Is Emerge Causing a "Man Problem" for the Democrat Party?

By  Frost McGahey, Investigative Journalist

Emerge is a national organization that recruits, trains, and supports Progressive Democrat women running for office. According to its website, it has helped elect over 100 graduates throughout New Mexico.

Better Together New Mexico considers them harmful because Emerge lawmakers support a national Progressive agenda, such as legalizing recreational marijuana rather than one focused on New Mexico's needs. 

The Emerge vision:

"Over the next two decades, the country will no longer be majority white. Rather, there will be a New American Majority – Black, Brown, and Indigenous WOMEN,  WOMEN of color, LGBTQ+, young, and Unmarried WOMEN – who will lead our country. 

We will elevate our mission to change politics as usual by flipping state legislatures to make them majority female." 

By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Consolidated Schools held a work session and regular meeting June 15, 2026. Ashley Montenegro, Michelle Diaz, Patrick Cohn and Mike McMillan attended. Superintendent William Hawkins also attended. Kimberly Klement did not attend due to being in Washington DC with the NHD (national history day) students.

Work session

Cindi Barris, associate superintendent, had a presentation on the title application. The application will be a little different and now will be called the unified application. A few of them had worked on it but it would all be submitted at the same time. She said it had required them to spend more hours on it than before but forced them to have conversations and it helped save time. For Title I they had received $813,730 in student funds, Title II $112,734.38 and Title IV $58,859.82. All had been approved. Title I over half will be used for salaries and professional development. Title IV they looked at safe and healthy schools and technology. Title V will be $69,570.34. The NextGen state grant will be $110,822.26.

By Lynn Janes

_{(Writers note: this article was written using the minutes provided by the Village of Santa Clara)}

_{The Village of Santa Clara held a regular meeting June 11, 2026. Mayor Arnold Lopez called the meeting to order. Mayor Pro Tem Albert Esparza, trustees, Peter Erickson, Olga Amador and Ralph Trujillo attended.}

_{The council approved the agenda, past meeting minutes and department head reports.}

_{Mayors report}

_{Lopez reminded everyone the new bike park would have a grand opening June 26, 2026. Sheila Hudman, village administrator, attended the Copper Collaborative meeting and they discussed funding options for water infrastructure and housing. He added the county has been very impressed with all the work being done in the village.}

_{Public comments none currently}

_Resolutions

_{The council approved resolution 2026-08 amending the policies and procurement manual for the volunteer fire and rescue department pertaining to nominal stipends.}

_{The council went into closed session.}

_{The council came back into open session.}

_{Hiring, raises, terminations, etc.}

_{The council approved the resignation of Toni Castillo, senior center driver.}

_{The council approved a $1 raise for Mark Diaz for obtaining his water level 2 certification.}

_{Second regular meeting will be June 25, 2026, at 6:00 pm
First regular meeting will be July 9, 2026, 2026, at 6:00 pm}

_{Meeting Adjourned}

Courtesy Photo 

Santa Clara officials as well as legislators gathered at the opening of the Santa Clara Bike Park.

By Lynn Janes

On May 28, 2026, the commission had a regular meeting at the city annex building. Alex Brown, chairman, called the meeting to order.

The board approved the agenda and minutes from past meetings

New business

Karl Pennock of RCAC (Rural Community Assistance Program), had a presentation on the rate study for the regional project. He had done one previously a few years earlier and this would be an update on the rate analysis for the project. He said RCAC works with about thirteen states and provides rural community assistance. "I am what you call a small utility consultant." Pennock's background is in financing, and industrial engineering and he looks at an entity's financial capacity building through rate studies and developing budgets. He will be speaking to the revenue needed to cover the costs.

CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR GILA NATIONAL FOREST TODAY AND AGAIN ON TUESDAY... .Stronger flow aloft over the Four Corners will induce a lee surface low centered over south-central Colorado and a trough extending south across Western New Mexico on Tuesday. Winds increasing out of the southwest during the afternoon hours, sustained at 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Wind will be strongest over mountain ridges and high elevations. Further drying will allow relative humidity to fall to 10 to 15% on Tuesday and then 5 to 10% Wednesday/Thursday. Recent dryness has pushed fuel moisture very low, with ERCs at the 90th percentile dryness and near seasonal peaks. Any fires that develop will have the potential to spread quickly.

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR BREEZY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL
NEW MEXICO AND GILA NATIONAL FOREST...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
TUESDAY EVENING FOR BREEZY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR GILA
NATIONAL FOREST...