As part of the celebration of Sunshine Week, the New Mexico State University library will co-sponsor a panel discussion on open government and the state of mental health care in New Mexico at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 20, on the third floor of Zuhl Library on the NMSU campus.
The panel, “Sunshine and Shadows: Public Records and the New Mexico Mental Health Provider Audit,” will discuss the New Mexico In Depth and Las Cruces Sun-News lawsuit, seeking the release of a 2013 state government audit that resulted in the state withdrawing Medicaid funding from 15 mental health providers due to allegations of fraud.
Speakers will include Heath Haussamen of New Mexico In Depth, Walt Rubel of the Las Cruces Sun-News, and New Mexico Senator Mary Kay Papen.
The program will also include a tribute to Margaret Markham, a former health reporter and long-time community activist known for her outspoken advocacy for governmental transparency. A public reception will follow the program.
Both the program and reception are free and open to the public. Parking is free in NMSU lots after 4:30 p.m.
Sunshine Week is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. It is held each year in March to coincide with James Madison’s birthday. This year, it will be celebrated during the week of March 16-22.
NMSU’s Sunshine Week activities are sponsored by NMSU alumnus Tim Parker, the NMSU Library and the NMSU Department of Journalism and Mass Communications. For more information, contact sunshine@lib.nmsu.edu or 575-646-2869.
Additional information is available at the library’s Sunshine Week information page at nmsu.libguides.com/sun.