Twelve months ago, team NoMoNo was busy having conversations about how we were going to make a show that covered the response to a global pandemic. What did we want to talk about? What was not being talked about? What was the vital info? What were the nuances? What life-and-death decisions were being made by public officials. Who needed help—and where is the help? We’ve worked hard over the last year to provide those answers.

Your NM Gov

No More Normal: A Year In Pandemic

If you are interested in the most inner workings of state government, today's Your NM Government update is just for you! The work Wednesday in the Roundhouse was somewhat overshadowed by technical problems with the virtual proceedings. But a lot of the business that was considered had to do with how the sausage is made, so to speak. Here's a quick rundown of what we talked about in today's update: Senate Bill 74 - This is a measure designed to curb the Governor's powers during a public emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic. This is something Republican lawmakers have been critical of nearly throughout the past year, but it has languished in the Senate for nearly three weeks. Bottom line, there was a push to take a vote in the full Senate, but it failed 14-24. It does not seem likely to get that vote, either, before the session ends, as Governor Lujan Grisham has indicated she would likely veto it if approved by lawmakers. House Bill 4 – This is the New Mexico Civil Rights Act that came

Your NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.11.21

And then there were 2 --- cannabis legalization bills. At least that's the way things seem to be shaping up in this 2021 Legislative Session. Yesterday, the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee moved ahead both HB 12 and SB 288 , although with changes to both measures. Those changes actually bring the two bills closer in line, with the big difference being oversight of a new legal cannabis market. HB 12 leaves that to Licensing and Regulation, while SB 288 would create a new supervisory panel. The other difference is, HB 12 has a shorter path to potential passage, since it has already worked its way through the House of Representatives. You can read more about all of this from Andy Lyman at New Mexico Political Report, and be sure to keep up to date with our "Growing Forward" podcast , all about the cannabis industry in New Mexico. It's a collaborative project between NMPBS and New Mexico Political Report. Some of the other highlights from yesterday's legislative action:

Your NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.10.21

Every 10 years after the census, the New Mexico state Legislature redraws its districts. While redistricting is always a contentious and often partisan task, this year, the drama is being felt by both parties. On Saturday, a compromise was reached: An independent committee would offer three to five maps that lawmakers choose from—and can change—before sending one to the governor. This clears the way for the bill to hit the Senate floor. KUNM spoke with Gwyneth Doland of New Mexico PBS to get a breakdown of the situation. GWYNETH DOLAND : There was a task force that met for many months last year and into this year, a bipartisan group that was some sitting lawmakers, Democrats, Republicans, Senators, Representatives, also members of the community, good-government groups. There are some judges in there, folks like that. They wrote a bill, and they submitted it, that would take the task of redrawing these boundaries away from the lawmakers whose boundaries they are, right? Because it's a

YNMG: Redistricting Drama Draws Lines In The Sand

The big news in the Roundhouse yesterday had nothing to do with specific legislation, but an announcement from the Department of Education that schools should reopen for in-person learning by April 5th. This comes on the heels of another announcement by the Department of Health that all educators and school support staff should be able to get at least the first round of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of March. Students and parents would still be able to choose to finish out the year virtually, but bottom line, any student that wants to head back to the classroom will soon be able to. Other items we discuss in today's Your NM Gov Update: House Bill 20 - Paid Sick Leave for all New Mexico Workers. This has now passed out of the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee, but only after its official start date was changed to July of 2022. This bill now heads to one las committee assignment in Taxation, Business and Transportation. Senate Joint Resolution 22 - This measure would allow for the

Your NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.9.21

Another busy week in store for the session, and today also marks the second to last Monday of the 2021 Legislative Session. Lawmakers will definitely have their hands full in these last days, with plenty of high profile measures still to decide.

Your NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.8.21

Where do you get your news? Rather, where do you get your stories? Even more: how do stories shape us? And who are the people crafting these stories—what’s their story? For our second episode on black history, we are looking into storytelling and the people who craft the narrative, offering us insights we may have passed by.

No More Normal: Who Carries Story?

One of the big stories to come out of the Roundhouse yesterday actually involves Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. State Auditor Brian Colon announced that he was moving ahead with a special audit of the Governor's discretionary fund, after local reporting discovered more than $13,000 in groceries, liquor purchases and dry cleaning over a six-month period in 2020. A group of Republican lawmakers also requested the audit in a letter to Auditor Colon. The Governor's office has said the purchases were appropriate but may have been excessive at times. In the House, we saw movement on HB 111 which would offer new protections to tenants in the middle of an emergency like the ongoing pandemic. NMPBS has done a lot of reporting on evictions and the housing crunch in recent months. You can find all of that on the New Mexico in Focus website. Senate Bill 2 also passed a full House vote yesterday. Tis proposal would forgive liquor license renewal fees for a year, to give struggling businesses a

Your NM Government: Roundhouse Update | 3.5.21

When host Khalil Ekulona thinks about his purpose in life, he often thinks of his family. Family is where we get our first lessons and introduction to the world. On Episode 22, Khalil enters conversations with his family about the meaning and purpose of familial love, support, and collective dedication to passing those lessons along.

No More Normal: Passed Down The Line

For 109 years since the Legislature was founded, New Mexico has not had an African American State Senator. In 2021, that changed when Harold Pope Jr. of Albuquerque took his seat representing the 23rd District. KUNM caught up with the freshman Senator and Air Force veteran to ask about what motivated a life of service and where he sees New Mexico's future. HAROLD POPE JR. : You know, when I graduated high school, I didn't have the motivation to go to college, I really didn't see myself going. I didn't see much as far as African American males. I didn't have that mentorship. And I didn't see people that looked like me who were successful in my community. I got pushed by uncles that were married into the family who were actually in the military in the army, they pushed me to go in the Air Force. I didn't want to go. But when I did, it was the best decision I ever made in my life. Because I saw people that look like me, I had good mentors pushing me to try things that I would not have

Harold Pope Jr., New Mexico's First African American State Senator

It's the return of our Old-School Shoutout Show on Episode 21. The first one, we did back in May. Now, as the pandemic wears on, we wanted to hear from callers: Who do you love? Who do you miss? Who do you want to celebrate or honor? We did the episode live this year.

No More Normal: Old-School Shoutout Show 2

As much of the country suffers from the polar vortex that has brought record lows and winter storms, legislators at the Roundhouse are examining the Climate Solutions Act. House Bill 9 looks at New Mexico’s issues with climate change while implementing economic reform in addressing the state’s energy consumption. For Your New Mexico Government’s continuing coverage of the legislative session KUNM’s Khalil Ekulona spoke with Laura Paskus from New Mexico PBS. LAURA PASKUS: One of the things that I think you and I have talked about in the past and is a really big point of discussion right now is New Mexico needs to diversify its economy, we need to diversify our economy away from reliance on fossil fuels, not just because that's an industry that is causing climate change. But it's also an industry that does not have a strong long term outlook. And so New Mexico, you know, we've kind of been kicking this idea around for about 40 years now that we need to diversify our economy. But it's

Climate Change Solutions Act Gets Attention At The Roundhouse

Your New Mexico Government is continuing its coverage of everything that happens at the Roundhouse with an interview of Laura Paskus from New Mexico PBS. Paskus talks about the Clean Water Act, SB 86 , which proposes regulations on oil & gas companies in regards to produced water. And she tells us all about the Climate Solutions Act, HB 9 , which looks to find solutions to the climate change issues New Mexico is facing, while using those efforts to boost the state's economy. Get updates on the legislative session by listening to No More Normal. Sunday's at 11 a.m. on KUNM or find it anywhere you get your podcasts. ***** Your New Mexico Government is a collaboration between KUNM, New Mexico PBS , and the Santa Fe Reporter . Funding for our coverage comes from the New Mexico Local News Fund, the Kellogg Foundation and KUNM listeners like you, with support for public media provided by the Thornburg Foundation.

Your NM Gov: Climate Bills Reach Committee

We get into what money really is. We take a dive into a bill that looks to create a public bank. We talk with a member of a financial innovation group about how universal basic income has helped businesses during the pandemic. We grapple with student loans. We hear the journey of how difficult it is to start a business as a pandemic is raging. And we have a talk with the secretary of workforce solutions about where the jobs are going to be.

No More Normal: When Piggy Banks Fly

Coronavirus has infiltrated the Roundhouse, where New Mexico’s legislators are in the early weeks of a 60-day session. Since mid-January when the session began, at least three people in the capital have tested positive for the virus, including one GOP lawmaker. On Friday, Democratic House Speaker Brian Egolf announced new rules, restricting participation in committee meetings to Zoom, and closing the House floor to most lawmakers. KUNM spoke with Matt Grubs from New Mexico PBS.

New COVID Rules In The Roundhouse Raise Partisan Tensions In Santa Fe

Weekday roundup of news from the New Mexico legislative session, part of a collaborative project between KUNM, NMPBS and the Santa Fe Reporter.

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Your NM Gov

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