Cruces Coronavirus Updates
When the coronavirus first hit the Mesilla Valley, Walt Rubel and Peter Goodman starting broadcasting Cruces Coronavirus Updates with their Speak Up, Las Cruces! discussion show. The Updates were part of the regular show on Wednesdays, but to keep you current, they also broadcast a half-hour segment on Mondays and Fridays. When the virus looked like it was going away, Peter and Walt stopped airing the Monday and Friday segments, but still dedicated part of the Wednesday show to the virus. Unfortunately, the virus stayed with us and has gotten worse. So, KTAL wanted to bring back the Updates, but Walt and Peter already have plenty on their plate preparing for the upcoming elections. (You can see their interview schedule here.)
But, we have restarted our Monday Updates with a new host, MaryAnn Digman. MaryAnn has a long career in medicine. Her current position, as an independent health care consultant on patient safety, keeps her update-to-date on the latest information on the virus. She will bring a fresh perspective to the Updates. Tune in Mondays at 9 to hear MaryAnn. Welcome aboard, MaryAnn!
https://www.lccommunityradio.org/cruces_coronavirus_update.html
from 8:00 to 10:00 in the morning, but the coronavirus has dominated the Wednesdays' discussions for the whole two hours. The update is re-aired at 9 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays and Wednesday's Speak Up, Las Cruces! is re-aired at Thursday morning at midnight.
Click here to listen to archived Cruces Coronavirus Updates.
Click here to listen archived episodes of Speak Up, Las Cruces!
We at KTAL believe that we can make a modest contribution by providing, frequently and regularly, solid information about this crisis, sometimes leavening the disturbing facts with offbeat aspects of the situation. Peter and Walt have culled extensive local, state, national, and international facts and figures and medical advice from a variety of sources. Particularly helpful have been:
The meat of the updates is new information on the spread of the virus, the steps that are, or should, be taken to limit its spread and “flatten the curve,” well-sourced practical and medical information, and the effects of the Pandemic on people in Doña Ana County and their reaction to it. We’ve informed folks about closings, rules and orders, blood drives, and incidents.
There’s a lot of old-fashioned reading of the factual news, but we have also interviewed a cross-section of officials, medical personnel, non-profits, and just-plain-folks, including:
Among the information KTAL has been privileged to share with listeners are several local efforts to record this crisis as southern New Mexicans have experienced it and responded to it.
On an early show, Las Cruces Public Schools’ Jamie Patterson discussed an effort to collect such writings, journals, photos, art, etc. as Las Crucens may want to contribute from this time, and we also advised listeners early about the short-film contest about the Pandemic initiated At Home! Movie Contest by Film Las Cruces – as well as volunteer opportunities for listeners to work with those efforts.
We have also spoken with local psychologists about how folks might best ride out this crisis, and with religious leaders about what they are doing. We asked some local poets to read poems they’ve written during and about our new “coronareality”. The proliferating examples of good things done by local citizens generated a new feature, KTAL Community Moments, to honor some of our fellow citizens.
Peter and Walt immediately chose to do these updates, as an instinctive reaction to the crisis, because reporting on local happenings is what they do. There was no long-term plan or high-minded goal, but as the shows have progressed, we hope they have not only provided listeners with important and timely information but also created a partial record of our community’s response. We have been humbled by the various local examples of dedication and courage we’ve encountered. KTAL hopes we’ve helped a bit by providing accurate information that warrants respecting the virus but discourages people from panicking.
Producers Minerva Rivera and Michael Allen have been an essential part of this effort. Although KTAL has generally discouraged personnel from going to the studio, both Minerva and Michael have been ready when needed, producing these shows, fielding sometimes crazy sequences of phone calls, enhancing the sound quality of remote recordings, and providing advice and counsel – all at a time when everyone is discouraged from unavoidably leaving home.
But, we have restarted our Monday Updates with a new host, MaryAnn Digman. MaryAnn has a long career in medicine. Her current position, as an independent health care consultant on patient safety, keeps her update-to-date on the latest information on the virus. She will bring a fresh perspective to the Updates. Tune in Mondays at 9 to hear MaryAnn. Welcome aboard, MaryAnn!
https://www.lccommunityradio.org/cruces_coronavirus_update.html
from 8:00 to 10:00 in the morning, but the coronavirus has dominated the Wednesdays' discussions for the whole two hours. The update is re-aired at 9 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays and Wednesday's Speak Up, Las Cruces! is re-aired at Thursday morning at midnight.
Click here to listen to archived Cruces Coronavirus Updates.
Click here to listen archived episodes of Speak Up, Las Cruces!
We at KTAL believe that we can make a modest contribution by providing, frequently and regularly, solid information about this crisis, sometimes leavening the disturbing facts with offbeat aspects of the situation. Peter and Walt have culled extensive local, state, national, and international facts and figures and medical advice from a variety of sources. Particularly helpful have been:
- The New Mexico Department of Health
- The local Joint Information Center formed by government entities to share information with each other and the public (Go to the city website, enter "jic" in the upper right and click the magnifying glass)
- The U.S. Center for Disease Control
- The United Nations World Health Organization
- U.S. Senator Tom Udall has called in to the show
- Weekly telephonic press conferences with U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, in which KTAL participates
- Other journalistic or scientific sources
The meat of the updates is new information on the spread of the virus, the steps that are, or should, be taken to limit its spread and “flatten the curve,” well-sourced practical and medical information, and the effects of the Pandemic on people in Doña Ana County and their reaction to it. We’ve informed folks about closings, rules and orders, blood drives, and incidents.
There’s a lot of old-fashioned reading of the factual news, but we have also interviewed a cross-section of officials, medical personnel, non-profits, and just-plain-folks, including:
- Infectious disease specialist Dr. Obiefuna Okoli
- The clinical directors of Families and Youths, Inc. and Amador Health
- A nurse on the front lines in Baltimore who was born and raised in Las Cruces
- The regional New Mexico Department of Health authority
- Assistant City Manager David Dollahon
- Las Cruces School Superintendent Karen Trujillo
- Joint Information Center chairperson Kelly Jameson
- Doña Ana County Sheriff Kim Stewart
- Citizens, identified or not, talking about the crisis as they’re experiencing it
- And many others
Among the information KTAL has been privileged to share with listeners are several local efforts to record this crisis as southern New Mexicans have experienced it and responded to it.
On an early show, Las Cruces Public Schools’ Jamie Patterson discussed an effort to collect such writings, journals, photos, art, etc. as Las Crucens may want to contribute from this time, and we also advised listeners early about the short-film contest about the Pandemic initiated At Home! Movie Contest by Film Las Cruces – as well as volunteer opportunities for listeners to work with those efforts.
We have also spoken with local psychologists about how folks might best ride out this crisis, and with religious leaders about what they are doing. We asked some local poets to read poems they’ve written during and about our new “coronareality”. The proliferating examples of good things done by local citizens generated a new feature, KTAL Community Moments, to honor some of our fellow citizens.
Peter and Walt immediately chose to do these updates, as an instinctive reaction to the crisis, because reporting on local happenings is what they do. There was no long-term plan or high-minded goal, but as the shows have progressed, we hope they have not only provided listeners with important and timely information but also created a partial record of our community’s response. We have been humbled by the various local examples of dedication and courage we’ve encountered. KTAL hopes we’ve helped a bit by providing accurate information that warrants respecting the virus but discourages people from panicking.
Producers Minerva Rivera and Michael Allen have been an essential part of this effort. Although KTAL has generally discouraged personnel from going to the studio, both Minerva and Michael have been ready when needed, producing these shows, fielding sometimes crazy sequences of phone calls, enhancing the sound quality of remote recordings, and providing advice and counsel – all at a time when everyone is discouraged from unavoidably leaving home.
When the coronavirus first hit the Mesilla Valley, Walt Rubel and Peter Goodman starting broadcasting Cruces Coronavirus Updates with their Speak Up, Las Cruces! discussion show. The Updates were part of the regular show on Wednesdays, but to keep you current, they also broadcast a half-hour segment on Mondays and Fridays. When the virus looked like it was going away, Peter and Walt stopped airing the Monday and Friday segments, but still dedicated part of the Wednesday show to the virus. Unfortunately, the virus stayed with us and has gotten worse. So, KTAL wanted to bring back the Updates, but Walt and Peter already have plenty on their plate preparing for the upcoming elections. (You can see their interview schedule here.)
But, we have restarted our Monday Updates with a new host, MaryAnn Digman. MaryAnn has a long career in medicine. Her current position, as an independent health care consultant on patient safety, keeps her update-to-date on the latest information on the virus. She will bring a fresh perspective to the Updates. Tune in Mondays at 9 to hear MaryAnn. Welcome aboard, MaryAnn!
https://www.lccommunityradio.org/cruces_coronavirus_update.html
from 8:00 to 10:00 in the morning, but the coronavirus has dominated the Wednesdays' discussions for the whole two hours. The update is re-aired at 9 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays and Wednesday's Speak Up, Las Cruces! is re-aired at Thursday morning at midnight.
Click here to listen to archived Cruces Coronavirus Updates.
Click here to listen archived episodes of Speak Up, Las Cruces!
We at KTAL believe that we can make a modest contribution by providing, frequently and regularly, solid information about this crisis, sometimes leavening the disturbing facts with offbeat aspects of the situation. Peter and Walt have culled extensive local, state, national, and international facts and figures and medical advice from a variety of sources. Particularly helpful have been:
The meat of the updates is new information on the spread of the virus, the steps that are, or should, be taken to limit its spread and “flatten the curve,” well-sourced practical and medical information, and the effects of the Pandemic on people in Doña Ana County and their reaction to it. We’ve informed folks about closings, rules and orders, blood drives, and incidents.
There’s a lot of old-fashioned reading of the factual news, but we have also interviewed a cross-section of officials, medical personnel, non-profits, and just-plain-folks, including:
Among the information KTAL has been privileged to share with listeners are several local efforts to record this crisis as southern New Mexicans have experienced it and responded to it.
On an early show, Las Cruces Public Schools’ Jamie Patterson discussed an effort to collect such writings, journals, photos, art, etc. as Las Crucens may want to contribute from this time, and we also advised listeners early about the short-film contest about the Pandemic initiated At Home! Movie Contest by Film Las Cruces – as well as volunteer opportunities for listeners to work with those efforts.
We have also spoken with local psychologists about how folks might best ride out this crisis, and with religious leaders about what they are doing. We asked some local poets to read poems they’ve written during and about our new “coronareality”. The proliferating examples of good things done by local citizens generated a new feature, KTAL Community Moments, to honor some of our fellow citizens.
Peter and Walt immediately chose to do these updates, as an instinctive reaction to the crisis, because reporting on local happenings is what they do. There was no long-term plan or high-minded goal, but as the shows have progressed, we hope they have not only provided listeners with important and timely information but also created a partial record of our community’s response. We have been humbled by the various local examples of dedication and courage we’ve encountered. KTAL hopes we’ve helped a bit by providing accurate information that warrants respecting the virus but discourages people from panicking.
Producers Minerva Rivera and Michael Allen have been an essential part of this effort. Although KTAL has generally discouraged personnel from going to the studio, both Minerva and Michael have been ready when needed, producing these shows, fielding sometimes crazy sequences of phone calls, enhancing the sound quality of remote recordings, and providing advice and counsel – all at a time when everyone is discouraged from unavoidably leaving home.
But, we have restarted our Monday Updates with a new host, MaryAnn Digman. MaryAnn has a long career in medicine. Her current position, as an independent health care consultant on patient safety, keeps her update-to-date on the latest information on the virus. She will bring a fresh perspective to the Updates. Tune in Mondays at 9 to hear MaryAnn. Welcome aboard, MaryAnn!
https://www.lccommunityradio.org/cruces_coronavirus_update.html
from 8:00 to 10:00 in the morning, but the coronavirus has dominated the Wednesdays' discussions for the whole two hours. The update is re-aired at 9 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays and Wednesday's Speak Up, Las Cruces! is re-aired at Thursday morning at midnight.
Click here to listen to archived Cruces Coronavirus Updates.
Click here to listen archived episodes of Speak Up, Las Cruces!
We at KTAL believe that we can make a modest contribution by providing, frequently and regularly, solid information about this crisis, sometimes leavening the disturbing facts with offbeat aspects of the situation. Peter and Walt have culled extensive local, state, national, and international facts and figures and medical advice from a variety of sources. Particularly helpful have been:
- The New Mexico Department of Health
- The local Joint Information Center formed by government entities to share information with each other and the public (Go to the city website, enter "jic" in the upper right and click the magnifying glass)
- The U.S. Center for Disease Control
- The United Nations World Health Organization
- U.S. Senator Tom Udall has called in to the show
- Weekly telephonic press conferences with U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, in which KTAL participates
- Other journalistic or scientific sources
The meat of the updates is new information on the spread of the virus, the steps that are, or should, be taken to limit its spread and “flatten the curve,” well-sourced practical and medical information, and the effects of the Pandemic on people in Doña Ana County and their reaction to it. We’ve informed folks about closings, rules and orders, blood drives, and incidents.
There’s a lot of old-fashioned reading of the factual news, but we have also interviewed a cross-section of officials, medical personnel, non-profits, and just-plain-folks, including:
- Infectious disease specialist Dr. Obiefuna Okoli
- The clinical directors of Families and Youths, Inc. and Amador Health
- A nurse on the front lines in Baltimore who was born and raised in Las Cruces
- The regional New Mexico Department of Health authority
- Assistant City Manager David Dollahon
- Las Cruces School Superintendent Karen Trujillo
- Joint Information Center chairperson Kelly Jameson
- Doña Ana County Sheriff Kim Stewart
- Citizens, identified or not, talking about the crisis as they’re experiencing it
- And many others
Among the information KTAL has been privileged to share with listeners are several local efforts to record this crisis as southern New Mexicans have experienced it and responded to it.
On an early show, Las Cruces Public Schools’ Jamie Patterson discussed an effort to collect such writings, journals, photos, art, etc. as Las Crucens may want to contribute from this time, and we also advised listeners early about the short-film contest about the Pandemic initiated At Home! Movie Contest by Film Las Cruces – as well as volunteer opportunities for listeners to work with those efforts.
We have also spoken with local psychologists about how folks might best ride out this crisis, and with religious leaders about what they are doing. We asked some local poets to read poems they’ve written during and about our new “coronareality”. The proliferating examples of good things done by local citizens generated a new feature, KTAL Community Moments, to honor some of our fellow citizens.
Peter and Walt immediately chose to do these updates, as an instinctive reaction to the crisis, because reporting on local happenings is what they do. There was no long-term plan or high-minded goal, but as the shows have progressed, we hope they have not only provided listeners with important and timely information but also created a partial record of our community’s response. We have been humbled by the various local examples of dedication and courage we’ve encountered. KTAL hopes we’ve helped a bit by providing accurate information that warrants respecting the virus but discourages people from panicking.
Producers Minerva Rivera and Michael Allen have been an essential part of this effort. Although KTAL has generally discouraged personnel from going to the studio, both Minerva and Michael have been ready when needed, producing these shows, fielding sometimes crazy sequences of phone calls, enhancing the sound quality of remote recordings, and providing advice and counsel – all at a time when everyone is discouraged from unavoidably leaving home.
Special Store Hours for the Immuno-Compromised
As New Mexico faces the pandemic, organizations and businesses that provide essential products and services have stepped up. Many corporate and local grocery stores are offering special shopping hours, typically opening early, to reduce the risk of exposure for those for whom the virus is more dangerous, such as the elderly and immuno-compromised. The New Mexico’s Aging and Long Term Services Department (ALTSD) has a list of the stores and their hours here on their website.