RailRunner Finally Reaches Santa Fe, Auto Bailout, Gas Prices and More on This Week’s “New Mexico in Focus”

The New Mexico Rail Runner Express’ route to Santa Fe finally opens later in December. This week on “New Mexico in Focus,” Lawrence Rael, Executive Director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments, the organization who manages the train service on behalf of the New Mexico Department of Transportation, sits down with David Alire Garcia on the train to Santa Fe to discuss the Rail Runner. “New Mexico in Focus,” KNME-TV, channel 5’s weekly one-hour news show, will air on Friday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. Please note, there will be no Sunday repeat of this week’s episode of “New Mexico in Focus.”

Also this week, the “New Mexico in Focus” panel debates the bailout efforts on behalf of Ford, Chrysler and GM, with a close look at the effect of current financial difficulties on schools, look at the pros and cons of lower gas prices, find out some good news about New Mexico’s health ranking, and talk about New Mexico mourning the loss of former first lady Alice King.

Joining panel moderator Gene Grant are regular panelists Margaret Montoya, a professor with the University of New Mexico School of Law and School of Medicine, political consultant Whitney Cheshire, and Jim Scarantino, a columnist with the Albuquerque Journal and moderator for NewMexicoLiberty.com, and guest panelist Lonnie Talbert, former chairman with the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.

Producers of ‘New Mexico In Focus’ are Kevin McDonald and Kathy Wimmer. Closed captioning has been made possible by a gift from Mrs. Elspeth G. Bobbs.

Media Contact: Evy Todd, (505) 277-1812; e-mail: etodd@knme.org