MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City’s players were booed by their own fans Tuesday after blowing a three-goal lead against Feyenoord in the Champions League to extend their winless run to six games. Jeers rang around the Etihad Stadium after the final whistle of a dramatic 3-3 draw. “They are disappointed. Of course we understand it,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “They are completely right to express what they feel.” After five-straight losses in all competitions, City looked to be cruising to victory after going three up inside 50 minutes. But Feyenoord mounted an improbable comeback and leveled the game in the 89th to leave the home crowd stunned. While the worst losing streak of Guardiola’s managerial career was brought to an end, his wait for a first win since Oct. 26 goes on. Erling Haaland had scored twice, with Ilkay Gundogan also on target to put City in control. But goals from Anis Hadj Moussa in the 75th, Santiago Gimenez in the 82nd and David Hancko in the 89th turned the game on its head. According to stats supplier Opta, it was the first time in Guardiola's managerial career that his team had failed to win a game after leading 3-0. It said it was the first time City had failed to win from that position since 1989. “We lost a lot of games lately, we are fragile and of course we need a victory," Guardiola said. “The game was good for the confidence, we were playing a good level, but the first time something happened we had problems.” A win would have moved City up to fifth in the Champions League standings , but the draw left it 15th with three games remaining in the first phase of the competition. The top eight teams advance to the round of 16, while teams ranked ninth to 24th go into a playoff. City’s players, including Bernardo Silva, Josko Gvardiol and Haaland looked visibly frustrated as they left the field to cheers from the delirious traveling Dutch fans in the away section of the stadium. “If you are 3-0 up at home you can never give it away like this. It is what it is at the moment. The only thing we can do is fight back and stay strong,” City defender Nathan Ake said. City plays Premier League leader Liverpool on Sunday — defeat would leave it 11 points adrift of its title rival. “We will learn for the future. It has been and will be a tough season for us and we have to accept it," said Guardiola, who had a cut on his nose during the game. He said it had been caused when he scratched it with his fingernail. James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerChristmas came early for Trump. Car companies and other top CEOs are rushing to donate millions of dollars to the president elect’s inauguration fund before Trump, 78, enters the Oval Office on Jan. 20 — with Toyota being the latest to hand over the cash. A rep for the Japan-based automotive manufacturer confirmed it had contributed $1 million to the fund in a statement to The Post on Christmas Eve. Toyota’s contribution came after Ford and General Motors both said they would also be shelling out $1 million for the incoming president’s fund, Reuters reported . Trump has floated a 25% tax on all imports coming from the Mexico, potentially hampering Toyota, which manufactures their Tacoma pickup truck there. The Republican also threatened during his 2024 campaign that he could slap up to a 200% tariff on cars coming from Mexico in an effort to protect American automobile manufacturing. The efforts to upend tax and trade policies when he gets to the White House has prompted even those who have sparred politically with the 45th president in the past to turn the other cheek. Companies that previously vowed to not support Political Action Committees (PACs) that disputed the 2020 election after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot are also pitching in with massive donations, per the Wall Street Journal , including, Intuit, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, AT&T and Stanley Black & Decker. Uber has given the largest donation, coming in at $2 million, per the Journal. “The first term, everybody was fighting me,” Trump said during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago. “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend.” Tech CEOs have also been frolicking around Mar-a-Lago in recent weeks, hoping to cozy up before the 47th president’s term kicks in, as Trump has expressed interest in significant tech innovation alongside his confidant Elon Musk. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was spotted dining with Trump at the Florida estate earlier in December, and he wrote a $1 million check later to the inaugural fund. Bezos, who had previously spoken out against Trump, said he was “optimistic” about his second term in power. “I’m actually very optimistic this time around,” Bezos revealed at the the New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York earlier in December. “He seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation. If I can help do that, I’m going to help him,” Bezos said. “We do have too many regulations in this country.” Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg also gave the same amount after visiting Trump at Mar-a-Lago the month prior, and Open AI CEO Sam Altman was another billionaire who gave $1 million to the inauguration fund. “I want to get ideas from them,” Trump said of his conversations with business leaders. “Look, we want them to do well,” he said at the New York Stock Exchange after being deemed “person of the year.” Foreign companies have also gotten in on the action. Softbank, a Japanese investment holding company, announced it would be investing $100 billion in US tech projects during Trump’s administration, the once and future president unveiled in a press conference at Mar-a-Lago last week. Trump had previously promised to award companies that invest at least $1 billion “fully expedited approvals and permits” in the US. “Any person or company investing ONE BILLION DOLLARS, OR MORE, in the United States of America, will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all Environmental approvals. GET READY TO ROCK!!!” he said on Truth Social in early December.fishing hook knot 。

Wall Street ends higher on tech stocksBy JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. Related Articles National Politics | Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirling National Politics | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump extends unprecedented invites to China’s Xi and other world leaders for his inauguration National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman’s Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union’s executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November’s election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”New Jersey fines firms $40K for sports betting violations

The Congress Working Committee (CWC), which met in Belagavi, Karnataka, on Thursday, urged the NDA regime to use its upcoming budget to provide income support to the poor and tax relief to middle classes. ET Year-end Special Reads Corporate Kalesh: Top family disputes of India Inc in 2024 The world of business lost these eminent people in 2024 Fast, faster, fastest: How 2024 put more speed into your shopping The CWC’s extended session, held in Belagavi to mark the centenary of the party’s session chaired by Mahatma Gandhi at the same place, adopted two resolutions. While one was on Gandhi, the other was on a range of pressing political issues. The CWC, chaired by AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge and attended by Rahul Gandhi, noted that the GST had become an absurdity. "The CWC reiterates its demand for a GST 2.0 that will be a truly good and simple tax -- both on paper and in practice." The party noted with concern what it called tax terrorism on industry, trade and commerce while calling for effort to end the tax terrorism. The Mod regime's economic policies, the resolution said, were designed to enrich only a few of the PM's favourite business groups. "Oligopolies in the economy are growing. While more and more Indians have a stake in capital markets, the integrity of regulators has been called into serious question. Private investment, which must drive faster economic growth, is still extremely sluggish and mass consumption is stagnating.” The working committee resolution demanded a socio-economic caste census at the earliest. The 50% ceiling on reservations for SC/STs and OBCs must be increased to further enhance the benefits accrued to the three traditionally disadvantaged groups in the society. Reservations must be based on social, economic or educational backwardness determined through appropriate means, the resolution said. 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View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program The party also demanded a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) and its fixation at 50% of the comprehensive cost of cultivation. The party sought adequate funding for the MGNREGA programme along with an increase in its wage to Rs 400 per day. The Congress has decided to launch a year-long nationwide public outreach campaign called the Samvidhan Bachao Rashtriya Padyatra from January 26,2025 to January 26, 2026. The party would hold its forthcoming session in Gujarat in April 2025. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )“You write what you know. I grew up in Ypsilanti, so that had a lot to do with it. More importantly, when you’re in a small town in the Midwest — somewhere like Michigan — these things don’t ever happen."

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LeBron James Sets Christmas Day Record in Lakers' Thrilling Win Over WarriorsThey have seen him smiling on a hostel security camera, but don’t know his name. They found the backpack he discarded while fleeing, but don’t know where he's gone. As the search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ’s killer goes on, investigators are reckoning with a tantalizing dichotomy: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. > Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it, though they are confident it was a targeted attack instead of a random act. “The net is tightening,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Saturday. Hours after he spoke, police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any possible clues and found his bag there Friday. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting Wednesday morning outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone. Police provided no updates on the hunt Saturday, but investigators are urging patience — even with a killer on the loose. Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed. “This isn’t ‘Blue Bloods.’ We’re not going to solve this in 60 minutes," Kenny told reporters Friday. “We’re painstakingly going through every bit of evidence that we can come across.” The shooter paid cash at the hostel, presented what police believe was a fake ID and is believed to have paid cash for taxi rides and other transactions. He didn't speak to others at the hostel and almost always kept his face covered with a mask, only lowering it while eating. But investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment in which he briefly showed his face soon after arriving in New York on Nov. 24. Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven't been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said. On Friday evening, investigators found a backpack in Central Park that had been worn by the gunman, police said. They didn’t immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analyzed. Another potential clue, a fingerprint on an item he purchased at a Starbucks minutes before the shooting, has so far proven useless for identifying him, Kenny said. Aided by surveillance cameras on nearly every building and block, police have been able to retrace the shooter’s movements. They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company’s annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics. Kenny said the fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client. Investigators know from surveillance video that the shooter fled into Central Park on a bicycle and ditched it around 7 a.m. near 85th Street. He then walked a couple blocks and got into a taxi, arriving at 7:30 a.m. at the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, which is near the northern tip of Manhattan and offers commuter service to New Jersey and Greyhound routes to Philadelphia, Boston and Washington. Investigators don't know what happened next. They are searching through more surveillance video but have yet to locate video of the shooter getting on a bus or exiting the station. “We have reason to believe that the person in question has left New York City,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told CNN on Friday. Police have determined from video that the gunman was in the city for 10 days before the shooting. He arrived at Manhattan’s main bus terminal on a Greyhound bus that originated in Atlanta, though it's not clear whether he embarked there or at one of about a half-dozen stops along the route. Immediately after that, he took a cab to the vicinity of the Hilton and was there for about a half hour, Kenny said. At around 11 p.m. on the night he arrived, he went by taxi to the HI New York City Hostel. It was there, while speaking with an employee in the lobby, that he briefly pulled down the mask and smiled, giving investigators the brief glimpse they are now relying on to identify and capture a killer.Belagavi Session: CWC demands end to tax terrorism, wants Budget to give relief to poor and middle classes

Google Pixel 9 Plummets to $299 for Black Friday: An Unbelievable Deal You Can’t Afford to MissMumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized assets valued at Rs 387.99 crore in the Mahadev Online Book case. The properties comprise investments by a Mauritius-based firm, Tano Investment Opportunities Fund, linked to Hari Shankar Tibrewal and real estate in Chhattisgarh, Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh, registered under various betting app promoters and associates, according to an ED press release. The ED's investigation showed that Mahadev Online Book Betting APP operates as a syndicate that facilitates illegal betting websites for user registration, ID creation, and money laundering through complex networks of benami bank accounts. The Mahadev group, established by Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal with their associates, attracted attention after Chandrakar's lavish Dubai wedding, costing over Rs 200 crore and featuring performances by Bollywood celebrities last year. In March, the ED said investigations in Kolkata revealed Hari Shankar Tibrewal's involvement in stock market manipulation alongside company promoters. The ED said, "Hari Shankar Tibrewal, using his immense capital, used to create temporary fluctuations in share prices, driving them upwards, and then withdrew funds once the prices reached a desirable level." The ED has previously secured assets worth Rs 2,295 crore, including shares valued at Rs 1,100 crore in demat accounts, and arrested 11 individuals, including Girish Talreja and Tibrewal's associate Suraj Chokhani. The ED said that during searches at premises of Suraj Chokhani and others in Kolkata, it was found that share market investments were primarily funded through cash transactions in Tibrewal-controlled Indian companies. These Indian firms held securities worth Rs 580 crore, while associated foreign entities possessed securities valued at Rs 606 crore. The ED has said that Mahadev Online Book is operated from Dubai and offers "Panel/Branches" franchises to associates, who receive a 70%-30% profit share. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .Black Friday is notorious for jaw-dropping deals, but this one takes the cake. The Google Pixel 9, a flagship phone released just this year, has been slashed to a mere $299. That’s right, you can snag this high-end device for a fraction of its original price. This incredible offer is brought to you by Mint Mobile, the prepaid carrier known for its budget-friendly plans and quirky marketing. But here’s the kicker: this deal isn’t just about the phone. It’s a bundled offer that includes a year of unlimited data for just $15/month. This means you’re not only getting a top-tier smartphone at a ridiculously low price, but you’re also locking in an incredibly affordable phone plan for an entire year. Is this Deal Too Good to be True? You might be thinking, “What’s the catch?” Surprisingly, there isn’t one. Mint Mobile is known for its transparent pricing and lack of hidden fees. This deal is simply a fantastic way for them to attract new customers and offer incredible value. Why Choose the Google Pixel 9? The Google Pixel 9 is a powerhouse of a phone. It boasts a stunning display, a lightning-fast processor, and one of the best camera systems on the market. Here’s a breakdown of its key features: Why Choose Mint Mobile? Mint Mobile has disrupted the wireless industry with its affordable plans and no-contract approach. Here’s why Mint Mobile is a great choice: My Personal Experience with the Pixel 9 and Mint Mobile I’ve been a Pixel user for years, and the Pixel 9 is my favorite yet. The camera is simply phenomenal, and I love how smoothly it handles everything I throw at it. I recently switched to Mint Mobile, and I’ve been extremely impressed with their service and coverage. The $15/month unlimited plan is an absolute steal. Is this the Right Deal for You? This Black Friday deal is perfect for: Don’t Miss Out! This Black Friday deal on the Google Pixel 9 is an absolute steal. With its incredible price, top-tier features, and the added bonus of an affordable unlimited data plan, it’s an offer you can’t afford to miss. Head over to Mint Mobile’s website or visit a participating store to grab this deal before it’s gone.

Botswana issues 400 elephant hunting licenses, drawing fresh opposition

Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systems

Charlotte Crosby trebles security measures to ‘feel safe’ amid attempted robberyPeggy 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."