Vaccine Mandate Lawsuit, Afghan Resettlement & NM Leads in Pedestrian Deaths | 8.27.21

Two women have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court that argues a vaccine mandate for certain health care workers and for attendance at the New Mexico State Fair violates their constitutional rights. The lawsuit seeks to bar the mandate’s enforcement. Meanwhile, the state’s Youth Livestock Board has moved its annual competition to Roswell in an effort to sidestep the vaccine mandate, which impacted children in FFA and 4-H programs who are too young to receive an approved vaccine. The Line opinion panelists look at continued pushback against the governor’s public health orders. Fleeing Taliban rule, Afghans who were able to leave their homeland are now arriving in the U.S., including to a part of Fort Bliss Army Base that’s in New Mexico. The Line opinion panel offers thoughts on Democratic leaders reaching out to the White House to accept Afghans and what the state can realistically offer. The Line opinion panel looks at sobering numbers for pedestrian fatalities in New Mexico. Albuquerque has long had a serious problem – leading the nation for pedestrian deaths four years running – but what does the rest of the sprawling state do for people who prefer or have no other choice than to walk? Host: Gene Grant Line Guests: Michael Bird, public health expert Dan Boyd, Capitol bureau chief, Albuquerque Journal Dede Feldman, former state senator For More Information: Lawsuit targets expanded NM vaccine mandates – Albuquerque Journal ICUs full as COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations grow – NM Political Report U.S. regulators give full approval to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine – Santa Fe New Mexican Bad mask info puts prep athletes on edge – Albuquerque Journal Local churches pushback on re-instated mask mandate – KRQE First Afghan refugees arrive in New Mexico – KRQE NM leaders offer to help Afghan refugees – Albuquerque Journal A call to action as New Mexico leads US in deaths of pedestrians – Albuquerque Journal