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What COVID-19 Means For State's Economy, Students Collect And Distribute PPE

University Showcase 5/15 8a: The coronavirus pandemic has not only created a public health crisis, but also an economic one. New Mexico has been particularly hard hit because of the plunge in global oil prices and the complete shutdown in travel and tourism. Small businesses, who make up much of the state’s economy, are also being hit hard. We’ll explore what to expect in coming months.

On this episode Jeffrey Mitchell, director of the Bureau for Business and Economic Research at the University of New Mexico, discusses his team's latest New Mexico Economic Snapshot. State and local officials, economic development experts, business leaders and nonprofits around the state rely on these quarterly reports to plan for the coming months, something the pandemic has made more difficult than ever.

We also talk with two medical students at UNM, Sally Midani and Carly Wojeck, who helped start the group ProtectNM. They’ve collected and distributed thousands of pieces of personal protective equipment and other supplies all over the state. They will hold another collection drive on Saturday, May 16, at Dreamstyle Arena (aka The Pit) at Avenida Cesar Chavez and University Blvd. SE from 10 am to 4 pm.

Students with ProtectNM are getting help from pilots to distribute medical supplies and personal protective equipment to areas hard hit by COVID19

Megan has been a journalist for 25 years and worked at business weeklies in San Antonio, New Orleans and Albuquerque. She first came to KUNM as a phone volunteer on the pledge drive in 2005. That led to volunteering on Women’s Focus, Weekend Edition and the Global Music Show. She was then hired as Morning Edition host in 2015, then the All Things Considered host in 2018. Megan was hired as News Director in 2021.