS ARE REACTING AS BEST THEY CAN, SO I THINK ANXIETY IS AT A FEVER PITCH RIGHT NOW FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, AS WELL AS PARENTS.

I THINK EVERYBODY IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, IT CREATES A LEVEL OF ANXIETY THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING THAT WE EXPERIENCED WHEN WE WERE STUDENTS.

THAT BEING SAID, I APPRECIATE WHAT JESSICA SAID THAT STUDENTS DO TEND TO FEED OFF OF WHAT PARENTS OR WHAT ADULTS ARE DOING.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE A SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, OF CALM WHEN WE DEAL WITH SOME OF THIS AND BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, WHY THESE MEASURES ARE BEING TAKEN FOR THEIR OWN PROTECTION, FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY.

THE DRILLS ARE IMPORTANT.

ALL OF THAT SORT OF THING IS AN IMPORTANT THING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT.

IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH STUDENTS ABOUT WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE THESE MEASURES SERIOUSLY AND ALL OF US CAN DO OUR PART, TO, I THINK, YOU HEAR THIS ALL OVER AND NOT JUST IN SCHOOL CONTEXT BUT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, OTHER PLACES, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO ADDRESS THINGS PROACTIVELY INSTEAD OF REACTING TO THINGS.

>> Gene: DAN, ANOTHER BIG CHANGE WILL BE INTERESTING TO SAY THIS OUT LOUD, A YEAR WITHOUT MASK RESTRICTIONS.

WILL THIS FINALLY BE A BIG STEP TOWARDS KIDS RESOCIALIZING IN A HEALTHIER WAY AND MAYBE HELPFUL TO GET PAST ALL THE OTHER STUFF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

>> Dan: YOU HOPE SO.

I THINK, LISTENING TO EVERYTHING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AND ALL THE NEWS STUFF AND WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, YET, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT 76% OF FOURTH GRADERS ARE NOT PROFICIENT IN READING IN NEW MEXICO.

79% OF 8TH GRADERS ARE NOT PROFICIENT IN MATH IN NEW MEXICO.

AND, SO, HOW DO WE STOP THIS CONSISTENT PERPETUAL PROBLEM IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM AND I DON'T THINK WE DO THAT BY SAYING, HEY, WE ARE GOING TO TIGHTEN THE CAMPUS, WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL THESE ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS, MAKE IT HARDER FOR YOU TO GET ON CAMPUS, BRING CUPCAKES OR YOU HAVE TO WEAR A SPECIAL TAG.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, 76% OF FOURTH GRADERS ARE NOT PROFICIENT IN READING AND 79% OF 8TH GRADERS ARE NOT PROFICIENT IN MATH.

YOU'RE DESTINED TO KEEP PRODUCING THE SAME THINGS OVER AN OVER AGAIN.

I GET FRUSTRATED THAT SAFETY IS CLEARLY IMPORTANT BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE LIKELIHOOD OF A STUDENT IN PUBLIC SCHOOL IN NEW MEXICO BEING INVOLVED IN ONE OF THESE SITUATIONS, TRULY LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS, IT IS HIGHER TODAY THAN IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT, BUT WHICH SHOULD WE BE FOCUSING ON?

THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T READ AND DO MATH OR THE FACT WE ARE BUILDING ALL THESE FENCES AND DOING ALL THIS ADDITIONAL SECURITY STUFF.

AT THE END OF THE DAY KIDS STILL CAN'T READ AND KIDS STILL CAN'T DO MATH AND CAN'T GRADUATE.

WE HAVE KIDS DYING AT RECORDS RATES.

WE ARE WORST AT TEEN DEATHS PER 100,000, WITH 37 NOW AT TEEN DEATHS, 400,000, WE ARE UP FROM 36%.

SO, I MEAN IT IS A HORRIBLE SITUATION THAT I THINK ALL THESE OTHER SCENARIOS WE JUST KIND OF FORGET WHAT IS THE ROOT OF A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS IN OUR STATE AND THAT IS THE STUFF THAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT.

>> Laura: I WANT TO SAY, LIKE, KEEPING STUDENTS SAFE AND HAVING A HIGH EXPECTATION IN TERMS OF TEACHING AND LEARNING, THOSE ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE THINGS.

I THINK THAT THE ADVANTAGE -- I APPRECIATE THAT JESSICA IS ON HERE AND DAN TOO, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PROVIDE A PERSPECTIVE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

SMALLER SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE A REAL CHALLENGE, I THINK, IN THIS SITUATION IN THIS ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS AND OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL.

IT IS JUST HARDER TO FIND PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS THAT ARE ABLE TO WORK IN THESE SCHOOLS BUT THEN ALSO BIGGER SCHOOL DISTRICTS LIKE APS HAVE MORE RESOURCES.

THEY JUST HAVE MORE ABILITY TO -- NOT THAT THEY ARE SORT OF FLUSH WITH MONEY EITHER, BUT THEY HAVE MORE RESOURCES, MORE PERSONNEL WHO CAN DO INTERCHANGEABLE IN TERMS OF THEIR ROLES.

IN SMALLER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ONE PERSON MAY BE THE PRINCIPAL, ADMINISTRATOR, SUPERINTENDENT, YOU KNOW -- >> Dan: SCHOOL BUS DRIVER.

>> Laura: BUS DRIVER, WHATEVER IT IS, AND THOSE SCHOOLS HAVE A HARDER TIME, I THINK, WITH DELIVERING THE SERVICES THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DELIVER, TEACHING AND LEARNING, AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS SCHOOL SAFETY ISSUE.

>> Gene: IT IS DIFFERENT FOR SMALLER DISTRICTS FOR SURE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT DISCUSSION.

WE WILL BE BACK IN LESS THAN 15 MINUTES TO TALK POLITICS AS OUR SECRETARY OF STATE DEFENDS THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTION SYSTEM IN CONGRESS.

FIRST, A CONVERSATION WITH NEW MEXICO CONGRESSWOMAN MELANIE STANSBURY.

AT THE END OF JULY, THREE OF HER WATER BILLS PASSED THROUGH THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR INCLUSION IN A LARGER BILL, THE WILDFIRE RESPONSE AND DROUGHT RESILIENCY ACT.

THIS WEEK SHE TALKED WITH LAURA PASKUS ABOUT WHAT THOSE THREE BILLS COULD MEAN FOR NEW MEXICO.

>> Laura: SO YOU HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY, AND IN PARTICULAR WITH SOME WATER BILLS LATELY.

I KIND OF WANTED TO GO ONE-BY-ONE, AND I WAS HOPING WE COULD START WITH THE RIO GRANDE WATER SECURITY ACT.

>> Stansbury: YEAH.

WELL, JUST THE BIGGER PICTURE, ACTUALLY THIS LAST WEEK WE JUST PASSED A WHOLE PACKAGE OF DROUGHT AND WILDFIRE BILLS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WE PASSED 48 BILLS THAT WERE PACKAGED TOGETHER TO HELP ADDRESS DROUGHT, WATER RESILIENCE, AND FIRE RESILIENCE IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES AS WE'RE FACING THESE UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES.

AND IT WAS LED BY THE HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND OUR LEADERSHIP, AND JOE NEGUSE, WHO IS MY COLLEAGUE TO THE NORTH FROM COLORADO.

AND I WAS EXTRAORDINARILY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THREE OF MY WATER BILLS INCLUDED, AS WELL AS OUR HERMIT'S PEAK/CALF CANYON FIRE RESPONSE BILL, AS WELL.

SO OF THE THREE BILLS THAT WERE INCLUDED, THE RIO GRANDE WATER SECURITY ACT IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CREATE A FRAMEWORK FOR COLLABORATION ON THE RIO GRANDE, AND AS YOU'VE BEEN REPORTING AND SO MANY OF OUR WATER EXPERTS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE SEEING THE RIO GRANDE DRYING IN PLACES THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN DECADES, ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE CENTRAL RIO GRANDE THROUGH THE ALBUQUERQUE AREA.

AND OUR BILL IS REALLY DESIGNED TO HELP CREATE A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS TO HELP PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING GOING FORWARD.

SO WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE IS THAT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES, WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE SIGNATURE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN OUR RIVER SYSTEMS AND THE CHANGING WEATHER PATTERNS, THE LACK OF SNOWPACK, AND THESE STRANGE STORMS AND RAIN PATTERNS THAT WE'RE SEEING.

SO IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE LONG-TERM RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, WE REALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE OUR RIVER SCALE.

SO THIS BILL CREATES THAT FRAMEWORK.

IT BRINGS ALL OF THE FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT HELP TO MANAGE WATER TOGETHER.

IT BRINGS THE STATES OF NEW MEXICO, COLORADO AND TEXAS TO THE TABLE, OUR TRIBES AND OUR PUEBLOS, AND OUR LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS, AND THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT WATER, OUR ACEQUIAS AND WATER MANAGERS, IRRIGATION DISTRICTS, SO THAT WE CAN BUILD A COLLABORATIVE PLAN FOR THE RIO GRANDE AND NOT JUST SUE EACH OTHER OVER WATER.

AND IT ALSO PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY IN HOW OUR FEDERAL AGENCIES MANAGE THOSE WATER SYSTEMS.

SO ONE OF OUR BIG CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR AS WE'RE TRYING TO MEET THE MOMENT AND THIS STRANGE DROUGHT THAT WE'RE HAVING ALONG WITH MONSOON RAINS, IS HOW DO WE MEET OUR COMPACT REQUIREMENTS AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE MAKE DELIVERIES TO OUR PUEBLOS AND OUR TRIBES, AND ALSO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR WATER CONTRACTORS, OUR FARMERS AND OUR CITIES.

AND IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY IN HOW WE MANAGE THE SYSTEM.

SO THIS BILL WOULD CREATE THAT FRAMEWORK SO THAT THE AGENCIES HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY IN MANAGING OUR FEDERAL RESERVOIRS AND THE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS HELPS TO AUTHORIZE NEW PROGRAMS FOR CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OF THE RIVER, ITSELF.

>> Laura: SO THAT'S ALSO -- IT'S ALL GREAT TO HEAR.

IT WAS HARD FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THE DRYING IN THE RIO GRANDE IN THE ALBUQUERQUE REACH LAST WEEK.

AND WHAT I HEAR FROM SO MANY PEOPLE AS I'M COVERING IT IS, WHAT CAN WE DO?

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO BESIDES CONSERVE WATER OR CALL THEIR LAWMAKER.

BUT I FEEL LIKE YOU REALLY KIND OF GOT AT THE MEAT OF THIS, THAT IT IS A BIGGER PROCESS AND IT REQUIRES THE HELP OF CONGRESS, IT REQUIRES FUNDING.

BUT I'M CURIOUS FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHEN PEOPLE FEEL HELPLESS AND SEEING THESE TRAGEDIES OCCURRING, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY WANT TO BE DOING SOMETHING?

>> Stansbury: WELL, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE BIGGER PICTURE, AND THAT'S WHY YOUR COVERAGE OF THIS ISSUE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

WHILE EACH OF US HAS A PART TO PLAY IN TERMS OF CONSERVING WATER AND USING LESS WATER, THIS IS REALLY A PROBLEM THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED AT SCALE ACROSS THE ENTIRE WATERSHED.

SO THE RIO GRANDE IS ONE OF OUR MOST ICONIC RIVERS.

IT STRETCHES 1900 MILES FROM COLORADO DOWN TO THE GULF OF MEXICO.

IT SUSTAINS MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN MEXICO.

AND WHILE INDIVIDUAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN YOUR HOME AND YOUR YARDS IS IMPORTANT, IT REALLY HAS TO DO WITH THE LARGER WAYS IN WHICH WE MANAGE THE RIVER.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, THIS SUMMER, BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF STORAGE IN OUR RESERVOIRS, BECAUSE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVEN'T HAD SNOWPACK YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE HAD ALMOST NO MONSOON SEASON LAST YEAR AND WE HAD VERY DRY SOILS, AND WE HAVE A LA NINA YEAR RIGHT NOW WHICH IS IMPACTING THE WEATHER PATTERNS, WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A BACKUP TO DEAL WITH THE WATER SHORTAGES THAT WE WERE GOING TO SEE THIS YEAR.

LUCKILY WE GOT SOME MONSOONS THAT HELPED US GET THROUGH THE SEASON A LITTLE BIT LONGER, BUT THERE WASN'T THAT FLEXIBILITY TO HELP MEET OUR COMPACT REQUIREMENTS TO TEXAS AND MAKE THOSE WATER DELIVERIES FOR OUR SENIOR WATER RIGHTS HOLDERS, SO THAT WE COULD KEEP WATER IN THE RIVER FOR OUR FISH AND FOR THE BOSQUE.

AND SO IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THAT, WE REALLY NEED SOLUTIONS AT SCALE.

WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THOSE BIG ANSWERS IN HOW OUR WATER MANAGERS CAN MANAGE THE OVERALL FLOW OF THE RIVER TO OPTIMIZE IT FOR ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT NEEDS.

AND I THINK THAT THE BEST THING THAT CITIZENS CAN DO IS TO LIFT UP THESE ISSUES AND TO CALL YOUR LAWMAKERS, TO CALL YOUR CONGRESS PEOPLE AND YOUR SENATORS, AND YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS, AND TELL THEM HOW MUCH THESE ISSUES MATTER TO YOU AND THAT YOU WANT TO SEE THESE BIGGER, LONGER TERM SOLUTIONS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED MORE WATER CONSERVATION AND WE DO NEED OTHER SMALLER SCALE SOLUTIONS, AS WELL, BUT THESE REALLY BIG STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS ARE WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO TACKLE IN THE NEXT SEVERAL DECADES, BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE IS SO BIG AND SO MASSIVE, AND IT'S GOING TO AFFECT OUR HYDROLOGIC SYSTEMS IN SUCH SIGNIFICANT WAYS.

IT'S NOT JUST ENOUGH TO, YOU KNOW, WATER YOUR LAWN LESS AND PUT IN XERISCAPING, WE'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO FUNDAMENTALLY RETHINK THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

>> Laura: AS OVERWHELMING AS THAT IS TO HEAR, IT'S ALSO VERY REFRESHING TO HEAR, CONGRESSWOMAN.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING SERIOUSLY THE SCALE OF THE ISSUE.

I WANTED TO MOVE ON TO THE WATER DATA ACT, WHICH MIGHT SOUND FAMILIAR TO NEW MEXICANS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

WHAT IS THE WATER DATA ACT, AND WHAT WOULD THAT DO?

>> Stansbury: WELL, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE WATER DATA ACT.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING WATER ISSUES, YOU KNOW THAT NEW MEXICO PASSED OUR NATION'S SECOND WATER DATA ACT IN 2019, AND IN MANY WAYS IT WAS THE MOST FORWARD-LOOKING WATER DATA ACT IN THE UNITED STATES AND VERY MUCH WAS A MODEL FOR THIS NATIONAL LEGISLATION.

AND I HELPED TO CRAFT THAT LEGISLATION ALONG WITH OUR CATTLE GROWERS AND RANCHERS AND FARMERS AND CONSERVATIONISTS AND OUR STATE AGENCIES AND SCIENCE ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN THE STATE, MODELED AFTER SOME OF THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN DONE IN PREVIOUS FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIONS, TO REALLY STREAMLINE AND STANDARDIZE THE WAY THAT WE COLLECT DATA AND PROVIDE DATA, SO THAT WE CAN HELP THOSE WHO ARE MANAGING WATER ON THE GROUND.

AND THE BEST WAY THAT I CAN EXPLAIN THE IMPACT AND IMPORTANCE OF THIS LEGISLATION IS TO POINT OUT THAT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING THAT HAS PROBABLY TRANSFORMED OUR LIVES OVER THE LAST 20 TO 30 YEARS IS THIS, AND THAT IS THE ABILITY TO ACCESS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF DATA AND INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS THROUGH MODERN ELECTRONICS.

AND WHILE WE'VE TRANSFORMED AND MADE DATA AVAILABLE ACROSS ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF SECTORS FROM GEO-SPATIAL AND MAPS AND SHOPPING AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT REALMS IN WHICH WE USE DATA EVERY SINGLE DAY, AMAZINGLY WE HAVEN'T DONE THE SAME IN THE FIELD OF WATER.

AND IT'S SORT OF INCONCEIVABLE SINCE WATER IS SO FUNDAMENTAL TO LIFE AND IMPORTANT TO EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, THAT WE HAVEN'T TRANSFORMED OUR WATER DATA IN THAT WAY.

BUT IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO GET A HANDLE ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND DROUGHT AND BE ABLE TO MANAGE OUR WATER SYSTEMS IN REALTIME AND MEET ALL OF THESE COMPETING NEEDS, WE REALLY HAVE TO MODERNIZE THE WAY THAT WE COLLECT AND MAKE DATA AVAILABLE.

SO THE FEDERAL WATER DATA ACT CREATES A PROCESS THROUGH WHICH THE FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT COLLECT WATER DATA WOULD WORK WITH THE PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT SECTORS AND STATES AND TRIBES TO REALLY CREATE A FRAMEWORK THAT STANDARDIZES IT, SO THAT WE CAN UNLOCK THE POWER OF BIG DATA TO REALLY TRANSFORM HOW WE MANAGE WATER GOING FORWARD.

AND ULTIMATELY, IF WE'RE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS EFFORT, NOT JUST IN PASSING THE BILL, BUT REALLY ABOUT DOING THE WORK, IT WILL TRANSFORM HOW WE MANAGE WATER.

AND I CAN POINT TO GEO-SPATIAL DATA, BECAUSE IN 2000 WHEN WE WERE FIRST SEEING THIS HUGE GROWTH IN THE USE OF MAPS AND GEO-SPATIAL DATA AND GOOGLE MAPS, IT WASN'T STANDARDIZED AND IT REALLY WAS A BARRIER TO DEPLOYING THAT DATA IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT REALMS.

AND A SIMILAR FEDERAL EFFORT CAME TOGETHER, AND THAT'S HOW WE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO USE GEO-SPATIAL MAPPING DATA IN ALMOST EVERY APP THAT YOU HAVE ON YOUR PHONE AND iPAD.

SO WHAT OUR HOPE IS IS THAT WE'LL SEE A SIMILAR TRANSFORMATION WITH WATER DATA THAT WILL HELP OUR FARMERS AND RANCHERS AND RESEARCHERS REALLY PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION ON THE GROUND.

>> Laura: THE THIRD BILL THAT IS GETTING ROLLED INTO THIS BIGGER WILDFIRE RESPONSE AND DROUGHT RESILIENCY ACT IS YOUR WATER SMART ACCESS FOR TRIBES ACT.

WHAT IS THAT?

AND HOW WILL THAT AFFECT, OR COULD THAT AFFECT NEW MEXICANS?

>> Stansbury: SO THE WATER SMART ACCESS FOR TRIBES ACT IS VERY SIMPLE.

IT BASICALLY ALLOWS THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR TO WAIVE COST-SHARING REQUIREMENTS TO GET FEDERAL GRANTS TO SUPPORT OUR TRIBES IN WATER CONSERVATION AND RESILIENCE PROJECTS.

AND WHAT WE KNOW IS ESPECIALLY HERE IN NEW MEXICO, SO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO LEVERAGE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS ON THE GROUND, AND IT'S A BARRIER TO ENTRY TO GETTING FEDERAL MONEY WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE A COST SHARE.

AND THE WATER SMART PROGRAM HAS BEEN AROUND FOR OVER A DECADE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND WE'VE SEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY THAT OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES HAVE NOT BEEN ACCESSING THOSE GRANTS.

SO THIS BILL BASICALLY ALLOWS THE SECRETARY TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE GOING TO WAIVE OR REDUCE THAT COST SHARE SO THAT YOU CAN ACCESS THIS FUNDING AND IMPLEMENT PROJECTS.

I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT OUR RIO GRANDE WATER SECURITY ACT INCLUDES ANOTHER TRIBAL WATER INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT IS A HUGE PRIORITY FOR THE PUEBLOS, ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE, WHICH IS THE PUEBLO IRRIGATION FUND.

AND FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, OUR PUEBLOS HAVE FOUGHT TO GET FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP UPGRADE THEIR ACEQUIA AND THEIR IRRIGATION INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR FARMING BUT JUST THE USE OF WATER ON THE PUEBLOS.

AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO FOLD THAT LEGISLATION INTO THE LARGER RIO GRANDE BILL AND GET BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THAT.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, AS WELL.

>> Gene: WELCOME BACK TO OUR LINE PANELISTS FOR ONE FINAL DISCUSSION.

NEW MEXICO SECRETARY OF STATE MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER TESTIFIED TO CONGRESS LAST WEEK ASKING FOR MORE HELP ADDRESSING HARASSMENT AGAINST ELECTION WORKERS.

YOU'LL REMEMBER THE SECRETARY HAD HER PERSONAL INFORMATION SHARED ONLINE, AND SHE HAD TO LEAVE HER HOME FOR WEEKS UNDER STATE POLICE PROTECTION BECAUSE OF THE THREATS THAT FOLLOWED.

NOW, WE'RE HEADING INTO THE BIGGEST ELECTION SINCE 2020, AND THERE'S CONCERN ELECTRICS WORKERS MIGHT NOT SHOW UP IF THESE SORTS OF THREATS SHOULD CONTINUE.

NOW, LAURA, SHOULD CONGRESS INSTITUTE HARSHER PENALTIES TO PEOPLE WHO ISSUE THESE THREATS?

I MEAN, THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS HERE.

>> Laura: I'M GLAD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE I DO THINK IT'S SERIOUS BUSINESS.

I THINK ANY TIME THAT A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, AND NOT JUST ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT ALSO THE JUDICIARY -- I MEAN, WE SAW A SITUATION WITH THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE AND HAVING SOMEBODY FIND THEIR -- THERE'S A LOT OF EXAMPLES OF JUDGES HAVING THEIR INFORMATION OUT THERE.

I THINK WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN AS A SOCIETY TO PROTECT FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE PUBLIC EYE AND POTENTIALLY COULD BE IN DANGER JUST BECAUSE OF THE ROLE THAT THEY DO IN THEIR DAILY WORK.

AND I THINK THAT ELECTION OFFICIALS -- AND ELECTION WORKERS OFTEN TIME ARE TEMPORARY FOLKS.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE IN THERE FOR A VERY DEFINED PERIOD OF TIME DOING THE WORK TO PROCESS THE ELECTION AND PROCESS BALLOTS AND ALL THAT, AND TO HAVE THEM THEN HAVE TO RISK THEIR LIVES OR THEIR SAFETY BECAUSE OF SOMEBODY WHO DISAGREES WITH A PROCESS OR SOMETHING, I THINK THAT'S JUST A VERY HIGH RISK FOR THEM TO TAKE.

SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO PROTECT THEM.

AND I DO THINK THAT PENALTIES SHOULD BE REEVALUATED, BECAUSE THERE JUST AREN'T VERY MANY AT THIS POINT FOR A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE'S PRIVATE INFORMATION IS DISCLOSED, AND THERE'S THEN ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST THEM.

>> Gene: THAT'S RIGHT.

JESSICA, IT SHOULD BE POINTED OUT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE WORKERS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE ARE WOMEN, THE VAST MAJORITY.

DOES THIS CHANGE THE EQUATION IN YOUR VIEW?

>> Jessica: YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK THAT I'M GOING TO REITERATE WHAT LAURA SAID, WHICH IS THAT ANYBODY WHO IS WORKING IN THE ELECTION SPHERE, WHETHER AS A FULL-TIME JOB, AS A TEMPORARY WORKER, AS A VOLUNTEER, SHOULD BE PROTECTED REGARDLESS OF THEIR SEX.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, MOST OF THESE WORKERS ARE WOMEN.

IT'S BOGGLING TO THE MIND.

BUT, YOU KNOW, YEAH, I THINK THAT IT'S ESPECIALLY INTIMIDATING AS A WOMAN WHEN YOU HAVE AGGRESSION POINTED YOUR WAY.

YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO DO YOUR JOB.

I WOULDN'T SAY THAT WE'RE PARTICULARLY MORE VULNERABLE.

I THINK WE CAN BE SMART ABOUT OUR OWN SECURITY.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THAT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO RELY A LITTLE BIT MORE ON LAWS TO PROTECT US, ON RESOURCES TO PROTECT THOSE WOMEN WHO ARE DOING THAT JOB.

AND, YOU KNOW, FROM EVERYTHING THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS BEEN SAYING IN HER TESTIMONY IN CONGRESS, WHICH HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES -- THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ELECTION INTEGRITY AND PROTECTION OF WORKERS FOR A WHILE NOW -- IT SOUNDS LIKE NONE OF THAT IS BEING DONE.

SO I REALLY THINK THAT, FIRST OF ALL, KUDOS TO HER FOR SPEAKING OUT ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR STATE WORKERS WITHIN THE ELECTION SYSTEM.

BUT STRAIGHT TO YOUR POINT, I MEAN, AS A WOMAN, I WOULD SAY THAT THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THAT I WOULD SAY NO TO IF YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT IT WILL HELP ME FEEL MORE SECURE IN MY JOB AND IN MY EVERYDAY LIFE.

>> Gene: YOU KNOW, DANIEL, THERE IS A TASK FORCE OUT OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ON THIS, AND OUT OF A THOUSAND CONTACTS THAT WERE REPORTED AS HARASSING OR OFFENSIVE, THEY DISCOVERED A HUNDRED MET THE THRESHOLD FOR A FEDERAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

I'M STILL BLOWN AWAY THAT NO ONE HAS POPPED SOMEONE FOR REVEALING MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER'S ADDRESS AND OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION.

DOES SOMEONE NEED TO BE ARRESTED HERE TO STOP THIS?

BECAUSE THIS SEEMS LIKE IT'S A CLEAR PLAYING FIELD FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HARASS THESE WOMEN.

>> Dan: YEAH, I MEAN, THIS HARASSMENT THING IS A CLEAR PROBLEM, THESE FOLKS THAT MAKE A LIVING OUT OF HARASSING AND TRYING TO INTIMIDATE.

I'M NOT SURE THAT MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER'S INFORMATION IS PRIVATE, RIGHT.

SHE'S AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

YOU GO ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S WEBSITE AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO -- DEPENDING ON WHAT SHE'S PUT OUT THERE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE HARASSED THOUGH, RIGHT.

ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM, BUT THIS HARASSMENT STUFF, I THINK IT JUST KIND OF FALLS BACK TO A BIGGER PROBLEM.

I MEAN, WHY DO WE HAVE THIS?

LIKE, WHY HAS THIS RISEN TO THIS LEVEL IN THE LAST FEW YEARS?

I MEAN, 20 YEARS AGO VOTING WAS SUCH A HAPPY DAY.

I MEAN, PEOPLE STOOD IN LINE, WHETHER THEY AGREED OR DISAGREED STOOD IN LINE, TALKED TO EACH OTHER.

THEY ARGUED AFTER THE VOTE, THEY ARGUED UP TO THE VOTE.

WHEN I FIRST RAN FOR OFFICE, ELECTION DAY WAS KIND OF THE COMING TOGETHER OF DIFFERENT SIDES, RIGHT.

YOU WEREN'T CAMPAIGNING ANYMORE, YOU WEREN'T OUT TALKING TRASH ABOUT EACH OTHER, YOU WERE JUST WAITING FOR THE PEOPLE TO DO THEIR BUSINESS.

AND I THINK THAT WE KEEP BEING DISTRACTED.

I MEAN, JUST RECENTLY THE FACT THAT LESS THAN 21%, 20% OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ELECTION INTEGRITY, THAT'S DOWN FROM 37%.

SO I'M NOT ADVOCATING THAT SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED.

I'M NOT SAYING TRUMP LOST THE ELECTION AND IT WAS STOLEN.

I'M NOT SAYING ANY OF THAT.

I'M SAYING THAT WE NEVER SEEM TO ADDRESS THE FEARS THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

I WOULD ALSO THROW OUT THERE YOUR STAT, GENE, OF THE THOUSAND, WHERE THEY FOUND 100, IS THAT IN NEW MEXICO OR IS THAT NATIONALLY?

>> Gene: NO, NATIONALLY.

>> Dan: I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT 300 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY, AND YOU HAVE 100 PEOPLE -- I GUARANTEE YOU THAT THERE'S MORE THAN 100 DAILY HARASSMENT INTERACTIONS THAT HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE DAY FROM PEOPLE ACROSS ANY SPECTRUM.

SO IS IT SOMETHING THAT'S A PROBLEM?

YES.

WOULD WE LOVE TO GET TO ZERO HARASSMENT?

YES.

BUT WHEN WE PRESENT THIS AND SAY, WE LOOKED AT A THOUSAND AND WE FOUND 100, OH, MY GOSH, THERE'S THIS PROBLEM, AND THERE'S ALMOST HALF A BILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE NUMBERS ARE WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE, AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES WE GET TAKEN OFF TO GO DOWN A DIFFERENT TASK WHEN THE REAL ISSUE IS FRONT OF US.

>> Gene: HEY, LAURA, REAL QUICK QUESTION.

WHAT ROLE DO THE JANUARY 6th HEARINGS PLAY IN THIS?

I MEAN, WHAT OUTCOME WOULD CREATE THE BEST SITUATION FOR THESE ELECTION WORKERS MOVING FORWARD IN YOUR VIEW?

YOU'VE GOT JUST ABOUT A MINUTE OR LESS.

>> Laura: I THINK THAT JANUARY 6th HAS BEEN -- IT'S SOMETHING THAT PERMEATES A LOT OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OUR CULTURE NOW IN POLITICS.

I THINK THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, IS THE EXTREME, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER, HAS WORKED TO TRY TO PROTECT OUR VOTING, THE INTEGRITY OF OUR VOTING SYSTEM.

I THINK THAT THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME IS THAT THERE BE SOME CHANGES TO OUR PROCESS IN TERMS OF HAVING TO DISCLOSE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION, WHICH EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL HAS TO DO ON THEIR FORMS WHEN THEY FILE FOR CANDIDACY, AND THEN ALSO JUST INCREASING THE POTENTIAL PENALTIES FOR SOMEBODY HARASSING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FOR THEIR JOB.

I THINK THAT BOTH OF THOSE THINGS NEED TO OCCUR VERY QUICKLY IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS.

>> Gene: THAT'S A GOOD POINT THERE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR THOUGHTS TONIGHT.

THREE GREAT SUBJECTS.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, OUR VIEWERS.

LET US KNOW.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

>> THE 100TH INTERTRIBAL CEREMONIAL IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN GALLUP.

IT RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY AUGUST 14TH.

THE EVENT BEGAN LAST THURSDAY WITH THE CEREMONIAL NIGHT PARADE, BUT AN INCIDENT QUICKLY TURNED THE CELEBRATION INTO A TRAGEDY.

15 PEOPLE, ALONG WITH TWO POLICE OFFICERS, WERE HURT AFTER AUTHORITIES SAY AN INTOXICATED 33-YEAR-OLD DROVE THROUGH THE PARADE ROUTE.

THAT DRIVER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MORE THAN 21 CRIMES IN THE INCIDENT.

NOW, WATCHING A CAR SPEED THROUGH A PARADE WOULD SHAKE ANYONE, BUT LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER, WHILE PAYING TRIBUTE TO THOSE HURT, CEREMONIAL ORGANIZERS, SPECTATORS AND PARTICIPANTS SHIFTED THE FOCUS BACK ONTO THE PEOPLE AND THE CULTURE THIS EVENT WAS MEANT TO HONOR.

[SPEAKING DINÉ} >> Amber: THIS IS A LEGACY IN MY FAMILY.

MY MOTHER HELD THE TITLE IN 1980, AND MY OLDER SISTER HELD THE TITLE IN 2006.

CEREMONIAL IS VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART.

MY FAMILY HAS ALWAYS BEEN REALLY INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I GREW UP ATTENDING CEREMONIAL AS A KID.

AND THE PARADE WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS, SOMETHING WE LOOKED FORWARD TO ALL YEAR LONG.

AND IT'S BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE GALLUP COMMUNITY TO STAY STRONG IN OUR INDIGENOUS CULTURE, AND SPECIFICALLY THE QUEEN PAGEANT I FEEL IS GAINING MORE MOMENTUM AND MORE POPULARITY, AND IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE SO MANY YOUNG INDIGENOUS WOMEN STEPPING UP.

THIS IS ONCE A YEAR WHERE ALL TRIBES COME TOGETHER TO REALLY CELEBRATE AND STAND IN OUR INDIGENOUS CULTURE, AND IT'S JUST SO EMPOWERING.

AND YOU CAN SENSE THE SACRED ENERGY THAT'S AROUND US HERE.

>> Pres.

Nez: WE'VE BEEN STUCK AT HOME FOR TWO YEARS, IT'S GOOD TO BE OUT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR COMING OUT EVERYBODY.

>> Melissa: I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN 1922, THE COUNTRY WAS ALSO COMING OUT OF A PANDEMIC BACK THEN, AND ESPECIALLY HARD HIT WERE THE NATIVE COMMUNITIES.

AND THAT HAPPENED THIS TIME, AS WELL.

SO THE GALLUP INTERTRIBAL CEREMONIAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, AS WE COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, THAT THE GALLUP INTERTRIBAL CEREMONIAL IS BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AGAIN.

WHEN I WAS RESEARCHING, I CAME THROUGH A LOT OF ARCHIVAL PHOTOS, AND THERE WERE -- FOR ME, BEING PUEBLO, I SAW A LOT OF PUEBLO DANCERS AND SINGERS, AND ALSO THAT THEY WERE WEARING THE REGALIA THAT WE STILL WEAR, AS WELL AS NAVAJO PEOPLE AND APACHE PEOPLE.

AND WHEN YOU SEE THAT FROM DECADES AGO, ALMOST A CENTURY AGO, IT GIVES YOU A -- IT'S A REMINDER OF YOUR INNER STRENGTH AND YOUR CONNECTION TO YOUR ANCESTORS.

SO I FEEL THAT THE PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATE, NATIVE AMERICAN AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, THEY AUTOMATICALLY HAVE THAT CONNECTION BACK TO THOSE ANCESTORIAL ROOTS.

I WAS CAUSALLY TALKING WITH ONE OF THE COORDINATORS, AND HE SAID, YEAH, I KEEP TELLING PEOPLE, COME ONE, LET'S GO BACK DOWN MEMORY LANE.

AND I WAS, THAT'S SO PERFECT, BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS A BEAUTIFUL CEREMONIAL STORY.

>> Pres.

Nez: I'M SURE BY NOW MANY OF YOU HEARD OF AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED HERE AT THE GALLUP CEREMONIAL NIGHT PARADE.

A VEHICLE CAME THROUGH THE CROWD AND RAN THROUGH MUCH OF THE PARADE ROUTE.

THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE SHOOKEN UP, SCARED.

I JUST ASK THAT IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE THAT WAS AT THE GALLUP CEREMONIAL, JUST GIVE THEM A CALL.

(DRUMMING/CHANTING) >> Colleen: THE CEREMONIAL HAPPENS ONCE A YEAR.

IT'S A GATHERING.

THIS ONE INCIDENT, YES, IT WAS VERY TRAGIC, BUT THEY SHOULDN'T LET THAT DISCOURAGE THEM.

OUR LOGO IS, LET'S GO DEN AND GET SNO DEN.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO A SNO-CONE COMPANY, FOR THE LONGEST TIME.

SO FINALLY IN APRIL I DECIDED, I'M JUST GOING TO DO IT.

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO SELL AT THE PARADE, BUT WE ENDED UP NOT DOING IT, AND, OH, I JUST SEE THE VIDEOS AND IT MAKES ME, LIKE, SAD.

LIKE, GEEZ, HOW CAN SOMEONE DO THAT?

>> Sharon: WE WERE JUST COMING INTO TOWN AND WE SAW THE COMMOTION GOING ON, AND WE WERE LIKE, WHAT'S GOING ON, YOU KNOW.

THEN WHEN WE SAW IT ON FACEBOOK -- I SAW IT ON FACEBOOK, AND IT WAS KIND OF SCARY.

AND I KNEW MY AUNT WAS DOWN HERE, AND I WAS LIKE, I HOPE SHE'S OKAY.

TO ME IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAPPEN, BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP GOING.

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO KEEP GOING ON.

THAT'S HOW WE WERE BROUGHT UP.

LIKE, IF SOMETHING TRAGIC IS GOING TO HAPPEN, YOU GOT TO KEEP GOING ON WITH LIFE.

THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN STOP.

I KNOW IT WAS A TRAGEDY AND PEOPLE -- YOU KNOW, IT WAS SCARY, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST HAVE TO LIFT YOURSELF UP AND KEEP GOING.

>> Ashkia: THIS IS A REALLY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, STARTING OUT AS A DANCER AND PROGRESSING ALL THE WAY NOW TO BEING A GROUP LEADER AND BRINGING OTHER GROUP MEMBERS OUT HERE.

YOU KNOW, IT IS 100 YEARS, SO EVERYBODY IS DOING THE BEST THEY CAN, PUTTING ALL THEIR EFFORT INTO IT, AND IT REALLY SHOWS, YOU KNOW.

YOU HAVE THE DANCE GROUPS HERE.

IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAPPENED.

EVERYONE STILL CAME TOGETHER AND PUT THEIR EFFORTS FORTH, WHAT WE CALL YOUR WORD AS A PERSON.

EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE GROUPS, THEY PUT THEIR EFFORT FORTH.

AS A GROUP LEADER, I WAS SCARED, BECAUSE I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE.

AND SO TO SEE THEM COME BACK STRONGER AND SAY, WE STILL WANT TO FINISH THIS, WE WANT TO SET OUT AND FINISH WHAT WE STARTED, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY MADE ME FEEL LIKE I'M DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

WE WERE TURNING ONTO THAT CORNER THAT THAT VEHICLE WAS COMING STRAIGHT DOWN, AND SO IF WE DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, GIVE THAT OTHER GROUP SPACE TO WALK AHEAD OF US, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT IN THAT LINE OF GETTING RUN OVER.

I WAS SURPRISED WHAT I DIDN'T DO IN THAT WHOLE SITUATION WAS PANIC, YOU KNOW.

I MADE SURE THE GROUP STAYED TOGETHER, MADE SURE EVERYBODY WAS WHERE I COULD SEE THEM.

IF YOU WERE GETTING BEHIND ME, I PUSHED YOU IN FRONT OF ME.

I MADE SURE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM WITHOUT BEING TOLD, YOU KNOW, AND THAT REALLY -- I DIDN'T KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW.

I DIDN'T KNOW I STEPPED INTO THAT LEADERSHIP ROLE UNKNOWINGLY.

WHEN YOU COME OUT HERE TO SING AND TO DANCE, YOU DO IT IN A GOOD WAY.

YOU DO IT IN A POSITIVE WAY.

YOU DO IT TO BRING HAPPINESS, JOY, LOVE, PROSPERITY.

AND TO SEE NOT ONLY MY FRIENDS, MY FAMILY, THE YOUNG ONES, YOU KNOW, AFFECTED BY IT, BUT TO SEE THEM IN HARM'S WAY, I'M JUST HAPPY I REACTED THE WAY A WARRIORS SHOULD HAVE.

>> THANK YOU TO OUR BENJAMIN YAZZA FOR PUTTING THAT PIECE TOGETHER.

THAT INCIDENT DURING THE NIGHT PARADE HAS ONCE AGAIN PUSHED DWI BACK INTO THE MEDIA SPOTLIGHT.

IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT ALREADY, NEW MEXICO IN-DEPTH HAS PUBLISHED AN EXTENSIVE, 7-PART SERIES CALLED 'BLIND DRUNK.'

IT'S A FASCINATING APPRAISAL OF OUR UNFORTUNATE REALITY WITH ALCOHOL HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

NEXT WEEK ON OUR SHOW, DON'T MISS A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH SOME KEY PLAYERS IN THIS ISSUE.

GENE TALKS WITH THE WRITER BEHIND THE SERIES, A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, A DOCTOR OF INTERNAL MEDICINE IN GALLUP, AND A STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

THEY'LL ALL DIVE INTO THE STEREOTYPES SURROUNDING THIS ISSUE, THE SOLUTIONS WE ALL CAN OFFER, AND HOW WE CAN EXPAND THE FOCUS BEYOND DWI TO THE ROOT CAUSES OF THIS STATE'S LARGER ALCOHOL PROBLEM.

>> WE KIND OF MISSED THE FOREST FOR THE TREES, BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALCOHOL-RELATED DEATHS NOWADAYS, DWI ONLY ACCOUNTS FOR 1 IN 10 OF THEM.

SO 9 IN 10 OF ALCOHOL-RELATED DEATHS IN THIS STATE ARE OCCURRING ELSEWHERE.

IT'S AN ISSUE THAT TOUCHES ON VIOLENCE, ON THE SAFETY OF KIDS, ON THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF OUR STATE.

>> Gene: JUST A QUICK NOTE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PARENTS OF KIDS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL THIS WEEK.

I SWEAR, ONE OF THE BEST REASONS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA TO EVEN EXIST IS BACK TO SCHOOL.

I LOVE THE PICTURES.

I'M A SAP FOR THE POSED PICTURES OF SIBLINGS STANDING BESIDE EACH OTHER WITH A SCARED LOOK ON THEIR FACE WITH BACKPACKS ON, OR THE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS OFF TO THEIR FINAL FIRST DAY IN CARS ADORNED WITH HEARTS AND MESSAGES FROM THE FAMILY.

IT'S VERY CUTE.

I LOVE IT ALL.

BACK TO SCHOOL IS MAGIC.

AND YES, I MAY BE A BIT NOSTALGIC HERE WITH MY OWN TWO GRADUATING COLLEGE THIS YEAR, BUT IT STILL GETS ME EVERY YEAR.

IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN TO A NONPARENT HOW ONE HAS TO PULL OVER AND LET SOME TEARS FALL AFTER DROPPING OFF YOUR KIDDO FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME.

NOW, IF YOU DROPPED A FEW OF YOUR OWN THIS WEEK, DON'T FRET OR BE EMBARRASSED, BECAUSE THE TEARS WILL SWEETEN THE MEMORY.

IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE GREAT BLESSINGS OF BEING A PARENT.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND FOR STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK, In FOCUS.

>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO In FOCUS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.