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luckycola com Cooper Rush passed for two touchdowns, Dallas returned two kicks for scores and the visiting Cowboys held off the Washington Commanders in a wild fourth quarter for a 34-26 win. Dallas led 10-9 after three quarters. With Washington trailing 27-26, Jayden Daniels hit Terry McLaurin for an 86-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds left, but Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game. Juanyeh Thomas of the Cowboys then returned the onside kick 43 yards for a touchdown. Rush completed 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards for Dallas (4-7), which snapped a five-game losing streak. Rico Dowdle ran 19 times for 86 yards and CeeDee Lamb had 10 catches for 67 yards. Jayden Daniels was 25-of-38 passing for 274 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for reeling Washington (7-5), which has lost three straight. He ran for 74 yards and one score. McLaurin had five catches for 102 yards. Trailing 20-9 late in the fourth quarter, Daniels drove Washington 69 yards in nine plays and hit Zach Ertz for a 4-yard touchdown. Daniels ran for two points and Washington trailed 20-17 with 3:02 remaining. KaVontae Turpin muffed the ensuing kickoff, picked it up at the one, and raced 99 yards for a touchdown to make it 27-17. Austin Seibert's 51-yard field goal pulled the Commanders within 27-20 with 1:40 left, With the score tied 3-3, Washington took the second half kick and went 60 yards in 10 plays. On third-and-three from the Dallas 17, Daniels faked a handoff, ran left and scored his first rushing touchdown since Week 4. Seibert missed the point after and Washington led 9-3. Dallas answered with an 80-yard drive. A 23-yard pass interference penalty gave the Cowboys a first-and-goal at the 4. Two plays later Rush found Jalen Tolbert in the end zone and the extra point made it 10-9. Brandon Aubrey's 48-yard field goal made it 13-9 with 8:11 remaining in the game. On the next play, Daniels hit John Bates for 14 yards, but Donovan Wilson forced a fumble and Dallas recovered at the Washington 44. Five plays later, Rush found Luke Schoonmaker down the middle for a 22-yard touchdown and Dallas led 20-9 with 5:16 left. The first quarter was all about field goals. Aubrey's field goal attempt was blocked on the opening drive and Michael Davis returned it to the Dallas 40. Washington later settled for Seibert's 41-yard field goal. On the next Dallas drive, Aubrey hit the right upright from 42 yards out, and then Seibert missed from 51 yards. With 14 seconds left in the half, Rush found Jalen Brooks for a 41-yard gain to the Washington 28. On the next play Aubrey connected from 46 yards to tie it. --Field Level Media

Former Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery has been named the new head coach of the St. Louis Blues. In a social media post on Sunday, the Blues announced that "Drew Bannister has been relieved of his coaching duties" and that "Jim Montgomery has been named the 28th head coach in franchise history." The Bruins fired Montgomery on Tuesday, following Boston's 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was Boston's third consecutive loss. With a record of 10-9-3, Boston is in 4th place in the NHL's Atlantic Division. Associate coach Joe Sacco took over Montgomery's role as head coach, the Bruins confirmed on Tuesday. Under Sacco's lead, the Bruins defeated the Utah Hockey club 1-0 on Thursday and the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 on Saturday. Montgomery was hired in 2022 , becoming the 29th coach in team history and just the third that the Bruins hired since 2007. He replaced Bruce Cassidy, who was fired after the team was eliminated in the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Originally, from Montreal, Quebec, Montgomery's resume included being head coach of the Dallas Stars and an assistant head coach for the St. Louis Blues. He was fired by the Stars in 2019 and checked himself into rehab to deal with alcohol abuse in early 2020. He was previously a player who played on several teams, including the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars. During his tenure in Boston, Montgomery was selected as a coach for the NHL All-Star Game twice.

Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) at Atlanta (6-5) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL Odds: Chargers by 1 1/2 Series record: Falcons lead 8-4. Against the spread: Chargers 7-3-1, Falcons 5-6. Last meeting: Chargers beat Falcons 20-17 on Nov. 6, 2022, in Atlanta. Last week: Ravens beat Chargers, 30-23; Falcons had bye week following 38-6 loss at Denver on Nov. 17. Chargers offense: overall (21), rush (13), pass (20), scoring (18). Chargers defense: overall (13), rush (10), pass (10), scoring (13). Falcons offense: overall (8), rush (14), pass (5), scoring (16). Falcons defense: overall (25), rush (19), pass (26), scoring (26). Turnover differential: Chargers plus-8, Falcons minus-3. RB Gus Edwards could move up as the lead back for Los Angeles as J.K Dobbins (knee) is expected to miss the game . Edwards was activated from injured reserve earlier this month following an ankle injury and had nine carries for 11 yards with a touchdown in Monday night's 30-23 loss to Baltimore. WR Drake London has 61 catches, leaving him four away from becoming the first player in team history to have at least 65 receptions in each of his first three seasons. London has 710 receiving yards, leaving him 140 away from becoming the first player in team history with at least 850 in each of his first three seasons. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson vs. Chargers run defense. Robinson was shut down by Denver, gaining only 35 yards on 12 carries, and the Atlanta offense couldn't recover. The Chargers rank 10th in the league against the run, so it will be a challenge for the Falcons to find a way to establish a ground game with Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. A solid running attack would create an opportunity for offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to establish the play-action passes for quarterback Kirk Cousins. Dobbins appeared to injure his right knee in the first half of the loss to the Ravens, though coach Jim Harbaugh did not provide details. ... The Falcons needed the bye to give a long list of injured players an opportunity to heal. WR WR KhaDarel Hodge (neck) did not practice on Wednesday. WR Darnell Mooney (Achilles), CB Kevin King (concussion), DL Zach Harrison (knee, Achilles) and WR Casey Washington (concussion) were hurt in the 38-6 loss at Denver on Nov. 17 and were limited on Wednesday. CB Mike Hughes (neck), nickel back Dee Alford (hamstring), ILB Troy Andersen (knee), TE Charlie Woerner (concussion) and ILB JD Bertrand (concussion) also were limited on Wednesday after not playing against Denver. C Drew Dalman (ankle) could return. The Chargers have won the past three games in the series following six consecutive wins by the Falcons from 1991-2012. Los Angeles took a 33-30 overtime win in Atlanta in 2016 before the Chargers added 20-17 wins at home in 2020 and in Atlanta in 2022. The Falcons won the first meeting between the teams, 41-0 in San Diego in 1973. Each team has built its record on success against the soft NFC South. Atlanta is 4-1 against division rivals. Los Angeles is 2-0 against the NFC South this season. The Chargers have a four-game winning streak against the division. ... Atlanta is 0-2 against AFC West teams, following a 22-17 loss to Kansas City and the lopsided loss at Denver. They will complete their tour of the AFC West with a game at the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 16. ... The Falcons are the league's only first-place team with a negative points differential. Atlanta has been outscored 274-244. The loss of Dobbins, who has rushed for eight touchdowns, could put more pressure on QB Justin Hebert and the passing game. Herbert's favorite option has been WR Ladd McConkey, who has four TD receptions among his 49 catches for 698 yards. McConkey, the former University of Georgia standout who was drafted in the second round, could enjoy a productive return to the state against a Falcons defense that ranks only 26th against the pass. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Bryce Thompson scored 17 points and achieved a milestone as Oklahoma State defeated Miami 80-74 on Friday afternoon in a Charleston Classic consolation game in Charleston, S.C. Thompson made 6-of-14 shots from the floor, surpassing 1,000 points for his career at Oklahoma State (4-1), which also got 15 points from Marchelus Avery. The Cowboys won in large part thanks to their impressive 3-point shooting (10-for-22, 45.5 percent). Oklahoma State backup guard Arturo Dean, a Miami native, posted eight points and one steal. He led the nation in steals last season while playing for Florida International. Miami (3-2) has lost two straight games in Charleston, failing to take a lead at any point. They will play on Sunday against either Nevada or VCU. The Hurricanes on Friday were led by Nijel Pack, who had a game-high 20 points. Brandon Johnson had a double-double for Miami with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Matthew Cleveland scored 11 points and Lynn Kidd and Paul Djobet added 10 points apiece for Miami. Miami, which fell behind 7-0 in Thursday's loss to Drake, got behind 9-0 on Friday as Abou Ousmane scored six of his eight points. Oklahoma State stretched its lead to 18 before settling for a 43-27 advantage at the break. Pack led all first-half scorers with 10 points, but Miami shot just 29.6 percent from the floor, including 3-of-13 on 3-pointers (23.1). Oklahoma State shot 48.4 percent, including 8-for-15 on 3-pointers (53.3 percent) before intermission. The Cowboys also had a 14-8 edge in paint points. In the second half, Miami closed its 20-point deficit to 55-42 with 12:12 left. Miami got a bit closer as two straight short jumpers by Kidd, trimming the deficit to 73-62 with 3:25 to play. The Hurricanes cut it to 77-70 on Pack's 3-pointer with 34 seconds remaining, but the Cowboys hit their free throws to close out the win. --Field Level Media

Max Verstappen has admitted he came close to quitting Red Bull during his turbulent title-winning season in Formula 1 this year. Verstappen sealed his fourth world title at the Las Vegas Grand Prix after he finished ahead of Lando Norris to extinguish the McLaren man’s faint championship hopes for good. But Verstappen’s success has come against a political backdrop that led him to reconsider his place with the Milton Keynes squad. The 27-year-old was caught up in an internal investigation into team principal Christian Horner at the turn of the year, with his father Jos Verstappen embroiled in the bitter battle, a situation which the younger Verstappen labelled as “messy”. Consequently, the Dutchman was openly courted by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who made no secret of the fact that he wanted the Red Bull driver to replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton . Questions were raised as to whether Verstappen would quit the team and force through a move to the Silver Arrows. And while Verstappen admitted he did think about his options, he has now pledged his future to Red Bull, saying he is “loyal to the team”. When asked by Motorsport.com if there was any moment he considered leaving Red Bull for Mercedes, or indeed quitting altogether, he said: “I think in your life, every year there are always thoughts going through your head, from 'How long do I still want to do this? Where do I want to do this? How do I want to do this?' “There are things in your private life that happen, of course. In your racing life, there are always things that you have to deal with and think about. “But that's fine. [I'm] in general quite relaxed about these things because it's very important to split your private life and racing life. "But it's fine to have these thoughts in your head about what you want to do. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20 Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images “But at the same time, I'm also not someone that makes very drastic decisions. And I'm just very happy where I'm at, at the moment. “I'm very loyal to the team. I appreciate, of course, what they have done for me from picking me up out of F3 and giving me an F1 seat and then going through all these emotions over all the years with these key people in the team. “So, when there are tough times, it's very easy to say goodbye or forget about it or ignore it. But I think it's actually way more important to actually face them and go through it together and deal with it and just try to just move on from there and focus back, of course, on the performance side of things and have fun out there. “That's at the end the most important. If you're not having fun, then there's no point to continue.” Horner had hailed Verstappen’s fourth title win as the best of his career, and when the Dutchman was asked if he agreed with his boss, he added: “I think so, too. “Last year, I had a dominant car, but I always felt that not everyone appreciated what we achieved as a team, winning 10 in a row. “Of course, our car was dominant, but it wasn't as dominant as people thought it was. I will always look back at [2023], because even in places where maybe we didn't have the perfect set-up, we were still capable – because in the race our car was always quite strong – to win races. "But I'm also very proud of this season because for most of the season, I would say for 70% of the season, we didn't have the fastest car, but actually we still extended our lead. So that is definitely something that I'm very proud of.” Formula 1 Red Bull shareholders to decide on Perez's future after Abu Dhabi GP Formula 1 Vasseur unconcerned by Leclerc radio rage after Sainz's Vegas pass Formula 1 Norris: Perfect season wouldn't have been enough to beat Verstappen to F1 titleIn New Zealand there is a way for citizens to kickstart a referendum themselves and it may complicate the already charged debate over Indigenous rights in the country. Like in Australia, the government can decide to put an idea or policy to the country via a referendum. But across the ditch, any New Zealander can bring any issue to parliament and petition for what's called a citizens-initiated referendum. New Zealand regularly performs among the best in the world on global report cards for political and civil liberties. And in the early 1990s it joined countries such as Switzerland and Italy by passing legislation to allow this type of national, citizen-led vote. At the moment, New Zealand is currently debating the future of its founding document, The Treaty of Waitangi. The treaty has been used to inform policies on Maori rights and recognition, and over the course of 50 years a set of treaty principles has been developed to guide that process. Minor party leader and cabinet minister David Seymour has tabled a bill that would rewrite the principles, set them out in legislation and then put the act itself to a referendum. The Treaty Principles Bill was something Mr Seymour won in coalition negotiations a year ago when the new centre-right government was formed. Recently, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon admitted race relations in New Zealand were now "probably worse" than when he came to power. "I think there's more division," he said. "It's a challenging time at the moment ... there's strong feeling on all sides of that debate." Mr Seymour and supporters of the Treaty Principles Bill argue all New Zealanders should have the same rights and privileges and everyone deserves to have a say on the role the Treaty of Waitangi plays in the nation's future. The bill's critics argue there is a danger in putting the rights of a minority in the hands of the majority. Mr Luxon has only promised to support the bill until it reaches its second reading, where it will very likely be voted down and killed, but there are multiple paths to a referendum in New Zealand. A referendum brought by the government would be binding; a citizens-led referendum would not be, but political and legal experts say the politics of a Yes result would make things very complicated either way. What is a citizen's initiated referendum? Direct democracy initiatives such as citizens-led referenda and citizens assemblies are ways for ordinary people to ask parliament and the nation to consider an issue. Switzerland is seen as having a very robust direct democracy, with the nation voting three times on government powers during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Citizen-led initiatives allow people to be empowered," Nyla Grace Prieto from democracy research centre International IDEA said. "It gives them a more active role in decision-making. It allows them to put forward and vote directly on issues and policies that are important to them." Since 1993, New Zealanders have been able to force the government to fund a national vote on a particular question. But as well as the catch that the result will not be binding, there are a few hurdles to clear before a citizens-initiated referendum can get off the ground at all. The first step is pretty easy. New Zealanders apply to the clerk of parliament, pay a fee and have their referendum question considered. It takes about three months for the final wording to be decided on and then the organiser has 12 months to gather enough signatures to force the vote. A citizens-initiated referendum petition must attract signatures of at least 10 per cent of the voting public, which at the moment in New Zealand is about 360,000 people. Organisers cannot rely on electronic signatures. Hitting the 10 per cent threshold requires pounding the pavement to secure signatures on a piece of paper that will then be delivered to parliament and verified as individual voters. There have been five citizen-initiated referendums so far in New Zealand, including one that was dubbed the "anti-smacking" referendum. After then-prime minister Helen Clark's government made corporal punishment a crime, citizens rallied, forced a referendum and were asked: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" Of the 1.6 million people who turned out for the referendum , 87.4 per cent voted No, but it did not change the government's position and in the Crime Act of today , nothing justifies a parent's "use of force for the purposes of correction". Waikato University professor of law Alexander Gillespie said while the result of a non-binding citizens-led referendum did not have to be considered by government, "it's a bad look in a democracy" when the result was ignored. "If they are avoided, it can create large-scale political problems for the parties that act against them," he said. "And so the way I see it, sometimes it's not even about the topic of the referendum or the merits of the debate, it's about the larger political games that are going on." There are currently two petitions for a citizens-initiated referendum open in New Zealand ; one is about banning the sale of fireworks, the other is about the country's relationship with the World Health Organization. Collecting more than 300,000 signatures in support of an obscure issue is not easy, but of course some issues that lead to a referendum are more mainstream. "A lot of people who have a particular campaigning concern or issue ... will start the process and realise that getting 10 per cent of the voting public to sign a petition is no mean feat and will fall short quite substantially," said New Zealand-based barrister and constitutional law expert Graeme Edgeler. "But for something as big and high profile as the treaty principles process and the treaty principles legislation, I could imagine this would be something where there would be a campaigning organisation which might be able to make a good go at getting the large, large numbers of voters to sign their petition. "It's certainly something that a lot of members of the public are aware exists." New Zealand has many more referendums than Australia, but Dr Gillespie warns there are some risks. "Always, referendums are to be welcomed because democracy is a wonderful thing, but you need to be cautious because in a country like New Zealand ... we don't have a written constitution like you guys have, and we don't have a second chamber like a senate," he said. "And so our legislation is made just by parliament in a one-stop shop and it's fast. Everything ... can just happen with such speed. "Things that should be fundamental could be changed quickly. It's one thing to have a referendum on [the legalisation] of cannabis, on a different design of the flag, it's a different thing to have a referendum on the rights of the minority." Those who want a referendum Former National Party opposition leader and now lobbyist Don Brash has previously pushed for a referendum on the treaty principles. He said if Mr Luxon did not allow one, his group Hobson's Pledge would "work with similar groups to demand a citizens-initiated referendum". "Well, it's certainly in our mind, there's no doubt about that," told the ABC. "We haven't made any decision on this." Brash said it depended on whether the political advantage would be affected. "I've said that I'd be up for helping to organise such a referendum if [the Treaty Principles Bill] is killed at the second reading, but it depends a bit on what Seymour does," he said. "Because if he says, 'Look, this is what I go into the next election on and I will have a referendum on it the following month. It may not be appropriate." Mr Seymour has said he wants New Zealanders to go to a referendum on the Treaty Principles Bill that is binding, and he will not organise a citizens-initiated referendum himself. Asked about it by the ABC's Pacific Beat program last month , he said: "I've ruled that out. Others may do that, but I don't think that's practical." "The problem is they are not actually binding, so generally they get people's hopes up and then they disappoint people so no, I don't favour that approach." New Zealand's national government terms are three years, so the next election is due in 2026. Also part of the coalition agreement was that Mr Seymour would take over as deputy prime minister halfway through the term. That kicks in mid-2025. His Treaty Principles Bill is open for written submissions for another month, with the select committee process expected to take about six months. "That select committee will probably recommend that the bill not pass, but it will also say if you were to take this bill forward, here are some changes we would make to it," Mr Edgeler said. "At that point, there will probably be an updated version of the bill. "The treaty principles that might be rewritten from that bill could be used as part of the question that someone might decide to put to a petition process." New Zealand will still be in the midst of this debate when Waitangi Day — the national day marking the signing of the treaty — happens on February 6. This year's Waitangi Day saw huge crowds and a hikoi, or march, to the hallowed Waitangi Grounds, where those gathered demanded the treaty be honoured. When the Treaty Principles Bill was tabled in parliament, young Maori Party MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi Clarke made global headlines by tearing the legislation up and starting a haka inside the chamber. Another hikoi protesting against the legislation arrived in Wellington just days later, with police estimating more than 42,000 people took part. Polling on the issue of the Treaty Principles Bill and the government itself has been shifting. Numbers out this week showed approval for Mr Luxon and Mr Seymour has fallen since they came to power a year ago . However, a different survey taken in early October found support for the bill was sitting at 46 per cent nationwide. Dr Gillespie said it was "quite possible" New Zealand would eventually have a national vote of some kind on the issue. "Mr Seymour realises that he's got a topic which is, although very divisive, one which will be very popular for the section of the populous that he appeals to and so he will continue to pursue it ... or it will come from people like Mr Brash or other interested citizens," he said. "I think it'll be a citizens-initiated referendum or else it will be part of a coalition deal. When there's the next election, they would say, 'We will give you our support if we get this referendum,' and that's quite possible." ABC

TUCKED away in the middle of Yemen lies an ancient desert city with a unique style of architecture that dates back to the 16th century. Dubbed the "Manhattan of the Dessert", the sprawling towers in this city are rather made up of a unique material - mud bricks. Almost all the buildings of Shibam are built with mud bricks using a technique that is said to have been invented centuries ago. This architectural style was used to protect residents from Bedouin attacks. A mixture of soil, hay, and water was turned into bricks and left to bake in the sun for days before being used to make these buildings. Some 500 of these are tower blocks, which rise five to 11 stories high The windowless, ground floors were used for livestock and grain storage, while the uppermost levels typically served as communal floors for socializing. The walls for these stunning mud towers are a whopping six feet thick at the bottom, with some of the top floors having much thinner walls. While the tradition of brick buildings dates back to the 8th or 9th century, it’s difficult to know when they were first built because of how often they’re touched up. That is because the exterior facade which is often eroded by wind and rain, so they have to be periodically covered with mud. Each floor traditionally has one or two rooms, and each building ranges between two to eleven storeys high. Despite being centuries old, these are still used by locals to live and socialise. But during the last few years, Shibam has been threatened by natural disasters as well as by the war and the terrorism suffered by Yemen. In 2008, a flood caused severe damage to the buildings. Afterwards, a restoration program was started. Furthermore, the city has been declared a world heritage in danger by UNESCO because of the war in Yemen. Meanwhile, tucked away in a corner of Turkey lies an abandoned village whose residents were forced to leave after ghost sightings . The town of Kayaköy was once a lively and integrated community of Greek–Turkish people but was left to rot by locals some 100 years ago. It has now become a true ghost town that sits empty except for tour groups visiting the historical place that failed to stand the test of time. Most of the houses in the city have now lost their roofs and their collapsed walls sprout with vegetation. The ruins of houses, churches and other buildings can be found in the city, which was once home to thousands of people before they left the town. The eerie streets have been left behind, with people able to wander from building to building and have a glimpse at the lives of those who used to live there. Meanwhile, haunting pictures inside an abandoned ghost town show a once-booming area frozen in time. Nestled in the hills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Bodie was established in 1859 as a modest camp after gold was discovered in the region - but the old town now hides a dark curse . The town in California rose to prominence in 1876 after gold ore attracted settlers, and by 1879 the town had a booming population between 5,000 and 7,000. In its heyday, the town boasted some 70 saloons, a bowling alley, dance halls, gambling halls, and numerous stores, hotels, and churches. This time period was characterised by rowdiness, gambling, opium use, and regular, often deadly, bar fights. But by the 1880s promising booms in Arizona, Montana, and Utah had lured miners away, and the town began to decline. A small mining community survived, but by the early 20th century most of its mines had closed, and the population had fallen to a few hundred people. The area was designated a state park in 1962 and welcomes around 200,000 visitors a year. Legend has it that the Bodie Curse will haunt anyone who removes any of the old artefacts from the town. Park rangers have even received letters and packages from past visitors hoping to lift the curse by returning what they’ve stolen.

Peggy Sue Martinez has worked for almost a decade with a security workers union in Los Alamos to send Christmas presents to young children at two Española schools. Over that time, she has seen the kids' needs increase "drastically." "The needs are more basic," she said. Martinez, an Española city councilor, goes to James H. Rodriguez Elementary School and Los Niños Kindergarten Center each year before the holidays and speaks with kids who have been identified as the students most in need. In past years, she said, many children would say they need a pair of shoes or a jacket, "but now they need both shoes and a jacket," she said, "and socks and underwear ... and they have siblings who need the same." She added, "These kids aren’t afraid to say in front of their peers that they need socks, and why do you think that is? Because they’re not the only ones." Martinez said the International Guards Union of America Local 69 provided gifts — shoes, coats, socks and even some laptop computers — to 70 students this year. They plan to increase the program in hopes of providing for up to 200 children in 2025. "These aren't just toys — we are trying to affect their daily needs," Martinez said. "And the needs are there." Several local government officials, leaders of aid programs and organizers of holiday charity efforts that serve the Española Valley have noted what appears to be an increase in need in recent years amid inflation, increasing housing costs and a continuing opioid epidemic that has wracked the region. The number of kids who receive gifts through the Northern New Mexico Toy Drive has swelled to 7,200 this year from 2,500 in 2021, and an annual Christmas shopping spree organized by Española police served more children than ever. Organizers of the Empty Stocking Fund, a holiday project of The Santa Fe New Mexican and the Santa Fe Community Foundation, hope to raise a record $475,000 this year to meeting a growing demand in Santa Fe and Rio Arriba counties for funds to cover costs like car repairs, past due rent and utility bills. Española Social Services Director Michelle Fraire — who began in the position earlier this year — confirmed what others have noticed. "We are seeing a high increase in children needing necessities," Fraire said. "They need clothing for school, laptops to do schoolwork; college students we hear from need food, groceries, etc." The city launched its social services department earlier this year with funding from opioid lawsuit settlements in an effort to combat increases in homelessness and addiction. Fraire has organized several fairs that bring state agencies like the Department of Health, along with a host of providers, to help connect people with support services and, ideally, housing. The city held such a fair Dec. 16 at the Española Pathways Shelter. Fraire said more than 40 people attended. Leaders of other initiatives noted higher need this year as well. The Española Firefighters Union raised $7,000 to split among seven people who are battling breast cancer, Assistant Fire Chief John Wickersham said. The cash is meant to help offset some of the expenses of cancer treatment, which can be financially devastating for families, he added. "There is an increased need throughout the Valley that we can see," Wickersham said, noting the union has seen rising numbers of applicants for the funds in recent years. Wickersham noted the high price tags for health care and other costs often associated with cancer treatment like travel. Meanwhile, Española police officers participating in Shop with a Cop accompanied a record 134 kids on a trip to the local Walmart store, where each child was given $100 to spend. Police Chief Mizel Garcia said the department also gave out 300 stockings after the event. Children from the Española Valley are referred to the Shop with a Cop program through the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department and other agencies. Garcia aims to continue growing the program, which he said can help mend relationships with police, especially for children who are in state custody or have had negative experiences with law enforcement. Wendy Croze, a program manager for Las Cumbres Community Services' Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program, said there has been an uptick in Española in recent years of grandparents taking in grandchildren, largely because of drug addiction. With families who take in grandchildren — or even neighbors, in one case — "it's very common that there is already financial need," Croze said. "Many had to retire from their jobs early in order to take care of young children who are now older," she said. "And so the need for food is enormous." Food Depot Executive Director Jill Dixon said the Santa Fe-based regional food bank serves nine counties, and about 20% of the food it distributes goes to Rio Arriba County, where estimates in recent years have shown more than 20% of the population experiences food insecurity. The Food Depot has seen an increase in need for fresh, nutritious foods in particular. A newsletter the organization published in recent months says about 30% of people who struggle with access to nutritious food do not qualify for food benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Dixon said the regional food bank often sees people using food pantries on an intermittent basis, such when they are hit with expensive emergencies like unexpected medical bills or car trouble. The organization in December 2022 opened a "no-cost grocery store" in Española called Casita de Comida that allows people to shop, free of charge, through a selection of about 60 items. The pantry, which is growing and moving to a location on La Joya Street, currently serves about 360 families per month. Dixon hopes to expand it to serve about 100 more families in the next year. High rates of food insecurity are not limited to the Española Valley, she said, noting the need has been "holding steady" across The Food Depot's service territory for several years. She pointed to inflation in 2023 amid the evaporation of support and protections that helped many families through the coronavirus pandemic. "We just saw the need explode all over again," she said. "Everything is expensive," Dixon said. "It's just gotten incredible, and we've seen housing costs just skyrocket in basically every community that we serve. When you see housing, you know, eating up 30% to 50% of your earnings, there just isn't any room for error." People who don't frequent food pantries sometimes find themselves there when they suddenly discover they need new tires or a mammogram, she said, or perhaps because of the extra expenses associated with the holidays. "And that's what we're here for," she said. "But systemically, we have some pretty big problems to address."Staff Picks: The 18 Best Latin Music Videos of 2024, Ranked