NMiF dives into medical malpractice debate; FEMA payout questioned

This week, New Mexico in Focus wades into the debate over changing the state's medical malpractice laws. House Bill 99 would restrict how much money some people could collect in malpractice lawsuits. The highest-profile supporter of this bill is Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. In an interview with politics correspondent Gwyneth Doland, the governor makes her case for the bill and tells us what she meant when she told the Albuquerque Journal that she's not leaving office without the change.

Karen Bateman's daughter Kelsey died in 2018 as a result of medical malpractice, leaving two young children behind. Hers is one of many voices opposing malpractice reform. Host Nash Jones spoke with Bateman about her concerns: that the proposed changes would lead to less deterrence and accountability for negligent doctors and hospitals.

Last week, in partnership with New Mexico in Focus, Source New Mexico's Patrick Lohmann published a story revealing that Jay Mitchell, the director of the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon FEMA claims office, received more than $250,000 in federal relief for claimed smoke damage at his Angel Fire home after the 2022 Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire. The payment sparked outrage in the Northern New Mexico community, where many are still waiting for federal help. Lohmann and NMIF reporter Cailley Chella went to Angel Fire to get answers from Mitchell and for the area's communities who are demanding accountability.

Last month, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman made waves when he penned a letter to federal immigration authorities, threatening to prosecute ICE agents who detain people without legal justification, in his jurisdiction. Alex Uballez, a former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, sat down with Executive Producer Jeff Proctor to discuss whether Bregman's threat holds any legal weight.

A new "structured literacy" program has made its way into many classrooms across the state and, according to Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, is already producing success. Stewart tells Gwyneth why she is pushing a bill that would lean more heavily on the program to teach children to read.

Some teachers in the state are already using a "structured literacy" approach, thanks in large part to Project ECHO - a tele-mentoring program based at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Soraya Gollop leads its education division. She recently chatted with Senior Producer Lou DiVizio about how the teaching program works.

Environmental activists Clara Sims and Desirée Bernard walked from Carlsbad to Santa Fe to support a bill that would cement the governor's climate and pollution goals into law. Capital and Main reporter Jerry Redfern spoke with the pair about their pilgrimage.

NMiF airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) on Friday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 8 at 7 a.m. and streaming on the PBS video app. Involved, informed, in-depth media: watch New Mexico in Focus again online shortly thereafter.

Host
Nash Jones

NMiF Segments
Gov. Lujan Grisham on Medical Malpractice Reform
Correspondent
Gwyneth Doland

Guest
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, (D), New Mexico

Parent of Malpractice Victim Questions Proposed Changes
Correspondent
Nash Jones

Guest
Karen Bateman, Mother of Medical Malpractice Victim

Payout to FEMA Claims Director Sparks Outrage in Northern NM
Reporter
Cailley Chella

Correspondent
Patrick Lohmann

Guests
Jacqueline Ortiz, fire victim
Mike Salazar, fire victim
Lorenza Ortiz, fire victim
Jay Mitchell, director, Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon FEMA Office
Lisa Mitchell, wife of Jay Mitchell
Michael Martinez, Jay Mitchell's neighbor
Yolanda Cruz, community advocate and fire victim
Sara Jo Mathews, owner, Borracho's Craft Booze and Brews
Anita Vigil, fire victim
Andrew Vigil, fire victim
Laura Silva, community advocate and fire victim

District Attorney Bregman Threatens to Prosecute ICE Agents
Correspondent
Jeff Proctor

Guest
Alexander Uballez, former U.S. attorney, District of New Mexico

Sen. Stewart Says 'Structured Literacy' Program Already a Success
Correspondent
Gwyneth Doland

Guest
Sen. Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque

How NM Classrooms Teach 'Structured Literacy'
Correspondent
Lou DiVizio

Guest
Dr. Soraya Gollop, Ph.D., education team director, ECHO Institute

Environmental Activists Take Pilgrimage to Santa Fe
Correspondent
Jerry Redfern

Guests
Clara Sims, environmental activist
Desirée Bernard, environmental activist

New Mexico in Focus is the New Mexico PBS prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. NMiF takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic, educational, and art issues, exploring them in depth with a critical eye to provide context beyond the "news of the moment."

NMPBS Executive Producer, Public Affairs is Jeff Proctor. New Mexico in Focus's senior producer for public affairs is Lou DiVizio. Host and producer of New Mexico in Focus is Nash Jones. Producer is Antonio Sanchez. Multimedia journalist is Cailley Chella.

Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided by the McCune Charitable Foundation and Viewers Like You. Funding for the Your New Mexico Government Project comes from the Thornburg Foundation and New Mexico Local News Fund. Funding for Our Land: New Mexico's Environmental Past, Present & Future is provided in part by the Neeper Natural History Programming.