Gov.'s Signing Day Decisions, Failures in the Foster Care System & Bernalillo County's New District Attorney

NMiF Senior Producer Lou DiVizio starts the show with statewide headlines, including Sec. Barbara Vigil's departure from the Children Youth and Families Department. In other news, the New Mexico Environment Department is offering free well testing for PFAS contamination. You can request to have your well tested by clicking this link. Gene Grant and The Line Opinion Panel react to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s decisions on last week’s bill-signing deadline. The governor signed more than 200 bills the Legislature sent to her desk, but not without some significant alterations. Among the bills she didn’t sign was a measure to create a new civil rights division within the Attorney General’s Office. The division would have, among other mandates, served as a check on the state’s troubled Children Youth and Families Department. Gene and the panel discuss Lujan Grisham’s pocket veto and respond to an investigation from Searchlight New Mexico and ProPublica exposing the state’s failures in caring for foster children in need of mental health care.   Finally, New Mexico in Focus correspondent Russell Contreras catches up with Bernalillo County’s new district attorney, Sam Bregman. The governor appointed Bregman, a longtime criminal defense and civil rights attorney and Democratic Party leader, in January. Bregman explains why he took the job and what his priorities will be as he tries to prosecute and deter crime in Albuquerque.   Host: Lou DiVizio Line Host: Gene Grant Correspondent: Russell Contreras Guest: Sam Bregman, District Attorney, Bernalillo County The Line Opinion Panel:  Michael Bird, former president of the American Public Health Association  Tom Garrity, founder & president, The Garrity Group Public Relations  Giovanna Rossi, president, Collective Action Strategies, LLC  For More Information: Governor leaves $500 rebates intact, but slices tax cuts and other changes from massive package – Albuquerque Journal  With uptick in vetoes, Lujan Grisham blocks legislation on graduation requirements, parole violations – Albuquerque Journal  Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signs three crime bills, calls for more public safety legislation in New Mexico – Albuquerque Journal  Sen. Heinrich rebukes NM Gov vetoes – Santa Fe Reporter  Governor signs bill cutting court fees for criminal, traffic cases – Santa Fe New Mexican  New Mexico foster kids in need of mental care often get police instead – Searchlight New Mexico  Attorney General's bill latest to be pocket vetoed by governor – Santa Fe New Mexican  Prominent attorney Sam Bregman named as Bernalillo County DA – Albuquerque Journal