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

>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS PROMISING POLLING FOR STATE DEMOCRATS.

WE BREAK DOWN DATA ON KEY STATE RACES AND LOOK AHEAD TO THE ISSUES DRIVING THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

PLUS -- >> Emerson: I THINK IT REALLY ILLUSTRATES THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING SOMEONE FROM A COMMUNITY REPRESENT THAT COMMUNITY AND TELL THAT STORY.

>> Gene: A DEBUT NOVELIST EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF INDIGENOUS STORIES BEING TOLD FROM AN INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVE.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST GENE GRANT.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME PROGRESS IN LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO WHERE PEOPLE ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING THEIR CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

ASH AND DEBRIS FROM THE CALF CANYON PEAK'S FIRE CONTAMINATED MUCH OF THE SUPPLY BUT THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW TEMPORARY TREATMENT SYSTEM IS ON TRACK.

IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW, THE LINE OPINION PANEL AND I WILL TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN AVOID A SITUATION LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE.

THERE IS NEW WARNING OF A EXTREME AND PROLONGED HEATWAVE THAT COULD HIT THE SOUTHWEST IN THE COMING DAYS.

SCIENTISTS SAY IT COULD CREATE NEW WILDFIRE CONDITIONS BUT IT WILL CERTAINLY HAVE A LARGER IMPACT ON THE ECOSYSTEM.

IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES OUR LAND SENIOR PRODUCER LAURA PASKUS TALKS WITH A UNM PROFESSOR ABOUT THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS THESE HEATWAVES HAVE ON WILDLIFE.

BUT, FIRST, WE ARE COMBING THROUGH NEW DATA AHEAD OF THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

ACCORDING TO POLLING FROM THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, DEMOCRATS HAVE FIRM LEADS IN SEVERAL KEY STATE CONTESTS BUT THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR IS A BIT CLOSER.

LET'S GET TO THE LINE.

WELCOME TO OUR LINE OPINION PANELISTS FOR THE WEEK.

WE HAVE FORMER NEW MEXICO STATE SENATOR DEDE FELDMAN, THE CEO OF GIRL SCOUTS OF NEW MEXICO IS WITH US, REBECCA LATHAM.

THANK YOU, REBECCA.

AND ENTERPRISE REPORTER AT THE LAS CRUCES SUN NEWS ALGERNON D'AMMASSA IS WITH US AS WELL.

THANK YOU ALGERNON.

WE ARE GOING TO START IT OFF IN THE POLITICAL ARENA.

AFTER NEW POLLING IN THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, THAT POLL SHOWS DOUBLE DIGIT LEADS FOR DEMOCRATS IN FOUR KEY STATE OFFICES.

ATTORNEY GENERAL, SECRETARY OF STATE, TREASURER AND COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LAND.

WE'LL GET TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN A MOMENT WHERE MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM HAS A SEVEN POINT LEAD.

BUT STARTING BROADLY, SENATOR FELDMAN, WERE YOU AT ALL SURPRISED TO SEE SUCH BIG LEADS FOR DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE BOARD IN NEW MEXICO?

>> Dede: I WAS NOT SURPRISED FOR THOSE STATE-WIDE OFFICES OTHER THAN GOVERNOR, TO SEE AT LEAST A 10 POINT LEAD.

I THINK THAT IS REFLECTED IN REGISTRATION DATA AND I THINK ALSO FOR SOME OF THOSE OFFICES, THE VOTERS REVERT TO THEIR POLITICAL PARTY.

AND NOT SO MUCH THE PERSONNEL.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

AND CRIME IS ON EVERYBODY'S MIND AND I THINK THAT EXPLAINS RAUL TORREZ' GOOD STANDING ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT HE HAD A RIGOROUS PRIMARY IN WHICH HE ADVERTISED STATE-WIDE AND BECAME WELL-KNOWN FOR THAT REASON.

BUT, NO, THAT DID NOT SURPRISE ME.

THESE FOLKS, SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE LAND COMMISSIONER, IN PARTICULAR, ARE INCUMBENTS AND HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS.

THEY ARE KNOWN TO PEOPLE IN NEW MEXICO WHERE AS THEIR OPPONENTS ARE NOT.

>> Gene: REBECCA, INTERESTINGLY, THAT TREASURER'S RACE KIND OF CATCHES MY EYE.

ACTUALLY, LET ME START WITH THIS AND BACK UP.

THE RACE FOR AG JUST MENTIONED, GOP CANDIDATE JEREMY GAY DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME NAME RECOGNITION AS RAUL TORREZ, CERTAINLY, AS SENATOR JUST MENTIONED, BUT FOR THOSE FAMILIAR WITH HIM, MANY ARE PRETTY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT HIM.

DO YOU THINK THE RACE WILL GET ANY TIGHTER BY ANY CHANCE?

>> Rebecca: THERE IS ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY.

THERE IS STILL, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER THERE IS STILL A LOT OF TIME LEFT WHERE WE CAN SEE SOME SHIFTS.

WHAT I THINK WAS INTERESTING TO ME WAS HOW MANY REPUBLICANS SAID THEY WOULD VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES VERSUS HOW FEW DEMOCRATIC VOTERS SAID THEY WOULD VOTE FOR THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES IN STATE TREASURER.

SENATOR FELDMAN, ECHO EVERYTHING THAT SHE SAYS, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS SO HARD IN THESE STATE-WIDE RACES WHEN NO ONE KNOWS WHO YOU ARE AND YOU'RE NOT PULLING THE CAMPAIGN SUPPORT TO REALLY ESTABLISH YOUR NAME.

>> Gene: INTERESTINGLY, GOVERNOR, HER LEAD IS A BIT WIDER THAN THE LAST WAY TO EARLY POLLING.

DO YOU EXPECT THAT GAP, YOU KNOW, PERSONAL OPINION, I AM ASKING CERTAINLY, BUT IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION IS THAT GAP POISED TO GET EVEN WIDER OR CAN MR. RONCHETTI MAKE A PUSH LATE HERE, AND IF HE CAN WHAT COULD HE RIDE IN ON, SO TO SPEAK.

>> Algernon: I WOULD EXPECT IT TO TIGHTEN ALTHOUGH, YOU'RE RIGHT, THE RECENT POLLING SUGGESTS THAT THE GOVERNOR IS WIDENING WHAT WAS A PRETTY SLIM LEAD FOR A WHILE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS EMERGED FROM THE PANDEMIC AND CONSEQUENT CHALLENGES AS WELL AS OTHER ISSUES POLITICALLY THAT BEAT DOWN HER APPROVAL RATINGS CONSIDERABLY, BUT NOW THERE IS A CHOICE TO MAKE AND WE ARE LEARNING MUCH MORE ABOUT THE POSITIONS THAT MARK RONCHETTI OFFERS IN THE ALTERNATIVE.

AND INTERESTINGLY, ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN -- A LOT OF EYES HAVE BEEN ON HOW THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V WADE THIS SUMMER WOULD AFFECT THE CONTEST AND I THINK ONE INDICATION OF WHETHER THAT IS GOING TO HAVE AN EFFECT IN NEW MEXICO, WHICH ACTED PREEMPTIVELY TO PROTECT ABORTION RIGHTS IN THE STATE, IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS VERY EVENT, ONE THING TO LOOK AT IS NEW REGISTRATION OF VOTERS AND HOW MANY WOMEN WERE REGISTERING TO VOTE.

IN STATES LIKE KANSAS THERE WAS A PRETTY SIZEABLE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WOMEN AS A PERCENTAGE OF NEW VOTER REGISTRATIONS.

IN NEW MEXICO IT HAS STAYED LARGELY THE SAME, HOWEVER, I THINK PERHAPS ESPECIALLY WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON AUGUST 31 ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S PLANS TO FUND A NEW FULL SPECTRUM REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CLINIC IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO, IN DONA ANA COUNTY, I THINK PERHAPS THAT IS GOING TO BECOME AN ISSUE DEBATED AND WE'LL SEE IF IT MOVES THE NUMBERS FOR EITHER CANDIDATE IN EITHER DIRECTION.

>> Gene: SENATOR, I AM GLAD ALGERNON BROUGHT THAT UP.

I AM VERY, VERY GLAD.

INTERESTING.

IT SAYS TO ME THE GOVERNOR IS FEELING PRETTY SAFE IN HER POSITION WHERE WE ARE GOING HERE AND MAYBE PERHAPS TO ADD TO THAT IN THE POLLING WE ARE REFERENCING HERE, 50% OF WOMEN SUPPORT GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM TO 32% FOR MARK RONCHETTI.

THAT IS A PRETTY BIG GAP.

IS THERE ANYTHING MARK RONCHETTI CAN DO AT THIS POINT TO GET OUT FROM UNDER THIS ABORTION ISSUE AND INCREASE HIS NUMBERS WITH WOMEN HERE?

>> Dede: IT IS NO SURPRISE AND IT IS NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT THE GOVERNOR USED HER POWER TO ANNOUNCE AN ABORTION CLINIC TO BE LOCATED IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO WHERE THE POLLING DATA SHOWS THAT SUPPORT FOR ABORTION IS EVEN STRONGER THAN IN ALBUQUERQUE WHICH WAS A SURPRISE TO ME IN THAT RECENT POLLING BY SANDEROFF.

BUT I THINK THE PROBLEM THAT RONCHETTI IS HAVING IS THAT HE MADE A STATEMENT TO STEVE SMOTHERMAN, THE CONTROVERSIAL PASTOR OF LEGACY CHURCH, THAT, YES, HE WAS OPPOSED TO ALL ABORTION BUT FOR POLITICS SAKE, FOR IT TO BE REALISTIC, HE WAS GOING TO TAKE A MORE MODERATE APPROACH OF OPPOSING ABORTION BUT EXCEPTING WHEN THERE WAS A THREAT TO THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER OR IN CASES OF RAPE AND INCEST.

SO THAT PUTS HIM KIND OF ON THE HOT SEAT THERE BECAUSE OF THAT INCONSISTENCY AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE POLLING DATA SHOWS HOW STRONG MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM IS AMONG WOMEN AND HISPANICS AND THAT IS THE BASE THAT RONCHETTI HAS TO CRACK INTO IN ORDER TO MOVE HIS NUMBERS.

AND BY THE WAY, THERE IS ANOTHER POLL OUT TOO THAT SHOWS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S LEAD IS NOT AS SUBSTANTIAL AS THE ONE IN THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL.

THAT IS THE GREENBERG QUINLAN POLL WHICH PUTS GRISHAM AT 48% AND RONCHETTI AT 44%.

THAT IS A 4% DIFFERENCE.

AND THAT IS SURMOUNTABLE.

>> Gene: THAT IS A GOOD POINT.

REBECCA, I GOT TO GET YOU IN ON THIS ONE.

THE JOURNAL POLL, OF COURSE, COVERED ABORTION AS WELL WHICH I THINK WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF BRILLIANT.

ONLY 12% OF NEW MEXICANS SUPPORT OUTLAWING ABORTION ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO, I ASK AGAIN, YOU KNOW, MR. RONCHETTI HAS REALLY GOT HIMSELF IN A CORNER PAINTED BY, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY ELSE BUT HE IS IN IT NONETHELESS.

CAN HE ACTUALLY BACK AWAY FROM THIS AND REALLY GET CREDIBLE TRACTION AT THIS POINT?

>> Rebecca: I THINK HE HAS NO CHOICE AND I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT HE -- THAT HIS CAMPAIGN, HE AND HIS CAMPAIGN, HAVE DENIED MAKING -- EVEN HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH THAT PASTOR SMOTHERMAN.

SO, I THINK MARK HAS BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING ABOUT, YES, HE DOES HAVE A PERSONAL OPINION ABOUT ABORTION RIGHTS, BUT HE ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY WHAT NEW MEXICANS WANT.

IN THAT JOURNAL POLL WHERE ONLY 12% SAID ABORTION SHOULD BE ILLEGAL ALL THE TIME AND 35% SAID IT SHOULD BE LEGAL ALL THE TIME.

THE SWEET SPOT THERE IS THAT COMBINED, 22% SAY IT SHOULD BE LEGAL WITH LIMITATIONS AND 25% SAY IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL WITH LIMITATIONS WHICH MEANS 47% OF THE PEOPLE POLLED HAVE SOME SORT OF COMMON GROUND ON THIS, EITHER IT IS LEGAL WITH LIMITS OR IT'S ILLEGAL WITH LIMITS BUT THERE IS SOME SORT OF COMPROMISE.

SO, I THINK, RONCHETTI IS GOING TO HAVE TO TAP INTO THAT, PERHAPS.

THE OTHER THING I THINK IS INTERESTING IN THIS POLL OVERALL IS WHILE 47% SAY THEY WANT TO VOTE FOR GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM AND 40% SAY RONCHETTI, THE FACT THAT 13% OF VOTERS HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN EITHER, 5% OF THEM ARE SO -- THEY ARE SO UNHAPPY WITH THE CHOICES, THEY ARE WILLING TO VOTE FOR SOMEONE WHO LITERALLY CANNOT WIN AND THEN 13% SAYING THAT THEY ARE UNHAPPY WITH EITHER CHOICE, SO THEY ARE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO FIGURE WHO THEY ARE VOTING AGAINST.

THEY ARE NOT VOTING FOR EITHER CANDIDATE BUT THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE AGAINST SO IT IS GOING TO BE UP TO THOSE TWO FRONT RUNNERS TO REALLY ESTABLISH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND THE LESSER OF THE TWO EVILS.

>> Gene: GOOD POINT.

REBECCA, STAY WITH YOU FOR THIS ONE THING.

MR. RONCHETTI, IF AN ENDORSEMENT CAME IN FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP, WOULD THAT BE IMPACTFUL FOR HIM?

WOULD THAT PUT WIND IN HIS SAILS AT THIS POINT?

>> Rebecca: AT THIS POINT, I MEAN, FRANKLY, NO.

I DON'T THINK SO BUT I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT HE IS SEEKING ANY SORT OF ENDORSEMENTS.

WE SAW IN THE PRIMARY THAT THE TRUMP REPUBLICAN LOST HORRIBLY.

WE SEE THIS MORE AND MORE I THINK IN SOME OF THE STATE WIDE RACES WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU HAVE TRUMP REPUBLICANS THAT ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND IT IS REALLY HURTING THEM.

WE ARE SEEING IT WORKING EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY JUST LIKE WE KNOW IN NEW MEXICO DOESN'T MEAN IT IS GOING TO WORK HERE.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD REALLY BE SOMETHING THAT THE RONCHETTI CAMPAIGN WOULD BE SEEKING.

>> Gene: APPRECIATE YOUR POINTS.

THANK YOU TO THE OTHER TWO FOR LETTING ME STRETCH OUT THERE WITH REBECCA.

VERY INTERESTING POINTS.

THANK FOR THAT ANALYSIS.

WE ARE ALREADY ZEROING IN ON NOVEMBER.

STAY WITH US FOR CONTINUED ELECTION COVERAGE ON CANDIDATES AND THE ISSUES IN THE COMING MONTHS.

RIGHT BACK HERE WITH THE LINE PANEL IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO DISCUSS A NEW TOOL TO SLOW OVERDOSE DEATHS.

>> Wolf: AS THE TEMPERATURES INCREASE, WE GET A REVERSAL ON THE RADIANT FOR HEAT LOSS, WHEN ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURES GET HOTTER THAN OUR BODIES, WITH MAMMALS OR BIRDS, THEN WE GET HEAT GAIN FROM THE ENVIRONMENT AND WE ALSO HAVE AN INTERNAL HEAT WE HAVE TO GET RID OF, RIGHT, TO MAINTAIN A STABLE BODY TEMPERATURE.

>> Gene: A NEW NOVEL RELEASED THIS MONTH GIVES A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THE SOUTHWEST AND NATIVE CULTURE.

SHUTTER IS A CRIME THRILLER WITH A TOUCH OF SUPERNATURAL HORROR AND COMING OF AGE STORY.

THE BOOK FOLLOWS A YOUNG WOMAN FROM THE NAVAJO NATION WHO BECOMES A FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHER WORKING FOR THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT SHE IS HIDING A SECRET, SHE CAN SEE GHOSTS.

THIS WEEK CORRESPONDENT ANTONIA GONZALES SPEAKS WITH DINE WRITER,& FILMMAKER - RAMONA EMERSON, ABOUT HER DEBUT BOOK.

>> Antonia: RAMONA, WELCOME TO NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

>> Emerson: THANK YOU, ANTONIA.

GOOD TO BE HERE, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Antonia: YOU ARE ALREADY WELL-KNOWN FOR YOUR FILMMAKING.

NOW HERE WE HAVE AN ACCLAIMED DEBUT NOVEL, SHUTTER.

DIFFERENT FORM OF STORY TELLING FOR YOU.

HOW DID THIS BOOK COME ABOUT?

>> Emerson: FIVE YEARS AGO I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I COULD MAKE IT HAPPEN.

I HAVE NEVER THOUGHT OF MYSELF AS A FICTION WRITER.

EVEN THE BEGINNING OF THAT PARTICULAR BOOK STARTED OUT AS A DOCUMENTARY IDEA.

I THOUGHT MAYBE I WOULD LIKE TO DO A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT NAVAJOS WHO DEAL WITH DEATH IN THEIR JOBS, PEOPLE LIKE POLICE OFFICERS, DOCTORS, PATHOLOGISTS, SCIENTISTS AND, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT WHAT IS INGRAINED, HOW IS DEATH SO FORBODING FOR NAVAJO PEOPLE AND WHY DO WE HAVE OUR BELIEFS.

SO I STARTED DOING RESEARCH ON THAT BUT IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT I REALIZED THAT I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD MAKE A GREAT DOCUMENTARY.

NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.

SO, IT KIND OF PUT A SQUASH ON THAT BUT AT THE SAME TIME I STARTED TO THINK ABOUT MY OWN LIFE WORKING AS A FORENSIC VIDEOGRAPHER HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE AND HOW THAT WOULD MAKE AN INTERESTING STORY.

SO, I KIND OF DID AN INTROSPECTIVE AND STARTED TO THINK, WELL, MAYBE OTHER PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT I CAN TALK ABOUT IT, I DEALT WITH IT FOR 16 YEARS.

AND THEN IT STARTED.

IT WAS A VERY LONG 10 YEARS OF WRITING IN BETWEEN FILM PROJECTS AND IN BETWEEN PARENTING AND ALL THE CRAZINESS OF LIFE.

SO IT TOOK ME 10 YEARS TO FINISH IT BUT I AM REALLY HAPPY WITH WHERE IT ENDED UP.

>> Antonia: HOW MUCH OF YOUR LIFE -- I MEAN, YOU ARE FROM THE NAVAJO NATION.

I REALLY CONNECTED WITH THE GRANDMOTHER IN THE STORY.

I WAS REALLY CLOSE WITH MY NAVAJO GRANDMOTHER, SO, HOW MUCH OF IT ARE PEOPLE GOING TO FIND THAT YOU PUT IN WITH YOUR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCES.

>> Emerson: I THINK ALMOST ALL OF THE STUFF WITH THE GRANDMA AND THE CHARACTER COMES FROM THINGS THAT MY GRANDMA AND MYSELF DID.

I GREW UP WITH MY GRANDMA A GOOD PORTION OF MY CHILDHOOD AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE REAL THINGS THAT WE EXPERIENCE AND THINGS THAT SHE WOULD TALK TO ME ABOUT AND I THINK PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THAT IS PART OF ME.

I MAY HAVE EMBELLISHED HERE AND THERE BUT THOSE ARE MY MEMORIES.

GROWING UP IN TOHATCHI, I REALLY WANTED TO MAKE TOHATCHI A CHARACTER OF THE BOOK BECAUSE THAT IS MY HOMETOWN AND IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SHOWCASE IT AND TALK ABOUT IT THE WAY I ALWAYS REMEMBER IT.

AND SOME OF IT IS TAKEN FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCES WORKING AS A FORENSIC VIDEOGRAPHER AND JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW MY WORK IMPACTED, LIKE, MY EMOTIONS AND HOW I WOULD THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO I FILMED FOR LEGAL REASONS FOR YEARS, FOR MONTHS.

I MEAN, THEIR STORIES AND THEIR LIVES WOULD IMPACT ME DEEPLY.

AND I KIND OF USED THOSE EMOTIONS AND GAVE THEM TO RITA IN A DIFFERENT WAY, OF COURSE.

I DIDN'T SEE GHOSTS AND I DIDN'T COMMUNICATE WITH GHOSTS WHILE I WAS WORKING FORENSICS.

IT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE MADE IT A LITTLE EASIER, BUT I WAS ABLE TO USE MY EMOTIONS THAT I HAD WORKING THOSE CASES AND GIVE THEM TO RITA AS KIND OF A SUPERNATURAL POWER INSTEAD.

BECAUSE THEY EVOKE THE SAME EMOTIONS IN HER AND SHE WOULD THINK ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES AND WHO THEY LEFT BEHIND AND THAT IS WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO DO THAT KIND OF WORK.

>> Antonia: TO ADD TO THAT IT IS THE CRIME AND SUPERNATURAL ASPECTS OF THIS BOOK, AND WE KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF TABOOS OUT THERE IN TRIBES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST NAVAJO NATION, BUT A LOT OF TRIBES.

HOW DID YOU APPROACH THAT?

ARE YOU WORRIED OR WERE YOU WORRIED ABOUT ANY BACKLASH OR ANY CRITICISM?

>> Emerson: I AM WORRIED.

I HAVE TO SAY WHEN I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING IT, I WOULD OFTEN SAY, OH, GEEZ, ARE YOU GOING TO WRITE THAT?

ARE YOU GOING TO PUT THAT IN?

WHAT WOULD YOUR GRANDMA SAY?

I MEAN, I HAD THOSE INTERNAL DIALOGUES WITH MYSELF, HOW ARE NAVAJOS GOING TO TAKE THIS STORY?

AND I REALIZED THAT -- WELL, I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ABOUT DEATH AND ABOUT HOW NAVAJOS CAME TO THIS PINNACLE OF BEING SO AFRAID OF DEATH THAT YOU DON'T EVEN TALK ABOUT IT.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE A PART OF YOUR LIFE.

I BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT LOOKING AT OTHER CULTURES AND OTHER RITUALS AROUND THE WORLD, AND DOING DEEP RESEARCH ABOUT HOW DIFFERENT PEOPLE BELIEVE AND HOW DIFFERENT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT IT, I KIND OF FELT THAT THE DINE ARE REAL ANCHORED TO THE SPANISH FLU.

AND I THINK THE SPANISH FLU EPIDEMIC HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON HOW NAVAJOS FEEL ABOUT DEATH AND THEIR FEAR OF IT BECAUSE BEFORE THAT THE RESEARCH REALLY DOESN'T SHOW THAT.

IT IS LIKE THEY ARE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT WORLD.

IT IS A REBIRTH AND THEN AT SOME POINT IT TURNS INTO THIS EVIL MONASTER.

FOR ME I FELT LIKE THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS.

INSTEAD OF HIDING FROM THEM, WE NEED TO FACE THEM.

I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE THE NAVAJO NATION HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ARE EVEN STARTING TO TALK ABOUT TRADITIONAL FUNERAL PRACTICES AND ABOUT HOW WE DEAL WITH DEATH.

SO I THINK, EVEN IN MAINSTREAM ACADEMIA, WE ARE STARTING TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT AND WONDER IF THERE IS A DIFFERENT WAY TO APPROACH THINGS.

SO, I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD OPENING FOR DIALOGUE BUT AT THE SAME TIME I ALSO THOUGHT, WELL, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST -- FOR DECADES, DINE HAVE BEEN READING TONY HILLERMAN AND HE TALKS ALL KIND OF SPOOKY STUFF THAT I WOULD NEVER PUT IN A BOOK, NEVER.

THEY READ THOSE BOOKS SO READING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THAT I KNOW I DIDN'T PUT ANY SENSITIVE KNOWLEDGE IN, BECAUSE I KNOW BETTER, THAT THEY SHOULD BE FINE READING THIS BOOK.

IF WE WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT DEATH AND TALK ABOUT THOSE TABOOS, NOW IS THE TIME DO IT.

>> Antonia: THERE ARE A LOT OF NONNATIVE WRITERS OUT THERE WHO ARE WRITING ABOUT THE NAVAJO NATION, WHO ARE WRITING ABOUT OTHER TRIBES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU AS AN INDIGENOUS PERSON, AS A WOMAN, TO BE SHARING AND TELLING A STORY THROUGH THIS BOOK SOMETHING THAT WE UNDERSTAND AND WE KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE DO'S AND DON'TS OF.

>> Emerson: IT ILLUSTRATES THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING SOMEBODY FROM A COMMUNITY REPRESENT THAT COMMUNITY AND TELL THAT STORY BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO YOU GET FALSEHOODS IN STORIES WRITTEN ABOUT PEOPLE OR WRITTEN ABOUT US FROM PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF FALSEHOODS.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF CHANCE FOR, YOU KNOW, ROMANTICIZING OUR WAY OF LIFE.

THERE IS A LOT OF CHANCE TO STEREOTYPE US AND THAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AND IT ALWAYS BOGGLES THE MIND TO ME.

I NEVER TELL STORIES OUTSIDE OF MY COMMUNITY BECAUSE, I MEAN, EVEN IF I WAS GOING TO TELL A STORY ABOUT A PUEBLO COMMUNITY, I MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE EXHAUSTED EVERY RESOURCE TO FIND SOMEBODY FROM THEIR OWN COMMUNITY TO DO THAT.

IF THEY DON'T FIND SOMEBODY AT LEAST WE CAN INCLUDE SOME YOUNG PEOPLE AS PART OF THE PROJECT SO THEY ARE IN DEVELOPMENT.

THERE WILL BE SOMEBODY WHO CAN TAKE OVER THESE STORIES AFTER I AM GONE, BUT THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, EVEN THROUGH MY FILM WORK, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A REAL THORN TO ME TO FIND PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO MAKE THESE STORIES AND CONTINUE TO GET FUNDED TO TELL OUR STORIES WHEN OUR OWN INDIGENOUS FILMMAKERS ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET, STRUGGLING TO HAVE THEIR PROJECTS FINANCED.

FOR ME IS A BIG STICK.

WRITING A BOOK LIKE THIS, I THINK, REALLY SHOWS THAT DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF CULTURAL TABOOS, DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT STORIES YOU TELL, WHAT STORIES YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL, WHAT STORIES THAT YOU SHOULD BE TELLING.

THERE ARE SOME STORIES THAT YOU SHOULD NOT BE TELLING AND A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO DON'T COME FROM OUR COMMUNITIES ARE TELLING THAT STORY WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T.

YOU KNOW, I CAN'T STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY DO.

BUT THE TRICK IS TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS WRONG.

PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DON'T TELL THAT STORY, OUT OF RESPECT.

OUT OF TRADITIONAL BELIEFS, YOU DON'T TELL THAT STORY OR YOU ONLY TELL THAT STORY DURING A CERTAIN PART OF THE YEAR, YOU KNOW.

PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE THEY DON'T COME FROM OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE THESE PEOPLE.

>> Gene: WELCOME BACK TO OUR PANELISTS.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS GIVING OUT A LIFE-SAVING TOOL TO DRUG USERS, FENTANYL TEST STRIPS.

A RECENT PIECE FROM THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL DETAILS A TACTIC WHICH GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM APPROVED IN FEBRUARY.

NEW MEXICO HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST OVERDOSE RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

AND ALGERNON, DO YOU EXPECT THESE TESTING STRIPS WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT LOWERING -- I REALIZE THE WORK SIGNIFICANT MIGHT BE PROBLEMATIC HERE -- BUT WOULD IT HAVE THE IMPACT OF REDUCING OVERDOSE RATES, FROM WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN SO FAR?

>> Algernon: IT SEEMS SO.

I MEAN, IT IS IMPORTANT TO HUMANIZE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE ADDICTION.

AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DECISION-MAKING FACULTIES AND ARE CONCERNED FOR THEIR HEALTH AND WELFARE.

AND SO THE FENTANYL STRIPS REALLY DO SORT OF -- IT'S INTERESTING, ONE OF THE ANECDOTES ABOUT FENTANYL STRIPS WAS THAT PEOPLE AT FIRST THOUGHT THEY WERE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THEY WERE TURNING UP POSITIVE RESULTS ALMOST ALL THE TIME WHEN PEOPLE TESTED THEIR HEROIN SUPPLY.

AND THEY LATER CONFIRMED, NO, IT IS BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THE HEROIN SUPPLY IS TAINTED WITH FENTANYL.

I THINK THAT IS EYE OPENING.

IT IS NOT A PANACEA AND IT DOESN'T LIBERATE PEOPLE FROM THE SHACKLES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE OF ADDICTION, OPIOID ADDICTION AND ALL THE REST OF IT, BUT I THINK IT IS USEFUL INFORMATION THAT WILL CERTAINLY HAVE AN IMPACT.

IT IS ALSO INTERESTING.

IT WASN'T LONG AGO THAT FENTANYL STRIPS WERE CLASSIFIED AS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO -- THAT SHIFT KIND OF SPEAKS TO THE LARGER SHIFT OF VIEWING THIS NOT AS A MORAL PROBLEM BUT AS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM.

AND REALLY EVEN JUST SPIRITUALLY AN ASSAULT ON HUMAN FREEDOM.

SO, I THINK THAT LITTLE BY LITTLE AS WE REFRAME THESE TOOLS AS BEING NOT THINGS THAT GIVE PERMISSION FOR AN IMMORAL ACTIVITY BUT TOOLS THAT CAN HELP IF WE ARE USING ARE INTERVENTIONS STRATEGICALLY AND WITH TREMENDOUS RESOLVE AND DIRECTION CAN ACTUALLY HELP TO LIBERATE PEOPLE FROM THE DEPENDENCY AND THE PRISON OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE ADDICTION.

>> Gene: WELL SAID.

I WILL REMIND VIEWERS, WE ARE TALKING 70% OF U.S. DRUG OVERDOSES ARE FROM FENTANYL.

70%.

NOW, SENATOR, LET ME ASK YOU THIS, TEST STRIPS ALONG WITH NARCAN, OF COURSE, IS OUT IN THE NEWS.

A LOT OF FOLKS KNOW WHAT IT IS, BOTH EFFECTIVE IN SAVING LIVES.

THAT IS WHY THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A BILL MAKING TEST STRIPS LEGAL BUT NOW THAT THESE TOOLS ARE THERE, HOW CAN WE START TO REACH PEOPLE BEFORE THEY ARE ON THE BRINK OF OVERDOSE?

ISN'T THAT THE NEXT STEP?

>> Dede: THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE REAL KEY AND THAT IS THE HARD PART, PREVENTION.

IT BOILS DOWN TO PREVENTION AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN.

I MEAN, IT MEANS SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CLINICS.

IT MEANS ACTIVITIES THAT KIDS CAN SAY YES TO, LIKE THE GIRL SCOUTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

IT MEANS PEER COUNSELING.

IT MEANS A ROBUST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE.

AND SO ANY OF THESE TOOLS THAT ARE PIONEERED, AND WE HAVE A GREAT RECORD WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

THEY DO HAVE THE RESOLVE.

THEY DO HAVE THE HISTORY DATING BACK TO NEEDLE EXCHANGE IN 1997 INTRODUCED HERE TO TRY TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT, NOT WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.

BUT WHERE THEY ARE AT.

AND THE PREVENTION PART IS THE HARDEST PART BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONE THAT ALWAYS GETS -- DOES NOT GET THE FUNDS IN COMPARISON TO THE CRISIS.

>> GENE: GOOD POINT THERE.

REBECCA, THE POINT THAT SENATOR MADE ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

THEY ARE REPORTING OVER AT LEAST 1200 PEOPLE AND PROBABLY A LOT MORE THAN THAT HAVE DIED FROM FENTANYL OVERDOSES IN THE STATE SINCE 2019, BUT AT THE SAME TIME OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN 12,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAVED FROM A DRUG OVERDOSE BY NARCAN.

THAT IS HARD TO IGNORE, THAT NUMBER, 12,000.

SHOULD THERE BE AN ARGUMENT ANYMORE ABOUT FENTANYL STRIPS AND OTHER THINGS WE ARE DOING TO ABATE THIS?

IS THE POINT PROVEN?

>> Rebecca: I THINK THE POINT IS VERY WELL PROVEN AND I CAN'T -- I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY -- WHAT ARGUMENT IS THERE AGAINST MAKING THESE RESOURCES AVAILABLE OUTSIDE OF SHOULD WE BE USING GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR THIS OR NOT?

AND, I MEAN, THANKFULLY WHERE WE ARE IN NEW MEXICO RIGHT NOW IS WE ARE NOT HAVING TO LOOK FOR PENNIES IN BETWEEN THE COUCH CUSHION FOR ANYTHING.

SO, LIKE THE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE.

LET'S GET THEM OUT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, KEEP SAVING LIVES.

TO ELABORATE ON WHAT THE SENATOR SAID ABOUT PREVENTION AND GETTING IN OUR SCHOOLS AND STARTING TO TALK ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE MY CHILDREN ARE IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL AND A LOT OF OTHER MOM'S WHOSE KIDS ARE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL ARE HAVING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH KIDS ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE SEEMINGLY HARMLESS, LIKE CANNABIS, BEING USED BY KIDS IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL THAT ARE NOW LACED -- CANNABIS IS LACED WITH FENTANYL.

SO, KIDS THINKING, LIKE, OH, WELL, IT IS JUST WE WEED.

IT IS NOT ANYMORE.

AND SO WE HAVE TO -- I MEAN, IF THIS IS HAPPENING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL THEN THAT MEANS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WE HAVE TO MAKE RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND FIND THE BEST WAY TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN ABOUT THE DANGERS OF GOING DOWN THIS RABBIT HOLE.

IT IS NOT EASY TO GET BACK OUT AND SO I THINK ANYTHING THAT WE CAN PUT INTO EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS IS GOING TO BE MAJOR IN THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

>> Gene: ALGERNON, I ASK YOU TO PICK UP ON WHAT REBECCA JUST TOOK US TO.

I APPRECIATE THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN REPORTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IN THE LAST WEEK OF NEW PILLS MADE TO LOOK LIKE CANDY THAT CONTAIN FENTANYL AND DEA ADMINISTRATOR ANNE MILGRAM IS CALLING FOR GROUPS BEHIND THESE DRUGS TO -- THEY ARE TRYING TO DRIVE ADDICTION IN YOUNG PEOPLE.

DO WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB ABOUT EDUCATING CHILDREN ABOUT THESE DANGERS AS THEY ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AS REBECCA WAS MENTIONING.

>> Algernon: YEAH.

I WAS A KID DURING THE REAGAN ERA WAR ON DRUGS WHEN IT WAS REALLY FRAMED, THE DRUG EDUCATION FOR KIDS WAS REALLY FRAMED AROUND A MORAL BINARY CHOICE.

AND I AM NOW RAISING MY OWN CHILDREN IN A COMMUNITY WHERE I HAVE REPORTS OF CHILDREN OF SCHOOL AGE BEING ACTIVELY PURSUED BY TRAFFICKERS WHO ARE TRYING TO INSTILL ADDICTION IN PEOPLE BASICALLY TO GUARANTEE THEMSELVES A MARKET.

SORT OF LIKE AN EVEN DARKER PARALLEL TO HOW CIGARETTES WERE MARKETED AND BECAME SUCH AN INSTITUTION IN AMERICAN LIFE.

THIS IS NOW HAPPENING ON THE STREETS OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE I LIVE.

SO, THE EDUCATION REALLY NEEDS TO BE DIFFERENT AND IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE FRAMED AS HAZARD, HARM THAT THE PEOPLE TRYING TO OFFER YOU AN EXPERIENCE WITH THESE THINGS ARE NOT OFFERING YOU FRIENDSHIP.

THEY ARE OFFERING YOU BONDAGE TO A SUBSTANCE AND PERHAPS AN ATTACK ON YOUR HEALTH AND LIFE.

>> Gene: THAT IS RIGHT.

SENATOR, LET'S FINISH HERE.

POLICYMAKERS, WHERE ARE THEY HERE IN NEW MEXICO, MEANING, PERHAPS, A TASKFORCE, PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING TO KIND OF GET THIS MORE TO THE SURFACE HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

BECAUSE AS I READ IT HERE, AGAIN FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THEY HAVE GIVEN OUT 15,000 TEST STRIPS SINCE THE CHANGE TOOK EFFECT IN MID MAY, AND ALREADY ORDERED ANOTHER 50,000.

THIS IS GOING TO BE PART OF OUR LIFE HERE, SO, IS THERE AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN THAT HAS TO COME FROM THE LEGISLATURE PARTLY HERE?

>> Dede: THE LEGISLATURE HAS DONE ITS JOB.

IT PASSED THE BILL.

THE EXECUTIVE IS NOW GETTING HER DEPARTMENT TO FORM REGULATIONS BUT, YES, I THINK WE NEED A BIG EDUCATION CAMPAIGN AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE RUN ANTI-TOBACCO PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY GEARED TOWARDS YOUTH AND THEY HAVE DONE THAT.

THEY USE THE TOBACCO FUNDS THAT CAME TO THE STATE AS A RESULT OF THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT BACK IN THE LATE 90'S AND RAN ALL KINDS OF PREVENTION PROGRAMS USING PEER COUNSELING, USING SCHOOL-BASED CLINICS, USING VERY CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE STUFF.

THAT COULD BE A MODEL FOR A LOT OF THE STUFF GEARED TOWARD YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> Gene: GOOD POINTS, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING UP THE NEEDLE EXCHANGE.

THAT WAS PRETTY FORWARD THINKING BACK WHEN THAT WE DID HERE.

THAT WAS AHEAD OF THE CURVE.

WE CAN GET AHEAD OF THAT CURVE AGAIN CERTAINLY.

WE HAVE TO WRAP IT UP THERE, BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.

WE'LL BE BACK HERE AT THE VIRTUAL ROUND TABLE ONE FINAL TIME IN LESS THAN 15 MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT THE DEVASTATING IMPACTS NOW EXTINGUISHED WILDFIRES ARE STILL HAVING.

BUT FIRST ANOTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO LEAD TO MORE FIRE LATE IN 2022.

SCIENTISTS ARE WARNING OF A PROLONGED AND EXTREME HEATWAVE STARTING THIS WEEK THAT CAN FUEL DANGEROUS FIRE CONDITIONS INTO SEPTEMBER.

OUR LAND SENIOR PRODUCER, LAURA PASKUS, CHECKED IN WITH UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO BIOLOGY PROFESSOR BLAIR WOLF TO TALK ABOUT HIS RESEARCH ON HOW HEATWAVES AFFECT BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE.

>> Laura: THANKS PROFESSOR WOLF FOR JOINING ME TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF HEATWAVES ON BIRDS.

>> Wolf: MY PLEASURE.

>> Laura: SO WORLDWIDE HEATWAVES ARE INCREASING IN FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY AND AT THE END OF JULY, PRESIDENT BIDEN ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER REGARDING EXTREME HEAT, THE RISKS TO HUMANS ARE SERIOUS AND DEADLY WORLDWIDE BUT I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH YOU WITH A TECHNICAL QUESTION.

THERMOREGULATION, HOW DO BIRDS REGULATE THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE VERSUS HOW MAMMALS, HUMANS DO?

>> Wolf: SO, THE GENERAL PROBLEM IS SIMILAR FOR MAMMALS AND BIRDS.

I MEAN, WE HUMANS WHEN THE ENVIRONMENT TEMPERATURE IS COOLER THAN OUR BODY, BELOW 98.6, WE OFF LOAD HEAT PASSIVELY THROUGH RADIATION, CONDUCTION AND CONVECTION.

HEAT JUST GOES FROM HOT TO COLD AND LEAVES OUR BODY.

THAT IS THE INTERNAL HEAT WE PRODUCE IS DISSIPATED IN PART TO THE ENVIRONMENT, RIGHT.

BUT, AS THE TEMPERATURES INCREASE, WE GET A REVERSE ON THE GRADIENT FOR HEAT LOSS, RIGHT.

WHEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE GETS HOTTER THAN OUR BODIES, WITH MAMMALS OR BIRDS, WE GET HEAT GAIN FROM THE ENVIRONMENT AND WE ALSO HAVE AN INTERNAL HEAT WE HAVE TO GET RID OF, TO MAINTAIN A STABLE BODY TEMPERATURE.

THIS IS THE GOAL, A PROCESS CALLED HOMEOSTASIS, WHERE WE MAINTAIN A STABLE INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT.

WHEN ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE IS HOTTER THAN OUR BODY, THE ONLY WAY IT CAN DO THAT IS BY EVAPORATING WATER.

BECAUSE THESE OTHER MEANS OF HEAT TRANSFER, RADIATION, CONDUCTION, CONVECTION, WHICH RELY ON A GRADIENT, THE GRADIENT IS NOW T HOT IS THE OUTSIDE AND OUR BODY COOLER SO WE HAVE HEAT GOING INTO US BY THOSE OTHER MEANS.

SO WE HAVE TO EVAPORATE WATER.

EVAPORATION OF WATER IS VERY EFFECTIVE IN CARRYING OFF HEAT.

IF WE SECRETE WATER ONTO OUR SKIN SURFACE OR WE PANT LIKE A DOG, WE CAN EVAPORATE WATER AND GET RID OF HEAT THAT WAY.

>> Laura: I ACTUALLY SAW A CURVED BILL THRASHER PANTING IN MY FRONT YARD A COUPLE OF SUNDAYS AGO WHEN IT WAS REALLY HOT.

THAT ALARMED ME.

I DON'T TYPICALLY THINK OF BIRDS AS PANTING BUT IS THAT JUST A NORMAL WAY FOR THEM TO REACT?

YEAH, FOR SONG BIRDS LIKE THRASHERS, THAT IS A NORMAL WAY TO GET RID OF HEAT WHEN IT IS HOT.

IF THEY ARE SITTING IN THE SUN, WHERE, RIGHT, THE SUN'S RADIATION HAS A HUGE HEAT LOAD TO AN ANIMAL AND SO THAT IS WHY WE TRY TO AVOID THE SUN WHEN IT IS REALLY HOT, RIGHT, BECAUSE IT IS EQUIVALENT TO ELEVATING THE TEMPERATURE OF A ROOM BY MAYBE 12 TO 20 DEGREES, YOU KNOW, SO THAT THRASHER NOW IS PANTING TO COOL ITSELF.

IT IS EVAPORATING WATER FROM ITS RESPIRATORY SURFACES, PULLING HEAT AWAY FROM THE BODY AND COOLING ITSELF.

THAT IS THE WAY SONG BIRDS COOL, BY PANTING.

THEY DON'T SWEAT LIKE WE DO.

THEY DON'T HAVE SKIN GLANDS WHERE THEY SECRETE WATER ONTO THE SKIN SURFACE AND THE WATER EVAPORATES, RIGHT?

SO, THAT IS WHAT YOUR THRASHER IS DOING.

THE THING IS, THE COST IN TERMS OF WATER IS REALLY HIGH.

YOU LOSE A LOT OF WATER WHEN YOU'RE PANTING LIKE THAT.

THE HOTTER IT IS, THE MORE WATER YOU LOSE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO COOL MORE.

>> Laura: LAST YEAR YOU AND PHD STUDENT RICK RAMIREZ PUBLISHED A PAPER LOOKING AT HOW SOME SPECIES RESPONDED TO WARMING AT A SITE IN THE MOJAVE DESERT.

WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE THAT YOU FOUND BETWEEN HOW BIRD SPECIES AND MAMMAL SPECIES WERE RESPONDING TO HEAT STRESS ON THAT SITE AND IN THAT STUDY?

>> Wolf: SO THAT PAPER WAS PUBLISHED IN SCIENCE WITH ERIC RIDDLE AND STEVE BISSINGER AT BERKELEY AND WE FOUND THAT -- THIS IS A STUDY ON MAMMALS AND BIRDS AND WE COMPARED THE TWO GROUPS.

AND WE FOUND THAT BIRDS, BECAUSE THEY ARE DIURNAL, MEANING THEY ARE ACTIVE DURING THE DAY, THAT THEY ARE DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO THE ENVIRONMENT, RIGHT.

EXTREMES OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE MOJAVE DESERT WHERE IT CAN BE 120 OR 130 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

AND SO THOSE ANIMALS HAVE TO COPE WITH THAT HEAT DIRECTLY.

YOU KNOW.

THEY ALSO USE BEHAVIORAL MEANS TO AVOID HEAT WHEN THEY CAN, LIKE SEEKING THE SHADE OR THE COOLEST SITE IN THE ENVIRONMENT THEY CAN FIND.

BUT, THEY DON'T OFTEN HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DOING THAT, NOT LIKE SMALL MAMMALS.

MOST SMALL MAMMALS IN THE MOJAVE DESERT ARE NOCTURNAL, NIGHT ACTIVE, SO THEY RETREAT TO BURROWS OR OTHER THERMAL REFUGES DURING THE DAY WHERE THEY AVOID THE MOST SEVERE HEAT STRESS SO THAT REDUCES COSTS IN TERMS OF WATER.

SO, WE FOUND THAT OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME, THAT THE MAMMALS JUST HAVEN'T BEEN EXPOSED TO THESE EXTREMES SO THEY HAVEN'T EVOLVED ADAPTATIONS TO COPE WITH HEAT STRESS AND SO THEY ARE NOT VERY CAPABLE AS FAR AS COPING WITH HEAT STRESS.

THEY CAN'T -- THEY DON'T SWEAT, THEY ARE NOT GOOD AT PANTING.

AS SOON AS THEY GET HOT THEY MAKE THIS SORT OF EMERGENCY PANIC RESPONSE OF SALIVATING AND WIPING SALIVA ALL OVER THEIR BODIES TO TRY TO GET WATER TO EVAPORATE FROM THEIR SURFACE AND COOL THEM, WHEREAS BIRDS ARE COPING WITH THIS ENVIRONMENT ALL THE TIME AND SO THEY HAVE TO DIRECTLY DEAL WITH IT.

AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A DECLINE IN BIRD COMMUNITIES THAT ARE POTENTIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS WARMING BECAUSE THE INCREASING CHALLENGE OF GETTING RID OF THAT HEAT HAS BIG COSTS IN TERMS OF WATER, RIGHT.

>> Laura: WHETHER THAT PARTICULAR STUDY, I KNOW YOU HAVE ALSO DONE WORK LOOKING AT HEATWAVES IN BIRDS IN AUSTRALIA AND OTHER PLACES.

I KNOW THOSE ARE SITE SPECIFIC BUT I AM CURIOUS WHAT SORT OF BROADER LESSONS YOU'RE LEARNING THAT THE REST OF US CAN ALSO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, HOW THESE RISING TEMPERATURES, HEATWAVES ARE REALLY AFFECTING BIRD POPULATIONS WORLDWIDE.

>> Wolf: HEATWAVES ARE INSTRUCTIVE TO LOOK AT BECAUSE THEY ARE SORT OF THIS 5% OR 1% EVENT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN VERY INFREQUENTLY, RIGHT?

SO, RIGHT NOW OR AT LEAST WITHIN THE LAST DECADE, THE CURRENT HEATWAVE WHERE YOU HAVE THREE TO FIVE DAYS THAT WERE ABOVE THE SORT OF 95TH PERCENTILE FOR HIGH TEMPERATURES, WOULD OCCUR ONCE EVERY 20 YEARS.

THEY ARE PROJECTED IN THE FUTURE TO OCCUR ONCE EVERY ONE OR TWO YEARS AND WE ARE ALREADY SEEING THAT FREQUENCY OF HEATWAVES IS GREATLY INCREASING.

YOU CAN LOOK AROUND THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.

SEATTLE IS SUPPOSED TO BE 110 OR WHATEVER IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

IT WAS OVER 110 DEGREES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA TWO YEARS AGO, RIGHT?

SO, THESE ARE TEMPERATURES THAT ANIMALS HAVE NOT SEEN IN THEIR RECENT EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY SO THEY ARE NOT PREPARED PHYSIOLOGICALLY FOR THEM, RIGHT?

SO, TWO YEARS AGO WE ACTUALLY SAW THE REPORTS OF BABY BIRDS JUMPING OUT NESTS BECAUSE THEY WERE SO HOT.

AND SO, THE HEAT, THESE HEATWAVES HURT BIRDS IN A COUPLE WAYS.

ONE IS THAT THEY MAY JUST CAUSE THEM TO OVERHEAT.

THE BIRD CAN'T EVAPORATE ENOUGH WATER TO STAY SCHOOL SO ITS BODY TEMPERATURE RISES TO AN EXTREME LEVEL WHERE IT JUST DIES, RIGHT?

THAT WOULD BE HEAT STROKE IN HUMANS.

WE SEE THE SAME THING IN HUMANS.

IT IS ONE OF THE CAUSES OF DEATH.

THE OTHER WAY IS THAT THEY COULD EVAPORATE WATER AND COOL THEMSELVES BUT WHEN IT GETS REALLY HOT THEY SUSPEND ACTIVITY AND THEY STOP FORAGING, SO THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO WATER.

SO, THEY MAY JUST RUN THEIR WATER LEVELS DOWN IN THEIR BODY TO AN EXTENT WHERE THEIR BODY DOESN'T FUNCTION ANYMORE.

THEY CAN'T CIRCULATE BLOOD, THEY CAN'T COOL, THEY GET ORGAN SYSTEM FAILURE, THERE IS ALL SORTS OF BAD THINGS THAT HAPPEN.

THOSE ARE SORT OF THE DIRECT WAYS.

DESERTS AND HOT PLACES ARE GOOD PLACES TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE WE SEE IT MORE FREQUENTLY AND EXAMPLES ARE MORE STARK, RIGHT.

THE INTERESTING THING IS, OR THE SCARY THING IS, THAT MOST OF THE WARMING, THE POLLS ARE WARMING THREE TO FOUR TIMES FASTER THAN THESE MORE SUBTROPICAL AREAS LIKE DESERTS, RIGHT.

THOSE ANIMALS HAVE NEVER SEEN THESE KIND OF TEMPERATURES IN THEIR RECENT EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.

SO THEY ARE TOTALLY UNPREPARED FOR THESE HEATWAVES AND I THINK WE ARE SEEING IN THE ARCTIC NOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A REAL PROBLEM, RIGHT.

AND ANIMALS JUST CAN'T COPE WITH THE HEAT, THEY ARE UNPREPARED FOR IT, PHYSIOLOGICALLY OR BEHAVIORALLY.

THERE IS NO PLACE TO ESCAPE.

SO I THINK IN GENERAL, LOOKING AT HOT DESERTS SHOWS US THE STANDARD RESPONSE TO HEAT STRESS AND WHAT THE BEST THAT ANIMALS CAN DO WITH IT, BUT WE EXTEND THAT TO MORE TEMPERATE AREAS WHERE IT IS COOLER AND WE SEE THESE ANIMALS CAN'T COPE WITH THESE EXTREMES HARDLY AT ALL.

THAT WOULD BE ONE THING I WOULD SAY.

>> Laura: JUST WATCHING WHAT HAPPENED IN EUROPE AND THE UNITED KINGDOM IN JULY, YOU KNOW, LONDON, 104-DEGREE TEMPERATURES AND OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS VAST HUMAN IMPACT BUT I COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK OF ALL THE BIRD SPECIES AND OTHER ANIMALS THAT ARE COMPLETELY NOT EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THOSE TEMPERATURES.

SO, I THINK THAT MY POINT THERE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO AS A SOCIETY IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE BUT PEOPLE WATCHING THIS PROGRAM, PEOPLE SORT OF WATCHING THESE HEATWAVES AND IMPACTS, WE ALWAYS WONDER WHAT CAN I DO.

ARE THERE ACTIONS THAT YOU CAN TAKE IN YOUR OWN YARD OR NEIGHBORHOOD OR COMMUNITY OR CITY THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND I AM CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> Wolf: FOR URBAN WILDLIFE, I THINK THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO AS FAR AS PLANTING TREES.

THEY ARE PAINTING IN PHOENIX, PAINTING THE STREETS A LIGHT GRAY COLOR TO REFLECT HEAT BECAUSE THAT LOWERS SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF THE STREETS BY 10 DEGREES WHICH MEANS THEY ARE ABSORBING MUCH LESS HEAT, RIGHT.

THE ULTIMATE THING IS WE GOT TO MITIGATE AND STOP OUR GREENHOUSE GAS PRODUCTION, REALLY QUICKLY.

BECAUSE, THE RATE AT WHICH THIS IS ACCELERATING IS UNPRECEDENTED.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT IS MELTING OFF THE GREENLAND ICE SHEET FROM A RECENT HEATWAVE THERE A WEEK OR TWO AGO, THE CLIMATE SCIENTISTS ARE CONSERVATIVE BY NATURE IN WHAT THEY PUBLISH AND WHAT THEY SAY, BUT IF YOU ASK ANY OF THEM, THINGS ARE HAPPENING MUCH, MUCH MORE RAPIDLY THAN WE COULD HAVE IMAGINED.

AND AS A BIOLOGIST, I LOOK AT THESE DATA AND I DON'T DELVE INTO THEM DEEPLY BUT IF YOU JUST LOOK AT DIFFERENT THINGS, YOU KNOW, ICE SHEETS, TEMPERATURES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALASKA, NUMBER OF HEATWAVES WE ARE HAVING THAT ARE WIDESPREAD ACROSS EUROPE RIGHT NOW.

IN 2003 OVER 15,000 EXCESS HUMAN DEATHS DURING A HEATWAVE THERE.

SO, HEATWAVES ARE THE BIGGEST KILLER OF HUMANS, BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL KILLER OF HUMANS.

IT IS HARD TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH WILDLIFE BECAUSE IF A BIRD DROPS DEAD IN THE DESERT, WHO IS THERE TO SEE IT?

IT IS LIKE A TREE FALLING IN THE FOREST.

IT IS NOT LIKE PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE SURVEYING THIS ALL THE TIME.

UNLESS IT IS AN EVENT THAT HAPPENS IN AN INHABITED AREA LIKE THE FLYING FOXES IN AUSTRALIA OR BUDGIES IN AUSTRALIA WHERE WE HAVE HAD THESE MASS DIE-OFFS OF THOUSANDS OR 10 THOUSANDS OF OUR ANIMALS, IT IS NOT GENERALLY SEEN.

SO IT IS HARDER TO QUANTIFY WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHERE THESE STRESSORS ARE GOING TO SHOW UP AND HOW MUCH THEY ARE GOING TO HURT ANIMAL POPULATIONS, RIGHT?

SO, THOSE ARE JUST THE DIRECT AFFECTS OF THE CLIMATE EVENTS, RIGHT.

WE ARE DRYING AND ESPECIALLY THE SOUTHWEST, IT IS DRYING.

WE HAVE BEEN UNDER DROUGHT CONDITIONS FOR 20 YEARS.

THAT COULD EXTEND FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, CERTAINLY MY LIFETIME, FROM THE PROJECTIONS, YOU KNOW, AND IT IS THAT CHRONIC DRYING AND WARMING THAT PUT CHRONIC STRESS ON ANIMALS AND HUMANS, RIGHT?

WE SEE HUMAN POPULATIONS ARE STRESSED BY WATER STRESS.

IF YOU LOOK IN THE WEST, THE COLORADO RIVER, THE WATER STRESS IS JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

THAT INCREASE IN TEMPERATURE COMBINED WITH INCREASING DROUGHT, REALLY REDUCES THE ABUNDANCE OF PLANT GROWTH AND SECONDARY PRODUCTIVITY SUCH AS FOOD FOR ANIMALS, INSECTS, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

SO THAT INCREASES STRESSES ON ALL ANIMAL POPULATIONS AS WELL.

THOSE ARE INDIRECT EFFECTS THAT WE CAN'T REALLY QUANTIFY AT THIS POINT THAT CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE.

>> Laura: THANK YOU DR. WOLF FOR TALKING WITH ME ABOUT THIS TODAY, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> Wolf: SURE, YOU'RE VERY WELCOME AND GREAT SEEING YOU AGAIN.

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

THE LARGEST WILDFIRE IN STATE HISTORY IS NOW 100% CONTAINED.

THE HERMIT'S PEAK CALF CANYON FIRE IS UNDER CONTROL BUT SOME LINGERING ARE CREATING ANOTHER DISASTER IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO.

HEAVY RAINS ARE RUSHING THROUGH THE BURN SCAR BRINGING ASH AND DEBRIS WITH THEM.

THAT ASH AND DEBRIS HAS CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER IN [LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO) THANKFULLY THIS WEEK, A NEW PIECE OF EQUIPMENT DID ARRIVE TO HELP RESTORE THE CITY'S TREATMENT SYSTEM BUT, OF COURSE, THIS IS ALL A CONSEQUENCE OF U.S. FOREST SERVICE ACTION THAT STARTED THE HERMIT'S PEAK CALF CANYON FIRE IN THE FIRST PLACE, SENATOR FELDMAN, SHOULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.

I KNOW THEY WANT TO RESEED BUT OUR GOVERNOR -- OUR SENATOR LUJAN IS LOOKING FOR MORE.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MORE FROM THE FED'S.

>> Dede: YES, THEY NEED TO PAY THE TOTAL BILL AND, YOU KNOW, FOR EVERYTHING.

AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO DO THAT, PARTICULARLY AS TIME GOES BY AND WE MIGHT SEE A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP IN THE U.S. HOUSE AND THAT MIGHT MAKE IT LESS URGENT AS WELL.

SO THEY NEED TO, YEAH, THEY NEED TO MAKE LAS VEGAS WHOLE IN TERMS OF DRINKING WATER, IN PARTICULAR.

>> Gene: THAT IS RIGHT.

INTERESTING POINT THE SENATOR MADE THAT THE ENTIRE FEDERAL RESPONSE, AS YOU KNOW AND EVERYBODY KNOWS, RUNS THROUGH FEMA, WHICH SENATOR SAID WAS NOT NECESSARILY SET UP TO DEAL WITH DISASTERS LIKE THIS ONE.

THAT IS AN INTERESTING POINT THERE.

I AM CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.

>> Algernon: I THINK THAT REALLY KIND OF REFLECTS OUR SHIFT IN THINKING ABOUT THE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, AND I THINK THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE THEN CONNECTING THESE CONDITIONS TO THE BROADER CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS BLAME TO BE CAST ON GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FOR THE CATASTROPHE IN NEW MEXICO THIS SUMMER, BUT THE CONTEXT, THE ACCELERATOR TO USE A BAD METAPHOR IS OUR WORSENING DROUGHT CONDITIONS, OUR LENGTHENING AND INTENSIFYING HEATWAVES, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE DRIVING DOWN OUR FUEL MOISTURE AND TURNING MUCH OF NEW MEXICO INTO A TINDER BOX.

SO, NO, FEMA WAS NOT ONCE UPON A TIME SET UP, LIKE A LOT OF FEDERAL AGENCIES, THE AGENCIES TO WHOM IT FALLS TO HELP WITH SOME OF THE MITIGATION OF THE DAMAGE, TO HELP MAKE RANCHERS WHOLE IN CATRON COUNTY AND GRANT COUNTY WHERE WE ARE RECOVERING FROM THE BLACK FIRE THIS SUMMER, THE STATE'S SECOND LARGEST WILDFIRE IN HISTORY.

A LOT OF THESE AGENCIES TO WHOM THAT MITIGATION FALLS ARE JUST NOT FUNDED FOR ALL OF THE NEED AND THIS IS JUST IN NEW MEXICO.

WE ARE NOT THE ONLY STATE THAT SAW FIRES, SO, FEMA IS NOT PREPARED AND, REALLY, FEDERAL AGENCIES ACROSS THE BOARD ARE NOT PREPARED BUT, HELLO, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.

>> Gene: INTERESTINGLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE WATER SITUATION IN VEGAS THAT WE OPENED THE SEGMENT WITH, INFRASTRUCTURE IS AT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.

WE EXPECTED FLOODING, PEOPLE EXPECTED FLOODING.

COULD WE HAVE DONE MORE TO GET IN FRONT OF THIS?

FLOODING HAPPENED IN A LOT OF PLACES FOR A LOT OF YEARS.

IT IS NOT AS IF THIS IS THE FIRST ONE.

>> Rebecca: YEAH, GOING BACK CENTURIES AGO, I THINK WE COULD HAVE DONE MORE TO PREVENT FLOODING AND EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING NOW.

THERE IS JUST SO MUCH EVIDENCE OF HOW GOVERNMENT INACTION HAS PLAYED -- TIME AND TIME AGAIN PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN NOT HAVING THE HEALTHIEST POSSIBLE FORESTS AND ALLOWING OVER GRADING, ALLOWING LOGGING ON SUCH A MAJOR SCALE.

I MEAN, IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE THIN FORESTS.

WE AT GIRL SCOUTS OWN TWO HUGE CAMP PROPERTIES, ONE IN THE JEMEZ MOUNTAINS AND ONE IN THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS AND WE WORK WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS ON FUNDING THINNING PROJECTS.

IT IS SO GOOD, IT IS HEALTHY, IT IS WONDERFUL.

I DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS NOT HAPPENING MORE BECAUSE WE KNOW THOSE THINNING PROJECTS ARE CRITICAL TO HEALTHY FORESTS.

SO, I THINK THE OTHER REAL BIG TRAGEDY AGAIN IS GOVERNMENT INACTION.

WE WERE ABLE WITH THE PANDEMIC, THERE WERE ECONOMISTS WHO WERE ABLE TO SAY EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC, IN TWO OR THREE YEARS, WE ARE GOING TO BE EXPERIENCING INFLATION AND RECESSION AND THEY JUST PREDICT THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS WERE GOING TO HAPPEN, RIGHT.

WHY WEREN'T WE ABLE TO PREDICT THAT NEW MEXICO'S -- OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE THAT HAS LED US TO SO MANY NEW MEXICANS OWNING PROPERTY THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ADEQUATELY INSURED OR SHARING PROPERTY OR NOT HAVING THE RESOURCES OR THE PAPERWORK OR WHATEVER THEY NEED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING.

LIKE, THAT ADDS INSULT TO INJURY.

WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW IF A FIRE HITS THIS AREA, THESE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO GO WRONG AND GET AHEAD OF IT THERE, TOO.

>> Gene: GOOD POINT, SENATOR, REBECCA REMINDED ME OF THE SITUATION THAT FOLKS WHO -- FAMILY LAND GRANT HOLDERS IN NEW MEXICO FIND THEMSELVES IN NOW IN A REAL SORT OF VICE.

YOU KNOW, THE SYSTEM IS SET UP FOR MAKING WHOLE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMEOWNERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A BIG CRACK THAT LAND GRANT PEOPLE HAVE FALLEN INTO HERE.

IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A LITTLE MORE CLARITY ON HOW OUR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT AND LAND GRANT OWNERS -- WE CAN TAKE THIS AND TIGHTEN THIS UP A LITTLE BIT, IT SEEMS TO ME.

WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT ON THAT?

>> Dede: CERTAINLY LAND GRANTS, NEW MEXICO ACEQUIAS ARE VERY SEVERELY IMPACTED BY THIS FIRE AND NOW BY FLOODING.

AND I HEARD AN INTERVIEW RECENTLY WITH SOMEBODY UP THERE, I THINK, NEAR ROCIADA, WHICH HAS REALLY BEEN IMPACTED BY THE FLOODS, AND THEY BASICALLY SAID, THEY HAD RECEIVED A GRANT FROM FEMA AND ALL IT ALLOWED THEM TO DO WAS TO CLEAR THE LAND.

THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF REBUILDING.

IT WAS JUST TO CLEAR THE DEBRIS AWAY.

AND THAT WAS THEIR ALLOTMENT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, FACED WITH THAT, I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE TO A WAY OF LIFE UP THERE IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO AND IT IS GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO RECOVER FROM THAT AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE BUILDING SOME SMALL CHECK DAMS SO THAT -- WITH OUR OWN CAPITAL OUTLAY FUND SO THIS KIND OF FLOODING CAN'T HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT ONE THING I NOTICED, HOPEFUL THING, IS THAT THE NEW MEXICO HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZES THIS AND THEY ARE NOW OFFERING FREE COUNSELING FOR PEOPLE IN THE AFFECTED AREAS AND I HOPE PEOPLE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

IT IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE HUMAN SERVICES WEBSITE.

>> Gene: GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT.

THE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE OF LOSING EVERYTHING YOU HAVE HAD IN YOUR FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS, I MEAN, COME ON NOW.

WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE SITUATION DEVELOPING IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI WHERE FLOODING CAUSED THE WATER PUMPS TO FAIL AND 100 THOUSANDS ARE WITHOUT RUNNING WATER.

SEEMS TO BE A NATIONAL PROBLEM, BUT WAS THE LAST INFRASTRUCTURE DEAL ENOUGH TO ADDRESS OR DO WE NEED TO TAKE A HARDER LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT DRINKING WATER AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND IT.

>> ALGERNON: THERE IS A LOT OF UNKNOWNS AND WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE WE'LL NEED IN PART ALSO DEPENDS ON SOURCES AND WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE DERIVING OUR WATER SOURCES IS IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGE.

SOME OF THIS IS IN THE COURTS.

ARIZONA AND NEVADA ARE LOOKING AT HAVING TO CHANGE THEIR EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT THEY EXPECT FROM THE RIVER.

THERE IS A SETTLEMENT BEING NEGOTIATED IN FEDERAL COURT NOW INVOLVING THE RIO GRANDE AND TEXAS AND A LONG-RUNNING DESPITE BETWEEN TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO WITH COLORADO ALSO INVOLVED.

THE COLORADO RIVER IS CHANGING.

ALBUQUERQUE HAS HAD TO STOP TAPPING INTO THE RIO GRANDE FOR SOME OF THE WATER THAT IT DEPENDS ON.

I LIVE IN LUNA COUNTY AND WHERE WE HAD A DEBATE FOR A FEW YEARS RECENTLY ABOUT A POSSIBLE DIVERSION OF GILA RIVER AND WHAT THAT DEBATE REALLY LAID BARE IS THAT IN 30 OR 40 YEARS IT IS NOT CLEAR WHAT LUNA COUNTY WILL USE TO IRRIGATE CROPS OR EVEN USING FOR MUNICIPAL USE.

PART OF IT IS JUST THERE IS A LOT WE DON'T KNOW YET ABOUT SOURCES AND WHAT IS GOING TO BECOME OF AGRICULTURE AND THAT IS NOT JUST ABOUT WATER SOURCES.

IT IS ALSO ABOUT THE HEATWAVES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED ON THIS PROGRAM.

WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, FOR INSTANCE, PROJECTED TEMPERATURES IN AMERICA'S BREAD BASKET, THE CENTRAL VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA EXCEEDING 104 DEGREES FOR A PERIODS OF TIME, 104 DEGREES IS THE PROCESS WHERE PHOTOSYNTHESIS CAN NO LONGER TAKE PLACE, ENZYMES BREAK DOWN AND CANNOT MOVE THE WAY THEY NEED TO FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

HOW DOES THAT AFFECT CROPS?

AND, SO, WHAT WE'LL HAVE TO IRRIGATE, MUCH LESS WHAT WE'LL HAVE TO IRRIGATE WITH IN AMERICAN WEST IS GOING TO BE CHANGING A LOT.

HOW DO YOU PLAN FOR AN INFRASTRUCTURE IN AN ORDERLY MANNER 10, 20, 50 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE?

>> Gene: THAT IS GOOD POINT THERE.

WE HAVE TO THINK WAY OUT THERE AS OPPOSED TO THE NEXT FIVE OR 10 YEARS.

THANKS AGAIN TO OR PANEL.

THIS WEEK BE SURE TO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ANY OF THE TOPICS THE LINE COVERED ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER OR OUR INSTAGRAM PAGES.

THE PLANNING AND DEBATING FOR ENCAMPMENTS FOR THE HOMELESS IS STILL RAGING THIS WEEK, WITH THE VETO OF THE ENCAMPMENT MORATORIUM VOTE BY MAYOR KELLER.

WHETHER THE MAYOR CAN BRING ONE COUNCILOR TO HIS SIDE TO BREAK THE VOTE ON PERMANENT ENCAMPMENTS REMAINS TO BE SEEN, BUT GIVEN THE TWISTS AND TURNS TAKEN SO FAR, IT WOULDN'T BE SHOCKING.

>> Gene: LAST WEEK I HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH COUNCILOR BASSAN FOR OUR WEEKLY FACEBOOK LIVE SEGMENTS FOR HER VIEW, AND THIS WEEK WITH ADVOCATES WHO WORK TO HELP THE UNHOUSED HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE.

I AM GRATEFUL BECAUSE THIS SITUATION NEEDS SOME CLARITY FROM THE GROUND LEVEL.

COMBINE THAT WITH THE SEGMENTS WE DID EARLIER ON THE PLANS TO SUPPLY ABATEMENT TOOLS LIKE FENTANYL STRIPS TO PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION, I AM FEELING A TINY SLIVER OF OPTIMISM WE MIGHT BE STUMBLING TOWARD SOME COMMON SENSE SOLUTION.

NOW, I ALSO WANT TO ADD MY PERSONAL CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY, EMPLOYEES, FRIENDS AND CUSTOMERS OF GIOVANNI'S PIZZA ON SAN MATEO AND THE SHOOTING EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT TOOK THE LIFE OF ROSARIO ZITO.

TO SAY THIS HAS BEEN SHOCKING TO THE COMMUNITY UNDERSCORES THE IMPACT OF LOSING ROSARIO WHO WAS MORE THAN A PIZZA SHOP OWNER.

HE WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO MADE EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE AROUND HIM BETTER JUST FOR HAVING BEEN IN HIS PRESENCE, WE ARE GOING TO REALLY MISS HIM.

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

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK, IN FOCUS.

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