89.9 FM Live From The University Of New Mexico
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
The KUNM news team's coverage of the 2020 legislative session and its impacts

YNMG & COVID: Update, Unpack, Look Back

NASA Goddard Photo via Flickr CC

In episode 45, we take a look back on four weeks of COVID coverage on the show. We offer about updates to stories we covered, revisit interviews and examine the impact to our lives and what we’ve learned in covering the pandemic so far.

Updates: On the April 9 show "ICE Detention, Migrants And Refugees," we talked with Nkazi Sinandile from the Immigrant and Refugee Resource Village of Albuquerque. And while the interview took place, she told us that a family was in the process of being evicted. Today, Sinandile checked in on the family. She told us their lease was up, and they'd tried to offer more money to extend it, but the landlord wanted to kick them out anyway. She said there was a court date set, but it's been pushed out until May, and the family will stay in the house until then. 

On the March 30 show "Behind The Walls" about people in jail and prison, we talked to  attorney Jennifer Burrill from the Santa Fe Public Defender's Office, who contracted COVID. She spoke of her frustration in trying to get tested for many days. Since then, testing criteria is more relaxed. 

Our first COVID show "Call Your Parents" was focused on seniors. Today, we check back in with our folks. Khalil calls his mom Olufemi Ekulona to see how things are going. Marisa calls her dad Mike Demarco, who lives rurally and off-the-grid out near the town of Mountainair, N.M., to wish him happy birthday and talk about how the pandemic has affected people who don't live in cities differently. 

We also reflected on ideas that have floated through 20 episodes (20 already!) of pandemic coverage that stuck with us. And, truly, we chose so many clips to discuss because all of our guests have brought important perspective and knowledge to the show—but we way overestimated how many would fit in a single episode. 

And a news update: In New Mexico, the Supreme Court is going to continue to suspend jury trials—in criminal and civil cases—out through the end of May, according to a news release. 

Seven more people died in the state today from the virus. That’s 51 so far. And there are 115 new cases, bringing the total to a little more than 1,700.

If your child is a student in the Albuquerque Public Schools system, the district will help you hook up with internet service at your house through Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, according to the Albuquerque Journal. And APS has hot spots for people in rural areas.

 
We're keeping a complete list of the resources and volunteer opportunities that we find for each episode at bit.ly/YNMGhub. And here's what we got from today.

How are things going for you? We want to know. Share your quarantine stories by calling: (505) 218-7084 and leaving us a message. We could roll them into a future episode.

*****

Your New Mexico Government is a collaboration between KUNM, New Mexico PBS, and the Santa Fe Reporter. Funding for our coverage is provided, in part, by the Thornburg Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the New Mexico Local News Fund.

Marisa Demarco began a career in radio at KUNM News in late 2013 and covered public health for much of her time at the station. During the pandemic, she is also the executive producer for Your NM Government and No More Normal, shows focused on the varied impacts of COVID-19 and community response, as well as racial and social justice. She joined Source New Mexico as editor-in-chief in 2021.
Related Content