Santa Fe New Mexican, Dec. 24, 2023

SUNDAY December 24, 2023

Breathing new life into small-town church

Taos Pueblo mourns spiritual, tribal leader

‘I gave it everything I had’ NMSU head football coach steps down after two successful seasons; assistant Tony Sanchez taking over. SPORTS, D-1

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In this town, it’s Christmas year-round

L OS AL AM OS NATIONAL L ABOR AT ORY

Opponents of power line say comment period rushed

Cloudcroft transforms itself into state’s holiday capital in bid to attract tourists to picturesque village

High-voltage towers would cross 14 miles of ecologically, culturally sensitive areas

By Scott Wyland

swyland@sfnewmexican.com

Federal agencies have finished an environmental assessment of a planned 14-mile power line for Los Alamos National Laboratory and are giving the public 30 days to comment, spurring criticism from activists and political leaders who contend that isn’t enough time.

The study was done to gauge the effects the high-voltage power line, first announced in 2021, might have on the landscape, wildlife, ecosystems, Indigenous cultural sites and recreation areas.

It was required for the U.S. Energy Department to obtain a special-use permit to install the line on public land.

The 115,000-volt line would include transmission towers and a 100-foot-wide swath along its path from the lab through White Rock Canyon, south across the Caja del Rio area and then east through the Santa Fe National Forest to a substation.

Given the sensitive areas it would cross, conservationists, community advocates and New Mexico’s congressional delegates are urging the Energy Department and its agency that oversees the nuclear arsenal to give the public 60 days to comment.

That’s especially important with the 207-page study coming out during the holidays, when people are busy and Please see story on Page A-5

Los Alamos National Lab

White Rock

Bandelier National Monument de

ra n

Cochiti Lake

Sandoval County Santa Fe County

TOP: Karen Sonnenfelt, president of the Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce, takes a picture of her best friend and incoming chamber president, Debra Spears, with an inflatable St. Bernard in Cloudcroft’s Vintage Christmas Village on Tuesday.

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PHOTOS BY GABRIELA CAMPOS/THE NEW MEXICAN

ABOVE: Children from Cloudcroft Elementary School greet Santa and Mrs. Claus while they were out for recess Tuesday. The nearby Cloudcroft Sacramento Mountains Museum and Pioneer Village has changed into a “Vintage Christmas Village.”

Proposed power line CAJA DEL RIO

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Santa Fe

By Robert Nott rnott@sfnewmexican.com

CLOUDCROFT sign in this little Southern New Mexico mountain village of 700 people, at an elevation of about 9,000 feet, INSIDE advertises reindeer u Subdued parking.

Christmas in Though none of Bethlehem. the Arctic caribou PAGE A-2 could be seen on u When chipmunks became a recent weekday, a chart-topping Santa and Mrs. holiday hit.

Claus made an PAGE D-6 appearance. They u How reinwalked by the deer find food. village’s elementary PAGE D-6 school, where a dozen or so children playing outside rushed to see them, greeting the festively dressed pair through a chain-link fence.

The children vowed to be on their best behavior as they made pleas for

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A group of men make their way through a tunnel of lights Tuesday toward the door of the Western Bar & Cafe on Burro Avenue in Cloudcroft.

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Christmas Eve Farolito Walk on Canyon Road

R A E Y 25

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Serving Northern New Mexico Since 1998

Today

Annual pedestrian-only holiday tradition, with farolito-lined streets and adobe walls; begins at dusk.

Few snow showers.

High 37, low 13.

More events Fridays in Pasa

PAGE D-6

Obituaries Donald Barliant, 86, Santa Fe, Dec. 9 Robert Peter Eggers, 91, Dec. 13 Solomon Gonzalez, 99, Santa Fe, Dec. 7 Medora Helffrich Jennings, 88, Santa Fe, Oct. 24 Roger Mascarenas, Dec. 12

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Ricarda Montoya, 82, Dec. 15 Mary Dolores Nava, Santa Fe, Dec. 14 Antonia Erlinda Rivera, Dec. 13 Max Sanchez, Nov. 20 Eva Gorman-Sandoval, Dec. 10 PAGES C-2, C-3

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THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

Sunday, December 24, 2023

NATION&WORLD Federal workers getting pay hike

IN BRIEF Report: Accused leaker Teixeira was seen as potential mass shooter Jack Teixeira, the Massachusetts Air National Guard member charged with leaking classified U.S. intelligence documents on a gaming platform, alarmed fellow members of his unit, who worried the young computer technician might, in the words of one, “shoot up the place” after he was warned to stop looking at classified information that had nothing to do with his job, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.

Teixeira often discussed his love of firearms at work and said he wanted to acquire more weapons, including machine guns, suppressors and explosives, and talked about “living off the grid” or on a large piece of land so he could “blow stuff up,” according to an Air Force Inspector General report released through a Freedom of Information Act request filed by The Post.

Investigators who spoke to Teixeira’s colleagues at Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod after his arrest on April 13 found his disturbing comments prompted one airman to warn a commander Teixeira, now 22, “exhibited a fringe thinking perspective” that seemed comparable to that of Ted Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber.

U.S. claims swath of ocean floor amid push for strategic resources The U.S. extended its claims on the ocean floor by an area twice the size of California, securing rights to potentially resource-rich seabeds at a time Washington is ramping up efforts to safeguard supplies of minerals key to future technologies.

The Extended Continental Shelf covers about 386,100 square miles, predominantly in the Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea, an area of increasing strategic importance where Canada and Russia also have claims.

The long-awaited announcement last week maps the outer reaches of the U.S. continental shelf. Under international law, countries have economic rights to natural resources on, and under, the ocean floor based on the boundaries of their continental shelves.

While it’s unclear what materials, if any, can be exploited, the claims come as Washington seeks to boost access to so-called critical minerals that are necessary for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy projects, industries the Biden administration has tagged as key national security concerns.

About 300 Indian travelers held in French human trafficking probe VATRY, France — About 300 Indian citizens heading to Central America were sequestered in a French airport for a third day Saturday after a police operation prompted by a tip those aboard might be victims of human trafficking, authorities said.

Those aboard included children and families. The youngest passenger is a toddler of 21 months, and among the children are several unaccompanied minors, according to the local civil protection agency.

Two of the passengers have been detained as part of a special investigation into suspected human trafficking by an organized criminal group, according the Paris prosecutor’s office. Prosecutors wouldn’t comment on what kind of trafficking was alleged, or whether the ultimate destination was the U.S., which has seen a surge in Indians crossing the Mexico-U.S. border this year.

Court revives lawsuit claiming Nirvana album cover is child porn A federal appeals court revived a lawsuit filed two years ago by the man photographed on the cover of Nirvana’s 1991 album Nevermind after he likened it to child porn.

Spencer Elden sued the band and Universal Music Group, saying his image on the album’s cover — one of the most recognizable in rock — is a violation of child pornography laws. No criminal charges were brought or alleged.

A federal court in California dismissed the lawsuit last year because the complaint was filed after the 10-year statute of limitations. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit sent the lawsuit back, saying republication of the album’s image “may constitute a new personal injury” and would essentially reset the clock on those limitations.

The album has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide since its release. The cover depicts a naked, 4-month-old Elden floating underwater as he reaches for a dollar bill latched onto a fishhook. Elden’s lawsuit says there was no formal waiver or permission in place to photograph him.

New Mexican wire services

Raises for nearly 2.2 million employees average 5.2% in biggest increase since 1980

By Lisa Rein

The Washington Post

SAMAR HAZBOUN/THE NEW YORK TIMES

The Rev. Munther Isaac, pastor of Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, West Bank, lights a candle next to a crèche in the church this month. The war in Gaza has prompted the city, traditionally seen as the birthplace of Jesus, to tone down its Christmas celebrations.

BE THLEHEM , WE ST BANK

‘God is under the rubble in Gaza’ In city’s subdued Christmas, even a crèche recalls the conflict’s toll

By Yara Bayoumy and Samar Hazboun The New York Times

BETHLEHEM, West Bank here will be no musical festivities.

No tree-lighting ceremony. No extravagant decorations that normally bedeck the West Bank city of Bethlehem at Christmas. With the war in the Gaza Strip raging, this is a city in mourning.

In perhaps the most overt display of how Israel’s war in Gaza has dampened Christmas celebrations in the city seen as the birthplace of Jesus, a Lutheran church put up its crèche, but with a sad and symbolic twist. The baby Jesus — wrapped in a keffiyeh, the blackand-white checkered scarf that has become a badge of Palestinian identity — is lying not in a makeshift cradle of hay and wood. Instead, he lies among the rubble of broken bricks, stones and tiles that represent so much of Gaza’s destruction.

“We’ve been glued to our screens, seeing children pulled from under the rubble day after day. We’re broken by these images,” said the Rev. Munther Isaac, the pastor at the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church, who created the crèche. “God is under the rubble in Gaza. This is where we find God right now.”

The war began Oct. 7 in response to Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel that left about 1,200 dead. As the conflict enters its third month, some of the most ubiquitous images of the death and destruction have been of dead Palestinian children being pulled from the ruins of Israeli airstrikes. Nearly half of Gaza’s population of 2.2 million are children, and about 70% of those killed are women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry and the United Nations.

The ministry says about 20,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began.

Although Gaza is about 43 miles from Bethlehem, which is in the Israel-occupied West Bank, Palestinians in the city feel the conflict acutely. They fret about family and friends in Gaza and find their own lives restricted — whether through more draconian Israeli limits since the war began on movement into and

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out of the city, the economic fallout of the war or canceled Christmas celebrations.

Last month, the patriarchs and heads of various churches in Jerusalem released a statement urging their congregations to forgo “unnecessarily festive activities.”

Local Christian leaders say there are about 35,000 Christians in the Bethlehem area. The symbolism of Christmas is part of the soul of the city.

But the war has cast a pall.

Typically, a giant Christmas tree is erected in the city center on a stage in Manger Square — named for the manger where Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph, are said to have sought shelter — and a tree-lighting ceremony takes place with great fanfare. But this year, there is none. The church steeples that dot the city’s skyline and streets are normally adorned with Christmas decorations. But they are now bare.

Still, one tradition that will go on, though in a bit toned-down version, is the famous Procession of the Patriarch, in which the Roman Catholic Patriarch travels from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to mark Joseph and Mary’s journey.

Once the patriarch arrives in Bethlehem, he will walk down Star Street, the historical street that goes through the old city to the Church of the Nativity, built on the site where Jesus is believed to have been born. He will then celebrate a midnight Mass.

Inside the hallowed archways of the church on the edge of Bethlehem’s old city, there are some signs of the holiday; wreaths and redand-gold ornaments bedeck the columns and some church entrances.

“We will avoid music, outside ceremonies and outside decorations,” said the Rev. Rami Asakrieh, a parish priest of the church of Saint Catherine at the Church of the Nativity. But he added inside the church, decorations were important.

The horror of war cannot be allowed to bury the spirit of Jesus, he said on a recent day as church workers set up a small Christmas tree along one of the corridors. “Despite the circumstances, we must still show that Jesus is the source of happiness and peace in the church.”

Wis. high court overturns GOP-drawn legislative maps

By Patrick Marley and Maegan Vazquez The Washington Post

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Friday overturned Republican-drawn legislative maps, ordering new boundary lines be created for the state less than a year before the 2024 election.

In a 4-3 decision along ideological lines, the justices said at least 50 of the 99 Assembly districts and at least 20 of the 33 Senate districts in the map violate a mandate in the state’s constitution that requires state legislative

districts be composed of “contiguous territory.” Many of the state’s districts include portions that are not attached to other parts of the same district, resulting in odd-shaped, zigzagged, gerrymandered districts.

The justices said they would give lawmakers and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, an opportunity to approve new maps, but they set the stage for the court to draw them if the Republican-controlled legislature and the governor again reach an impasse.

The justices said if it fell to them,

they would choose maps that are contiguous, are compact, have equal populations and comply with state and federal laws.

In addition, the court “will take care to avoid selecting remedial maps designed to advantage one political party over another,” Justice Jill Karofsky wrote for the majority.

After Friday’s decision, the Republican leader of the Wisconsin Assembly, Speaker Robin Vos, said in a statement he believed “the case was pre-decided before it was even brought.”

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“Sad day for our state when the State Supreme Court just said last year that the existing lines are constitutional.

The U.S. Supreme Court will have the last word,” Vos added.

The court decision in Wisconsin could be consequential for Democrats hoping to benefit in the next vote.

Republicans hold huge majorities in the state legislature because of maps that greatly favor them.

They first drew lopsided maps in 2011, when Republicans controlled state government.

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Federal employees will receive pay raises averaging 5.2% — more in some high-salary areas — under an order President Joe Biden signed Thursday that delivers the biggest increase to U.S. government workers since the Carter administration.

The salary hike for the federal civilian workforce of close to 2.2 million people is the heftiest since a 9.1% average raise in 1980. It’s 0.6 percentage points higher than last year’s increase, which itself was the highest in two decades, and will take effect in the first full pay period of 2024, starting Jan. 14 for most federal employees.

The military is set to receive a comparable increase in January in the $886 billion defense bill Congress approved this month.

Biden’s executive order is the final step in the annual process of determining how much government workers will be paid the following year. That process has often featured a divisive debate in Congress over the value of federal workers and what they should earn compared with their private sector counterparts.

Republicans have long asserted people employed by private companies are paid significantly less than federal workers. Democrats, who count the unions representing federal employees as key allies, point to studies concluding the opposite.

One such report — published in November by the Federal Salary Council, a group of government labor and management leaders — concluded federal salaries on average lag 27.5% behind those of comparable private sector jobs. Such studies have never settled the issue, however, as the debate often seems to reflect a broader philosophical clash over the role of government in American society.

Congress has in some years adjusted the annual White House proposal on federal pay up or down. But this year, after Biden proposed the 5.2% raise in March in his budget for fiscal 2024, Republicans in Congress — engulfed for months in a partisan battle over raising the country’s debt limit and then in an internal struggle over the House speakership — have been silent on the raise this year.

Absent any action by Congress, the recommended raise goes into effect by default. Most lawmakers have already left Washington for the holidays, signaling the end of the legislative year and allowing Biden to finalize the pay hike with Thursday’s executive order.

Since about 85% of the federal workforce is outside the Washington region, the pay increase “will benefit families and lift economies in every single state,” Doreen Greenwald, national president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said in a statement.

The raise is likely to continue the partnership that the Biden White House has forged with the unions representing federal workers. The administration has supported continued telework policies across most of the government that accelerated during the coronavirus pandemic, and hiring has intensified at many agencies.

CORRECTIONS The Santa Fe New Mexican will correct factual errors in its news stories. Errors should be brought to the attention of the city editor at 986-3035.

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ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

Sunday, December 24, 2023

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

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Measures 90 Palestinians killed in airstrikes in Gaza over war Latest round of attacks comes as Netanyahu are getting vows to Biden that Israel will press hostilities until a look in it has achieved its goals U.S. states

By Najib Jobain and Samy Magdy The Associated Press

By Geoff Mulvihill

The Associated Press

Most U.S. state legislatures will reconvene in January for the first time since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel sparked a war in Gaza and protests worldwide — and they’re preparing to take action in response, both symbolic and concrete.

Legislatures in at least eight states that were in session late in 2023 have already condemned the attacks.

“My worldview was shaped by the fact that my forbearers were not protected during the Holocaust, that no one came to their aid,” said Florida state Sen. Lori Berman, a Democrat who sponsored a resolution that passed unanimously last month in her state. “Silence and indifference are the reason why bad — evil — is able to prevail.”

Measures have been introduced already for the 2024 sessions in states from New Hampshire to Tennessee, and more are likely.

Strong emotions about the ongoing war are informed by a long history of conflict.

Since Oct. 7, at least 59 Hamasor Israel-related pieces of legislation have been introduced in state legislatures. Most are resolutions condemning the attack and supporting Israel.

In states including Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas, resolutions in condemnation of the attack passed unanimously or nearly so.

Others have different aims: Resolutions in Pennsylvania and Texas would encourage President Joe Biden to facilitate an end to the conflict between Israel and Palestinians. A New Jersey bill would have the state reimburse travel bills for state residents who were evacuated from Israel during the attack or afterward.

The issue could become more complex as the war goes on, with Democrats in some states becoming divided on resolutions.

In Michigan, the Democratic-led state House adjourned their 2023 session without agreeing on a resolution, as Arab American lawmakers refused to support a resolution condemning Hamas and supporting Israel’s response.

Another resolution in Michigan would call on Democrat U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib to resign over rhetoric that’s widely seen as a calling for the eradication of Israel. Her statements have already brought her censure from Congress.

While condemning the attack is a largely popular position, how the bills do so varies.

During a special session this month, the Georgia House of Representatives approved a resolution condemning the attacks. Only two of the 180 representatives voted against the resolution, but 49 didn’t vote.

Among those not voting was Rep. Ruwa Romman, a Democrat and the first Muslim woman elected to the chamber.

She said in an interview that she told the bill’s authors she would have supported it if it had said the state stands with the Israeli people, instead of Israel.

“You can’t ask me to stand with a country that displaced my grandparents and is now killing people en masse,” Romman said.

Lawmakers are also weighing in on how to handle protests and Palestinian-oriented events at universities, some of them accused of allowing antisemitism.

Republican lawmakers in Pennsylvania this month defeated legislation to send $33.5 million to the private University of Pennsylvania’s veterinary school amid criticism and claims that the university was tolerating antisemitism.

Indiana’s Republican House Speaker Todd Huston told his caucus in November he would prioritize addressing antisemitism on college campuses in light of the Israel-Hamas war.

The Indiana House passed a bill during the 2023 legislative session that sought to define antisemitism as religious discrimination and “provide educational opportunities free of religious discrimination.” The bill died in the Senate.

“Our Jewish students should know they will be safe on campuses throughout Indiana and not be subjected to antisemitic teaching or materials,” Huston told colleagues in a speech.

RAFAH, Gaza Strip — More than 90 Palestinians, including dozens from an extended family, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on two homes in Gaza, rescuers and hospital officials said Saturday, a day after the U.N. chief warned that nowhere is safe in the territory and that Israel’s offensive creates “massive obstacles” to distribution of humanitarian aid.

President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, calling it a long and private conversation a day after the Biden administration again shielded Israel in the diplomatic arena.

On Friday, the U.N. Security Council adopted a watereddown resolution that calls for immediately speeding up aid deliveries to desperate civilians in Gaza but not for a cease-fire.

“I did not ask for a cease-fire,” Biden said of the call. Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister “made clear that Israel would continue the war until achieving all its goals.”

Also Saturday, the Israeli military said troops arrested hundreds of alleged militants in Gaza last week and transferred more than 200 to Israel for further interrogation, providing rare details on a controversial policy of mass roundups of Palestinian men. The army said more than 700 people with alleged ties to the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad have so far been sent to Israeli lockups.

Israel declared war after Hamas gunmen stormed across the border on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking

TSAFRIR ABAYOV/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Israeli army vehicles and soldiers near the Gaza Strip border Saturday in southern Israel. The army is battling Palestinian militants across Gaza in the war ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel. The Health Ministry in Gaza on Saturday said 201 people had been killed over the past 24 hours.

some 240 hostages. More than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s war to destroy Hamas and more than 53,000 have been wounded, according to health officials in Gaza, a besieged territory ruled by the Islamic militant group for the past 16 years.

The Health Ministry in Gaza on Saturday evening said 201 people had been killed over the past 24 hours.

Airstrikes Friday flattened two homes, including one in Gaza City, where 76 people from the al-Mughrabi family were killed, making the attack one of the deadliest of the war, said Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza’s Civil Defense department.

Among those killed were Issam al-Mughrabi, a veteran employee of the U.N. Development Program, his wife and their five children.

“The U.N. and civilians in Gaza are not a target,” said Achim Steiner, the head of the agency. “This war must end.”

And a strike pulverized the home of Mohammed Khalifa, a local TV journalist, killing him and at least 14 others in the urban refugee camp of Nuseirat, according to officials at the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital where the bodies were taken.

Israel blames Hamas for the high civilian death toll, citing the militants’ use of crowded residential areas and tunnels.

Israel has launched thousands of airstrikes since Oct. 7, and has largely refrained from commenting on specific attacks.

Israel’s offensive has been one of the most devastating military campaigns in recent history, displacing nearly 85% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people and leveling wide swaths of the tiny coastal enclave. More than a half mil-

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lion people in Gaza — a quarter of the population — are starving, according to a report this week from the United Nations and other agencies.

In the southern city of Khan Younis, men walking through the rubble tried to shoo away cats feeding on unclaimed bodies. One man covered a body with a blanket. Another wished to call an ambulance but had no phone signal.

The Israeli military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said forces were expanding their offensive in northern and southern Gaza and troops were fighting in “complex areas” in Khan Younis.

The army’s statement on detentions followed earlier Palestinian reports of large-scale roundups of teenage boys and men from homes, shelters and hospitals in northern Gaza where troops have established

firmer control. Some of the released detainees have said they were stripped to their underwear, beaten and held for days with minimal water.

Channel 13 in Israel showed new footage of Palestinian men stripped to their underwear and walking in single file, with soldiers nearby. It was not clear when the footage was taken.

In response to widespread criticism, the army has said detainees are stripped to check them for weapons. It has denied abuse allegations and said those without links to militants are quickly released.

Hamas called on the International Committee of the Red Cross and other organizations to pressure Israeli authorities to reveal the whereabouts and conditions of people detained.

Israel says it has killed thousands of Hamas militants, including about 2,000 in the past three weeks. It says 144 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive.

Following the U.N. resolution, it was not immediately clear how and when aid deliveries would accelerate. Trucks enter through two crossings — Rafah on the border with Egypt and Kerem Shalom on the border with Israel. On Friday, fewer than 100 trucks entered, the U.N. said — far below the daily average of 500 before the war.

Both crossings were closed Saturday by mutual agreement among Israel, Egypt and the U.N., Israeli officials said.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan criticized the Security Council resolution that called for aid into Gaza without suspending hostilities, calling it “weak” and “insufficient.”

Ahead of the council vote, the U.S. negotiated the removal of language that would have given the U.N. authority to inspect aid going into Gaza, something Israel says it must continue to do itself to ensure material does not reach Hamas.

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THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

Sunday, December 24, 2023

In this town, it’s Christmas year-round Continued from Page A-1

last-minute Christmas wishes.

“I’ve been good, Santa,” said a second grade girl, looking up adoringly at jolly old St. Nick. “I’ve really, really been good.”

The impromptu visit from the iconic yuletide couple — and the look of hope they brought to the little girl’s eyes just days before Christmas — was a moment that captured what Cloudcroft residents might call the essence of their town.

Cloudcroft, founded in the late 1800s, is the self-proclaimed, year-round “Christmas Capital of New Mexico.”

A proclamation adopted in August says the village is filled with Christmas spirit all year long, with its “pristine scenery, unified architecture, and unforgettable hospitality. … Cloudcroft feels and looks like Christmas all the time.”

Sitting amid forests and snow-capped mountains, and having a near total lack of big-box stores, Cloudcroft has the aura of a Hallmark Hall of Fame holiday movie, several residents said.

They thought it made sense to brand their village the state’s Christmas capital.

The goal is simple, said Karen Sonnenfelt, president of the Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce: increase tourism by giving the town a name people will remember all year.

“We’d like to see more people off-season,” she said.

Cloudcroft sees plenty of summer visitors seeking cool weather and a place to hike, and winter guests who come to ski, Sonnenfelt said, but in between are lean times for the tourist-dependent village.

Sonnenfelt, a writer, came up with the idea to dub Cloudcroft the Christmas capital about two years ago, when she was writing the holiday-themed book Wrap it Up, about a small-town wrapping paper company that decides to proclaim itself New Mexico’s Christmas capital.

As snow was falling outside her office window, she said, she thought to herself, “Wait a minute. I don’t need a book. We could be the Christmas Capital of New Mexico.”

The proclamation was not a hard sell for village officials, and most businesses were eager to get on board, too. The next thing you know, Sonnenfelt said, folks were making holiday ornaments, pens and shirts all touting the town’s new status.

Cloudcroft is now exploring the possibility of copyrighting and trademarking the title, she added.

The chamber collected $10,000 for holiday adornments and advertisements to get the word out, and began decorating the village after Thanksgiving.

Sonnenfelt said she knows of a few other towns around the nation that have proclaimed themselves Christmas capitals, including Grapevine, Texas; Bedford, Va.; and Garrison, N.D. Among the initiatives to keep Cloudcroft Christmasy year-round, she said, is to make some of its regular events and activities fit the theme. That will be highlighted in January at the village’s ice skating rink, while a musical jamboree in July will see Santa Claus whizzing by in a golf cart — sans reindeer.

The village is developing a Christmas passport to encourage people to shop in local stores — some of which are already gearing up to sell Christmas-related items. The Elk Shed, for instance, offers pullover shirts with the slogan, “Santa Only Shops at The Elk Shed.”

Businesswoman Phyllis Turner — whose husband, Vincent “Craig” Turner,

ABOVE: Children from Cloudcroft Elementary School greet Santa and Mrs. Claus at the fence of their playground to talk about the gifts they would like to receive.

LEFT: Jessi Ferguson, one of the owners of Maggie’s Shaved Ice, stands near the entrance of the multicolored shop Tuesday on Burro Avenue in Cloudcroft. When asked about the town adopting the title of Christmas Capital of New Mexico, Ferguson said, “I hope it gives us some sort of focus of what we’re about. It’s a welcoming thing to bring people in.”

PHOTOS BY GABRIELA CAMPOS/THE NEW MEXICAN

will become mayor in January — said she plans to open a Christmas-themed shop in the village next summer.

Her husband also has ideas for expanding the holiday theme. The ice rink’s operations now depend on the weather, he said, but he’d like to invest in equipment to keep it frozen and operating year-round.

Phyllis Turner and other business owners in Cloudcroft said they already have noticed an increase in tourists since the village began calling itself the state’s Christmas capital.

She’s not concerned the plan might backfire — bringing more tourists than the village can handle or turning it into a overcommercialized winter wonderland.

“We have enough people here who want to make sure Cloudcroft grows responsibly and not grow out of con-

trol,” she said.

“As mayor, I won’t let that happen,” her husband added.

Some tourists wandering a boardwalk area in town said they had heard the village was calling itself New Mexico’s Christmas capital. Louisiana native Tonya Clark said she thinks it will make Cloudcroft “more of a destination; it’s really cute.”

Nearby, members of the Wright family from Texas posed under a large, red banner announcing the town’s title.

Chris Wright said he likes the marketing plan.

“It brings back the tradition of lights and family togetherness,” he said.

“We’re losing that.”

His wife, Lindsay Wright, said she loved how the village was decorated.

“Christmas lights bring everybody together. That’s the way it should be,”

she said.

Only one merchant in the village, who asked his name not be published, gave a disapproving look when asked about the year-round Christmas theme. He declined to comment on the plan.

Other business owners lauded the town’s holiday spirit.

“You want to feel at home at Christmas, and when people come here, they feel at home,” said Becky Blomstedt, co-owner of Cloudcroft Souvenirs, one of many locally owned retail businesses lining one of two main streets. A small wood-burning stove greeted visitors as they walked through the door, and holiday music played in the store.

A Christmas tree competition among businesses led to the creation of “Christmas Tree Lane,” and a once-vacant field near the chamber of commerce building is now populated

with inflatable holiday figures.

Townsfolk have transformed the Sacramento Mountains Museum and Pioneer Village — which pays tribute to the area’s history — into a holiday wonderland.

A couple of reindeer, rather than horses, were at the stage line office, where Santa and Mrs. Claus were taking a respite.

Santa joked he’d rather have a bad day at 9,000 feet than a good day at most other places.

Over at Maggie’s Shaved Ice, co-owners Robert Burwell and Jessi Ferguson were busy making Christmas-themed ice for guests — blueberry flavored with a touch of cream and cinnamon.

They’ve been in business for three years, Ferguson said, as a tiny toy train circled the shop on a shelf above her.

Business is “all gas, no brakes” in the summer, she added.

That’s not always true in the winter months, which is why the business is embracing the Christmas angle.

“I hope it gives us some sort of focus of what we’re about,” Ferguson said. “It’s a welcoming thing to bring people in.”

Ferguson said she believes the village will expand on the theme and incorporate more events, decorations and creative ideas.

Asked if she had any worries about the village being inundated with people wanting Christmas all the time, she laughed.

“I hope it gets so popular it gets overcrowded,” she said.

Storefronts decorated for the holidays shine at sunset Tuesday in Cloudcroft, which has declared itself the Christmas Capital of New Mexico.

Sunday, December 24, 2023

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

Many books survive challenges at schools LGBTQ+ titles among most likely to be banned

By Hannah Natanson The Washington Post

Almost half of books challenged at school are returned to shelves, but titles with LGBTQ+ characters, themes and stories are most likely to be banned, according to a Washington Post analysis of nearly 900 book objections nationwide.

School officials sent 49% of challenged titles back to shelves, the Post found, a discovery some interviewed for this story hailed as proof the national alarm over book challenges has been overblown — although librarians warned of a severe burden on employees forced to spend months defending titles.

The next most-common outcome, in 17% of challenges, was for a book to be placed under some form of restriction.

Libraries might require parental permission or limit the youngest students from checking out a given title.

And school officials permanently removed 16% of challenged books, making that the third-most-common outcome. In the remaining cases, the books were either still under review as of late 2023, were never reviewed by the district or were unavailable before the challenge.

The Post requested the results of all book challenges filed in the 2021-22 school year from more than 100 school districts, which the Post had previously identified as fielding formal objections

to hear,” she said, although she cautioned that book restrictions can function as bans. And she lamented the finding about Multiple restrictions, 8% LGBTQ+ books: “We know from Other, 11% research that reading about people different from themselves helps youth develop empathy, compassion and broader underHigh school Parent standing.” and up, 46% permission, 26% Others hailed the Post’s findings as evidence that school districts are appropriately taking Middle school into account parent, staff or and up, 9% student discomfort with books offered to children in libraries or Note: “Other” includes books not allowed to be taught, parent notification, classrooms. content warnings, elementary school or up, or counseling only.

“In a public system, challenges Source: Washington Post analysis of school district records. are appropriate, reviewing HANNA ZAKHARENKO/THE WASHINGTON POST challenges is appropriate and, in some small number of cases, during that time. In total, officials of these challenges — although keeping those books out of circuin those districts shared the a 2023 report from the conservalation is probably appropriate,” tive-leaning American Enterprise outcomes of 872 challenges to said Robert Pondiscio, a senior Institute found that 74% of 444 books across 29 states. fellow studying K-12 education The Post analyzed the types of books PEN America tracked at the American Enterprise Instias “banned” in 2021-22 remain books challenged to determine tute. “It sounds like the system is what titles were most likely to be available, per public schools’ working as it should.” online library catalogues. (PEN removed, restricted or retained.

In interviews, librarians across America, a free-speech advocacy the country said they were heartBooks about lesbian, gay, group, acknowledges that it bisexual, transgender and queer ened by the rate of returns — but defines a ban as any action taken cautioned that the success can lives were 30% more likely to be yanked, the Post found, compared against a book, ranging from come at a high cost. Defending removal to diminished access.) with all targeted books. By conbooks from challenges is equivThere is no reliable national trast, books by and about people alent to a “second full-time job,” data on the outcomes of chalof color, or those about race and said Martha Hickson, a New Jerracism, were 20% more likely to lenges to titles at public libraries, sey school librarian who fought be kept available compared with said Shannon Oltmann, an assoattempts to ban five LGBTQ+ all targeted books. ciate professor of library science books in the 2021-22 school year.

Amid a national debate over at the University of Kentucky.

Hickson, 64, worked evenings what to teach about race, sex and But, Oltmann said, she and a and weekends to coordinate a gender, book challenges surged colleague have just received a defense of the titles, recruiting to historic highs in 2021 and federal grant to investigate that the help of community mem2022, according to the American question. She called the rate of bers, authors and free-speech Library Association, which has books placed back on school advocacy groups, she said. She tracked such objections for more shelves “a really promising also faced down allegations that than two decades. But little has statistic.” she was a pornographer and a pedophile, shouted by parents been done to analyze the effect “That is most welcome news

BANNED OR RESTRICTED

Share of restricted books by type of restriction:

Opponents of power line say comment period rushed ous stakeholders in our state that the current 30-day comment traveling, they say. period provides insufficient An Indigenous advocate said opportunity for NNSA to gather the regional tribes are tied up feedback on its proposal and with big Christmas celebrations consult with pueblos who have and won’t a have a chance to cultural and spiritual ties to the peruse the report until much of Caja del Rio,” the lawmakers the 30-day comment period has wrote. “All stakeholders deserve passed. a chance to meaningfully engage “I know a lot of our tribal in the environmental assessment people will be busy at this time,” process.” said Joseph Brophy Toledo, a traMoreover, the All Pueblo ditional leader for Jemez Pueblo. Council of Governors is in the “To me it’s very critical that we midst of a leadership transition, do put [our] word in.” and the incoming pueblo repreThe project would be yet sentatives should get a chance another disturbance in the to comment and engage directly environment to have happened with the agency, they wrote. since the Los Alamos lab was first The power line’s pathway developed, Toledo said. would cross 8.6 miles of U.S. ForLab officials say the transmisest Service land, 3 miles of Energy sion line is needed because the Department land and 2.5 miles two lines that now power the lab of Bureau of Land Management are becoming strained and will tracts. reach their capacity by 2027.

Much of the new power line The third line also would would be installed alongside provide the lab a redundant or existing roads and another backup power source, which transmission line to minimize the is especially important for its need to clear trees and disturb supercomputers, lab Director the landscape, the study said.

Thom Mason said at a town hall Still, trees would be removed last year. that could topple onto the Although the lab has entered high-voltage lines or pose some into agreements to buy solar and other hazard, it said. Crews wind power from suppliers, a also would remove trees when new transmission line is needed, needed to clear the path for the Mason said. He added he supright of way. ports minimizing the power line’s To help protect the Caja del effects on the Caja del Rio. Rio and sacred tribal sites, crews Calls to boost protections for wouldn’t put towers and access the Caja del Rio have grown roads within areas identified as louder since part of the La having cultural resources, Forest Cieneguilla Petroglyphs within Service spokeswoman Claudia the sprawling area were defaced Brookshire wrote in an email. with swastikas and racial slurs Agencies are consulting with in 2022. tribes to minimize ground disturComplaints about public input bance and avoid adverse impacts being too hurried have prompted on traditional cultural sites, she four of the state’s Democratic wrote. congressional delegates to write Efforts would be made to keep a letter to Jill Hruby, head of the infrastructure away from histhe National Nuclear Security toric trails and recreation areas, Administration, imploring her to partly by placing it along existing extend the comment period 60 roads, she wrote. days, to March 17.

The project would integrate Sens. Ben Ray Luján and Mara fiber optic ground line to the tin Heinrich, and Reps. Teresa overhead power lines, install 8 Leger Fernández and Melanie miles of new distribution lines at Stansbury, made the request. the lab and upgrade four substa“We have heard from numertions, she added.

Continued from Page A-1

Despite the agencies’ assurances they would do everything possible to minimize negative effects, one area conservationist adamantly opposes the power line.

“The LANL transmission project is being proposed in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and for all the wrong reasons,” the Rev. Andrew Black, the National Wildlife Federation’s public lands field director, said in a statement. “We pray that the residents of New Mexico will speak up against this project.”

The transmission towers would spoil the sweeping views, the service roads would fragment a wildlife corridor and the project as a whole would destroy habitat and put cultural resources at risk, Black said.

Black questioned why the lab isn’t opting to use roughly 20,000 acres of its land to develop solar and wind energy, which would obviate the need for the new power line.

The study said wind power wasn’t viable because of the low average wind speed in Los Alamos. Solar energy would require several hundred acres, and even at a large scale, that type of power fluctuates too much to meet the lab’s needs, it said.

Burying the lines, while eliminating the visual intrusion, would cause greater environmental effects and ground disturbance in cultural areas, the study said.

It also would be costly to repair and replace because the damaged cable would be difficult to locate and dig up.

Toledo said the overhead line also would be disruptive both to the landscape and the wildlife, including bears, deer, birds, fish and invertebrates.

The pueblos’ leaders have said it’s coming, and all people can do is make suggestions and hope the government agencies listen, Toledo said, which why it’s vital people have ample time to weigh in.

“They are going to build it,” Toledo said. “I hope they will have all of these protections.”

TAKEAWAYS

at school board meetings and written into the book challenges, which named her personally.

Although her school board ultimately voted to retain the five books, the experience damaged Hickson. She had a mental, physical and emotional breakdown in fall of 2021 and had to take a month off work. She is “barely going at this point” and worries for other librarians throughout America, she said.

“My mind and body could not withstand it,” she said. “To be publicly flogged, with nowhere to turn, but to still have to do your job and then another job defending books on top of it? I don’t know who can do it.”

What happens after a book is banned?

Of the 140 fully banned books in the Post’s analysis, 41% featured LGBTQ+ individuals or storylines. Books by and about people of color, or dealing with race and racism, made up 10% of banned books.

LGBTQ+ titles also made up a sizable percentage of books that were restricted but not banned: nearly one-third, or 28%. Books with authors or subjects of color made up 31% of restricted books.

And LGBTQ+ books were 20% more likely to be unavailable before drawing a challenge.

(The Post previously found 43% of 2021-22 school challenges targeted LGBTQ+ books, while 36% targeted books dealing with race.)

The overrepresentation of these books in challenges and removals means that LGBTQ+

public 30 days to comment, spurring criticism from activists and political leaders who contend that isn’t enough time. u The study was required for the U.S. Energy Department to obtain

u Federal agencies have finished an environmental assessment of a planned 14-mile power line for Los Alamos National Laboratory and are giving the

A-5

students and students of color will suffer, said Sam Helmick, president of the Iowa Library Association.

“And all students will learn that ideas and speech are things to fear and avoid,” Helmick said.

The Post’s analysis of challenge outcomes fails to account for informal book removals, which do not stem from objections but which are also soaring, said Kathy Lester, a board member of the Michigan Association of School Librarians. The Post previously reported that school administrators nationwide are secretly yanking books before they can be challenged.

Lester said that, starting in the summer of 2022, she began hearing from librarians in dozens of districts about formal book challenges — and from dozens of librarians elsewhere about more insidious, surreptitious book culling.

“A similar number of people have been reporting some level of soft censorship from administrators telling them they cannot purchase certain materials,” she said, “or quietly pulling things from the shelves.”

What happens to books after they are banned varies. The Post asked every school district about the fate of eliminated titles, but the vast majority did not answer.

One district in Iowa said books taken out of circulation are “stored in a secure location by the school librarian.”

A Texas school division said banned books are “taken to our district’s warehouse.”

A Wisconsin district reported that “copies were recycled.”

a special-use permit to install the high-voltage line on public land. Its purpose is to gauge the effects the project might have on the landscape, wildlife, ecosystem, Indigenous cultural sites and

recreation areas. u Community activists, conservationists and New Mexico delegates want the public comment period extended to 60 days to give people more time to weigh in.

City of Santa Fe HISTORIC DISTRICTS REVIEW BOARD JANUARY 09, 2024 5:30 PM CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CITY HALL 200 LINCOLN AVENUE PROCEDURES FOR HISTORIC DISTRICTS REVIEW BOARD MEETING: Viewing: Members of the public may stream the meeting live on the City of Santa Fe’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCuW5Fb7iWuKpTdsWYNDurgA. The YouTube live stream can be accessed at this address from most smartphones, tablets, or computers.

Join on Zoom: https://santafenm-gov.zoom.us/j/81953395819

By Phone: 301 715 8592 Webinar ID: 819 5339 5819 Written Public Comment: Members of the public may submit written public comments by 5 p.m. the Monday prior to the meeting via the virtual comment “button” at https://santafe.primegov.com/public/portal. The agenda and packet for the meeting will be posted at https://santafe.primegov.com/public/portal. All cases under ‘new business’ may be visited during the field trip between noon and 2pm on the day of the hearing.

1. ROLL CALL 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 4. APPROVAL OF FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 5. MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC 6. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS 7. OLD BUSINESS a. 2023-007525-HDRB. 913 ½ Acequia Madre. Downtown and Eastside Historic District. Contributing. Richard Martinez, agent for Jay Morton of the Morton Phillips Trust, owner, requests reconsideration of contributing historic status with primary façade designation.

(Paul Duran) 8. NEW BUSINESS a. 2023-007592-HDRB. 128 S. Capitol St. – Motor Pool and Garage Buildings. Downtown and Eastside Historic District. Non-Contributing.

Lisa Gavioli, JenkinsGavin, Inc., agents for the State of New Mexico General Services Division, request demolition of the motor pool and garage buildings. (Heather Lamboy, hllamboy@santafenm.gov) b. 2023-007593-HDRB. 130 S. Capitol St. Downtown and Eastside Historic District. Contributing. Lisa Gavioli, JenkinsGavin, Inc., agents for the State of New Mexico General Services Division, request demolition of the Concha Ortiz y Pino building. Exceptions requested to Section 14-5.2(D)(1)(a), Loss of Historic Status, Sections 14-5.2(M)(3)(b) and 14-5.2(M)(4) Status and Demolition of Historic Structures with State Capitol Outlay Projects.(Heather Lamboy) c. 2023-007595-HDRB. 402 Don Gaspar Ave. Downtown and Eastside Historic District. Contributing (office and garage buildings). Lisa Gavioli, JenkinsGavin, Inc., agents for the State of New Mexico General Services Division, request demolition of the office building (previously a duplex) and garage. Exceptions requested to Section 14-5.2(D)(1)(a), Loss of Historic Status, Sections 14-5.2(M)(3)(b) and 14-5.2(M)(4) Status and Demolition of Historic Structures with State Capitol Outlay Projects. (Heather Lamboy) d. 2023-007596-HDRB. 406 Don Gaspar Ave. Downtown and Eastside Historic District. Contributing (office and garage buildings). Lisa Gavioli, JenkinsGavin, Inc., agents for the State of New Mexico General Services Division, request demolition of the office building (previously a residence) and garage.Exceptions requested to Section 14-5.2(D)(1)(a), Loss of Historic Status, Sections 14-5.2(M)(3)(b) and 14-5.2(M)(4) Status and Demolition of Historic Structures with State Capitol Outlay Projects. (Heather Lamboy) e. 2023-007597-HDRB. 410 Don Gaspar Ave. Downtown and Eastside Historic District. Contributing (office and garage buildings). Lisa Gavioli, JenkinsGavin, Inc., agents for the State of New Mexico General Services Division, request demolition of the of the office building (previously a residence) and garage.Exceptions requested to Section 14-5.2(D)(1)(a), Loss of Historic Status, Sections 14-5.2(M)(3)(b) and 14-5.2(M)(4) Status and Demolition of Historic Structures with State Capitol Outlay Projects. (Heather Lamboy) f. 2023-007598-HDRB. 414 Don Gaspar Ave. Downtown and Eastside Historic District. Contributing. Lisa Gavioli, JenkinsGavin, Inc., agents for the State of New Mexico General Services Division, request demolition of the office building (previously a residence).

Exceptions requested to Section 14-5.2(D)(1)(a), Loss of Historic Status, Sections 14-5.2(M)(3)(b) and 14-5.2(M)(4) Status and Demolition of Historic Structures with State Capitol Outlay Projects. (Heather Lamboy) g. 2023-007222-HDRB. 123 & 135 Grant Ave. Downtown and Eastside Historic District. Non-contributing. JenkinsGavin, agent for the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, owner, requests approval for a 56,000 sq. ft. museum building. An exception to 14-5.2(E) Downtown and Eastside Design Standards and 14-5.2(D)(1)(a)&(b) proposed alteration or new construction will cause an adjacent structure to lose significant status, and section 14-5.2 (D)(9)(e)&(f) scale and floor stepbacks. (Paul Duran, paduran@santafenm.gov) h. 2023-007676-HDRB. 410 Camino Cabra. Downtown and Eastside Historic District. Non-Contributing. Gayla Bechtol Architect, agent for Stephanie Fine, owner, requests a historic status review with primary facade(s) designation for a residential structure. (Lani McCulley, LJMcCulley@santafenm.gov) i. 2023-007675-HDRB. 918-D Acequia Madre. Downtown and Eastside Historic District. Richard Martinez, agent for Chris Richter and Todd Davis, owners, requests addition of 2,557 sq. ft. addition on a contributing property. An exception is requested to Section 14-5.2(D) (2)(d) exceed 50% of the existing dimension of the primary facade and exceeding 50% of the original footprint. (Ramón J. Sarason, rjsarason@santafenm.gov) 9. DISCUSSION ITEMS 10. MATTERS FROM THE BOARD 11. NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, January 23, 2024 12. ADJOURN Persons with disabilities in need of accommodations, contact the City Clerk’s office at 955-6521, five (5) working days prior to meeting date.

A-6

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

Sunday, December 24, 2023

NATION & WORLD

Putin quietly signals he’s open to cease-fire Despite bellicose rhetoric, back-channel diplomatic efforts suggest Russian president is ready to deal

By Anton Troianovski, Adam Entous and Julian E. Barnes The New York Times

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s confidence seems to know no bounds.

Buoyed by Ukraine’s failed counteroffensive and flagging Western support, Putin says Russia’s war goals have not changed. Addressing his generals Tuesday, he boasted Ukraine was so beleaguered that Russia’s invading troops were doing “what we want.”

“We won’t give up what’s ours,” he pledged, adding dismissively, “If they want to negotiate, let them negotiate.”

But in a recent push of back-channel diplomacy, Putin has been sending a different message: He’s ready to make a deal.

Putin has been signaling through intermediaries since at least September he is open to a cease-fire that freezes the fighting along the current lines, far short of his ambitions to dominate Ukraine, two former senior Russian officials close to the Kremlin, and U.S. and international officials who have received the message from Putin’s envoys say.

In fact, Putin also sent out feelers for a cease-fire deal a year earlier, in the fall of 2022, according to U.S. officials.

That quiet overture, not previously reported, came after Ukraine routed

EMILE DUCKE/NEW YORK TIMES FILE PHOTO

A heavily damaged church last month in the village of Bohorodychne, in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Despite its bravado in public, the Kremlin has indicated its interest in striking a deal to halt the war — so long as it could still declare victory.

Russia’s army in the country’s northeast. Putin indicated he was satisfied with Russia’s captured territory and ready for an armistice, they said.

Putin’s repeated interest in a ceasefire is an example of how opportunism and improvisation have defined his approach to the war behind closed doors. Dozens of interviews with Russians who have long known him and with international officials with insight into the Kremlin’s inner workings show a leader maneuvering to reduce risks and keep his options open in a war that has lasted longer than he expected.

“They say, ‘We are ready to have negotiations on a cease-fire,’ ” said one senior international official who met with top Russian officials this fall.

“They want to stay where they are on the battlefield.”

There is no evidence Ukraine’s leaders, who have pledged to retake all their territory, will accept such a deal. Some U.S. officials say it could be a familiar Kremlin attempt at misdirection and does not reflect genuine willingness by Putin to compromise.

In the past 16 months, Putin swallowed multiple humiliations — embar-

Ukraine says top defense official embezzled $40M KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian police have arrested a senior Defense Ministry official on suspicions that he embezzled nearly $40 million as part of a fraudulent purchase of artillery shells for Ukraine’s military.

Ukrainian authorities have been working to clean up the ministry since reports of graft and financial mismanagement led to the removal in September of the minister at the time. Ukraine’s security service announced the arrest of the senior official, whose name was not released, Friday.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has also made tackling corruption one of his key wartime goals, not only to reassure Ukraine’s Western allies that their billions of dollars in aid are not being siphoned off, but also to ensure an efficient allocation of resources as the country’s military runs short on weapons and ammunition in its fight to fend off Russia’s forces.

Ukrainian soldiers and commanders have said in recent days that a dearth of artillery shells has led them to scale back some military operations and has weakened Ukraine’s ability to withstand relentless Russian attacks.

In the case announced Friday, Ukrainian prosecutors said the Defense Ministry official had developed a system to buy artillery shells at inflated prices.

In December 2022, they said, the official signed an agreement with a manufacturer for the purchase of artillery shells.

The contract was later abandoned when a procurement agency recently created by the ministry struck a new deal with the same manufacturer that reduced costs by 30% and shortened delivery time by eliminating a foreign intermediary.

rassing retreats, a once-friendly warlord’s mutiny — before he arrived at his current state of relaxed confidence. All along, he waged a war that has killed or maimed hundreds of thousands while exhibiting contradictions that have become hallmarks of his rule.

While obsessed with Russia’s battlefield performance and what he sees as his historic mission to retake “original Russian lands,” he has been keen for most Russians to go on with normal life. While readying Russia for years of war, he is quietly trying to make it clear he is ready to end it.

“He really is willing to stop at the current positions,” one of the former senior Russian officials told The New York Times, relaying a message he said the Kremlin was quietly sending.

Putin, the current and former officials said, sees a confluence of factors creating an opportune moment for a deal: a battlefield that seems stuck in a stalemate, the fallout over Ukraine’s disappointing offensive, its flagging support in the West and, since October, the distraction of the Israel-Hamas war. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity, like others interviewed for this story, because of the sensitive nature of the back-channel overtures.

Ukraine has been rallying support for its own peace formula, which requires Moscow to surrender all captured Ukrainian territory and pay damages. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that he saw no sign that Russia wanted to negotiate.

“We just see brazen willingness to kill,” he said.

The New York Times

Tensions with China are fraying long-cultivated academic ties

By Didi Tang

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — In the 1980s, Fu Xiangdong was a young Chinese virology student who came to the United States to study biochemistry. More than three decades later, he had a prestigious professorship in California and was conducting promising research on Parkinson’s disease.

But now, Fu is doing his research in China. His American career was derailed as U.S.-China relations unraveled, putting his collaborations with a Chinese university under scrutiny. He ended up resigning.

Fu’s story mirrors the rise and fall of U.S.-China academic engagement.

Beginning in 1978, such cooperation expanded for decades, largely insulated from the fluctuations in relations between the two countries. Today, it’s in decline, with Washington viewing Beijing as a strategic rival, and there are growing fears about Chinese spying. The number of Chinese students in the United States is down, and U.S.-Chinese research collaboration is shrinking. Academics are shying away from potential China projects over fears that seemingly minor missteps could end their careers.

This decline isn’t hurting just students and researchers. Analysts say it will undercut American competitiveness and weaken global efforts to address health issues. Previous collaborations have led to significant advances, including in influenza surveillance and vaccine development.

“That’s been really harmful to U.S. science,” said Deborah Seligsohn, a former U.S. diplomat in Beijing and now a political scientist at Villanova University. “We are producing less science because of this falloff.”

For some, given the heightened U.S.-China tensions, the prospect for scientific advances needs to take a back seat to security concerns. In their view, such cooperation aids China by giving it access to sensitive commercial, defense and technological

information. They also fear the Chinese government is using its presence in American universities to monitor and harass dissidents.

Those concerns were at the core of the China Initiative, a program begun in 2018 by the Justice Department under the Trump administration to uncover acts of economic espionage. While it failed to catch any spies, the effort did have an impact on researchers in American schools.

Under the initiative, Gang Chen, a professor of mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was charged in 2021 with hiding links with the Chinese government. Prosecutors eventually dropped all charges, but Chen lost his research group. He said his family went through a hard time and has yet to recover.

Chen said investigations and wrongful prosecutions like his “are pushing out talents.”

“That’s going to hurt U.S. scientific enterprise, hurt U.S. competitiveness,” he said.

The Biden administration ended the China Initiative in 2022, but there are other efforts targeting scholars with Chinese connections.

In Florida, a state law aimed at curbing influences from foreign countries has raised concerns that students from China could effectively be banned from labs at the state’s public universities.

This month, a group of Republican senators expressed concerns about Beijing’s influence on American campuses through student groups and urged the Justice Department to determine whether such groups should be registered as foreign agents.

Miles Yu, director of the China Center at Hudson Institute, said Beijing has exploited U.S. higher education and research institutes to modernize its economy and military.

“For some time, out of cultural, self-interest reasons, many people have double loyalty, erroneously thinking it’s OK to serve the interests of both the U.S. and China,” Yu said.

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NATION & WORLD

‘There isn’t enough charging’ Slow rollout of national plug-in system could hinder adoption of EVs

By Madeleine Ngo

The New York Times

WASHINGTON — More than two years ago, lawmakers approved billions of dollars to build out a national electric vehicle charging network in the hopes of encouraging more drivers to switch to cleaner cars. The money, included in the bipartisan infrastructure law, was intended to help assure drivers they could reliably travel longer distances without running out of power.

But a robust federal charging network is still years away. Only two states — Ohio and New York — have opened any charging stations so far. A handful of others have broken ground on projects in recent weeks, with the aim of completing them in early 2024. In total, 28 states, plus Puerto Rico, have either awarded contracts to build chargers or started accepting bids for projects as of Dec. 15.

The rest are much further behind on starting construction.

Broad availability of chargers is critical for the Biden administration’s goal of getting EVs to make up half of new car sales by 2030.

Americans routinely cite “range anxiety” as one of the biggest impediments to buying an EV. About 80% of respondents cited concerns about a lack of charging stations as a reason not to purchase an EV, according to an April survey from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

The Biden administration is trying to entice consumers to buy EVs both by offering tax credits of up to $7,500 and promising to build out a national backbone of high-speed chargers. That network is meant to give drivers the assurance they could reach a reliable charger every 50 miles along major roads and highways.

The White House has set a goal of building a national network of at least 500,000 public chargers by 2030, but researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have projected the country will need more than 1 million public charging ports by the end of the decade.

Ben Shapiro, a researcher at

MADDIE MCGARVEY/NEW YORK TIMES FILE PHOTO

An electric vehicle charging station in London, Ohio, earlier this month. Lawmakers approved $5 billion for states to build a network of fast chargers two years ago — although some states have made progress in recent weeks, most have not yet awarded contracts or started construction.

RMI, a nonprofit that promotes the energy transition, said the country needed to accelerate the pace of new charging infrastructure considerably.

“People certainly have this perspective that there isn’t enough charging,” Shapiro said.

“And that, I think, does hamper people’s interest in EVs.” EV sales have been climbing faster than any other major category of automobile, with the nation on track to hit more than 1 million sales for the first time this year. President Joe Biden’s signature climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act, has also spurred a surge of investment in EV production across the country. But demand has not grown as much as expected.

Some state transportation officials said the rollout has taken more than two years because they had little experience building chargers, and it has been challenging to navigate new federal requirements.

In Tennessee, officials started reviewing bids for contracts after closing applications last month. Preston Elliott, a deputy commissioner of the state’s transportation department, said he thought Tennessee was moving quickly, but it still took officials about two years to get to that

Two wars, 50 elections: The economy is facing rising geopolitical risks

By Patricia Cohen

The New York Times

LONDON — The attacks on crucial shipping traffic in the Red Sea straits by a determined band of militants in Yemen — a spillover from the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip — is injecting a new dose of instability into a world economy struggling with mounting geopolitical tensions.

The risk of escalating conflict in the Middle East is the latest in a string of unpredictable crises, including the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine, that have landed like swipes of a bear claw on the global economy, smacking it off course and leaving scars.

As if that weren’t enough, more volatility lies ahead in the form of a wave of national elections whose repercussions could be deep and long. More than 2 billion people in roughly 50 countries — including India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, the United States and the 27 nations of the European Parliament — will head to the polls. Altogether, participants in 2024’s elections olympiad account for 60% of the world’s economic output.

In robust democracies, elections are taking place as mistrust in government is rising, electorates are bitterly divided, and there is a profound and abiding anxiety over economic prospects.

Even in countries where elections are neither free nor fair, leaders are sensitive to the economy’s health. President Vladimir Putin’s decision this fall to require exporters to convert foreign currency into rubles was probably done with an eye on propping up the ruble and tamping down prices before Russia’s presidential elections in March.

The winners will determine crucial policy decisions affecting factory subsidies, tax breaks, technology transfers, the development of artificial intelligence, regulatory controls, trade barriers, investments, debt relief and

the energy transition.

A rash of electoral victories that carry angry populists into power could push governments toward tighter control of trade, foreign investment and immigration. Such policies, said Diane Coyle, a professor of public policy at the University of Cambridge, could tip the global economy into “a very different world than the one that we have been used to.”

In many places, skepticism about globalization has been fueled by stagnant incomes, declining standards of living and growing inequality. Nonetheless, Coyle said, “a world of shrinking trade is a world of shrinking income.”

Many economists have compared recent economic events to those of the 1970s, but the decade that Coyle said came to mind was the 1930s, when political upheavals and financial imbalances “played out into populism and declining trade and then extreme politics.”

The biggest election next year is in India. Currently the world’s fastest-growing economy, it is jockeying to compete with China as the world’s manufacturing hub.

Taiwan’s presidential election in January has the potential to ratchet up tensions between the United States and China. In Mexico, the vote will affect the government’s approach to energy and foreign investment. And a new president in Indonesia could shift policies on critical minerals such as nickel.

The U.S. presidential election, of course, will be the most significant by far for the world economy. The approaching contest is affecting decision-making. Last week, Washington and Brussels agreed to suspend tariffs on European steel and aluminum and on American whiskey and motorcycles until after the election.

“The outcome of the elections could lead to far-reaching shifts in domestic and foreign policy issues, including on climate change, regulations and global alliances,” the consulting firm EY-Parthenon concluded in a recent report.

stage, in part because they had to submit two plans to the federal government and wanted to have conversations with stakeholders before opening bids.

“Federal funds come with lots of requirements and lots of strings,” Elliott said. “I’ve been doing this for about 30 years, and this is the first time I’ve ever encountered a program where you’ve had to do so much planning before you spend a penny.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued final rules for the program early this year, outlining technological requirements and standards that have to be met.

Chargers must be within a mile of an interstate exit or highway and have four ports that are all operational and meet minimum power levels 97% of the time.

But the law gave states flexibility to determine how to award contracts and dole out funds, resulting in varying degrees of progress.

Ohio became the first state to open a charger funded by the new program earlier this month. Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, cited charging concerns as a primary reason for getting the system up and running. There are about 43,200 EVs registered in Ohio.

“This industry is not going to develop unless people think

they have places where they can charge their car,” DeWine said.

“We want to send the signal that not only are we getting companies in here that are building things for the future, but we want our consumers in Ohio to have the ability to benefit from that.”

Six more charging stations are expected to begin construction in the next month or two, state officials said. Officials expect to build about 50 charging stations by the end of 2026 to meet the program’s requirement.

Sunday, December 24, 2023

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

A-7

Musk’s new anti-‘woke’ chatbot service not quite going in the ‘right’ direction Decrying what he saw as the liberal bias of ChatGPT, Elon Musk earlier this year announced plans to create an artificial intelligence chatbot of his own. In contrast to AI tools built by OpenAI, Microsoft and Google, which are trained to tread lightly around controversial topics, Musk’s would be edgy, unfiltered and anti-“woke,” meaning it wouldn’t hesitate to give politically incorrect responses.

That’s turning out to be trickier than he thought.

Two weeks after the Dec. 8 launch of Grok to paid subscribers of X, formerly Twitter, Musk is fielding complaints from the political right that the chatbot gives liberal responses to questions about diversity programs, transgender rights and inequality.

“I’ve been using Grok as well as ChatGPT a lot as research assistants,” posted Jordan Peterson, the socially conservative psychologist and YouTube personality, on Wednesday. The former is “near as woke as the latter,” he said.

The gripe drew a chagrined

reply from Musk. “Unfortunately, the Internet (on which it is trained), is overrun with woke Elon Musk nonsense,” he responded.

“Grok will get better. This is just the beta.”

Grok is the first commercial product from xAI, the AI company Musk founded in March. Like ChatGPT and other popular chatbots, it is based on a large language model that gleans patterns of word association from vast amounts of written text, much of it scraped from the internet.

Unlike others, Grok is programmed to give vulgar and sarcastic answers when asked, and it promises to “answer spicy questions that are rejected by most other AI systems.” It can also draw information from the latest posts on X to give up-todate answers to questions about current events.

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NATION

Sunday, December 24, 2023

CHIC AG O

Shootings dip but grow in domestic violence cases

By Julie Bosman

The New York Times

CHICAGO — Chicago is expected to end 2023 with a double-digit decline in both shootings and homicides, a sign that the pandemic-era rise in gun violence is beginning to recede.

But citywide data shows a small subset of Chicago’s shootings — those involving domestic violence — have accelerated this year, a spike that is prompting new alarm among advocates for victims.

As 2023 nears an end, shootings Chicago authorities deemed domestic in nature have increased 19% compared with last year at this time, according to city data. While the number of fatal domestic shootings is unchanged from 2022, nonfatal shootings have increased 27%.

Those shootings — 127, as of last week — include a broad array of situations that are classified as domestic, often occurring at home. They include violence against women at the hands of partners, a woman shooting her abusive partner in self-defense, and a man shooting a cousin during an argument.

Only a small portion of the more than 2,800 people who were shot in Chicago in 2023 were found to be victims of domestic violence, but domestic shootings were a source of concern because of their growing numbers.

Experts on domestic violence said the reasons behind the rise are murky and could reflect a number of factors: Gun ownership has risen since the start

TAYLOR GLASCOCK/THE NEW YORK TIMES

A domestic violence hotline employee works at an office of the Network, an advocacy organization, earlier this month in Chicago. Domestic shootings are a small portion of Chicago’s violence, but victims’ advocates say a new spike is worrisome.

of the pandemic, particularly in 2020, when applications for gun ownership licenses in Illinois jumped 56% over the year before.

“From our perspective, the easy access to firearms increased during the pandemic, and it’s probably the firearm access that drove up this type of violence during the pandemic,” said Amanda Pyron, the executive director of the Network, an advocacy organization in Chicago. “That is continuing.”

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cutors said, even after she had obtained an order of protection against him weeks before.

Alvarez’s firearm owner’s identification card — a license required to own a gun in Illinois — had been revoked, but sheriff’s deputies failed to seize his gun and serve him with an order of protection granted by a judge.

Alvarez has pleaded not guilty.

“All homicides are tragic, but these are so predictable,” Duval said. “How many situations are there where the victim knows that she’s at risk, does everything possible to avoid the risk, can pinpoint the source of the risk, and we still can’t stop it?”

A bill named after Gonzalez that would tighten gun restrictions on abusers had support in the Illinois Legislature but stalled in November. It is expected to be considered again in the spring.

Aileen Robinson, the assistant director of crime victim services for the Chicago police, said it was not clear what was driving the increase in domestic shootings.

But she said many victims of violence at home may not know what resources are available, and many hesitate to involve the police.

“We still live in a community that does not always recognize domestic violence,” she said. “We don’t have sufficient resources when someone identifies that they’re in a dangerous situation and they need to flee. And we still have a value system where you stay in it and stay with it.”

First Class Independent Living

TIN-ni-tus or tin-NYE-tus

By Claire Rush

A Washington state law aimed at improving police accountability is in the spotlight after three Tacoma officers were acquitted in the 2020 death of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who was shocked, beaten and restrained face-down on a sidewalk as he pleaded for breath.

The measure approved by voters in 2018 was designed to make it easier to prosecute police accused of wrongfully using deadly force. Initiative 940, referred to as I-940, removed a requirement that prosecutors prove an officer acted with actual malice in order to bring a case — a requirement no other state had — and established that an independent investigation should be conducted after use of force results in death or great bodily harm, among other things.

The nearly three-month trial of the three police officers — Matthew Collins, 40; Christopher Burbank, 38; and Timothy Rankine, 34 — was the first to be held under the 5-year-old law. The trial over Ellis’ death in Tacoma, about 30 miles south of Seattle, ended Thursday with their acquittal on various murder and manslaughter charges.

Matthew Ericksen, a lawyer for the Ellis family, said Washington’s 2018 police accountability law failed in certain regards in a trial that amounted to a test case for the measure, resulting in a verdict that devastated the family.

“One of the big reforms that I-940 was meant to bring was completely independent investigations of in-custody deaths like Mr. Ellis,” Ericksen said. “And that just didn’t happen. The law was violated, and in many ways, there really haven’t been any consequences for that.”

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office botched the initial probe into the death by failing to disclose for three months that one of its deputies had been involved in restraining Ellis, despite the state law requiring independent investigations. The Washington State Patrol took over, and the Attorney General’s Office conducted its review based on evidence gathered by the patrol as well as its own additional investigation before charging the officers.

How effective I-940 can be will come down to how it is enforced, according to Ericksen. While the Ellis case highlighted gaps in the measure, he said it remained one of the “necessary building blocks to hopefully get to some police accountability.”

and all of these things. It may be showing up in homes as well.”

The escalating cost of housing could also be preventing some victims of domestic violence from leaving a dangerous situation, advocates said.

“Housing is probably our clients’ No. 1 need,” said Jennifer Greene, director of policy and advocacy for Life Span,

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The Associated Press

of domestic violence also pointed to a discernible — though difficult to quantify — change in tension, stress and violence that has settled in the United States since the pandemic.

“It feels like there has been a societal shift in the level of anger, violence and threats,” said Margaret Duval, executive director of Ascend Justice, a nonprofit that provides legal advocacy to victims of domestic violence. “We think about road rage and flight rage

an organization that provides legal services and counseling to victims of domestic violence.

“Affordable housing doesn’t exist.

If I’m trying to flee an abusive relationship, and I don’t have anywhere to go that is safe, that’s a huge motivator to stay.”

Advocates are also concerned that many victims of domestic violence, usually women, may not be contacting the police for help when they are being threatened.

Darci Flynn, a consultant who until September was the director of gender-based violence strategy and policy for the city of Chicago, said that she has seen the phenomenon play out this year.

When Flynn was working in city government, she said, she regularly met with a high-ranking police official to discuss every shooting in the city related to domestic violence, whether it resulted in injury or death.

In many of those cases, she said, there was no record of the victim previously calling 911 for help or filing for an order of protection in the courts.

“Folks aren’t reaching out,” she said.

In Chicago this year, at least one high-profile domestic homicide case pointed to a lack of communication between law enforcement and the court system. In July, Karina Gonzalez, a 48-year-old Chicago resident, was shot and killed along with her 15-year-old daughter by her husband, Jose Alvarez, prose-

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The Distribution Center will close Monday, December 25, and reopen at 6 a.m. Tuesday, December 26. The newsroom can be reached at 505-986-3035.

Have a safe and wonderful holiday!

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Our View My Views Time Out

OPINION

B-2 B-3, B-4, B-5 B-6

SECTION B SunDAy, DECEmBER 24, 2023 THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

M Y VIEW TAR A HUGHE S

M Y V I E W A N D R E W B L AC K , J OS E P H B RO DY TO L E D O A N D J OA N B ROW N

At the heart of education: Incredible teachers

Short time to oppose Caja del Rio power line

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Editor’s note: Listen to Tara Hughes on Conversations Different. Her podcast first airs Tuesday. Find it at santafenewmexican.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

A

s the sun sets over the enchanting landscapes of our beloved state, concluding my tenure as the 2023 New Mexico Teacher of the Year, I am compelled to express my deepest admiration and gratitude to you, the incredible, hardworking and truly inspirational teachers of New Mexico.

Throughout my journeys this year, my learning expanded far beyond the confines of my four walls, transcending physical boundaries as I traversed this state and encountered inspiring educators who served as my marigolds.

I witnessed the tapestry of our communities, where you stand as beacons of light, shaping the minds of the next generation with unwavering dedication and boundless love.

These experiences were transformative, broadening my perspective and deepening my understanding of the challenges and triumphs within the realm of education in New Mexico. The collaborative exchange of ideas with fellow educators has fueled my commitment to advocating for policies that prioritize the well-being of educators, recognizing the profound impact it has on the success and flourishing of our children. The connections forged during these interactions have become the bedrock of my advocacy.

In a society that sometimes underestimates the profound impact of teachers, New Mexico is privileged to have a cadre of educators who go above Please see story on Page B-4

M Y VIEW MANDI TORREZ

An education reform that works: Smaller class sizes

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very day more than 37,000 New Mexico elementary students, enough to fill The Pit twice over, experience negative effects of large class sizes such as a lack of engagement, increased behavior issues and lower achievement.

In the 2022-23 school year, 27% of elementary classrooms exceeded limits and average targets set in current state law. At Think New Mexico, a think tank serving New Mexicans, we examined the class sizes of every elementary school in the state using data reported to the Public Education Department.

The story we uncovered is one of challenging teaching and learning conditions.

In Deming, we found a kindergarten class with 31 students. A first grade class in Bloomfield had 30 students, while a second grade class in Albuquerque reported 34 students. Third grade classes in Farmington and Gadsden tallied 30 students. A fourth grade class in Alamogordo listed 40 students, and Artesia reported a fifth grade class of 39 students.

Current state law caps kindergarten classes at 20 students and sets “average” class sizes of 22 for grades 1-3 and 24 for grades 4-6, but the reality is a waiver system allows a skirting of the law, and Please see story on Page B-4

LE T TERS T O THE EDIT OR

Blessings for same-sex couples a welcome step

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t is very gratifying to see the Vatican is now allowing priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples. Even though gay marriages are still not approved by the Catholic Church, this is a big step in the right direction. It is especially important as a balance against the hate against LGBTQ+ people that is growing in our own country, as signified, for example, by our current speaker of the House, who, unanimously selected by the majority party in the House, has a long history of virulent and caustic anti-gay hate.

And let’s not forget the Republican Party platform still opposes same-sex marriage, specifically saying “we do not accept the Supreme Court’s redefinition of marriage,” demonstrating institutional support of the growing hate.

Byron Gross

Santa Fe

A season aglow In my tradition, one my rabbi friend of blessed memory called “a minor Jewish sect,” it is the season when a Palestinian Jewish family was forced by the occupiers to leave their home, for a census. Traveling with a donkey and a very pregnant woman, they wandered in the cold where there was no shelter, and the child was born in the West Bank. The occupiers saw the child as such a threat that they slaughtered the innocents — killing all the babies of that age, lest the prophesied child overturn the given order. To avoid that slaughter, the family was forced to move again, to flee with their donkey to Egypt.

In time, they returned to their home, and decades later the feared messiah, who was indeed a good troublemaker, was finally executed by the occupiers. Tradition has it that the very first thing that the Christ did in those mysterious three days “in the tomb” was the Harrowing of Hell — the retrieval of those slaughtered innocents to bring them fully into the light. These days, the birth seems a gift, but what my heart needs is the promise that even if 30 years later, all the slaughtered innocents will be gathered into a love that surpasses understanding. Stories of miraculous light in the seeming absence of fuel, help, too.

Emily Albrink Hartigan

Santa Fe

Always remember My husband and I were stationed in West Germany from 1973-77. At that time, East Germany was under communist rule and its citizens were not allowed to leave East Germany. Remembering the reign of Adolph Hitler, we visited Dachau Concentration Camp, something one never forgets. Pictures of fathers, mothers and their children forced into train freight cars in addition to captives wearing striped prison garb with numbers tattooed — just horrible. The docent told us that mothers, along with their daughters, were separated from their husbands and sons. At Hitler’s directive, females were eliminated first to eliminate the possibility of future generations of Jewish people. Next we saw the gas showers and crematories. European Jews were not

the only ones sent to concentration camps, but members of Catholic and Protestant clergy as well. It was anyone who Hitler viewed as an adversary. Listening to former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric concerning his agenda for dealing with his adversaries, starting with President Joe Biden and his family, is too reminiscent of Adolph Hitler’s reign of terror. Like Hitler, the former president has a massive ego and only serves himself.

Alicia Byers-Smith and Kelvin R. Smith

Española

Don’t ignore danger Why is Donald Trump allowed to run for president again? That seems appalling. He is guilty of so many crimes and has disgraced himself and our government, causing so much hatred in this country. That’s not all.

He has promised to do away with democracy. He has promised to be a dictator. Why is Congress ignoring all this, lolling about, allowing this to happen? Why would they allow this criminal to run for president?

Peggy Abbott

Santa Fe

Grace in reporting I am concerned about the approach the reporters are using in covering the expense issue at Western New Mexico University because of the unnecessary comments made about the president’s wife, Valerie Plame. It appears to me her picture and name are being used to get attention or readership, when the issue is about the president and expense procedures. This is the second time in Valerie’s life where she has been unfairly maligned by the media for doing nothing wrong or out of process or unethical. Both times, it seems to be the attacks on her husbands include attacking her. I have known Valerie for over 15 years and President Joseph Shepard for about the same time. I also am familiar with the expenses and stipends that are given to presidents of colleges and universities, as well as their spouses.

It is a common custom to entertain in a president’s home (which they do in Silver City quite often) and to have the ability to replace worn furniture or furnish the home, which belongs to the university, as well as pay for food and liquor for entertainment. It is common for the spouses to travel with the presidents, also with expenses paid. Some universities even provide a stipend for the spouse because they are accompanying their spouse on many university-related events and trips. Using words like “profiting handsomely” in reference to Valerie as a result of marrying the president is immature and not true. I also understand there is no “expense account” but instead a credit card that is used for pre-approved expenditures for entertaining at the house and approved again after the purchase. Controls are in place. Valerie is one of the most honest, straightforward people I know and a true patriot. Let’s have some grace in reporting this issue.

Catherine Allen

Santa Fe

M Y VIEW R ANDALL PE T TIGREW AND JIM TOWNSEND

Governor keeps overstepping her constitutional authority

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ne of the fundamental principles of our representative republic is the concept of “checks and balances” to ensure one branch of government does not dominate the other branches. While this concept has been an accepted component of governing throughout our country’s history, sadly, the concept is often forgotten among the halls of the Roundhouse.

In far too many cases over the past five years, the Democratic-controlled

Legislature has refused to take action to preserve the constitutional authority of the legislative branch and has allowed the governor to set policy that is clearly in the purview of the Legislature.

New Mexicans most certainly remember the unilateral decisions made by the governor during the pandemic that shut down small businesses, places of worship and our schools.

Yet, Democrats in the Legislature uttered barely a word of dissent and chose to let the governor make public

health decisions that should have been made in consultation with state legislators. Another example was the claim by the governor that she alone had the power to spend federal dollars provided to the state for pandemic assistance, and again, most Democratic legislative leaders refused to challenge this disrespect of the Legislature’s “power of the purse.”

Or, there’s the more recent case where the governor used a public health order to impose an unconstitu-

Editorial page editor: Inez Russell Gomez, 505-986-3053, igomez@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Brian Barker, bbarker@sfnewmexican.com

tional ban on firearms in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, while progressive Democrats in the Legislature said not a word when families could no longer protect themselves.

While these events are bad enough, the governor is now willing to use the administrative rule process to push the Legislature aside once again and create new mandates that have never been considered by elected legislators.

Please see story on Page B-4

s spiritual leaders busy with the upcoming religious and cultural holidays, we were stunned to learn that on Dec. 19, the Biden administration announced a proposal to construct a massive power line cutting across the Caja del Rio. This is an area of profound spiritual, cultural and religious significance to communities throughout Northern New Mexico.

The proposed project, a redundant source of power for Los Alamos National Laboratory, will significantly impact the area’s wildlife and local communities that directly depend on the region to uphold their cultural, spiritual and local traditions. The announcement, coming at a time when people are trying to be filled with holiday cheer, feels like a giant lump of coal from the administration.

So many things are wrong with this proposal. First, the timing feels cold and calculated — as if the National Nuclear Security Administration is purposely trying to slip this under the radar when people are busy with religious and cultural holidays and the pueblos are engaged in feast days and in the midst of major leadership transitions. On a project of this magnitude, it is critical to have in-depth and meaningful tribal consultation. The 30-day comment period also means the public has little time to be educated and engage in a plan that has serious consequences for America’s public lands, water and wildlife.

Even more disturbing are the details of this plan. It will include the construction of giant power structures spanning miles. It will spoil the sweeping views of the Caja del Rio and have significant impacts to the area’s wildlife, sacred, cultural and historic sites as well as traditional land uses.

The Caja del Rio is home to herds of mule deer, elk, cougar and bear, as well as birds such as bald and golden eagles and the Southwestern willow flycatcher.

Heavy trucks and machinery from this project will also threaten Western burrowing owls and other important species. Massive new electrical towers and transmission lines will interfere with critical wildlife habitat and migrations. Roads used for this construction will fragment critical wildlife corridors and disrupt one of the longest migration routes in the nation along the Upper Rio Grande.

In addition to wildlife, important sacred and cultural areas will also be at risk. Since time immemorial, Pueblos have used this area for spiritual and traditional practices, hunting and medicinal herb gathering. Ancient petroglyphs and sacred sites can be found throughout the landscape. The Caja del Rio is also home to the historic El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the longest ancient trade route in North America that ran from Mexico City to Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. Construction of this proposed transmission line creates a very real threat to the living history, spiritual traditions and cultures that make New Mexico the Land of Enchantment.

In a time where climate change is one of the greatest threats to national security, we are seriously concerned the lab is not pursuing the possibility of developing renewable power sources on the 20,000-plus acres of land owned

by LANL. Creating a point source for renewable energy at the labs would not only avoid the need to build this devastating transmission line, but also prove the Biden administration is committed to following its own mandates and commitments around renewable energy.

Surely, LANL has scientists and engineers smart enough to figure this out.

Despite being busy with family and religious traditions this holiday season, we pray the residents of New Mexico will speak up against this project. Please let the Biden administration know you oppose this proposed power line. Quite simply, the LANL transmission project is being proposed in the wrong place, at the wrong time and for all the wrong reasons.

The Rev. Andrew Black is a Santa Fe native, a minister at First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe, the public lands field director for the National Wildlife Federation and the founder of EarthKeepers 360.

Joseph Brophy Toledo is the co-founder and cultural adviser of the Flower Hill Institute, an individual member of Walatowa Pueblo (Pueblo of Jemez) and remains deeply connected to the power points of the Caja del Rio. Sister Joan Brown, OSF, is executive director of New Mexico & El Paso Interfaith Power and Light.

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THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

Sunday, December 24, 2023

Robert M. McKinney

Robin M. Martin

Phill Casaus

Inez Russell Gomez

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OUR VIEW

Christmas can be whatever we make it

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hristmas is what we make it.

And in the United States of America, circa 2023, Christmas can be stressful.

There’s the pressure to find the “perfect” gift, usually one with a hefty price tag. Forget those Charlie Brown trees, somewhat bereft until the decorations are piled on.

No, the trees have to be artificial, tall and glittering. Food is sumptuous, with plates overflowing. Cakes, cookies, candy — all the desserts, seemingly nonstop from Thanksgiving until Christmas. No scales until after the new year, please.

A holiday that celebrates the birth of a baby has become weighted down with expectations — one of which is to keep the economy running. The National Retail Federation projected holiday spending to range from $957.3 billion to $966.6 billion this holiday season. Then there’s the manipulation of Christmas to further divide residents of our nation. In past years, there were fights over whether people should say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays,” a fight that continues to this day.

But wars over Christmas are nothing

today as compared to years past.

In the early United States, Puritans didn’t just frown upon the celebration of Christmas. It was outlawed in the Massachusetts colony, a nod to their English heritage.

After the people overthrew King Charles I in 1649 and chopped his head off, Parliament decreed that instead of a celebration, Dec. 25 would become a day of “fasting and humiliations” so that English men and women could account for their sins.

Following that lead, in 1659 the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony made it a criminal offense to celebrate the holiday in public. Anyone found to be “observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other way” faced a five-shilling fine.

Puritans did not believe there was a scriptural basis for Christmas and disdained its pagan roots.

It wasn’t until the fourth century, after all, that the Roman Catholic Church ordained the celebration of the Nativity on Dec. 25 — and incorporated in the holiday were such earlier celebrations as Saturnalia, the ancient Roman holiday of lights at winter

solstice. There was drinking and feasting, all the activities Puritans loathed.

Preacher Increase Mather wrote in 1687 that, “In the pure Apostolical times there was no Christ-mass day observed in the Church of God. We ought to keep the primitive Pattern. That Book of Scripture which is called The Acts of Apostles saith nothing of their keeping Christ’s Nativity as an Holy-day. … Why should Protestants own any thing which has the name of Mass in it?

How unsuitable is it to join Christ and Mass together? … It can never be proved that Christ’s nativity was on 25 of December … who first of all observed the Feast of Christ’s Nativity in the latter end of December, did it not as thinking that Christ was born in that Month, but because the Heathens’ Saturnalia was at that time kept in Rome, and they were willing to have those Pagan Holidays metamorphosed into Christian ones.”

Absorbing local customs, of course, has been a feature of the Roman Catholic Church throughout its history. Our Lady of Guadalupe, beloved in the Americas, is believed by many to have incorporated the Aztec goddess, Tonantzin. In New Mexico

this Christmas season, Native people will be marking the winter solstice with dances and lighting bonfires for the Christ child. The Puritans frowned upon such intertwining of faith practices.

The Massachusetts law against Christmas was repealed in 1681, but Puritan leaders still frowned upon the holiday, as Mather’s words show. But across the larger United States, Christmas was being embraced, and in the 1800s, it was reborn as a holiday of peace and goodwill. Oh, and shopping, with the updating of the legend of St. Nicholas into the red-robed Santa Claus, giver of presents.

In frontier New Mexico, Christmas remained a religious, simple holiday. There were bonfires, farolitos, Midnight Mass, plenty of food — tamales, red chile, posole, biscochitos, all still part of current festivities. Even through the 1940s, most children received nuts, candy and, if they were blessed, an orange in their stockings. The holiday centered around faith, family and food. That’s a tradition we can continue today, whatever our beliefs. Christmas, after all, is what we make it.

COM M ENTARY RAN IA AL ABDULLAH

Christmas is canceled in the land of Jesus’ birth

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CO MM E N TA RY BRET STEPH EN S

Why I keep writing about Oct. 7

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his will be my last column for the year, and it will be more personal than most. It’s an effort to explain, to myself as much as to readers, why I can’t stop writing about Oct. 7 and its aftermath.

A few weeks ago, my mother was watching footage of a Jewish student being taunted and mobbed by anti-Israel demonstrators at Harvard after he tried to film them. “I was born in hiding,” she said. “I don’t want to die in hiding.”

My mother was born in Milan in 1940, to a family that had fled the Bolsheviks in Moscow and then, a few years later, the Nazis in Berlin. She was baptized to avoid suspicion; one of her earliest memories is of being abruptly hidden under a nun’s habit. It was only after the war, after she arrived in New York as a refugee, that she learned she was Jewish.

America, to her, was the land in which you didn’t have to hide.

That’s no longer true. Well before Oct. 7, Jews were tucking their Stars of David under their collars or hiding their kippas under baseball caps to avoid being shunned or harassed. Synagogues and Jewish community centers were under constant armed guard. The ultra-Orthodox — who, courageously, do not hide their identity from anyone — were routinely assaulted in their communities by bullies who think it’s fun to sucker-punch a Jew. But that reality was shamefully underreported by news organizations that otherwise see themselves as champions of the marginalized and oppressed.

Everything that was true before Oct. 7 became more so after it. Hate crimes against Jews, which had nearly quintupled in the previous 10 years, also quintupled from Oct. 7 to Dec. 7 compared to the same period in 2022. Subtext became text: “Gas the Jews” was the chant heard from

protesters at the Sydney Opera House, “From the river to the sea” from the quads of once-great American universities. The same students who had been carefully instructed in the nuances of microaggressions suddenly went very macro when it came to making Jews feel despised.

The same progressives who erupted in righteous rage during #MeToo became somnambulant in the face of abundant evidence that Israeli women had been mutilated, gang-raped and murdered by Hamas. The same humanitarians who cried foul over migrant “kids in cages” at the southern U.S. border didn’t seem particularly bothered that Israeli kids were being held in tunnels or that posters with their names and faces were routinely torn down on New York street corners.

Where does all this hatred come from?

If your answer is Israel, then, to borrow a line I once heard from Leon Wieseltier, you aren’t explaining antisemitism; you’re replicating it. No self-respecting liberal would argue that Islamophobia is understandable because Muslims perpetrated the attacks of 9/11 and other atrocities. But somehow the types of excuses that are unthinkable when it comes to some minorities become “essential context” when it comes to Jews.

As it is, the single-minded loathing of Israel is another expression of antisemitism. Turkey flies F-16s in bombing runs against Kurds — while relying on U.S. security guarantees backed up by nuclear weapons — and progressives shrug. But after Israel experienced the equivalent of more than a dozen 9/11s on a single day, some progressives instantly cheered it as an act of justified “resistance.”

This side of the left, perhaps larger in cultural influence than it is in number, has the moral credibility of David Duke.

Editorial page editor: Inez Russell Gomez, 505-986-3053, igomez@sfnewmexican.com, Twitter @inezrussell

Much of the right, with its dog-whistling obsession with “replacement theory” and its conspiracy theories about nefarious “globalists,” is no better. The fact that each side is in denial about its bigotry makes it that much more pernicious and pervasive. When progressives think the most despicable name in the world is Benjamin Netanyahu and the far right thinks it’s George Soros, we have a problem.

There’s a historical pattern. In the early 1920s, the most important scientist in Germany was Albert Einstein, the most important politician was Walther Rathenau, and the most important philosopher was Edmund Husserl — all Jews. They wound up exiled, murdered or shunned. Today, the U.S. secretaries of state, treasury and homeland security are Jewish, as is the majority leader in the Senate and the president’s chief of staff.

Too often in Jewish history, our zenith turns out to be our precipice. Too often in world history, that precipice is also the end of free society itself. Antisemitism is a problem for democracy because hatred for Jews, whatever name or cause it travels under, is never a hatred for Jews only. It’s a hatred for distinctiveness: Jews as Jews in Christian lands; Israel as a Jewish state in Muslim lands. Authoritarians seek uniformity. Jews represent difference.

I don’t think my mom will die in hiding.

I wonder about my kids. America has been good to Jews since 1655, when the Dutch West India Co. rebuked Peter Stuyvesant for refusing trade permits to some Jewish newcomers in what was then New Amsterdam. But if there’s one lesson of Jewish history, it’s that nothing good stays — and why we still say, at the end of every Passover Seder, “Next year in Jerusalem.”

Bret Stephens is a columnist for The New York Times.

ethlehem usually comes alive at Christmas. Not this year. In the Holy Land, celebrations have been canceled: No parades, no bazaars, no public tree lightings. In my country, Jordan, where Jesus was baptized, our Christian community has chosen to do the same.

In the occupied West Bank, one Bethlehem church has adapted its nativity scene, placing the infant Jesus among the rubble of a bombed-out building. It is a reflection of the story playing out on screens everywhere: the horrific images of the destruction of Gaza, and especially, its bloodied and broken children.

I watch a video of a Gazan father stroking his daughter’s face, telling someone to look at how beautiful she is. She could almost be sleeping, if not for her white shroud.

I scroll on and see a young boy struggling through rain and flooded roads, carrying the body of an even smaller child he refused to leave behind. A mother holding her daughter’s limp body close: “Put your heart on my heart,” she tells her, crying out as others try to take her away. She was not ready to let her go.

We need to see in these children’s faces the faces of our own.

Each of these videos is a desperate plea to the world to recognize their humanity and their hurt.

The people of Gaza have not lost hope in others’ humanity — even as so many fail to see theirs.

Since Oct. 7, the vast majority of casualties in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been civilians. Whether killed, kidnapped or unjustly detained, each person leaves an unfillable void. There is no difference between the pain Palestinian and Israeli mothers feel over the loss of a child.

Every day that goes by without a cease-fire, so much more is being tragically lost.

In just over two months, Israel has turned Gaza into a hellscape.

Almost 20,000 dead. At least 8,000 are children — more than the death tolls of Pearl Harbor, the Sept. 11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina combined.

About 2 million out of 2.2 million people in Gaza have been displaced — almost an entire population turned to refugees. More than 50,000 Gazans have been wounded, but only eight hospitals out of 36 are operational.

On top of all this, hunger.

Nearly half of the people in Gaza are starving. In more than two months, less than a week’s worth of the aid they need has been allowed in. How could starving a population be considered a legitimate form of self-defense?

This has become an unequivocal humanitarian nightmare. With

each passing day, the threshold of what is acceptable falls to new lows, setting a terrifying precedent for this and other wars to come.

No matter what side you support, you can still demand a cease-fire, the release of hostages and detainees, and unrestricted access to aid.

Some will brush this off as a bleeding-heart plea, arguing that an immediate cease-fire is neither strategic nor sustainable. It is an indictment of the times that a call for a return to sanity could be dismissed as sentimentality. We also hear many talking about peace the day after as though to absolve themselves of the responsibility to act now.

A cease-fire is just the beginning. We must also embark on the difficult process of rehumanization — recognizing the humanity of others and acting on that universal kinship.

I am a mother, and my heart breaks for parents in Gaza doing everything in their power to keep their children alive — and then losing them. All parents share the impulse to shield their children from the worst of the world. No matter who you are or where you come from, your instinct to care for and protect those you love is one you must honor in yourself but also in strangers — even adversaries. Honoring it selectively diminishes our own humanity.

There is another video I will never forget: a mother, saying her goodbyes to her children. After going to bed on empty stomachs, they had been killed in their sleep by an airstrike.

Their mother’s grief is unbearable; her guilt that they died hungry broke me. “It’s OK, my boy.

You are with God now,” she says to one son. “I named him Ayoub [Job] for patience,” she explains, and then, through tears: “I will be patient, my child.”

The prophet Job loses his possessions, children and health. Yet, he remains steadfast in his faith.

His patience is honored by Jews, Christians and Muslims, who, at different points in history, have shared the Holy Land in peace. His story is one of pain but also hope.

This war has to end. Today, it boils down to one question that each of us must answer: If you could prevent hundreds or thousands more children from dying, would you?

If so, demanding a cease-fire is the absolute minimum you can do. And we, all of us, must do so together.

Rania Al Abdullah is the queen of Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This article originally appeared in The Washington Post.

SANTAFENEWMEXICAN.COM

OPINION M Y VIEW TALITHA ARNOLD

Sunday, December 24, 2023

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

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M Y VIEW SIME SHA MCE ACHERN AND LOU LE VIN

Los Alamos schools ignored discrimination May we light A candles tonight “I will light Candles this Christmas,” wrote theologian Howard Thurman in a poem published after his death in 1981. “Candles of joy despite all sadness, candles of hope where despair keeps watch, candles of courage for fears ever present.”

The Rev. Thurman knew only too well the shadows of sadness, despair and fear. As an African American boy growing up in Florida, he’d experienced firsthand the long night of segregation and the ever-present fear of racial violence. As an adult, he learned racism and hatred weren’t confined to one state or region. Thurman came of age during World War I when African Americans fought and died for their country but then came home to a nation that still denied their full humanity. He was 19 when the 1921 flu pandemic broke out, exposing the country’s chasms between class and race.

Yet Thurman also knew the power of light to dispel those shadows. Connecting prayer and faith with resistance and social justice, he called Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, John Lewis and others in the Civil Rights Movement to light their candles of courage and hope. Once lit, their candles helped change this nation and the world.

bout the article (“Discrimination lawsuit targets Los Alamos public schools,” Dec. 16), which reported on the allegations of discrimination lodged against the Los Alamos Public Schools and the administrative response to them.

A student’s complaints about her racially based treatment within the Los Alamos schools have been ignored, and her mother’s appointed work in anti-discrimination has been downgraded to a virtually meaningless level.

To the extent that the child’s complaint and the mother’s demotion are related, Los Alamos Public Schools have much to regret.

It is an utter disgrace that this kind of behavior continues to this day. It will be recalled that a Black man lost his livelihood by simply trying to get a haircut in Los Alamos — but that was in the 1950s.

To hear that the denial of racism and the

withdrawal of commitment to combat it is actively happening today in our beautiful state, with its high potential to set higher standards and to lead the way in promoting equity, inclusion and diversity, is crushing. Further, where children are encountering racism in what should be a protected learning environment, silence and refusal to confront it is compliance.

We are appalled that the responses to the concerns of the students by the educator was to repeat the N-word. As a result of these responses, students have been deeply harmed by the insensitivity and lack of interest in their well-being by the very people who are trusted to teach them. In this time, with all of the work done in virtually all public arenas, to not be aware and sensitive to the presence and effect of racism is inexcusable.

As Maya Angelou famously said, “When you know better, do better.” At the minimum, that the staff of the Los

T H E D RAW I N G B OA R D T H E W E E K I N CA RTO O N S

The Rev. Talitha Arnold is the senior minister, United Church of Santa Fe.

inaction. One of the most foundational concepts in education is that of the lifelong learner, but what happens when the educators at the highest levels have chosen ignorance over empathy? What happens when the learning environment becomes emotionally unsafe for children and young adults?

It is never too late to recognize our past failures and accept the responsibility to correct them. The time to change and act is now. Social justice delayed today for Black children is social justice denied for children and adults in every protected class. Let us not hide our heads in the sand. The fight for acknowledgement, equity and inclusion must be done in the light and with our eyes and hearts opened.

Simesha McEachern is the president of the Santa Fe branch of the NAACP. Lou Levin is a former NAACP Santa Fe branch president.

M Y VIEW D ONNA ILLERBRUN

Let New Mexico’s education funds follow the child

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s the superintendent of the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, the recent closure of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School in Albuquerque was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

Making the situation even more tragic is that Catholic schools are a potential solution for what ails New Mexico’s education system. We know New Mexico schools are ranked dead last in study after study, but “if Catholic schools were a state, they would be the highest performing state in the country” (January NAEP National Report Card).

Declining enrollment at Our Lady of Fatima ultimately caused the school’s closure. Sadly, birth rates have plummeted nationwide. Simultaneously, our state is seeing an exodus of young people and families to other states.

It is worth noting that the Albuquerque Public Schools district also has seen dramatic enrollment declines in recent years. The difference is APS has nearly unlimited financial backing from the state. In fact, after years of education spending increases in Santa Fe, the Public Education Department recently requested a 21% annual spending increase for the upcoming legislative session.

Yet, the Legislative Finance Committee recently reported that, “Spending in New Mexico schools is not leading to significant boost for students.” It’s clear from recent failures that lack of money is not causing the problem and is no panacea for improvement.

Catholic schools operate under real budgetary constraints.

Our schools are financed through tuition, fundraising and donations. We educate children successfully for less than half of what the public schools are spending. And yet, our children

Those little farolito candles can also teach us what’s possible when we share the light.

Santa Feans know about lighting candles at Christmas. Sunday night, all around the city, thousands of small votive candles inside brown paper bags will illuminate walkways, driveways and roofs. In the Hispanic Catholic tradition, farolitos (“little lights”) helped guide Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem’s stable. In my own life, when I returned to the Southwest after a 10-year sojourn away for seminary and work, Santa Fe’s farolitos reminded me I was finally home.

Those little farolito candles can also teach us what’s possible when we share the light. No one votive candle provides much illumination, but together all those farolito candles create a blessing of peace and beauty throughout our community.

People in many traditions also know the power of candlelight, especially when it’s shared and especially in the darkest time of the year. Every December, Jews light eight candles on the menorah, Christians the five candles of the Advent wreath, and African Americans the seven candles of Kwanzaa.

Coming together with candlelight can remind us of Thurman’s promise of “joy despite all sadness, hope where despair keeps watch, [and] courage for fears ever present.” At the end of Christmas Eve services in many churches (including the one I serve), the congregation will pass the light from the Christmas candle to one another, old and young alike, with small individual candles. Like the farolito votives, no one candle can dispel all the shadows of sadness or fear, but together those little Christmas candles can bathe an entire sanctuary in light.

Together that candlelight can help us trust again the possibility of joy, hope and courage — if only for this night.

“I will light candles this Christmas,” Thurman’s poem continued, “Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days, candles of grace to ease heavy burdens, candles of love to inspire all my living.”

Peace and grace, love and joy, courage and hope. May we light such candles this Christmas, and may they be, in Thurman’s final words, “candles that burn all the year long.”

Blessings for this season of light.

Alamos Public Schools have not received adequate sensitivity training or support for educators to deal with these kinds of violations of human decency is difficult to understand or accept.

Our questions are simple. How long can ignorance be an excuse for insensitive behavior? How long will we, as a community, allow discomfort to silence us when these types of issues arise?

Finally, who is responsible for this racial trauma actively being passed down to the children in our community?

Teenagers are not responsible for errant behavior when the adults have failed to guide and teach them. It is high time we demand transparency and accountability from those who are charged with shaping young minds and educating our educators. We owe that to the next generation, if nothing else.

At this point, there is no excuse for anyone to use ignorance as an excuse for

are receiving and achieving academic excellence, morally sound teachings, respect for all people, and ethical responsibility to be purpose-driven citizens and to care for others.

Given the massive surpluses generated by oil and gas, estimated at $3.5 billion this year, the Legislature and governor could do what an increasing number of states are doing by providing tuition assistance for schools of choice, including, but certainly not limited to, Catholic schools.

Currently, in 11 states, including neighboring Arizona, education money “follows the child” to whatever education provider families prefer.

Another 16 states have tax credit scholarship programs allowing individuals or businesses to take a credit against their state taxes in exchange for providing students scholarships to schools of choice.

It is time all children and families have a choice as to where their educational dollars go and how they are spent.

Our schools do not take children away from the public schools; rather, they offer a choice of secular teachings versus faith-based teachings.

Our schools teach the national standards, our children score higher and our graduation rate is 99%.

As a parent and grandparent of children in New Mexico, I understand change is inevitable.

Now is the time to show we all truly care about our children and want what is best for all children. Let the funding we pay as taxpayers follow our children to a school where children will grow and thrive. Do this through legislative action where the same per-pupil funding follows the student to a school of their choice.

Donna Illerbrun is superintendent for Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

WRITE US Send letters, preferably on local topics, up to one a month. Include your name, street address and daytime phone number for verification purposes. We edit all letters for style, grammar and factual content. Send letters using the online form at santafenewmexican.com. Tweet thoughts about local issues to @inezrussell or @thenewmexican.

M Y VIEW PAUL GE SSING

Another electric vehicle mandate looms in N.M.

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resh off her “victory” in pushing a vast increase in the number of electric vehicles sold in New Mexico through a board appointed by her (on a 3-2 vote of a seven-member board), New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is pushing yet another regulation to force EVs on an unwilling public. The latest plan would mandate EV charging stations and equipment for newly built apartment buildings and other commercial real estate.

The “good” news is that while news reports in September reported that up to 20% of all parking spaces would have to be outfitted with EV charging stations costing $18,000 per unit, the “final” revised proposal limits required EV spaces to 5% of all spaces with another 15% being so-called EV capable.

This rule is going to be voted on by the Construction Industries Division at a Jan.

3 meeting. The Rio Grande Foundation is again asking people to weigh in on this issue at our KeepYourCarsNM.com website. Messages will now be sent on.

This is another way to force the rest of us to pay for the governor’s pro-EV policy. Simply making parking spots “EV capable” will add at least $1,650 per parking space. Considering the city of Albuquerque and other New Mexico cities have very prescriptive (and significant) requirements for parking, this unfunded mandate will add millions of dollars to the cost of new developments.

The costs (as they always are) will be borne by residents and business owners, and not just those in new construction projects subject to the mandate. Prices will needlessly go up and supply (especially of new apartments, which are covered under this regulation) will go down. Considering

that housing prices have skyrocketed all over and several New Mexico cities are facing a housing crisis, this mandate couldn’t come at a worse time.

Raising the cost of apartments is a classic “regressive” tax that unduly targets low-income New Mexicans. If EVs are truly the “vehicles of the future,” then the free market will respond to demand for EV charging stations from those who own the vehicles and wish to have charging stations available wherever they go. That’s how we got a nationwide network of gas stations, not through government mandates.

Sadly, Gov. Lujan Grisham believes very strongly in “command and control” policies found in socialist nations and the old Soviet Union. Freedom and free markets are not her approach, and we’re all poorer because of it.

An in-person hearing will be held on this issue Jan. 3 at the Regulation and Licensing Department, 5500 San Antonio Drive NE, Albuquerque, in the Sandia conference room, starting at 9:30 a.m. As mentioned, the Rio Grande Foundation is collecting and submitting comments at KeepYourCarsNM.com All written comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. Jan. 2.

Getting the Construction Industries Division to stand up to the governor on another new regulation won’t be easy, but we need the record to clearly show most New Mexicans oppose the latest attack on our freedoms.

Paul Gessing is president of New Mexico’s Rio Grande Foundation, an independent, nonpartisan, tax-exempt research and educational organization.

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THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

OPINION

Sunday, December 24, 2023

At the heart of education: Incredible teachers Continued from Page B-1

and beyond. Your classrooms are sanctuaries of learning, places where dreams are nurtured and potential is unlocked. Your resilience in the face of challenges, your ability to adapt and innovate, and your tireless pursuit of excellence do not go unnoticed.

Amid annual scores and national rankings that sometimes overshadow our accomplishments, I want to underscore the dedication and passion you bring to our classrooms because they are far more profound than mere statistics suggest. Your classrooms are filled with narratives of compassion, support and dedication, far beyond what any standardized test can reveal. Beyond rankings lie numerous stories of resilience, determination and unwavering commitment, stories that exemplify the transformative power of education in ensuring postsecondary success and shaping tomorrow’s leaders.

There is the teacher who ensures every child in their class has warm clothes for the winter, embodying a commitment to providing not only education but also comfort and security.

In another classroom, there’s the teacher with a cabinet full of snacks, understanding that for some students, the breakfast and lunch they receive at school might be their only meal. Down the hall, there’s the teacher who spends weekends organizing extracurricular activities because they believe in the transformative power of community and a wellrounded education that goes beyond academics.

There are educators like the 2024 New Mexico Teacher of the Year, Roy Basa, a science teacher at Twin Buttes Cyber Academy in Zuni, New Mexico. He embodies innovation by collaborating with his community, organizing workshops for students where they received training from medical professionals, fostering career and

Governor keeps overstepping her constitutional authority Continued from Page B-1

In mid-November, the governor instructed the Environmental Improvement Board to adopt a regulation that would greatly restrict the ability of New Mexico families to buy gasoline- and diesel-powered cars and trucks starting in 2027.

Another example, the Public Education Department, with the governor’s approval, recently proposed a new rule that would

force 38 rural school districts across the state to eliminate popular four-day school weeks and further weaken local control of public schools.

For those unfamiliar with New Mexico’s administrative rule process, unelected appointees of the governor are delegated authority by the Legislature to adopt regulations for laws where additional details are needed to ensure proper implementation.

The administrative rule pro-

THE PAST 100 YEARS From The Santa Fe New Mexican: Dec. 24, 1923: James G. Pursley is back in Santa Fe. This time he is stopping as a federal guest of Landlord McManus over at U.S. jail awaiting developments in the charge against him. He is not registered at the Montezuma where he stopped with a party of three men and two women April 15 and 16.

Dec. 24, 1948: Climaxing an unusually busy

Amid annual scores and national rankings that sometimes overshadow our accomplishments, I want to underscore the dedication and passion you bring to our classrooms because they are far more profound than mere statistics suggest. technical education pathways.

These are our stories, born out of a genuine desire to make a positive difference, that need to shine brightly, showcasing the depth of our impact.

Thank you for your tireless efforts, your unyielding spirit and the love you pour into the lives of the students of New Mexico. You are not just teachers; you are the heartbeat of our communities, the catalysts of change and the guardians of dreams. In every

corner of our state, your influence is felt with legacies being written in the achievements and aspirations of the students whose lives you touch. New Mexico is brighter, stronger and more hopeful because of you — a community where exceptional teachers light the way toward a brighter future.

cess, however, is not intended to be utilized as a tool to enact new mandates that were never envisioned when the law was passed.

In other words, administrative rules are to follow legislative intent, not allow the governor to act alone in making new laws.

To address these abuses, House Republicans will be introducing legislation during the 2024 session to create the first-ever legislative review process of administrative rules.

New Mexico is one of nine states that has no legislative review of administrative rules, and it’s time the Legislature protects its constitutional authority by holding the governor accountable whenever her appointees attempt to improperly seize lawmaking authority.

Therefore, progressive Democrats — who constantly proclaim they are the protectors of our “democracy” — will be given an opportunity to join with Republicans in creating a bipartisan committee of legislators from both the House and Senate to ensure sufficient checks and balances are applied to administrative rules.

Creating legislative review of administrative rules should be a nonpartisan issue that both political parties should agree upon as it is a necessary step to help ensure our current and future governors respect the Legislature’s sole authority to make laws.

season of visits to children in Santa Fe, Santa Claus came to town last night for his last appearance before his midnight ride throughout the world tonight and aided in distribution of gifts to more than 4,000 boys and girls in the Plaza.

The singing of Christmas carols and rendition of seasonal music by the Boys Club orchestra preceded Santa’s visit with Johnnie Valdes acting as master of ceremonies.

Dec. 24, 1973: Skiers in New Mexico got a day early Christmas present today as heavy snows blanketed many of the state’s ski areas in

Tara Hughes is a pre-K inclusion teacher at Santa Fe’s Nye Early Childhood Center and the 2023 New Mexico Teacher of the Year.

An education reform that works: Smaller class sizes Continued from Page B-1

our children pay the price.

By contrast, Finland, hailed for its world-class education system, utilizes small classes of about 20 students. Alabama and Florida cap grades K-3 at 18 students, while last year, New York joined Louisiana and Montana in capping those grades at 20.

For its largest district, Nevada’s caps range from 16-18 students for grades K-3.

Think New Mexico recommends the Legislature and governor enact a law phasing in a 20-student cap in grades 1-6 over six years, one grade per year to allow ample time to plan for funding, space and staff.

New Mexicans overwhelmingly support this idea. A statewide poll we commissioned last month found 96% of New Mexico voters believe class size is important for student success, and 83% support a law that would cap elementary classes at 20. Only 22% believe our classes are the right size.

Smaller classes allow time for personalized learning and time for teachers to build relationships with students and families. This is an urgent need, with nearly 40% of our students reported as chronically absent.

Research shows 9 out of 10 teachers want smaller classes.

Working conditions are often why teachers leave the profession, especially amid worsening behavior and safety issues.

The authors are Republican state Reps. Randall Pettigrew of Lovington and Jim Townsend of Artesia.

a storm which moved through the state Sunday.

Ironically, the storm all but missed two of northern New Mexico’s bigger ski areas, Taos and Red River, leaving only three inches of the white stuff on the ground.

Dec. 24, 1998: St. Vincent Hospital has hired a Phoenix man to serve as interim administrator.

Bill Webster, 46, will work from Jan. 4 until June 30 while the hospital board looks for a permanent replacement for Ron Winger, the outgoing hospital chief executive who announced his resignation early this month.

As a former teacher, my largest class was 26 fourth graders and the smallest was 15 third graders. Guess which class showed more growth? Guess which year I felt at my best?

While opponents say reducing class sizes is impractical due to a teacher shortage, smaller classes actually could reduce the shortage. We can keep teachers from leaving the profession if we respect their needs and support their efforts. And if we make teaching a more attractive career option, we can lure our brightest students to the profession and keep them.

Research also shows achievement gaps lessen when low-income and minority students remain in small classes over several years. The 2018 Yazzie/ Martinez court ruling, which found that at-risk students were not receiving an adequate education, held that the state must provide programs and services to prepare students for college and careers, including smaller classes.

If you agree that New Mexico should cap the size of elementary school classes, visit the action center at thinknewmexico.org to ask the governor and your legislators to make this a priority for 2024.

Mandi Torrez is the education reform director for Think New Mexico and the 2020 New Mexico Teacher of the Year.

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OPINION

Sunday, December 24, 2023

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

B-5

M Y VIEW BRUCE GILBERT

’Tis the season: Give yourself the gift of health insurance

O

M Y VIEW PATRICIA FORDNE Y

Christmas wish: Peace on Earth

I

t was probably the very early 1950s, possibly 1951 when my older sister took my brother and me to the movies one afternoon. I lived with my three siblings and parents in a little house on Vassar Drive, about three blocks from the University of New Mexico.

We walked, so it must have been a movie theater near the campus. This was the era when a newsreel on current events played first and then a cartoon before the main feature. I don’t remember the movie we saw, but I do remember the “cartoon,” and it has stayed with me all these years.

The scene is a snowy, quaint little village, and the viewer could hear the singing of Christmas carols. The camera zoomed to a little church complete with a

steeple, a bell in the belfry and snow covering the rooftop. The church is dark and empty, and we follow the camera as it takes us to the basement. There is a corner where the viewer can see a little Christmas tree and a church choir dressed in robes. The choir members, however, were little mice. When the song ended with the mice singing “peace on Earth, goodwill toward men,” silence filled the air.

A little mouse asked the conductor, “What are men?” The choir leader then explained that men once had lived on Earth.

Sometimes they were called people, but they could never get along until one day they started fighting again. The war raged on and on until all the people had been killed. Now only mice remained.

That cartoon has stayed with me for over 70 years. Even as a small child, I hoped and prayed for world peace. I think of the discord in all parts of the globe now and over past decades — petty bickering, hating and manipulation of leaders, and self-serving people. I wonder if, indeed, we will kill off the human species.

Here is my wish: Let’s stop fearing others who are not like us, hate people who pray to a god that isn’t ours, or punish them for what they wear or how they style their hair. Let’s be kind, generous and, most of all, loving toward all. Let’s make a world where 7-year-old children can be safe and happy, and not spend time praying and wishing for world peace.

Patricia Fordney lives in Santa Fe.

ver 50,000 New Mexicans have already gotten the best gift of the season. They and their families all will be covered by health insurance for 2024 — and many of them for less than $10 a month.

Doorbusters and flash sales get all the attention at this time of year, but the biggest savings you may find this holiday season are right here with beWellnm, the state’s health insurance marketplace. More than 40% of our customers pay $10 or less a month for quality, reliable coverage, and we are the only place where you can qualify for special discounts to reduce the cost of your monthly premiums.

So, who qualifies? Consumers can get connected to coverage through beWellnm if they don’t have insurance through their employer and don’t qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. Your age, ZIP code and tax filing income help determine what discounts you

can qualify to receive.

Want to talk about concierge-level shopping? We are here to help you for free. We have in-person, virtual and one-on-one support to ensure you receive any savings you qualify for and get the coverage that works best for your needs and your wallet.

BeWellnm has been helping New Mexicans for a decade, and we consistently see consumers shocked when we let them know they qualify for health insurance for as low as $0 a month. Numerous times this open enrollment (Nov. 1-Jan. 16), customers have been surprised and overwhelmed when they realize the weight of how they would pay for a medical emergency is lifted off their shoulders, and it cost them nothing or next to it.

For the very first time, New

Mexico is leading the country in exceeding expectations for enrollments. In fact, our enrollment is up 22% year-over-year. I want to welcome the nearly 5,000 new customers who have locked in health insurance for next year.

Come join them and see how we can help you.

You can come see us at our office, 7601 Jefferson NE in Albuquerque, or schedule a personal session with a certified enrollment counselor by visiting bewellnm. com. You can also call 833-862-3935 for personal phone support. Our agents are available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays during open enrollment.

Your health is important. This year, give yourself and your loved ones the gift of health insurance.

Bruce Gilbert is CEO of beWellnm.

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M Y VIEW DEREK ROFF

Implement Clean Cars standards quickly

W

e live about 25 miles from the nearest city.

We limit our driving as much as we can, but even one weekly trip to town adds high fuel costs to our budget and a lot of greenhouse gases to our carbon footprint.

To reduce our carbon emissions from driving and to save money, I would buy a used electric vehicle today, if I could find a good one at a good price. Virtually all available new and used electric cars have the range needed for our driving distances, with simple charging at our home. Even though we live outside of an urban area.

However, there are not many used EVs available because relatively few new electric cars have been sold in this state over the past five years. I see acres and acres of used conventional vehicles on car lots all over Albuquerque, but there are very few used electric cars for sale in all of New Mexico.

A greater selection of good used electric cars will only become available as more new electric cars are sold and then resold. While electric vehicle sales are increasing, they are held back by a number of regulatory impediments that deter sales.

The Advanced Clean Cars and Trucks initiatives would remove some of the deterrents and add important incentives for citizens.

These initiatives would also provide important incentives to dealers and manufacturers to sell more electric cars in New Mexico, so people like me could purchase both new and used electric cars more readily.

Each year, the New Mexico government does some things that help promote clean air and zero-emission vehicles. But at the same time, it passes other measures that discourage protecting our environment and our health, and leaves many older impediments in place. We have squandered more than 30 years in turning back the subtle but increasingly deadly acceleration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.

We must do all we can now! I hope everyone will work toward implementing the Clean Cars initiatives as soon as possible.

Derek Roff supports the Clean Cars and Trucks standards.

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Words dss can’t express sss our gratitud ude de THANK YOU to the writers who entered the Pasatiempo Writing Contest, THANK YOU to our readers, and THANK YOU to this year’s supporters.

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HOROSCOPE HAPPY BIRTHDAY for Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023: You are loyal to your loved ones. You are also dramatic. This has been a year of learning and hard work. Fortunately, in 2024, you will get recognition for all your effort! Yay! MOON ALERT: After 1:30 a.m. today there are no restrictions.

After that, the moon moves from Taurus into Gemini.

The stars show the kind of day you’ll have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult

Sunday, December 24, 2023

TIME OUT

because you’re on top of things.

This is a good day for writing, studying and taking care of last-minute obligations. Tonight: New experiences.

This Week: You’re happy and adventurous! Cozy friendships and partnerships.

you because you’re in the right mindset to work and you have self-discipline. This is why you’ll take care of your obligations.

Tonight: Get organized.

This Week: Affectionate, sympathetic feelings with family.

Playful romance.

You’ll find sensible ways to use your money and resources. If shopping, you’ll buy useful, long-lasting items. Tonight: Organize your belongings.

This Week: Secret flirtation.

High energy. Focus on important values.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) HHHH This is a strong day for you. The Moon is in your sign today, which gives you a little edge over all the other signs. It’s also a good day to tie up loose ends regarding banking. Tonight: Check your finances.

This Week: You’re in charge, and co-workers are supportive.

You look successful.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) HHH Children might be an increased responsibility today. You’re also ready to take care of details about social occasions, vacations and any extra planning that is necessary. Tonight: Playful times.

This Week: You’re happy and appreciative. Romance and fun times create a busy household.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) HHHH This is the perfect day to get things done. You have an orderly state of mind and a strong sense of self-discipline. This means you will make careful plans. You’ll pay attention to details. Tonight: Take charge.

This Week: Warm friendships. You’re in charge! (Some secrets.)

ARIES (March 21-April 19) HHHH You can get a tremendous amount done today because you’re focused; plus, you have the support of bosses, parents, teachers and people in authority.

Tonight: You’re empowered.

This Week: You impress others! Generosity abounds!

CANCER (June 21-July 22) HHH Discussions with partners or close friends will be practical today. This is an excellent day to seek advice from someone older or more experienced. Tonight: You’re tired.

This Week: Tuesday’s full moon is in Cancer. It’s a wonderful week for socializing and romance!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) HHH Travel plans will go well today

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) HHHH This is an industrious day for

LAST WEEK’S ANSWER

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) HHHH Today your personal sense of self-discipline and focus on practical matters will help you take care of the details. Tonight: Relax.

This Week: Home and family shine. Avoid extravagance.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) HHHH This is a great day to make plans.

You might give advice to others, or you might receive advice from someone older or more experienced. Tonight: Conversations.

This Week: A romantic week that is fast-paced and exciting!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) HHH You’ll be sensible with money today because you feel thrifty.

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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) HHHH You will find it easy to work behind the scenes today. You might work quietly at home or alone somewhere. You also might seek out the advice of someone older who is more experienced. Tonight: Solitude.

This Week: Bosses and parents are generous. Group activities.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) HHH Advice from a friend or a member of a group who is older or more experienced will be helpful for you today. This person also might give you guidance.

Tonight: Friendships.

This Week: Stimulating romance.

Rules • Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 through 6 without repeating.

• The numbers within the heavily outlines boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.

• Freebies: Fill in single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

Canutito ‘quiere cambiar su’ middle name

E

ran unos días after Christmas and Canutito was sitting en el suelo de la cocina coloring en sus libro de colorear nuevo that he had received pa’ Crismes. He was sticking his tongue out entre los dientes; he always did that con su lengua cada vez que he was coloring. Suddenly he looked up adónde estaba su grama and he asked her: “Grama, tengo yo un middle name como las otras personas?”

“Of course, m’hijo,” Grama Cuca replied as she peeled las manzana para su apple pie. “Todos los Cristianos tienen un middle name given to them cuando fueron Confirmados.” “¿Qué es mi middle name, grama?” Canutito asked her, sentándose en la silla.

“Tu nombre es Canutito Manuelito, m’hijo,” Grama Cuca said evenly. “¿Canutito Manuelito? ¿Canutito Manuelito?” he repeated incredulously. “No me gusta ese nombre.

“What kind of a name is that?

Couldn’t you and grampo have found un nombre mejor? I’m sure que hay much better names.”

“You were named ‘Manuelito’, m’hijo, porque you were born el primer día de enero and any boy born on the first of January carries the name ‘Manuel’, which means ‘God is with us.’ Anyone named ‘Manuel’ or ‘Manuela’ is serenaded en ese día.”

“I think que I would have preferred el nombre ‘Teófilo’ or ‘Teodoro’,” Canutito said. Entonces you could have just called me ‘Ted’ for short.”

“El nombre ‘Teófilo’ means ‘lover of God’ y el nombre ‘Teodoro’ means ‘gift from God,” m’hijo,” Grama Cuca said. “Entonces we could have just called you ‘Canutito the lover de Dios’ or ‘Canutito gift of God’. Take your pick; ¿cuál te gusta?”

“I don’t like ninguno de ellos, grama,” Canutito said. “Perhaps I should have been named algo como Canutito Poindexter,” he joked.

“El nombre ‘Poindexter’ means ‘right-handed, m’hijo,” grama said

Larry Torres

Growing Up Spanglish

as she put las manzanas en el pie crust. Would you have wanted to be known como ‘Canutito el righthanded’, m’hijo?” she teased him.

“Pues entonces what about changing mi nombre a ‘Canutito Gerónimo’?” he asked.

“El nombre ‘Gerónimo’ means ‘holy name’ just in case que quieras ser known como ‘Canutito del holy name’,” Grama Cuca added mientras que she stuck el pastel de manzana into the oven. “Can you think de otro nombre that you might like to have?”

“How about ‘Canutito Chewbacca’,” he asked her, nomás being silly. “¿Qué no es el Chewbacca un hombre-perro peludo de la movie Star Wars?” grama asked him.

“Soon people would change it to ‘Canutito Chupacabra’,” she remarked.

“How about ‘Canutito Bill’ o ‘Canutito George’?” he suggested next.

“I think que esos son los nombres de la canción ‘A Boy named Sue’.

Soon tus amigos might start llamándote ‘Canutito Sue’,” Grama Cuca laughed pensando en su sugestión.

“There must be un buen middle name que pueda escoger, grama,” Canutito said. “I always wanted to be known as ‘Ace’ o ‘Flash’.”

“In that case tus amigos en la escuela might start calling you ‘Canutito Ass’ o ‘Canutito Flashlight’,” she teased, sacando el pastel de manzana from the oven.

Canutito listened a todos los argumentos de su grama. “I think que I’m going to keep ‘Canutito Manuelito’.”

Grama smiled y le dio un slice de warm apple pie del horno …

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SECTION C Sunday, deCember 24, 2023 THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

HERMIT S PE AK /C ALF C AN YON FIRE

Lawsuits decry delayed fire compensation payments 24 plaintiffs claim FEMA not complying with its own rules by nicholas Gilmore

ngilmore@sfnewmexican.com

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is facing yet more litigation related to its handling of compensation claims in the aftermath of the largest fire in New Mexico’s history.

In recent days, two lawsuits by 24 people affected by the Hermits Peak/ Calf Canyon Fire were filed in U.S. Dis-

trict Court in New Mexico. The lawsuits allege the agency has violated the terms of federal law and failed to comply with its own rules due to its delays in processing victims’ compensation claims.

The fire — which started in April 2022 with two prescribed burns ignited by the U.S. Forest Service — burned more than 340,000 acres of forest and hundreds of homes in Northern New Mexico.

Although federal legislation requires the agency to issue a determination on the amount of compensation to be paid to victims within 180 days of the sub-

mission of a claim, both lawsuits allege the agency has “unilaterally” decided to interpret the law to instead allow itself 180 days from its own acknowledgment of each claim to make a determination.

The 24 plaintiffs allege the federal agency has not even complied with its own “improper interpretation” of the law in their claims. None of the 24 has received a response from the agency regarding a claim for compensation, the lawsuits say, even though more than 180 days have passed since FEMA acknowledged each claim.

The agency acknowledged each

victim’s claim in June, the lawsuits state.

FEMA officials could not be reached Saturday to respond to the new lawsuits.

Both complaints were filed by a team of Albuquerque-based attorneys from the law firm Singleton Schreiber, led by former state Auditor Brian Colón.

“A community that was traumatized by these fires is being re-traumatized by FEMA’s negligence,” Colón said during an interview Saturday. “They’ve been an utter, abject failure time and time again, and we will continue to file these suits until FEMA does its job.”

Congress allocated nearly $4 billion to compensation for the historic fire in the Hermits Peak Fire Assistance Act, signed by President Joe Biden in September 2022, and subsequent legislation passed in the following months.

The bill designated FEMA to administer the funds, stating, “not later than 180 days after the date on which a claim is submitted under this Act, the Administrator shall determine and fix the amount, if any, to be paid for the claim.”

But Aug. 29, the agency finalized its Please see story on Page C-3

County restarts affordable home project in city Proposal calls for building 130 apartments on land near Cerrillos and Airport roads by maya Hilty

mhilty@sfnewmexican.com

PHOTOS BY LUIS SÁNCHEZ SATURNO/THE NEW MEXICAN

The Rev. Adrian Sisneros leads a prayer after Las Posadas on Wednesday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Cerrillos.

Reviving Cerrillos church Pastor upgrades St. Joseph’s in time for Christmas

by Scott Wyland

swyland@sfnewmexican.com

CERRILLOS life-size crucifix and a large canvas of Franciscan friars now adorn the walls at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

A handcrafted pulpit and a shiny, beige altar stand on the dais.

The white wall behind the altar, where paint has been chipped and flaking, has been repainted.

For parishioners entering the village’s century-old church, it is noticeably different in look and feel since the Rev. Adrian Sisneros took over in August.

The refurbishing is the outward sign of what congregants say is a revitalization of the church and parish, made up of Cerrillos, Galisteo and Golden.

Sisneros is also restoring traditions that were absent.

They include a Christmas Eve midnight Mass and Las Posadas, a nine-day celebration from Dec. 16-24 rooted in Spanish customs and marked by nightly community feasts, hymns and devotional prayers.

Sisneros, 40, grew up in Las Vegas, N.M., and was ordained last year.

Walking through the church, he said he added touches to enhance the place of worship

A

Please see story on Page C-3

Sisneros lights an advent candle Wednesday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

IF YOU GO u Los Posadas will be at 11 p.m. followed by a midnight Mass on Christmas Eve at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Cerrillos.

and described the endeavor in divine terms.

“It’s using the history and what was already here to elevate what’s material to the immaterial to the supernatural,” he said.

“That’s what it means to come into our church. It lifts our hearts to God.” The Christmas Eve Mass will be preceded by an 11 p.m. Las Posadas, a reenactment of Mary and Joseph trying unsuccessfully

to find a room for the night and settling into a cave where they formed a manger that would be the birthplace for Jesus.

“We’re the innkeepers that say, ‘OK, come on in,’ ” Sisneros said.

After the Mass, participants will assemble at an outdoor shrine featuring Virgin Mary sculptures illuminated by farolitos.

At Sisneros’ rectory next to the church, a group gathered Wednesday for a Las Posadas meal of gumbo and grits.

Patrick and Catherine Nichols, who were married in St. Joseph’s 43 years ago, praised Sisneros’ passion and efforts to buoy the parish.

“Immense energy he’s bringing to the parish and knitting it together,” Patrick Nichols said.

“I think he’s done a lot for parishioners,” Catherine Nichols said. “He’s very kind.”

With the help of his construction background and his father, a craftsman, Sisneros accomplished the refurbishing in four months.

Some of the work involved bringing out items, such as the crucifix, altar and canvas, that were stashed either in a garage or a storage room that Sisneros has converted to a chapel.

His father built the pulpit and

Doug Coffin called it an “epic journey.”

In the early 1980s, Coffin and Mark Swazo-Hinds — Coffin’s former student, longtime friend and fellow artist — set out on a road trip, destined for a joint gallery show in New York City.

They drove for 24 hours nonstop from Coffin’s hometown of Lawrence, Kan., to their destination, the car filled with the two

artists’ sculptures.

In large part, Coffin said, the trip was fun and the exhibition was fun because Swazo-Hinds — with his inexhaustible sociability — was so much fun.

“It was always an adventure with Mark,” he said. “If he was in the room, if he was around, he was going to meet new friends — and have you meet his new friends.”

Swazo-Hinds — a renowned artist, outdoorsman, family member and friend — died Dec. 9 of natural causes. He was 64.

design and headlines: Richard Olmsted, rolmsted@sfnewmexican.com

The son of prolific painter and printmaker Patrick Swazo-Hinds, Swazo-Hinds was born into a family of Tesuque Pueblo artists, said his sister Marita Hinds.

Swazo-Hinds carried on the family’s artistic tradition, though he primarily worked in carved stone. He studied the craft at then-Haskell Indian Junior College in Kansas and then at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, where Coffin was one of his teachers.

“Mark, he grew up in that envi-

by robert nott

rnott@sfnewmexican.com

ronment and kind of followed in [his father’s] footsteps, but he definitely was on his own path when he started stonework and his fetish work, which he was renowned for,” Coffin said.

Mark Swazo-Hinds’ signature work: a piece of carved stone — especially in the shape of an animal — with fetish elements. Often, Hinds said, he would incorporate shells, pottery shards and feathers, especially parrot feathers, into his Please see story on Page C-4

Please see story on Page C-3

Please see story on Page C-4

Tesuque Pueblo artist carried on family tradition mohara@sfnewmexican.com

Olivia, Liam top list of popular newborn names Liam held on, but Oliver and James fell out of the top 10 this year.

Emma fell back to fourth place, usurped by Olivia, as well as Amelia and Isabella.

And Evelyn, like James, dropped out.

The state Department of Health has released its list of the 10 most popular baby names new parents chose for their infant boys and girls across the state in 2023.

Liam has been the top TOP 10 BABY boy’s name in New Mexico for three of the last four NAMES IN N.M. years.

GIRLS BOYS It also was the most popu1. Olivia 1. Liam lar boy’s name nationwide in 2. Amelia 2. Mateo 2022, according to the Social 3. Isabella 3. Noah Security Administration’s 4. Emma 4. Santiago baby names website. Olivia 5. Sofia 5. Ezekiel was the nation’s most popular 6. Mia 6. Elijah girl’s name in 2022, the site 7. Sophia 7. Josiah 8. Aria 8. Sebastian states.

9. Luna 9. Ezra The administration’s 2023 10. Julian 10. Camila list of names was not yet available.

The traditional Irish name Liam, the Gaelic short form of William, means “protector” or “helmet,” according to the website mom.com, while Olivia is an elaboration of Olive, as in tree.

In New Mexico, the name Liam was followed by Mateo, Noah, Santiago, Ezekiel, Elijah, Josiah, Sebastian, Ezra and Julian.

For girls, Olivia led a list including Amelia, Isabella,

MARK SWA ZO - HINDS , 1959 -2023

by margaret O’Hara

Santa Fe County leaders have revived a push to build 130 affordably priced apartments on the city’s south side, a complex that would mark the county’s first new housing project in decades.

The county bought 6.8 acres off Cerrillos Road, near Airport Road, in 2018 with a plan to build affordable housing.

The land remains vacant, but officials say the multifamily development, called Nueva Acequia, will move forward in the new year.

“We haven’t abandoned this project,” County Commission Chairwoman Anna Hansen said. “Getting it built is a priority.”

Commissioners have asked state lawmakers to allocate $10 million in capital outlay for the project in the Legislature’s upcoming session.

The parcel was identified as the perfect site for an affordable housing development, county Housing Authority Director Jordan Barela said.

It borders the Housing Authority’s administrative offices and the 68-unit Camino de Jacobo Housing Neighborhood, one of three public housing sites managed by the county.

The land also sits across the street from the San Isidro Plaza shopping center — meaning it’s within walking distance of several restaurants and stores, an important aspect of affordable living, Hansen said.

She noted an energy-efficient building design will add to the apartments’ affordability for residents.

The county tried to partner with nonprofits on the housing project, but the plans have fallen through. Officials now intend to secure a contract with a development partner to bring the project over the finish line, Hansen said.

In June, the county hired Colorado-based housing consultant Project Moxie for $20,000 to help find an experienced developer for the project. The county then released a request for proposals in November that has generated “quite a bit of interest,” Barela said.

The county could enter into a development agreement by the end of March, he said.

In a best-case scenario, Nueva Acequia could open to tenants in about 2½ years, but it will more likely take about four years, Project Moxie President Jenn Lopez told the Housing Authority board in October.

That’s because the project — estimated to cost over

SANTAFENEWMEXICAN.COM

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THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

Sunday, December 24, 2023

FUNERAL SERVICES & MEMORIALS ROGER MASCARENAS

DONALD BARLIANT Donald Barliant, attorney, independent book seller, astute political observer, and storyteller whose childhood in the Jane Addams Hull House in Chicago helped shape his worldview, died on Saturday December 9, at his home in Santa Fe. He was 86.

His wife, Janet Bailey, said the cause was heart failure.

Don grew up in the projects near Chicago’s Little Italy where his father Leo worked for the Santa Fe Railroad shifting cars and commodities and his mother, Helen, was a housewife who did occasional stints as a stenographer and sales clerk. Early on, he mastered the violin, performing on stage with local orchestras.

After taking a beating from a local gang at age ten, his parents sent him to a rabbinical school where he became, in his words, a “godless gadfly.” While his grandparents were Orthodox, Don was deeply connected to Judaism without believing in God. The Israeli Palestinian war caused him great distress in his final days.

After graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a major in political science, he earned a law degree from DePaul. A memorable accomplishment from his time practicing law was a personal injury case that made law in Illinois. His client was a spectator at a golf tournament, eating a hot dog, when an errant tee shot sent a golf ball straight into her face. She lost an eye. At the time of the incident, the law asserted that a sports spectator assumed all liability for death or injury at an event.

Don argued that the event coordinator also had responsibility for exercising reasonable care for the spectator’s safety. A jury agreed and awarded his client one of the largest verdicts for such an injury. An Illinois appellate court affirmed, thereby changing Illinois law.

In 1967 Don bought a lefty, gonzo-hippy, but literary bookstore as a hobby. In those days, when publishers sent authors on the road, Barbara’s Books hosted a galaxy of great writers: Isaac Bashevis Singer, Joseph Heller, David Sedaris, Joan Didion and scores more. Currently, the chain has eleven stores in the Chicago area, including at O’Hare airport. Don operated the stores with his wife of 47 years, Janet Bailey, right up to the end. He had no intention of retiring.

Don was a quiet force in the book business. He took on Amazon when he convinced many of the largest publishers to use Barbara’s Books as a supplier to conventions and other meetings where books would be available for purchase. His credibility with publishers led developers of upscale malls in the Chicago suburbs to seek Barbara’s Books as anchor tenants.

Known for his curly crown of white hair and insatiable curiosity, Don delighted in meeting people so he could learn new things. He was assisted by an ever present sidekick – his iPad. He collected first edition books, chocolate, and was a total news junkie from Adlai Stevenson to Joe Biden.

Ernest Donald Barliant was born on Jan 25, 1937, in Chicago. His first marriage to Esther Scholar ended in divorce. He is survived by sons Scott Barliant and his wife Jennifer of Park Ridge, Ill., and Jared Barliant and his wife Michelle of Santa Fe, and grandchildren Jackson, Grace, Henry, Isaak and Arran. He and Janet Bailey, the love of his life (he bought her gifts on his birthday), eloped in 1976. Their daughter, Rebecca Schwartz, lives with her husband, David, in Des Plaines, Ill., with sons Lucas and Eli. He is also survived by step daughter Kari Hubbard and her husband Bruce of Colville, Washington, grandchildren Matthew and Haley, and sister Marlene Frank and husband Eugene of Santa Fe. Don was a trusted advisor, confidant, and source of wisdom on all topics for countless family members and friends from all walks of life who constantly sought his counsel. He was both brilliant and a true mensch, large in stature and presence, and will be deeply missed by those who had the great fortune to know and love him.

A private memorial is planned for the end of January.

SOLOMON GONZALEZ

1/30/1934–12/12/2023 It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our father, Roger Mascarenas. He left this world on December 12, 2023, surrounded by his loving family after a brief illness. He is preceded in death by his precious wife of 63 years, Jacquelline Aileen Mascarenas.

He is survived by his 7 children: Cliff (Emily), Stan (Sherry), Stuart (Beverly), Rodger (Terri), Travis, Jeff (Anna), and Roxanne (Louie) Vasquez; his 11 grandchildren with whom he had a special bond: Melinda (Frankie) Ramirez, Matthew (Rejeana) and Kyle (Emily) Mascarenas; Vanessa (James) Carpenter, Eric (Miranda)and Justin (Larissa) Mascarenas; Maya Mascarenas, Jordan (Will) Wadsworth; Josephine Wyland; Janelle (Remy) Christian and Arianna Vasquez; 11 great-grandchildren: Micaela, Analyse and Raquel Ramirez; Caleb and Ariel Mascarenas; Tyler Mascarenas and Makenzie Carpenter; Bailey and Riley Mascarenas; Paislee Mascarenas; and Nadia Wadsworth.

He is also survived by sisters: Lillian Nieto, Sadie Dunagan and Christine Garner; sisters-in-law: Mary Mascarenas, Jewell Carrillo and Deborah LaMore, and brother-in-law Tony (Nick) Salazar.

He was preceded in death by his special grandson, Alexander (Zanders) Mascarenas; parents Bernardino and Dulcinea Mascarenas; brothers Gene and Alejandro Mascarenas; sisters Tillie Tafoya, Beatrice (Eloy) Sanchez, Lupe (Max) Romero; brothers-in-law Felipe Nieto, Steve Dunagan and Mike Garner; father/mother-in-law Antonio and Dilia Salazar; brothers-in-law Bruno Salazar, Eddie Carrillo, Tom LaMore; sisters-in-law, Janet Salazar, Judy (Gilbert) Roybal and June Swartz.

Roger was born in the Village of San Ignacio, NM. He received his Associates of Arts degree from New Mexico Highlands University and his bachelor’s degree from the College of Santa Fe. He retired from the State of New Mexico as a Certified Public Accountant.

In 1959, he met Jacquelline Salazar while cruising in Santa Fe, NM. He knew the moment he saw her that she would be his eternal partner. They were married and cherished their love until her death in 2022.

He is in heaven with her now, continuing his serenade of love songs, and dancing up a storm.

Roger was a proud U.S. Marine and was prepared to defend his country. He was the true original cowboy and gentleman. He was a strong father, courageous and polite, with the highest integrity. Roger loved Jesus and led his family by example in worshiping our Lord.

He enjoyed entertaining people by playing his guitar and singing country and Spanish ballads. Roger had a strong competitive streak. If there was a ‘roping’ anywhere, you would find him there, doubling steers. He was proud of the horses he raised and trained and always received compliments as to their qualities. The family brandings will be very empty without El Jefe. He will be missed immensely.

Pallbearers: Melinda Ramirez, Vanessa Carpenter, Maya Mascarenas, Jordan Wadsworth, Kyle Mascarenas, Janelle Christian, Arianna Vasquez, and Josephine Wyland.

Honorary pallbearers: Cliff Mascarenas, Stan Mascarenas, Stuart Mascarenas, Rodger Mascarenas, Travis Mascarenas, Jeff Mascarenas and Roxanne Mascarenas-Vasquez.

Eulogy: Eric, Justin, and Matthew Mascarenas Services will be: A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 pm on Thursday 1/11/2024, at Berardinelli Family Funeral Home. A second rosary will be prayed at 9:30 am on Friday 1/12/2024 at Santa Maria de la Paz, followed by a funeral mass at 10:00 a.m. Reception following mass at Santa Maria de la Paz. Rosaries and mass will be livestreamed.

ROBERT PETER EGGERS

It is with heavy hearts that we announced the passing of Solomon Gonzales, age 99, a lifelong resident of Santa Fe, New Mexico, who died peacefully at home on Thursday, December 7, 2023. He is remembered for his quick wit, sharp mind, and care of his family. Always ready with a quip and a humble chuckle, time with Solomon always involved levity and laughter. A whiz with games and puzzles, he could easily master any Rubik’s shape, leaving those who watched the speed with which he did it in awe. He leaves behind a legacy of honor, humility, kindness, and love.

Solomon met his wife Roberta while attending Santa Fe Senior High School. He served in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1945 and was a World War II Veteran. He served in the Pacific on the USS Cascade and was awarded the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal, and was a Fire Controlman 1st class when discharged. After the war, he worked for the Atomic Energy Commission (later the Department of Energy) and for Los Alamos Fire Department, where he retired as Assistant Chief. After retirement from Los Alamos, he worked in Santa Fe for the State of New Mexico State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Solomon was preceded in death by his wife, Roberta Duran Gonzales, his grandmother Juanita Pacheco, who raised him, his father Florencio Gonzales, his mother Anita Pacheco, his brother SSgt Joseph I Gonzales, and his sister Pauline Martinez. He is survived by his daughter Kathryn (Kathy) A. Gonzales, granddaughter Monica Maughlin (Alan), grandson MAJ Adam M. Gonzales (LaToya), great grandson Mateo Maughlin, great granddaughter Maria Maughlin and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff of Ambercare of Santa Fe, for all that they did to help with Solomon’s care. The family would also like to thank his caregivers, Claudia Batres, Anna Bustamante, Dalia Cordero, Julia Jimenez and Matilda Rodriguez, who have been with him for many years.

A celebration of Solomon’s life will take place on Thursday, December 28 at Berardinelli Funeral Home, commencing with public visitation at 6pm and a rosary service at 7pm. A funeral mass will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, on Friday, December 29, at 11:45am, followed by a burial and graveside service at the Santa Fe, National Cemetery at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Solomon’s honor to Ambercare, Santa Fe, and the Santa Fe, Food Bank are appreciated.

Robert Peter Eggers (Bob), a vibrant and cherished presence in the lives of many, passed away on Wednesday, December 13th, 2023, at 91 years of age. Known for his vivacious spirit and infectious sense of humor, Bob was the life of every gathering.

With a penchant for dance and a love for a well-crafted martini, Bob’s zest for life was contagious.

His career brought him from the Walt Disney animation department in 1957 to the bustling streets of New York City, where he began a long and successful career in Advertising. After working for Young & Rubicam’s Television Art Department for 10 years, his talents lead him to become a Television Commercial director.

Eventually founding his own production company in 1979, Eggers Films, in Los Angeles, where he directed iconic spots and campaigns, such as Spuds McKenzie for Bud Light, JELL-O, Frosted Flakes, Nut & Honey, American Express and many others.

Retiring to Santa Fe, NM, Bob continued his artistic pursuits, donating his time and talents to local organizations such as Warehouse 21, The Pet Parade, Shakespeare in the Park, among others. He published two books of illustrations, Santa Fe After Dark and The Curmudgeon. Despite battling arthritis in his later years, his passion for drawing persisted up until this last year.

He leaves behind a legacy of laughter, creativity, and a profound love for life. His memory will forever live in the hearts of his wife, Patricia Eggers, daughters Genesee Eggers Zaenglein and Riley Rogers, and a multitude of dear friends and colleagues.

MARY DOLORES NAVA

Mary Dolores Nava, Santa Fe July 18, 1930-December 14, 2023 For complete service information, please go to http://riverafamilyfuneralhome .com/ Rivera Family Funerals and Cremations 417 East Rodeo Rd. Santa Fe, NM 87505 Phone: (505) 989-7032 riverafamilyfuneralhome.com

ANTONIA ERLINDA RIVERA

JUNE 12, 1939 ~ DECEMBER 13, 2023 With emotions running deep, I announce the passing of my elderly sister, Antonia Erlinda Rivera. She will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered. Services will take place at a later date.

Rivera Family Funerals and Cremations 417 East Rodeo Rd. Santa Fe, NM 87505 Phone: (505) 989-7032 riverafamilyfuneralhome.com

EVA GORMAN-SANDOVAL DECEMBER 19, 1931 – DECEMBER 10, 2023 Denver - Eva GormanSandoval of Denver, born on December 19, 1931 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, passed away on Sunday, December 10, 2023. For more information, https://obituaries.crematesim ply.com/eva-gorman-sandoval

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It is with profound sorrow that we bid farewell to our cherished father, Max Sanchez, who passed away on November 20, 2023, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Born on April 28, 1936, in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. A passionate advocate for animals, especially horses, as he was so well known to many veterinarians for being “The Horse Whisperer.” His journey in his life began with a career as an air traffic controller with the FAA. Other business interests extended into being a real estate broker and insurance company owner. His legacy for saving people’s lives while working at the FAA touched many hearts as he was known to guide with patience so many pilots, as he was a pilot himself. Max owned many race horses and had fun with his daughters in doing so. His service to our country and love for his family will remain forever.

Max loved fishing, hunting, and was known as an incredible golfer.

His appreciation for the simple things in life and his wit drew so many lifelong friends to him.

Max is preceded in death by his grand love, Sally Padilla Sanchez, wife of many years, with whom they had four daughters, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He is survived by daughters, Maxine Prezbindowski (Gary) of Rociada, NM; Donna Cravens (Mark) of Meadowlakes, TX; Janet Mang of Durango, CO; and Barbara Sanchez of Santa Fe, NM. His grandchildren, Kristen Callender, Michael Prezbindowski (Amanda), Gavin Rudolph, Morgan Hardin (Michael), and Lauren Chalk. His brother, Edward Sanchez (Mary) of Bosque Farms, NM. Max, was surrounded by all four of his daughters until his last strong breath.

In our hearts, his laughter, storytelling, and spirit will live on. He once said he could ride a horse before he could walk, now go ride off into the sunset, our forever strong cowboy, we call our Dad. Max will be laid to rest near his ranch in Santa Rosa, NM. A mass will be held on January 5, 2024 at 9AM at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Las Vegas, NM, burial to follow at San Jose Cemetery, Santa Rosa, NM.

Celebrate the memory of your loved one with a memorial in The Santa Fe New Mexican Call 986-3000

LOCAL & REGION The New Mexican

The Empty Stocking Fund is a long-standing project of The New Mexican. Each year, hundreds of people receive aid from the fund during the holiday season to help cover rent payments, medical bills, utility costs, car repairs, home improvements and other needs.

Who it helps: Applicants, who must live within 50 miles of Santa Fe and must provide documents that provide proof of their identity, are considered without regard to race, age, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Applications are now closed.

How it works: Applications for funding are carefully vetted.

Members of the Empty Stocking Committee review requests, meet with each qualifying applicant to examine records of outstanding bills or other needs and verify the applicant’s income. If a request is approved, the committee sends a check directly to the service supplier. Requests can be as much as $2,500 per household depending on the need.

2023 goal: $399,000.

This holiday charity project, which began in 1981, is jointly administered by the Santa Fe Community Foundation, Enterprise Bank and Trust, the

Salvation Army, Presbyterian Medical Services, The Life Link, Habitat for Humanity, Esperanza Shelter, Youth Shelters and Family Services, Gerard’s House and a private individual.

To donate: Make your tax-deductible donation online by visiting santafenewmexican.com/ empty_stocking or mail a check to The New Mexican’s Empty Stocking Fund c/o The Santa Fe Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1827, Santa Fe, 87504-1827. Cash and coin donations are always welcome. Those can be dropped off at the offices of the newspaper at 150 Washington Ave., Suite 206.

Donors can request to remain anonymous.

If you can provide a service such as roofing or home repairs, contact Habitat for Humanity at repairs@santafehabitat.org. If you can contribute food, clothing, toys, housewares, furniture, firewood or other items or services, call the Salvation Army at 505-988-8054.

DONATIONS Anonymous: $51.55 Anonymous: $206.19

Anonymous: $1,030.93 Anonymous: $103.09 Anonymous: $103.09 Anonymous: $103.09 Jerry and Donna Jacobi: $107.63 Jacqueline Jadrnak: $100 Jane, in memory of Berton Alpert: $309.28 Tom Jensen: $100 Richard and Doris Kessler: $518.13 Margarita and Thomas Kintz: $100 Cynthia and Edward Kleiner: $100 Stephen and Sue Knuth: $103.09 La Pradera Lunch Club: $200 Susan J. Larson: $5,000 David Lee: $100 Don and Allison Lemons: $134.02 Tim and Marcia Lenihan: $250 Megan Lichter, in honor of Diane Brooks and Dave Gunderson: $206.19 Paula Lozar: $50 James Delmar Lutz, in memory of Frances and Delmar Lutz: $257.73 Jacob Lyon: $500 Neil and Cindy Lyon: $500 Diane MacInnes and Warren Marr: $100 Helene Madonick and Laura Einstein: $257.73 David Maestas, in memory of Joe and Viola Maestas: $257.73 Ernest and Patricia Martinez: $200 Renee Martinez: $100 Dr. Charles McCanna and Sue Ann Snyder: $100 Susan McDuffie: $80 Marsha McEuen and Steve Lewis: $750 Trisha McMahon, in honor of Betsy Bennett: $102.56 Cumulative total: $273,615.87

Sunday, December 24, 2023

IN BRIEF Police seek Chimayó man accused of raping child A Chimayó man faces five felony counts after police accused him of raping a 6-year-old girl.

Gilbert Martinez, 52, had not been taken into custody by Española police as of Saturday afternoon, but police are looking for him, said Chief Mizel Garcia.

An affidavit for an arrest warrant for Martinez, filed Friday in Rio Arriba County Magistrate Court, states the victim underwent a sexual assault examination and an interview during which the child described the attack, police wrote. The abuse was reported by an employee at the victim’s elementary school, according the affidavit. Martinez was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual penetration, two counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under 13 and abuse of a child.

County offers ride discounts to fight drunken driving In an effort to reduce drunken driving during New Year’s celebrations, Santa Fe County will offer a $10 discount on rides purchased with Uber.

The Take a Ride on Us program will run Thursday through Jan. 2 as well as during other “select high crash times” in 2024, the county’s Community Services Department announced in a news release Friday.

During the seven-day period, county residents

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can redeem the code SFNYE23 with Uber to get the discount. The code is valid for $10 off two rides per person, the release says.

The credit does not cover tips, and it cannot be used for Uber Eats. The code will expire at 2 a.m.

Jan. 2. The program represents a partnership between the county and the state Department of Transportation, Cumulus Media, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Whitener Law Firm, the release states.

ATF, Taos offer $30,000 reward on Starbucks fires TAOS — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the town of Taos have announced a reward of $30,000 for information relating to two fires that destroyed a Starbucks under construction, the bureau announced.

The reward is a joint effort, with $5,000 coming from ATF and $25,000 coming from the town of Taos. To submit a tip to ATF, call 888-ATF-TIPS or email atftips@atf.gov.

For those wishing to submit tips anonymously, the Report It mobile app is the recommended platform. When using Report It, select “ATF — Phoenix Field Division” as the reporting agency.

According to a news release, no reward will be given to anonymous tips.

To be eligible for the reward, the information provided must help lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

The first fire occurred Aug. 30 and damaged the building, while a second fire Oct. 23 burned down the structure.

The New Mexican and The Taos News

FUNERAL SERVICES AND MEMORIALS

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rules and regulations for fire compensation claims, publishing in the Federal Register that it would begin each 180-day count from the date the agency acknowledges receipt of each claim.

The agency “found a way to delay paying the claims by misinterpreting the law,” Colón said, adding it took months to recognize claims and is now failing to respond even within its own 180-day timeline.

The lawsuits filed by Colón’s firm allege the agency’s rule results in “ethical violations of FEMA’s requirements to process the claims fairly and impartially.”

The agency’s rules allow it “to delay payments indefinitely and arbitrarily,” the lawsuits allege.

A week before the lawsuits were filed, FEMA’s Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon claims office director, Angela Gladwell, held a news conference at the Santa Fe office, saying the agency has been managing its timelines for compensation to fire victims “very well so far.”

The 180 days, Gladwell said, is counted “from the moment we formally acknowledge a notice of loss until we make a determination of how much we are offering in payment.

“Within that timeframe, the claimants have 150 days to be able to submit their claim, and

RICARDA MONTOYA

JIM WEBER/NEW MEXICAN FILE PHOTO

The Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire burns in 2022 near Cleveland, N.M., as smoke darkens the sky over Mora. Two more lawsuits have been filed over compensation for the fire.

we have the rest of the time to come to a determination of payment,” Gladwell said. “We recognize there are large numbers of claims that will be meeting that time frame in the coming months and we are staffing up and resourcing appropriately so that we can be able to support that.”

Gladwell is listed as a defendant in both of the lawsuits,

which seek monetary damages, sanctions, attorneys’ fees and declaratory and injunctive relief from FEMA, claiming the fire victims “have incurred and continue to incur significant loss and damage as a result of FEMA’s failures and inactions.”

The recent complaints are the latest litigation against the agency over its response to the historic fire.

Two other pending lawsuits against FEMA were filed in October by residents in Mora — a mountain town that was among the communities hardest hit by the fire.

One alleged violations of public records law, while another says the agency’s officials were pressuring claimants to accept settlements without consulting with their lawyers.

County restarts affordable home project in city Continued from Page C-1

$40 million, Barela said — hinges on winning competitive federal tax credits from the state worth millions of dollars.

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program is the largest housing program in the U.S., Barela said. The IRS allocates tax credits to each state based on population, and the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority awards the credits to projects in the state each year.

Developers sell the lucrative tax credits to investors, which

“

We haven’t abandoned this project. Getting it built is a priority.”

County Commission Chairwoman Anna Hansen significantly reduces the debt they must take on to build housing and thus enables them to offer rental units at below-market rates.

Under the program, developers generally are required to maintain below-market rates for 30 years.

Nueva Acequia likely would

be aimed at families earning 60% to 80% of the area median income, Lopez said.

In Santa Fe County, 80% of the median income is about $47,800 annually for one person, $54,600 for a two-person household and $68,250 for a family of four.

County residents with incomes below that threshold

clearly need more housing options, Barela said. The Housing Authority has “thousands” of people on waiting lists for its subsidized rental programs, especially heads of single-income households and people with disabilities, he added.

“Most of our tenants … within public housing are people living on their own on $650 a month, and short of our program, where else can they go?” he said. “For people on restricted income, there really is no other housing option that’s stable outside of a subsidized rental.”

Olivia, Liam top list of popular newborn names Continued from Page C-1

Emma, Sofia, Mia, Sophia, Aria, Luna and Camila.

Jennifer Moss, founder and CEO of the website babynames. com, said in an interview naming a baby is “one of the most important decisions you can make for a child because it directly ties to their identity, and it reflects a lot of the parents’ background and values. It’s something parents are putting a great deal of thought into.”

She added: “We’re entering an era where diversity is being celebrated, so parents are going for more unique names. They want to make sure it’s something their child can live with.”

Biblical names play a big role in baby naming, she said. That may explain the popularity of New Mexico names like Noah,

Ezekiel and Elijah.

“The Bible has definitely been an influence for hundreds and hundreds of years,” Moss said.

“What’s more interesting is that it’s more so on the boys’ side than the girls’ side, though I don’t know why that is.”

Many parents might choose names based on pop culture figures or events they like, she added. Hence, the appearance of the name Camila — albeit in 10th place — on the New Mexico list.

Moss said that may derive from the growing popularity of Latina pop star Camila Cabello.

Royal names like Elizabeth and Charlotte often top national lists, Moss said. She also finds more people naming their children after place names, like Paris and London. (Imagine a New Mexico kid being named Truth or Consequences!)

Moss said she conducted a survey of over 100,000 people asking them to rate the difficulty level of naming a baby on a scale of 1 (easy) to 10 (most difficult).

To her surprise, over 30% chose 10. “A lot of parents get really stressed out about choosing a baby name,” she said.

Moss said her organization encourages parents to think about the long-term perspective of the child when choosing a name.

“Don’t name it Pixie because it sounds so cute,” she cautioned.

“You’re not just naming a baby; you’re naming an adult.”

The state Department of Health began tracking baby names in 2014. The department said in a recent news release announcing this year’s top names, “Eight of the top 10 girl and boy names from 2022 stayed

on the top 10 list in 2023.”

The release said, “Oliver and James fell out of the top 10 from last year and are replaced by Josiah and Julian. Julian returns to the top 10 for the first time since 2018,” while Josiah, last seen in 2017, made a return.

“Evelyn has dropped out of the top 10 list, making room for Sofia. Both Sofia and Sophia have consistently held positions in the top 10 girl names six of the last nine years,” the release said.

Moss said top baby name lists can also play a role in choosing a name for your infant — but not necessarily because a certain name, like Olivia and Liam, is the most popular.

“Parents are starting to avoid names on top of the chart,” she said. “They don’t want their son to be one of 10 Liams in the classroom.”

name [a child] Pixie because it sounds so cute. You’re not just naming “ Don’t a baby; you’re naming an adult.”

Jennifer Moss, founder and CEO of the website babynames.com

Ricarda “Ricky” Montoya, 82 yrs. Passed away Friday, December 15, 2023. Ricky was the firstborn to Katherine and Salomon Mendoza Sr on June 7, 1941. She married the love of her life, Mauricio “Morris” Montoya, on January 10, 1959. They were married 60 years.

Ricky worked alongside her husband for forty years in their food manufacturing business, “Josie’s Best”. Ricky loved The Lord and set the example of what it was to walk-in Christ’s Light.

She is proceeded in death by her parents, her husband Morris Montoya Sr, brother Manuel Mendoza, her sons Morris Montoya Jr and Ralph Montoya. Ricky is survived by her sister Betty Vinzant, brothers Jack, Jimmy and Larry Mendoza Sr, her daughter Melissa Vick, son Timothy Montoya; Grandsons Fabian Montoya, Richard Montoya, Ronnie Carrillo (Charlene) Jr, Morris Carrillo; Granddaughters, Monique Grossetete (Victor), Briana Corriz (Marcos), Alyssa Montoya and Leah Montoya and 9 Great Grandchildren.

Memorial service will be held on Wednesday December 27, 2023 at 11:00 at The Vineyard Community Church, located: 1352 San Juan Dr, Santa Fe, NM. Reception following service, burial will be at Rosario Cemetery following reception.

Pallbearers: Fabian Montoya, Ronnie Carrillo Jr., Richard Montoya, Steven Vinzant, Josh Vinzant and Larry Mendoza Jr. Honorary Pallbearers: Betty Vinzant, Melissa Vick, Monique Grossetete, Briana Corriz, Alyssa Montoya, Leah Montoya, Charlene Carrillo, Annalise Carrillo.

MEDORA JENNINGS In memory of our dear friend, long-time volunteer, and donor, NDI New Mexico extends our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Medora Jennings. Medora was a champion of NDI New Mexico’s mission. She and her husband, Jim, were invaluable contributors in making a difference to the lives of children participating in NDI New Mexico programs and to the communities of Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Above all else, Medora stood for excellence and providing children with opportunities to experience it.

During NDI’s beginning years, Medora was instrumental in bringing the program to Albuquerque. She joined the Board in 1998 and was Board Chair from 1999-2002 when The Dance Barns was built in Santa Fe. She also organized and chaired the first Albuquerque SWIFT Team (Super Wonderful Irresistible Fundraising Team). This group planned and presented a fundraising gala in May 2000.

Through her natural leadership and hard work, Medora inspired the members of the committee, Board, and community. Medora’s tireless work positively impacted thousands of children in NDI programs statewide.

During her tenure, Medora was a member of NDI’s Development Committee, Capital Campaign and Endowment Committees, Long Range Planning Committee, Business Initiative Committee, and Executive Committee. In 2014, Medora was elected as an Emeritus Director.

NDI New Mexico will always remember Medora for her kindness, energy, commitment, leadership, and generosity.

MEDORA HELFFRICH JENNINGS Medora Helffrich Jennings, 88, passed away in her Santa Fe home, surrounded by her family, on October 24, 2023. Medora, also known as “Button,” was born in 1935 in Mt. Vernon, New York. She grew up in Greenwich, CT, and spent summers at the Rocky Point Club, where she met a scrappy kid from the Bronx, Jim Jennings.

Medora and Jim married on April 09, 1955, and the pair thrived in a 68-year marriage in which they raised a family and lived in Texas, Hawaii, California, New Jersey, Connecticut, and New Mexico, building friendships in every place. In the 70s, Medora began working as an interior designer, a skill that later helped her design and build several custom homes in New Mexico. Her passion for the welfare of children and dance came together in her role as the Chairwoman of The National Dance Institute of New Mexico, where she raised funds to help children build character through dance. The dance performances of NDI children were among her most joyous moments.

Medora Jennings valued family above all, including nieces, nephews, and godchildren. She is survived by the love of her life, Jim Jennings Jr., daughter Tracy, son Jim III, daughter-in-law Anabel, and grandson James, who was the icing on the cake of a well-lived life.

Instead of flowers, please send gifts to the National Dance Institute (NDI) of New Mexico. A celebration of life will be held in Santa Fe at the NDI Dance Barns on January 27 at 3:00 p.m.

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LOCAL & REGION

Sunday, December 24, 2023

PAUL T. MAR TINEZ , 1946 -2023

Taos Pueblo mourns cacique, spiritual and tribal leader leadership officials. That included the TAOS — The cacique plays swearing-in of a vital role in the spiritual life tribal officials and government of the Native and acting as people of Taos Pueblo. a signatory Aside from acting as a bridge on all Tribal between their Indigenous Council resPaul T. religion and Catholicism, the olutions and Martinez cacique is afforded great deferother official ence for the person’s authority documents. and wisdom.

In addition to serving as caciSuch was the case with Paul que since 2010 and pueblo govT. Martinez. The cacique, whose ernor in 2008, Martinez in past Tiwa name was “Water Coming years served in other capacities Out of the Mountain,” died at his as a tribal official. In later years, home Oct. 30. he worked in the pueblo’s Water Martinez followed the long Administration Department as line of caciques at the pueblo an irrigation ditch monitor until over the centuries, including his retirement in 2020, Suazo Juan De Jesus Romero, who at stated.

90 traveled to Washington, D.C., Taos Pueblo Gov. Gary J. Lujan to testify for the return of Blue said in a statement, “As a young Lake to Taos Pueblo in the late man, I was fortunate to receive 1960s. Similarly, Martinez, as traditional guidance from our 2008 governor, led a Taos Pueblo cacique, not knowing that in my delegation to Washington for future, he would be swearing congressional hearings about me into office on two separate settlement of the pueblo’s water occasions. His spiritual guidance rights. prepared me for the responsibilMartinez’s brother-in-law, Gil- ities I am entrusted with today, bert Suazo, said in a statement responsibilities he adamantly he performed important duties believed in and expected in each as a spiritual leader and head of us. His guidance, gentle smile of the Tribal Council and had and unrelenting will to go on a primary role in the selection will forever be missed.” and appointments of tribal Lujan’s one-year term as

By Rick Romancito

For the Taos News

PHOTOS BY LUIS SÁNCHEZ SATURNO/THE NEW MEXICAN

Jimmy Sisneros, father of the Rev. Adrian Sisneros, sets up a Christmas tree Wednesday at the newly renovated St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Reviving Cerrillos church Continued from Page C-1

a chapel altar that contains a sacrament, an ornament with a round bread wafer.

To create the chapel, the two men repainted the walls, removed the old carpet and refinished the wooden floor.

The idea for the chapel began as serendipity, when they discovered what was once a side entrance covered with plaster, Sisneros said.

They tore out the plaster and added a burnished wooden door, along with an electronic system that enables parishioners to enter with a key code any time of the day or night, he said.

The 24-hour access is important, but so is making the congregants feel safe, which is why the door automatically locks 30 seconds after a person enters, he said.

“If they’re coming in at 2 in the morning, and they’re distraught or in stress and they want to be with our Lord, they don’t have anything to worry about,” Sisneros said.

Some rearranging was done in the church that Sisneros considers significant.

A canvas depicting a Franciscan friar receiving Christ’s wounds was moved more toward the center to make room for the crucifix. Now, it’s directly across from the painting pulled from storage, creating a symmetry Sisneros said he likes.

Having art prominently display depicting the Franciscans connects people to the history of the Catholic faith within this region, he said.

“This is a testament to all of the Franciscans that were here before,” Sisneros said. “The parishioners love the Franciscans — they touch their hearts.”

John McKenna, 62, who’s lived in the Cerrillos area for 20 years,

governor concludes Dec. 31.

His successor, along with a new war chief, will be sworn in Jan. 1 after his appointment by the Tribal Council. The war chief is in charge of overseeing tribal citizens’ natural resources.

“The position of cacique came upon him unexpectedly,” Suazo said of Martinez, “but having been on the Tribal Council for many years, having served other tribal leadership positions and being active in cultural activities he had the necessary combination of experience and insight in tribal government for the position.”

The cacique’s niece, Yvonne Trujillo, said, “The role of cacique is a huge responsibility that he committed to, and his family as well. As a family we learned many things and saw how people came to his home seeking advice and guidance. We hope that any words and actions that he shared are always kept in mind for the good of our beloved people.”

Martinez was born May 18, 1946, to Candido Martinez and Eulogia Marie Martinez (Trujillo). He lived at Taos Pueblo all his life.

He was married to the late Alfreda Martinez for 49 years.

Applications open for S.F. historian with an emphasis on community-centered storytelling through gathering local histories Applications are back open for to provide context beyond the Santa Fe’s city historian position dominant tri-cultural narrative,” after the city did not make a the website says. selection following an applicaThe historian will also be tion process in the spring. guided by recommendations Chelsey Johnson, who joined from the CHART report, which the city as arts and culture was commissioned by the city director in September, said the following the partial toppling city decided to align the position of the Soldiers’ Monument on with the calendar year instead of Santa Fe Plaza on Indigenous the fiscal year along with a simPeople’s Day in 2020. ilar switch for the poet laureate Recommendations for the program. report’s section on history She did not know why the included holding additional selection process this spring, events promoting “the complex which took place when the city history of Santa Fe” and underwas between arts and culture directors, did not net a selection. taking a review of the programs held by the city.

Applications for the current Applications for the historian term are due Dec. 31. The posiposition must include a twotion is yearlong with the potenpage letter of interest, a résumé tial to be renewed for a second or CV and links to “examples year contingent on funding. of the individual’s leadership The theme for the upcoming in public history, community year is “local storytelling,” engagement or cultural work.” according to the city’s website.

To qualify, applicants must “This theme focuses on live within Santa Fe County cultural heritage in the city

By Carina Julig

cjulig@sfnewmexican.com

Adrian Sisneros enters St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

TAKEAWAYS u The Rev. Adrian Sisneros, a new pastor at St. Joseph’s parish, has refurbished the Cerrillos church and buoyed the spirit of parishioners, who praise the passion and energy he has brought to the community. u Aside from sprucing up the century-old church and adding a

chapel, Sisneros has brought back traditions that were absent for several years, such as midnight Mass and Las Posadas, the nine-day celebration before Christmas. u With the help of his father, Sisneros not only refurbished the church but also converted a storage room to a chapel that parishioners can visit at any hour.

called Sisneros a “godsend” who is already a spiritual anchor for a community that was “starving for faith.”

“There were always itinerant priests, and priests coming from hither and yon,” McKenna said.

“We never really had a steady priest for at least as long as I’ve lived here. We’re so appreciative.”

A few congregants described the community going through a

tough time during the coronavirus pandemic, which made the parish more disconnected.

Shortly after he arrived, Sisneros went to the home of Vangie Martinez to give last sacrament to her dying husband, and then he attended the funeral, parishioner Ruth Center said.

“I think that when Father Adrian came to the parish, I became a Catholic again,” Center said.

Artist Continued from Page C-1

pieces, in addition to pueblo and animal motifs.

The sculptures regularly graced the tables of the Southwestern Association for Indian Art’s annual Indian Market, said Randy Chitto, a local artist and member of the SWAIA board.

Every summer, prospective buyers enjoyed Swazo-Hinds’ work, Chitto said, but often, it was his magnetic personality that sealed his Indian Market sales. “If they met him, his personality would basically sell the work,” he said.

Now, Swazo-Hinds’ work is scattered through private and museum collections across the U.S., with pieces from the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., to the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian in Santa Fe.

Patrick Nichols and his wife, Catherine Nichols, hold statues of Mary and Joseph during Las Posadas on Wednesday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. “I think [the Rev. Adrian Sisneros has] done a lot for parishioners,” Catherine Nichols said. “He’s very kind.”

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u Questions and application materials can be sent to artsand culture@santafenm.gov.

and are preferred to have an advanced degree in history or a related field. A background in communications or public relations is desired but not required, according to the city.

The position comes with a $10,000 honorarium and requires the historian to hold a lecture series and develop other public events related to the city’s history.

“One thing I think the city historian has great potential to do, and past historians have done well, is they can really reveal that history is not past,” Johnson said.

History is “living, vibrant, and sometimes contentious,” she said, and in a city as old as Santa Fe, there are many different histories that overlap.

“There’s a lot to draw from,” Johnson said. know, Hinds said.

“If you needed to move furniture, he’d be there. If you needed help out with moving sculpture, he was there. If you needed a flat tire fixed, he was there,” she said. “He was just that kind of a person.”

And in addition to being a loving father, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather, Swazo-Hinds’ character made an impact those close to him.

“He was an important person in my life just because [of] his energy and his attitude and generosity. He had a few faults, but we all do,” Coffin said. “In general, I was glad he was my friend.”

Swazo-Hinds is survived by his sister, Marita Hinds; his children, Ryan Swazo-Hinds, Nonabah Sam, Marissa Swazo-Hinds and Medina Kailahi; and other loved ones.

A celebration honoring Swazo-Hinds’ life will take place in the spring.

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In many ways, the flexibility of Swazo-Hinds’ schedule as an artist enabled his life as an avid fisherman, Mark hunter and Swazo-Hinds outdoorsman.

His refrigerator was always stocked with venison, and he would often come home with freshly caught fish for dinner.

“He was at his element when he was out in the woods, fishing and doing what he loved most,” his sister said.

Swazo-Hinds also hosted exceptional dinner parties — sometimes featuring his fresh catches and kills — for friends.

It was a real honor to be invited, his sister said, because each guest was chosen from Swazo-Hinds’ long list of friends.

He was just a good guy to

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LOCAL & REGION

Sunday, December 24, 2023

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

C-5

State misses deadlines on $5M for recreation projects Money is just flying out of our “ I can’t contain the anxiety I hands.

swimming pool in Lovington.

Instead, New Mexico’s allocation since then has gone to state parks: building campsites, picnic tables, footpaths, bathrooms and water systems.

By Elizabeth Miller The State Parks Division says New Mexico In Depth the Land and Water Conservation Fund’s erratic history led it to New Mexico has forfeited stop running a community grant more than $5 million in federal program. Congress used to dicfunding for outdoor recreation tate how much the national fund projects over the last three years because employees at New Mex- received each year and underfunded it for years. The share ico’s State Parks Division missed deadlines to distribute the money for state and local assistance grants heading to New Mexico to projects around the state. dwindled to less than $500,000 The money is the state’s share annually for a few years. So State of the Land and Water ConserParks decided to use the money vation Fund, a 5-decades-old rather than call for community federal program that funnels grant applications, Stokes said. revenue largely from offshore However, the agency focused oil and gas leases to outdoor on state park maintenance recreation and land conservation rather than community projects efforts. The fund supports several even in years when the funding programs, including one in which increased to $1 million or more. communities and tribes around Stokes declined to comment on the nation can apply for up to that decision, which preceded his $250,000 each. arrival at the division.

Roadblocks to distributing the The financial stakes really funds, state staff say, included shifted in 2020 when, amid great lack of staffing, a maze of bureau- public fanfare, Congress commitcratic requirements and simple ted $900 million annually to the missteps, like neglecting to Land and Water Conservation update an email address online.

Fund so long as revenues kept it Grant applications for those fully funded at that amount. New funds filed by New Mexico com- Mexico’s share of the munities two years ago still await $900 million for local grants submission for federal approval. worked out to about $2.5 million “Money is just flying out of per year. The National Park our hands,” Rep. Kristina Ortez, Service also required states to D-Taos, said at a Water and appoint a dedicated adminisNatural Resources Committee trator, which New Mexico did meeting in November at which in late 2020 and called for grant state lawmakers were briefed on applications in late 2021. the lost funds. “I can’t contain the “It did take a while for the anxiety I feel about that and how state to be able to get all of that money could have gone to those pieces in position that communities.” are required … to start moving Robert Stokes, chief of the Pro- forward with the application gram Support Bureau at the State process,” Stokes said.

Parks Division and currently covBut State Parks already lagged ering the job of Land and Water behind. The National Park SerConservation Fund program vice makes money available for coordinator, blamed a lack of up to three fiscal years. After that employees. The work was “a big time, any portion not dedicated task for just one person,” he said to an approved project reverts during the committee meeting. to a federal contingency fund Since 1965, federal dollars spent at the Interior secretary’s have funded 1,200 projects in discretion.

New Mexico, building trails, New Mexico lost access to acquiring land and improving nearly $1 million of the city parks. But the State Parks $1.9 million awarded in 2019, and then most of the $2.5 million Division, which administers the allocated in 2020, according to grants, has not supported any documents obtained in response community-based projects since to a public records request.

2005, when money went to a

Stokes told lawmakers during the November hearing New Mexico lost another $2.1 million in 2023 but was likely to get those dollars back. The National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund regional program manager told New Mexico In Depth that might not be possible.

“There were state parks projects that were occurring and they did use up some of that money that was set to expire, but not the totality of it,” Stokes said. “And before the first open application period was announced in late 2021, we didn’t have community applications either to potentially use some of that money.”

But 11 communities and two tribes submitted applications for funding by the end of 2021.

Another 14 communities applied in 2022. The news release announcing that call for proposals erroneously stated 13 projects the previous year had been awarded $2.5 million. In reality, those applications have not been submitted for federal approval yet.

The delays worry Kay Bounkeua, New Mexico deputy director for The Wilderness Society, an environmental organization that campaigned for full federal funding and then encouraged communities to apply.

“People will be like, ‘Well I’m not going to apply for that. I did once and didn’t hear for five years,’ ” Bounkeua said. “There’s a lot of other issues that are going to come out of this because of the struggles of standing this program up.”

In 2021, Luna County applied for $250,000 to build batting cages as part of a growing recreation center in downtown Deming. The county applied again in 2022 for basketball courts, said Bryan Reedy, the county’s grants and projects director, but “I’ve given up on that one.”

The dirt has been leveled and ready for a while. But Reedy said he’d rather tap other funding and move on than continue chasing a string of requests for more information about this grant, the latest of which asked for details he’d submitted in previous emails.

“I have no trust in even waiting for them — I’ve got to get this project done,” Reedy said.

“We’ll be done with the project

Rail crossings open along Texas border

border, topping 10,000 crossings on some days this month. The closures affected two of the six available rail border crossings between the U.S. and Mexico.

Lack of staffing, bureaucratic issues, missteps are blamed

The federal government on Friday reopened two cross-border railroad crossings in Texas, five days after the shuttering of rail operations there disrupted trade and sparked outrage from U.S. and Mexican businesses.

Customs and Border Protection closed railroad operations in Eagle Pass and El Paso on Monday to reallocate their customs officers to help Border Patrol take migrants into custody. Both regions have seen the number of illegal border crossings soar.

Operations resumed at both cities Friday afternoon.

Troy Miller, U.S. Customs

and Border Protection’s acting commissioner, said the closures at Eagle Pass and El Paso were a response to more migrants traveling on freight trains recently.

Miller said authorities are seeing “unprecedented” arrivals at the

ties qualify.

“Because we already have the fund, because we have experience using it and because it’s really designed to help rural areas of the state, I just think this could be a real benefit,” Stewart said.

The eight applications remainRep. Kristina Ortez, D-Taos, at a Water and Natural Resources ing from 2021 were ready to submit in July. But the state had Committee meeting in November changed its email address format, and no one had updated the paperwork for the National Park before they tell us if we’ve been federal web portal for uploading Service, which can total more accepted or not.” applications. State staff didn’t Meanwhile, rising prices down- than 20 forms. recognize the problem until they At this point, five communities tried to submit documents, and sized the county plan from six to five batting cages. It might shrink have withdrawn their 2021 were unable to log in until after applications, citing reasons like again. Between the emailed clarthe deadline. Those applications insufficient matching funds. The ifications and modifications as may finally be submitted in JanLand and Water Conservation the project has evolved over two uary, and New Mexico does have Fund requires communities iden- funds remaining to cover their years, he said, “We’ve rewritten tify other sources for 50% of the this grant like three times. It’s requests. project cost. frustrating.”

Staff are now starting on the In 1973, the state created The pueblos of Acoma and federal forms for applications and allocated the equivalent of Santa Clara both applied for from 2022. funding in 2021, the first for an millions in 2022 dollars to a supRequests for additional inforoutdoor recreation center, and plemental fund for that matching mation, from a missed signature the second for picnic areas, requirement, but lawmakers hav- that takes mere minutes to correstroom facilities and day-use en’t deposited money into it since rect to more exhaustive environcabins to replace a campground 1994, according to an analysis by mental inquiries, are common, destroyed by the Las Conchas Western Resource Advocates. according to the National Park Fire in 2011. If awarded, those “I had reached out to folks at Service’s Land and Water Contribal-led projects would be the state parks on when the last time servation Fund regional program first in New Mexico to receive money was appropriated [to that manager. It’s also not unheard of Land and Water Conservation fund],” said Jonathan Hayden, a for a state to leave some money Fund support since 1989. senior policy adviser with Westunspent, but losing millions is Santa Clara Pueblo has worked ern Resource Advocates. “They “unusual.” for a decade to restore the didn’t even know it existed.”

The state’s Land and Water ecology of Santa Clara Canyon Hayden is working with Sen. Conservation Fund program after the wildfire, said Garrett Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, coordinator position — the Altmann, a coordinator and on a bill to address some of full-time employee dedicated to project manager for the tribe. the program’s issues, including administering these grants — This grant marked a first move directing money to that fund. has been vacant since October. toward recovering recreational The changes might also allow Stokes anticipates a new full-time spaces that allow people to the state to spend some of that program coordinator starting in reconnect with that landscape. financial support on outreach January and perhaps, eventually, a The tribe has secured millions in and administrative time and second employee or interns. Even other federal support since that training, including technical sup- without a program coordinator, wildfire, but this process is more port for rural communities, and the state issued another call for cumbersome, requiring detailed perhaps ease some eligibility grants this fall, with applications estimates that are difficult to requirements so more communi- due at the end of December. provide.

“Now we’re like, is it worth $200,000 to go through all this?” he said.

The process includes internal reviews and state parks staff transferring applications onto TOP DOLLAR

feel about that and how that money could have gone to communities.”

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E-6 THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN Sunday, December 24, 2023

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FAMILY Whole-Hearted d Parenting

By Maggie Penman

The Washington Post

Self-care can look different for parents

A

new mom asked recently, “How do you motivate yourself to exercise at the gym? I plan the time, arrange the child care, and then I am so unmotivated to go that I just stay home.”

Self-care, including exercise and time spent alone to recharge, may look very different when you become a parent.

My response to that mom was to rest. Take a nap. Read a book. Walk in nature.

Caring for a child who is dependent upon you for everything, including their own survival, takes focus, love and a lot of energy. We may not even be aware of how tapped out we are.

Some clues that you are drained include fatigue, irritability, more frequent arguments with your spouse or partner, lack of motivation and feeling unappreciated. You may think “not enough” thoughts such as, “I don’t have enough time” or “I don’t have enough help.”

What is the remedy for the lack of motivation on this 24-hour-a-day new voyage that you find yourself on? How do you exercise and refresh your energy?

Here are some suggestions: Normalize rest. In our culture, the message is to put rest last and to be productive until you drop; however, rest is vital.

Rest restores and revives us. By resting, we have the energy we need to be the parent that we want to be. We are more flexible and more understanding when we are rested. Normalize rest as your first resort, not your last.

Listen to your body and notice your state of being. If your body feels heavy or your thinking is cloudy or you feel resentful, listen to and honor the message. Take a break.

Lie down. Take several deep breaths. Slow it down. Ask for assistance.

Know that it will look and feel different after becoming a parent and that is OK. Comparing yourself to the individual you were before parenthood — maybe going to the gym four days a week or being solely focused on a career — creates stress and doesn’t support you.

Now your time is different; your focus is different; your priorities are different. That is all OK. Make arrangements for things to get done without your direct participation.

A friend once told me that you can make sure things get done without doing it all yourself.

If you can, hire someone to clean your house. Order your groceries online so you can simply pick them up or have someone pick them up for you. Hire a neighborhood teen to regularly walk your dog or do your laundry.

Become more OK with chaos. This was the most challenging one for me. “More OK” rather than “totally OK” works.

The unmade beds, toys scattered everywhere on the floor, piles of laundry and unwashed dishes on the counter all beckoned me to take care of them. Be assured that those dishes and that laundry and those beds will still be there when you decide to spend your energy on any of those endeavors.

Check out if you are judging yourself about the chaos or demanding of yourself to “do it all.” There may be a “you should be able to do it all and if you don’t you are not good enough” message in there somewhere. That message is false. You absolutely don’t have to do it all.

Really. For sure. I swear.

The time with your children is beautiful and sacred. It is a time that can never be reclaimed.

It is a time to connect and deepen your relationship.

If you notice that you are comparing yourself to your preparent self, practice some self-compassion.

Keep in mind that you are the model of self-care for your child. Allow them to see you resting, pausing and listening to your body.

Most importantly, allow yourself to receive the vitality gained from resting and the serenity gained from being rather than doing.

Maggie Macaulay is the owner of Whole Hearted Parenting, offering coaching, courses and workshops. She can be contacted at 954-4838021 or Maggie@WholeHeartedParenting.com.

Faces & places The Santa Fe Baby Fund, an initiative of the Santa Fe Community Foundation that supports the well-being of infants, toddlers and their caretakers, has announced $70,000 in grants to six local nonprofits.

The recipients are Breath of my Heart Birthplace, Gerard’s House, Las Cumbres Community Services, Many Mothers, Presbyterian Medical Services Foundation and the Santa Fe Children’s Museum.

The grants range from $10,000 to $15,000.

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

C-7

Best gift for kids might be fewer toys

Maggie Macaulay

CELEBRATIONS

Sunday, December 24, 2023

When Alexia Metz thinks back on the early years of parenting, she mostly remembers the stuff.

“I was living in a small condo and had twins,” she said. “I felt like the walls were closing in on me.”

Many parents of young kids may feel pressure to fill their homes with toys, especially this time of year. But after researching the topic with her team at the University of Toledo, Metz, an occupational therapy professor, learned that having fewer toys doesn’t just make parents less crazy.

It’s better for kids, too.

The Washington Post spoke with experts on childhood development to understand how play helps children’s brains become more creative and flexible and learn important skills such

as problem-solving and collaboration.

One of the takeaways is that having fewer toys around leads to deeper engagement with each of them, which promotes creative thinking.

“What toddlers are programed to do is explore their environment and see what kind of opportunities there are,” Metz said. In a room full of toys, they’ll want to engage with every single one them — but that might mean they won’t engage deeply with any of them.

Metz, who also used to see patients as an occupational therapist, got interested in studying how children interact with toys after hearing concerns from parents that their toddlers never played with a single toy for very long. They would move quickly from one toy to the next, never sitting down with any of them.

Because of her background in neuroscience and childhood devel-

opment, Metz suspected that perhaps the environment was the driver of this behavior. To test that hypothesis, Metz and a team of researchers had a group of toddlers come play in their lab. They had each toddler play under two different scenarios: in one, they offered four toys and in another, 16.

In a room with fewer toys, the toddlers sat down and engaged more deeply in play with each toy, interacting with the same item for longer and in more ways. They might first push a button, and then pull a lever. Then they would turn it upside down or on its side. If they were playing with a dump truck, they wouldn’t just dump — they would dump, stack, flip, make it gallop like a horse — in other words, pretend.

When there were more toys, the toddlers spent less time with each of them, and they tried fewer things.

Heather Kuhaneck, an occupational therapist and professor at Southern Connecticut State University who studies play, compared it to the experience of giving a young child a toy as a present, only to find that they’re more interested in the wrapping paper and the box. That might be because a box is more open-ended: It could be a house, or a hat or a ramp for a toy car. Simpler toys (and fewer toys) leave room for higher-quality play.

Kuhaneck said similar principles apply with older kids, too.

“For older children, honestly, the best kind of play is to be outside in nature,” she said. “Children will make up their own games and fun with the things that they find. It prompts their creativity depending on what’s available in nature that happens to be nearby.”

‘Actively recruiting parents’ Foster families sought for growing number of minors crossing border on their own

By Giovanna Dell’Orto

Associated Press

HOMESTEAD, Fla. nuggling on the sofa across from the Christmas tree, Sol proudly showed off the dog her foster parents gave her for earning all A’s even though she crossed the southern U.S. border knowing very little English.

“They helped me a lot,” said the 14-year-old eighth grader. Then she blushed, hid her face in Cosmo’s fur, and added in Spanish, “Oooh, I said that English!”

Sol — who is from Argentina — is among tens of thousands of children who arrive in the United States without a parent during a huge surge in immigrants that’s prompting congressional debate to change asylum laws.

Faith and community groups across the country are trying to recruit many more foster families to help move the children from overwhelmed government facilities. U.S. authorities encountered nearly 140,000 unaccompanied minors at the border with Mexico in fiscal year 2023, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Almost 10,000 are still in custody of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement, according to its latest data.

“It’s amazing the quantity of children who are coming,” said Mónica Farías, who leads the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami. “We’re actively recruiting parents.”

Program leaders have been going to churches and other community organizations every weekend to find more families like Andy and Caroline Hazelton, Sol’s foster parents.

Over the past four years, the Hazeltons — a couple in their early 30s living in a Miami suburb, with three biological daughters ages 8, 6 and almost 2 — have fostered five migrant minors for several months and more for shorter periods. Two teens were from Afghanistan, but most came from Central America.

“Our faith inspired us,” Andy Hazelton said, adding they felt the need to respond to the Gospel exhortation of helping others as one would help Jesus when they heard about families being separated at the border.

Like other foster families, the Hazeltons say they focus not on the often stridently divisive politics of immigration, but simply on assisting children in need. A globe ornament on their living room Christmas tree is marked with dots for the birthplaces of each family member.

“Every Christmas we have new kids in our home,” Caroline Hazelton said, adding that even the Muslim Afghan teens, who had never seen a stocking bulging with presents, quickly joined the festivities.

Like most youths in these programs, those boys were eventually reunited with their birth family — the mother hugged Caroline for 10 minutes, sobbing in gratefulness. With Sol, whose father has gone missing on the journey across the desert, and other children without relatives in the United States, foster families’ commitments can last years.

As Sol packed her school lunch in a Stranger Things bag under Cosmo’s watchful eyes, the Hazeltons said they would be happy to have her stay forever and already refer to their four daughters.

Regardless of the length of stay, foster parents say they need to give the children enough stability to get comfortable with unfamiliar U.S. customs — from air conditioning to strict school routines —

S

uuu

The Life Center Foundation, a charitable organization that recognizes nonprofits addressing issues affecting children and teens living in poverty in New Mexico, has announced the finalists for its 2024 LCF Leadership Award of $20,000.

They include Girls Inc.; Saranam, a homeless shelter for children and families in Central New Mexico; the Sky Center; Solace Sexual Assault Services; and St. Elizabeth Casa Familia. uuu

The Santa Fe Striders have

ABOVE: Sol, left, a 14-year-old from Argentina, kisses 8-year-old foster sister Maddie Hazelton as they play together last week in the kitchen of Sol’s foster parents, Andy, right, and Caroline Hazelton, in Homestead, Fla. The Hazeltons also have housed migrant minors from Afghanistan and Central America.

LEFT: Andy Hazelton holds a globe ornament on his family’s Christmas tree on which he and his wife have marked the home countries of migrant kids they have fostered.

REBECCA BLACKWELL/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

and to learn more English.

In Baltimore, Jason Herring has been a foster father for a year, to five children from Central America through a program run by Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service that focuses on short-term care for those whose return to biological parents is being assessed by the government.

He says he is not religious — initially, he feared he wouldn’t be accepted in the program for being gay. That led him to sympathize with the plight of children suffering because of adult decisions they have no power over.

“I understand what it feels to be the other,” he said. “You don’t have to be a perfect parent, just be there.”

Like all foster families, those taking in unaccompanied migrant children must be licensed by their state, and often receive extra training specific to immigration law and trauma, said Amanda Nosel, the Lutheran agency’s program manager for foster care in Baltimore.

“There’s certainly a national shortage in foster parents right now. We have so many kids who need homes,” Nosel said.

Acclimating to a new country in a caring family setting is especially important given the deep and increasing level of trauma these children carry, from what they had to flee in their countries through the journey to the United States.

“It’s trauma on top of trauma on top of trauma.

Kids are just living in survival mode,” said Sarah Howell, a clinical social worker in Houston with long experience counseling migrant children, including a teenage girl she’s raising.

They often internalize fear and grieving so much that they appear mature beyond their age, while still being terrified that any new familial relationship will abandon them. It takes a while before fos-

announced a donation of $26,000 from HelenAnn and Robert Phillips toward the Santa Fe Striders Scholarship program.

In 2024, $1,000 will be used to support the HelenAnn Phillips Inspiration Award. The Striders will deposit the remaining $25,000 in an endowment to support future scholarships.

HelenAnn Phillips fondly recalls those days in her youth when she would run across the fields of her father’s dairy farm in southern Illinois, the nonprofit said in a news release. Many years later she took up running at the age of 43.

At the 2022 National Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., her 1,500-meter race time was the fastest in the world

ter parents are relieved to see regular child or teen behavior make an appearance — even if that means refusing all but junk food or sibling bickering, it’s still a sign of normalcy.

“All of them are kids, but with an adult age,” said Bernie Vilar, who works as a mentor in a home for vulnerable youth, including those who age out of Miami’s Catholic Charities foster care. Vilar, 24, was homeless when he was younger, and he tries to pass on the passion for education that helped him survive that.

But he says many are too burdened by the debts they owe the smugglers who brought them to the U.S. to be interested in anything but work, while others struggle with depression after witnessing death and violence on their journeys.

Brandon Garcia, 20, seems to have beaten the odds. After crossing alone at 15 because his parents told him he would have no opportunities in Guatemala’s Indigenous highlands, he spent six months living with the Hazeltons and is now in Vilar’s group home, finishing technical college.

He still misses his family, but loves the Hazeltons’ daughters as his own sisters. At a holiday party in a suburban Miami bowling alley organized by the Catholic Charities program, he played with them at intervals between bites of pizza and aiming for strikes with other young men.

Garcia said the speed of change as he adapted to the United States was hard, but he has never thought of going back. His happiest moment came when the Hazeltons brought him to Orlando’s theme parks — a holiday tradition they plan to continue this year with Sol — and they watched the fireworks display.

“I felt the same happiness as with my family,” Garcia said. “I told myself, this is a country of great opportunities, and I have to take advantage of them.”

for her 85-89 age group.

That fall at the Huntsman World Games in St. George, Utah, with 33 countries represented, she garnered gold and silver medals in the 1,500-, 800-, and 400-meter races. She has been an active runner for the Santa Fe Striders since 2014.

Education standouts U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., recently announced his nominees to the U.S. service academies.

The following local students received nominations through Heinrich’s office: u U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo.: Jacqueline

Cervantes Charlifue of Santa Fe. u U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.: Jason Shelton Jr. of Edgewood. u U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.: Lucy Kelley of Los Alamos. uuu Jingyi Chen of Santa Fe recently was awarded a degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. uuu John Salazar Hickey of Santa Fe graduated from the University of Georgia’s Class of 2023 with an MBA in business administration.

The New Mexican

C-8

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

FAMILY

Sunday, December 24, 2023

© 2023 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 40, No. 4

Seeing Double

Gingerbread houses come in an endless variety of shapes and sizes. Can you find the two gingerbread houses that look exactly alike?

Ask a friend to come up with three nouns (person, place or thing) and three verbs (action words like swim and walk). Use them to fill in the blanks in this story. Read it aloud to share some holiday humor!

STUFF YOU’LL NEED:

plastic zipper bags graham crackers

powdered sugar

Ricky Reindeer wanted to get a special gift for his friend

assorted candies shredded coconut

milk

bread knife

Sadie Squirrel. He walked

pretzel sticks

deep into the forest, and was

INSTRUCTIONS:

surprised to find a shiny, new ______________ in the snow.

He picked it up and started to ________________ back

Make icing by mixing 2 cups powdered sugar with 3 to 4 tablespoons milk.Whip until it is the consistency of toothpaste.

Put icing in zipper plastic bag. Snip a tiny hole in a bottom corner of the bag.

Using a gentle sawing motion, carefully cut the corners of two graham crackers with a bread knife.

home. He wrapped the gift in

Next, carefully cut a full size graham cracker in half.

_________________ and put a nice big _______________ on top.

Squeeze a line of icing from bag along edge of graham cracker wall.

More decorating ideas!

Frost ice cream cones to make trees. Add candy ornaments.

Attach graham cracker wall as shown.

How many candy canes are on this page?

gift. She was so happy, she began to ________________ around in the snow. Ricky was

Licorice ropes form pathways.

Keep attaching walls and Frost roof and sprinkle roof panels with icing. with coconut flakes.

Sadie was thrilled with the

Use marshmallows, pretzel sticks and candies to make snowmen.

happy, too. So he began to _______________ merrily while jumping for joy.

Use icing and pretzel sticks to make a fence for your house.

=A =C

=E =G

=I =M

=N =O

=P =T

Make your own holiday cards or gift tags by clipping out words and pictures from your newspaper or printing them from the online edition. Paste these onto paper to make into a card or gift tag.

Standards Link: Research: Use the newspaper to locate information.

How many candy canes can you find in this box?

Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Follow simple written directions.

SPRINKLE CRACKER PRETZEL COCONUT GRAHAM ZIPPER HOUSES DOUBLE SAWING IDEAS ICING SUGAR CANDY MILK WHIP

With hundreds of topics, every Kid Scoop printable activity pack features six-to-seven pages of high-interest extra learning activities for home and school! Get your free sample today at:

G T U N O C O C Z P R I Y D N A C I S I L E Z T E R P M P H H L K N G P A S R W O B E C E H U A I G U U R R A G B W N M S O R R A R E I K I E D G R A D C N L L S S A E D I S G E K Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognize identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

This week’s word:

CONSISTENCY

One meaning of the noun consistency is the degree of firmness or stickiness.

The mud was the consistency of bread dough.

Try to use the word consistency in a sentence today when talking with your friends and family.

Winter Clues

Look through the newspaper for ten or more clues that it is winter in your town. Write a paragraph describing the winter holidays in your town. Incorporate words that you found in the newspaper.

ANSWER: Crisp Kringle.

Standards Link: Writing Applications: Use descriptive language that clarifies and enhances ideas.

Finish this sentence and then write five details about your home.

SPORTS

Scoreboard D-2 Prep roundup D-3 Weather D-6

SECTION D SunDay, DecemBer 24, 2023 THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

Kill steps down as NMSU coach Second-year leader cites lack of energy for decision to leave after wildly successful start

By James Barron

jbarron@sfnewmexican.com

Jerry Kill has been a mover and a shaker since taking over the head football coaching position at New Mexico State University in November of 2021.

Kill produced a 17-11 record in two seasons with the Aggies,

an upset of SEC school Auburn in November and consecutive bowl game appearances. He also pushed for the installation of a new video board, a new home

INSIDE u MWC’s Air Force runs over JMU to cap Saturday’s bowls. PAGE D-3

locker room and an artificial grass practice field prior to the first home game of 2024, thanks to the contract he signed.

And Kill was in line to receive a boost in pay from $600,000 to $1.1 million during the duration of that contract — through the 2027 season.

But it wasn’t enough to keep the 62-year-old head coach in Please see story on Page D-3

New Mexico State head coach Jerry Kill thanks fans after a November upset of Auburn in Auburn, Ala. Kill announced Saturday he was resigning as NMSU’s football coach, citing a lack of energy. Kill produced a 17-11 record in two seasons with the Aggies and the program’s first consecutive bowl appearances on top of beating the SEC power. BUTCH DILL/ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

NFL PIT TSBURGH 34, CINCINNATI 11

PREP BA SKE TBALL

A CROWDED FIELD Area coaches, ADs say New Mexico has too many tournaments scheduled, ‘teetering’ on overload

GENE J. PUSKAR/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Steelers wide receiver George Pickens scores the second of his two touchdowns during Saturday’s win over Cincinnati in Pittsburgh. The 66-yarder in the third quarter came after he scored on an 86-yard catch on Pittsburgh’s second snap.

Pickens goes long twice to keep Steelers’ season alive

By Will Graves

The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH — Mason Rudolph isn’t afraid to admit his mind would drift toward the future as the seasons passed and he remained at the bottom of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ depth chart.

“You have INSIDE confidence in yourself u Bills kick late field goal as a player,” to escape from Chargers. the longtime u Broncos have been backup Belichick’s bugaboo. u Dallas and Miami quarterback square off in matchup said. “But of unproven contenders.

I’m kinda PAGE D-4 thinking, ‘Am I going TODAY ON TV to jump into 11 a.m. CBS — the comCleveland at Houston mercial real 11 a.m. FOX — estate realm Detroit at Minnesota next year or 2:25 p.m. FOX — am I going Dallas at Miami to play quar6:15 p.m. NFLN — terback?’ ” New England at Denver A job change may have to wait. There may be life in Rudolph’s NFL career — and in the Steelers’ unwieldy season.

Two-plus years after his last appearance in a regular-season game, Rudolph threw for 290 yards and two long touchdowns to embattled wide receiver George Pickens on Saturday as the Steelers gave their fading playoff hopes a jolt with a 34-11 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

With Kenny Pickett still recovering from right ankle surgery and with second-stringer Mitch Trubisky ineffective in two starts, Pittsburgh (8-7) turned to the third-longest tenured player on the roster. Rudolph responded by making the kind of big plays that have been Please see story on Page D-4

Hoping to make a wave Rowing community hopes upcoming movie will boost sport’s popularity ahead of 2024 Olympics. PAGE D-5

JIM WEBER/NEW MEXICAN FILE PHOTO

Santa Fe High’s Christian Herrera, left, and Joshua Gallegos battle for a rebound with Los Alamos’ Josiah Fresquez on Dec. 1 in the Bobby Rodriguez Capital City Tournament in Santa Fe. Every weekend since the start of December, there have been at least a half dozen prep basketball tournaments statewide, with that number increasing every year. “I mean, I look at the month of December, and I call it, ‘The Month of Tournaments,’ ” West Las Vegas AD Richard Tripp said.

By James Barron

jbarron@sfnewmexican.com

I

t was a phone call West Las Vegas athletic director Richard Tripp received a couple of days ago, asking him if his girls basketball team was interested in playing one game at Roswell’s Poe Corn Invitational.

To him, it was a shot across the bow regarding the glut of regular-season basketball tournaments in the state.

Tripp said school officials were looking for several varsity teams to fill an empty slot in the tournament’s bracket since it couldn’t find one team looking for three games the tournament provided. Tripp said it is a practice that has become more commonplace because there are too many

tournaments and not enough teams to fill them.

It’s a pattern that concerns Tripp — as well as coaches and other ADs around the state.

Could it be the state has reached the tipping point of too many tournaments?

“I think we’re teetering on it, I really do,” Tripp said. “I mean, I look at the month of December, and I call it, ‘The Month of Tournaments.’ ” Every weekend since the start of December, there have been at least a half dozen tournaments statewide — except for this week, since it comes right as the Christmas holiday is set to begin. And the number of tournaments every year seems to increase; this year saw Española Valley and Coronado create their own tournaments.

The allure of tournaments is palpable. They allow the host teams to play three games in as many

days at home, which alleviates the need to schedule single opponents to fill a 26-game schedule. The better tournaments in the state can also be great revenue generators for those schools — the Hobbs Holiday Tournament and the APS Metro Tournament are good examples — with some of them raisings tens of thousands of dollars if the field of teams is strong.

Hosting a tournament also means schools do not have to dip into already-shrinking athletic budgets to travel for away games, or to go to a tournament.

However, with so many schools looking to benefit from those events, it has created a scheduling chasm. When a tournament cannot fill its bracket, whether because of a lack of interest from other Please see story on Page D-3

Labor case could give college athletes rights as employees National board hearing in Los Angeles could be death knell to amateurism model

Southern California running back Brandon Outlaw before the Cotton Bowl against Tulane in Arlington, Texas. Outlaw took the stand last week in a case before the National Labor Relations Board in a complaint for USC’s football and men’s and women’s basketball players, seeking to give them status as employees.

By Billy Witz The New York Times

LOS ANGELES — Brandon Outlaw sat on a witness stand for two days this week and described what it was like to play football at the University of Southern California.

His fingerprints were scanned when he arrived for meals at the athletes’ dining hall to make sure he was there.

He received text messages from anonymous class checkers, who on occasion asked him to send photos to verify he was indeed in class. He regularly urinated into a cup before practice and handed it to a member of the training staff, who would inform him if he was properly hydrated.

After Outlaw conducted an interview with a student journalist, a coach reminded him that he had violated

SAM HODDE/ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

team policy by not clearing the interview with a school official.

Outlaw, who graduated in December 2022 with a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and innovation, detailed

Sports editor: Will Webber, wwebber@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Jordan Fox, jfox@sfnewmexican.com

an existence that bore little semblance to the romantic ideal of the college athlete. Instead, he described football as occupying close to 60 hours per week during the season and requiring him —

with an athletic academic counselor’s assistance — to shoehorn his classes into windows that did not conflict with his countless football-related activities, which some days started at 6 a.m.

The question at the heart of Outlaw’s testimony, at a National Labor Relations Board hearing, is a simple one that carries profound implications: Should college athletes be considered employees?

If the answer is yes, it could be the death knell for the amateurism model that has remained a bedrock of college Please see story on Page D-5 SANTAFENEWMEXICAN.COM

D-2

SCOREBOARD

Sunday, December 24, 2023

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

TODAY ON TV

SPORTS BETTING LINES

Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts. All times local. ada vs. U.S., Gothenburg, Sweden

COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) 11:30 a.m. ESPN2 — The Diamond Head Classic: Temple vs.

Portland, Seventh-Place Game, Honolulu 2 p.m. ESPN2 — The Diamond Head Classic: Old Dominion vs.

UMass, Fifth-Place Game, Honolulu 4:30 p.m. ESPN2 — The Diamond Head Classic: TCU vs. Hawaii, Third-Place Game, Honolulu 7 p.m. ESPN — The Diamond Head Classic: Nevada vs. Georgia Tech, Championship, Honolulu 10 a.m. NHLN — Exhibition: Can-

FAVORITE at ATLANTA Green Bay Cleveland Detroit at N.Y. JETS Seattle Jacksonville at MIAMI at CHICAGO at DENVER

OPEN 1½ 4½ 1½ 3 2½ 1½ 2½ 1½ 3 5½

TODAY 2½ 4 2½ 3 3 3½ 1½ 1½ 4 7½

O/U (44½) (37½) (40½) (47½) (36½) (41½) (43) (49½) (43) (35½)

UNDERDOG Indianapolis at CAROLINA at HOUSTON at MINNESOTA Washington at TENNESSEE at TAMPA BAY Dallas Arizona New England

SOCCER (MEN’S) 6 a.m. USA — Premier League: Chelsea at Wolverhampton

FAVORITE at KANSAS CITY at PHILADELPHIA at SAN FRANCISCO

OPEN 9½ 7½ 4½

TODAY 10½ 13½ 5½

O/U (40½) (43) (47)

UNDERDOG Las Vegas N.Y. Giants Baltimore

MONDAY

NFL W

Miami Buffalo e-N.Y. Jets e-New England

SOUTH

Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville e-Tennessee

NORTH

x-Baltimore Cleveland Cincinnati Pittsburgh

WEST

L

10 8 5 3

4 6 9 11

W

W

9 7 6 5

0 0 0 0

NATIONAL CONFERENCE EAST W

x-Dallas x-Philadelphia N.Y. Giants e-Washington

SOUTH

Tampa Bay New Orleans Atlanta e-Carolina

Detroit Minnesota Green Bay Chicago

WEST

L

10 10 5 4

4 4 9 10

W

L

7 7 6 2

W

10 7 6 5

4 7 8 9

L

HOME 5-2-0 7-1-0 5-3-0 5-4-0

HOME

319 304 265 303

245 351 280 345

PCT

PF

PA

431 359 189 281

PF

296 331 258 206

PF

.714 .500 .429 .357

T

y-San Francisco 11 3 L.A. Rams 8 7 Seattle 7 7 e-Arizona 3 11 e-Eliminated from playoffs x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division

5-2-0 3-4-0 3-5-0 4-3-0

.643 .500 .429 .357

PCT

0 0 0 0

W

PA

.500 .467 .429 .143

T

HOME

PA

PF

PCT

0 0 0 0

PA

PCT

PCT

0 0 0 0

.786 .533 .500 .214

4-3-0 4-3-0 5-3-0 2-5-0

HOME

264 341 338 423

7-0-0 5-1-0 3-3-0 1-5-0

PA

HOME

290 297 278 348

3-3-0 4-3-0 4-3-0 2-4-0

PA

382 290 300 287

HOME

331 269 301 329

PF

425 357 300 259

AWAY

6-1-0 6-2-0 3-5-0 1-7-0

295 343 313 301 225 289 345 291

.714 .714 .357 .286

HOME

294 254 287 299

384 309 318 257

T

T

L

PF

PA

.786 .643 .533 .533

0 0 0 0

7 8 8 12

306 344 319 257

PCT

T

5 7 8 9

PF

.571 .571 .571 .357

0 0 0 0

L

441 379 201 186

PCT

T

3 5 7 7

PF

.714 .571 .357 .214

0 0 0 0

L

W

PCT

T

6 6 6 9

11 9 8 8

T

0 0 0 0

L

8 8 8 5

Kansas City Denver Las Vegas L.A. Chargers

NORTH

FAVORITE Minnesota Texas State Kansas

OPEN 7 6½ 12½

TODAY 4½ 4½ 12½

O/U (39½) (59½) (67½)

UNDERDOG Bowling Green Rice UNLV

FAVORITE Virginia Tech West Virginia Louisville Texas A&M

OPEN 5½ 3½ 6½ 4½

TODAY 9½ 6½ 7½ 1½

O/U (44½) (54½) (57½) (52½)

UNDERDOG Tulane North Carolina USC Oklahoma State

5-2-0 2-4-0 4-3-0 3-3-0

PA

234 332 335 376

AFC

4-3-0 2-4-0 2-4-0 2-4-0

NFC

7-3-0 4-5-0 3-7-0 3-6-0

AWAY

AFC

3-4-0 5-2-0 5-1-0 1-6-0

5-4-0 6-4-0 6-5-0 3-7-0

AWAY

AFC

3-1-0 4-1-0 2-2-0 0-5-0

NFC

3-2-0 2-2-0 2-1-0 2-2-0

NFC

DIV

4-1-0 2-2-0 1-4-0 2-2-0

FAVORITE SMU Miami (FL) Kansas State Arizona

OPEN 8½ 4½ 6½ 1½

TODAY 10½ 1½ 2½ 2½

O/U (49½) (40½) (47½) (62½)

UNDERDOG Boston College Rutgers NC State Oklahoma

DIV

2-2-0 3-2-0 4-1-0 0-4-0

FAVORITE Clemson Notre Dame Iowa State Ohio State

OPEN 7 10½ 7 6½

TODAY 5½ 6½ 9½ 1½

O/U (46½) (41½) (57½) (48½)

UNDERDOG Kentucky Oregon State Memphis Missouri

DIV

6-1-0 2-4-0 3-4-0 3-3-0

7-3-0 6-3-0 3-7-0 6-5-0

4-0-0 3-2-0 5-0-0 2-2-0

3-2-0 3-2-0 0-5-0 4-1-0

FAVORITE Penn State Auburn Georgia Wyoming

OPEN 3½ 2½ 14 1½

TODAY 3½ 7 14½ 3½

O/U (48½) (45½) (44½) (44½)

UNDERDOG Ole Miss Maryland Florida State Toledo

AWAY

AFC

NFC

DIV

5-2-0 3-4-0 1-5-0 3-4-0

7-2-0 4-5-0 4-5-0 3-6-0

2-3-0 3-2-0 2-3-0 2-3-0

3-1-0 2-2-0 2-2-0 1-3-0

AWAY

AFC

NFC

DIV

3-4-0 5-3-0 2-6-0 3-5-0

3-1-0 4-1-0 1-4-0 2-2-0

AWAY

AFC

4-4-0 3-5-0 2-5-0 0-8-0

AWAY

5-2-0 5-3-0 2-5-0 2-6-0

HOME

5-1-0 5-3-0 5-2-0 2-5-0

7-3-0 6-3-0 4-5-0 2-8-0

NFC

1-3-0 3-2-0 2-2-0 1-3-0

AFC

4-1-0 1-4-0 2-3-0 1-4-0

AWAY

6-2-0 3-4-0 2-5-0 1-6-0

6-4-0 4-6-0 4-6-0 1-9-0

NFC

6-3-0 6-3-0 4-5-0 4-5-0

AFC

2-2-0 2-3-0 1-2-0 1-4-0

NFC

9-1-0 6-4-0 6-5-0 2-7-0

4-1-0 3-1-0 2-2-0 0-5-0

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY, DEC. 30

LINE 3½ 6½ 5½ 6½

DIV

2-2-0 2-1-0 2-2-0 2-3-0

DIV

5-0-0 4-1-0 1-4-0 0-5-0

No. 7 Ohio St. vs. No. 9 Missouri, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY, DEC. 30 PEACH BOWL

Atlanta No. 10 Penn St. vs. No. 11 Mississippi, 10 a.m.

7-25, D.Davis 1-8, Johnston 1-1, Spiller 2-1, Kelley 1-(minus 2).

PASSING_Buffalo, J.Allen 15-21-1-237. L.A. Chargers, Stick 23-33-0-215.

RECEIVING_Buffalo, Diggs 5-29, Davis 4-130, Shakir 3-45, Knox 2-26, Kincaid 1-7. L.A. Chargers, Everett 7-42, Palmer 5-47, Ekeler 3-21, Erickson 2-36, Johnston 2-29, Smartt 1-23, Guyton 1-12, D.Davis 1-6, Spiller 1-4.

MISSED FIELD GOALS_None.

L.A. Rams 30, New Orleans 22

SATURDAY’S GAMES

Pittsburgh 34, Cincinnati 11 Buffalo 24, L.A. Chargers 22

SUNDAY’S GAMES

Cleveland at Houston, 11 a.m.

Detroit at Minnesota, 11 a.m.

Green Bay at Carolina, 11 a.m.

Indianapolis at Atlanta, 11 a.m.

Seattle at Tennessee, 11 a.m.

Washington at N.Y. Jets, 11 a.m.

Jacksonville at Tampa Bay, 2:05 p.m.

Arizona at Chicago, 2:25 p.m.

Dallas at Miami, 2:25 p.m.

New England at Denver, 6:15 p.m.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL SCORES, SCHEDULE DEC. 16 MYRTLE BEACH BOWL

Conway, S.C. Ohio 41, Georgia Southern 21

MONDAY’S GAMES

MUSIC CITY BOWL

Nashville, Tenn.

Maryland vs. Auburn, noon

ORANGE BOWL

Miami No. 4 Florida St. vs. No. 6 Georgia, 2 p.m.

Tucson, Ariz.

Toledo vs. Wyoming, 2:30 p.m.

Orlando, Fla. No. 20 Iowa vs. No. 25 Tennessee, 11 a.m.

FIESTA BOWL

ROSE BOWL CFP SEMIFINAL

Pasadena, Calif.

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 5 Alabama, 3 p.m.

New Orleans No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas, 6:45 p.m.

MONDAY, JAN. 8 CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

NEW ORLEANS BOWL

AIR FORCE 31, NO. 24 JAMES MADISON 21

SATURDAY, DEC. 30

Detroit at Dallas, 6:15 p.m.

CURE BOWL

SUNDAY, DEC. 31

Orlando, Fla. Appalachian St. 13, Miami (Ohio) 9

Arizona at Philadelphia, 11 a.m.

Atlanta at Chicago, 11 a.m.

Carolina at Jacksonville, 11 a.m.

L.A. Rams at N.Y. Giants, 11 a.m.

Las Vegas at Indianapolis, 11 a.m.

Miami at Baltimore, 11 a.m.

New England at Buffalo, 11 a.m.

New Orleans at Tampa Bay, 11 a.m.

San Francisco at Washington, 11 a.m.

Tennessee at Houston, 11 a.m.

Pittsburgh at Seattle, 2:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Kansas City, 2:25 p.m.

L.A. Chargers at Denver, 2:25 p.m.

Green Bay at Minnesota, 6:20 p.m.

PITTSBURGH 34, CINCINNATI 11

CINCINNATI PITTSBURGH

0 7

0 17

11 7

0 3

NEW MEXICO BOWL

Albuquerque Fresno St. 37, New Mexico St. 10

LA BOWL HOSTED Inglewood, Calif.

UCLA 35, Boise St. 22

INDEPENDENCE BOWL

Shreveport, La. Texas Tech 34, California 14 Monday, Dec. 18

FAMOUS TOASTERY BOWL

Charlotte, N.C. W. Kentucky 38, Old Dominion 35, OT

— —

11 34

First Quarter Pit_Pickens 86 pass from Rudolph (Boswell kick), 10:45.

Second Quarter Pit_Austin 7 run (Boswell kick), 14:21.

Pit_Harris 3 run (Boswell kick), 7:06.

Pit_FG Boswell 50, :00.

Third Quarter Cin_Higgins 80 pass from Browning (Mixon pass from Browning), 11:22.

Pit_Pickens 66 pass from Rudolph (Boswell kick), 9:48.

Cin_FG McPherson 35, :00.

Fourth Quarter Pit_FG Boswell 30, 6:57.

A_66,646.

CIN

PIT

First downs 17 16 Total Net Yards 368 397 Rushes-yards 16-59 30-113 Passing 309 284 Punt Returns 1-5 0-0 Kickoff Returns 0-0 0-0 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 3-25 Comp-Att-Int 28-42-3 17-27-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 3-26 1-6 Punts 3-44.0 5-38.8 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-0 Penalties-Yards 3-20 2-15 Time of Possession 31:49 28:11 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING_Cincinnati, Mixon 11-43, C.Brown 4-16, Browning 1-0. Pittsburgh, Harris 19-78, Warren 8-24, Austin 1-7, Rudolph 2-4.

PASSING_Cincinnati, Browning 28-42-3-335.

Pittsburgh, Rudolph 17-27-0-290.

RECEIVING_Cincinnati, Higgins 5-140, Boyd 5-59, Irwin 4-37, Iosivas 4-36, D.Sample 3-38, C.Brown 2-8, Mixon 2-7, Wilcox 1-6, Hudson 1-5, C.Jones 1-(minus 1). Pittsburgh, Warren 5-30, Pickens 4-195, A.Robinson 4-36, D.Johnson 2-15, Washington 1-8, Boykin 1-6.

MISSED FIELD GOALS_None.

BUFFALO 24, L.A. CHARGERS 22

BUFFALO L.A. CHARGERS

0 3

14 7

7 3

3 9

— —

First Quarter LAC_FG Dicker 20, 6:32.

Second Quarter LAC_Stick 1 run (Dicker kick), 13:49.

Buf_G.Davis 57 pass from J.Allen (Bass kick), 9:02.

Buf_J.Allen 2 run (Bass kick), :38.

Third Quarter LAC_FG Dicker 40, 7:22.

Buf_J.Allen 1 run (Bass kick), 1:28.

Fourth Quarter LAC_FG Dicker 47, 12:36.

LAC_FG Dicker 45, 7:19.

LAC_FG Dicker 53, 5:26.

Buf_FG Bass 29, :28.

A_67,678.

BUF

24 22

DEC. 19 FRISCO BOWL

Frisco, Texas UTSA 35, Marshall 17

DEC. 21 BOCA RATON BOWL Boca Raton, Fla. USF 45, Syracuse 0

FRIDAY GASPARILLA BOWL Tampa, Fla. Geogia Tech 30, UCF 17

SATURDAY CAMELLIA BOWL

Montgomery, Ala. N. Illinois 21, Arkansas St. 19

BIRMINGHAM BOWL Birmingham, Ala. Duke 17, Troy 10

ARMED FORCES BOWL

Fort Worth, Texas Air Force 31, No. 24 James Madison 21

FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL Boise, Idaho Georgia St. 45, Utah St. 22

68 VENTURES BOWL

Mobile, Ala. South Alabama 59, Eastern Michigan 10

LAS VEGAS BOWL

Las Vegas, Nev. Northwestern 14, Utah 7

HAWAII BOWL

Honolulu, Hawaii Coastal Carolina vs. San Jose St., late

QUICK LANE BOWL

Detroit Bowling Green vs. Minnesota, noon

FIRST RESPONDER BOWL Dallas Texas St. vs. Rice, 3:30 p.m.

GUARANTEED RATE BOWL

Phoenix Kansas vs. UNLV, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY MILITARY BOWL PRESENTED

Annapolis, Md. No. 23 Tulane vs. Virginia Tech, noon

DUKE’S MAYO BOWL

Charlotte, N.C. North Carolina vs. West Virginia, 3:30 p.m.

HOLIDAY BOWL

San Diego, Calif.

No. 16 Louisville vs. Southern Cal, 6 p.m.

TEXAS BOWL

Houston No. 22 Oklahoma St. vs. Texas A&M, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY FENWAY BOWL

Boston No. 17 SMU vs. Boston College, 9 a.m.

PINSTRIPE BOWL

New York Rutgers vs. Miami, 12:15 p.m.

POP-TARTS BOWL LAC

First downs 16 18 Total Net Yards 335 273 Rushes-yards 30-105 27-98 Passing 230 175 Punt Returns 3-11 1-13 Kickoff Returns 1-17 2-16 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 1-0 Comp-Att-Int 15-21-1 23-33-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 1-7 5-40 Punts 4-52.25 4-50.0 Fumbles-Lost 3-2 0-0 Penalties-Yards 7-64 6-29 Time of Possession 26:56 33:04 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING_Buffalo, Cook 20-70, Fournette 5-20, J.Allen 5-15. L.A. Chargers, Ekeler 15-65, Stick

Orlando, Fla. No. 19 NC State vs. Kansas St., 3:45 p.m.

ALAMO BOWL

San Antonio, Texas No. 12 Oklahoma No. 14 Arizona, 7:15 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 29 GATOR BOWL

Jacksonville, Fla. Clemson vs. Kentucky, 10 a.m.

SUN BOWL

El Paso, Texas No. 15 Notre Dame vs. No. 21 Oregon St., noon

LIBERTY BOWL

7 3

— —

21 31

First Quarter AFA_Michel 1 run (Dapore kick), 8:11.

JMU_Sproles 18 pass from McCloud (Wise kick), 5:00.

Second Quarter AFA_Michel 1 run (Dapore kick), 7:51.

AFA_Roznos 42 pass from Larrier (Dapore kick), :27.

Third Quarter JMU_Black 5 pass from McCloud (Wise kick), 9:11.

AFA_Larrier 1 run (Dapore kick), 4:07.

Fourth Quarter AFA_FG Dapore 26, 8:20.

JMU_Sproles 7 pass from McCloud (Wise kick), 3:10.

A_30,828.

JMU

AFA

First downs 16 18 Total Net Yards 283 396 Rushes-yards 18-35 63-351 Passing 248 45 Punt Returns 0-0 0-0 Kickoff Returns 5-97 0-0 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 1-0 Comp-Att-Int 20-33-1 3-5-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 4-26 0-0 Punts 5-39.8 3-47.333 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 0-0 Penalties-Yards 3-10 0-0 Time of Possession 23:09 36:51 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING_James Madison, Black 11-43, Palmer 3-20, (Team) 1-(minus 2), McCloud 3-(minus 26).

Air Force, Michel 35-203, Eldridge 8-78, Larrier 9-26, Calvert 2-17, Carson 2-14, Kinamon 3-9, Burk 2-8, (Team) 2-(minus 4).

PASSING_James Madison, McCloud 20-33-1-248.

Air Force, Larrier 3-5-0-45.

RECEIVING_James Madison, E.Sarratt 8-115, Sproles 5-55, Black 4-34, R.Brown 2-35, Horton 1-9. Air Force, Roznos 1-42, Rillos 1-6, Eldridge 1-(minus 3).

MISSED FIELD GOALS_None.

GEORGIA STATE 45, UTAH ST. 22 GEORGIA ST. UTAH ST.

21 14

10 0

7 0

7 8

— —

45 22

First Quarter GAST_Grainger 1 run (Rickman kick), 7:36.

USU_Royals 35 pass from L.Williams (Nimrod kick), 6:15.

GAST_Grainger 1 run (Rickman kick), 3:57.

USU_Booth 65 run (Nimrod kick), 3:41.

GAST_T.Williams 27 pass from Grainger (Rickman kick), :15.

Second Quarter GAST_FG Rickman 31, 7:30.

GAST_Thompson 23 pass from Grainger (Rickman kick), 1:17.

Third Quarter GAST_Thompson 37 pass from Grainger (Rickman kick), 6:02.

Fourth Quarter GAST_Brock 5 run (Rickman kick), 9:18.

USU_Vaughn 2 pass from Hillstead (Royals pass from Hillstead), 4:48.

A_12,168.

GAST

Arlington, Texas

Boston

ATLANTIC

W

22

L 6

W

.786

— ½ 5½ 9½ 12

L

PCT

PCT

L

PCT

12 13 12 19 24

Minnesota Denver Oklahoma City Utah Portland

22 21 18 12 7

6 10 9 18 21

Sacramento L.A. Clippers L.A. Lakers Golden State Phoenix

17 17 16 15 14

11 12 14 14 14

GB

GB

.759 .567 .500 .419 .069

L

17 17 15 9 4

W

.607 .586 .414 .259 .179

PCT

Dallas New Orleans Houston Memphis San Antonio

W

2 6 8½ 11½

L

— 5½ 7½ 10 20

GB

.586 .567 .556 .321 .143

— ½ 1 7½ 12½

.786 .677 .667 .400 .250

— 2½ 3½ 11 15

GB

PCT

GB

.607 .586 .533 .517 .500

— ½ 2 2½ 3

Phila. 121, Toronto 111 Denver 122, Brooklyn 117 Houston 122, Dallas 96 Miami 122, Atlanta 113 Golden State 129, Washington 118 Sacramento 120, Phoenix 105 Milwaukee 130, New York 111 Boston 145, L.A. Clippers 108 Denver 102, Charlotte 95 Orlando 117, Indiana 110 Houston 106, New Orleans 104 Utah 126, Toronto 119 Memphis 125, Atlanta 119 Brooklyn 126, Detroit 115 Cleveland 109, Chicago 95 L.A. Lakers 129, Oklahoma City 120 Dallas 144, San Antonio 119 Golden State 126, Portland 106 Minnesota 110, Sacramento 98

GB —

33 28

— —

115 126

UTAH 126, TORONTO 119

UTAH TORONTO

31 34

24 37

30 27

41 21

— —

126 119

3-Point Goals_Utah 17-38 (Clarkson 4-9, Markkanen 4-10, Collins 2-2, Fontecchio 2-3, Dunn 2-6, Sexton 1-2, Agbaji 1-3, Olynyk 1-3), Toronto 13-32 (Barnes 4-8, Trent Jr. 4-9, Anunoby 2-3, Boucher 1-1, Flynn 1-3, Schroder 1-3, Siakam 0-2, Achiuwa 0-3). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Utah 41 (Markkanen 9), Toronto 39 (Barnes 14). Assists_Utah 35 (Dunn 13), Toronto 35 (Barnes, Schroder 7). Total Fouls_Utah 17, Toronto 17.

A_19,420 (19,800)

HOUSTON 106, NEW ORLEANS 104

HOUSTON (106) Brooks 2-7 0-0 5, Smith Jr. 10-14 2-3 26, Sengun 11-21 14-17 37, Ja.Green 2-8 5-6 9, VanVleet 3-11 2-3 10, Eason 4-11 0-0 8, Je.Green 1-3 0-0 2, Tate 1-4 0-0 2, Thompson 0-1 2-4 2, Holiday 1-2 2-2 5.

Totals 35-82 27-35 106.

NEW ORLEANS (104) Ingram 6-12 7-9 19, Williamson 11-16 5-10 28, Valanciunas 5-11 0-0 10, Jones 2-8 0-0 6, McCollum 4-10 3-4 13, Marshall 2-2 2-3 6, Robinson-Earl 2-5 0-0 4, Murphy III 4-11 3-3 14, Alvarado 2-4 0-0 4, Daniels 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 38-82 20-29 104.

26 24

21 27

32 33

27 20

— —

106 104

MEN’S NCAA BASKETBALL

SUNDAY’S GAMES

TOP 25 RESULTS THIS WEEK

No games scheduled.

MONDAY’S GAMES

Milwaukee at New York, 10 a.m.

Golden State at Denver, 12:30 p.m.

Boston at L.A. Lakers, 3 p.m.

Phila. at Miami, 6 p.m.

Dallas at Phoenix, 8:30 p.m.

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Brooklyn at Detroit, 5 p.m.

Orlando at Washington, 5 p.m.

Atlanta at Chicago, 6 p.m.

Indiana at Houston, 6 p.m.

Memphis at New Orleans, 6 p.m.

Minnesota at Oklahoma City, 6 p.m.

Utah at San Antonio, 6 p.m.

Sacramento at Portland, 8 p.m.

Charlotte at L.A. Clippers, 8:30 p.m.

MINNESOTA 110, SACRAMENTO 98

MINNESOTA (110) Anderson 4-9 2-2 10, McDaniels 8-16 1-2 20, Gobert 10-13 1-2 21, A.Edwards 13-27 5-5 34, Conley 4-10 1-1 12, Brown Jr. 0-0 0-0 0, Reid 2-4 2-2 6, Alexander-Walker 1-4 0-0 2, McLaughlin 0-0 0-0 0, Milton 2-4 0-0 5. Totals 44-87 12-14 110.

SACRAMENTO (98) Barnes 3-6 6-6 12, Murray 8-16 1-2 20, Sabonis 7-12 3-5 17, Fox 10-23 4-4 27, Huerter 1-7 0-0 2, K.Edwards 0-0 0-0 0, Lyles 4-8 1-3 10, Vezenkov 0-1 0-0 0, Jones 0-0 0-0 0, McGee 3-6 1-1 7, Duarte 1-3 0-0 3, Ellis 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 37-85 16-21 98.

31 27

22 23

29 28

— —

110 98

29

37

20

33

—

32

45

27

—

144

3-Point Goals_San Antonio 14-45 (Sochan 4-6, Champagnie 2-4, Collins 2-4, Johnson 2-8, Osman 1-2, Mamukelashvili 1-3, Branham 1-4, Jones 1-4, Cissoko 0-2, Graham 0-2, Vassell 0-6), Dallas 23-45 (Doncic 5-10, Hardaway Jr. 5-11, Williams 4-6, Lawson 3-4, Jones Jr. 3-5, Exum 2-2, Hardy 1-4, Prosper 0-1, Dennis 0-2). Fouled Out_None.

Rebounds_San Antonio 42 (Sochan 9), Dallas 52 (Doncic 12). Assists_San Antonio 32 (Vassell 5), Dallas 26 (Doncic 10). Total Fouls_San Antonio 16, Dallas 18. A_20,409 (19,200)

CLEVELAND 109, CHICAGO 95

No. 1 Purdue (11-1) beat Jacksonville 100-57.

No. 2 Kansas (11-1) beat Yale 75-60.

No. 3 Houston (12-0) beat Texas St. 72-37.

No. 4 Arizona (9-2) beat Alabama 87-74; lost to No. 14 FAU 96-95, 2OT. No. 5 UConn (11-2) lost to Seton Hall 75-60; beat St. John’s 69-65.

No. 6 Marquette (10-3) lost to Providence 72-57; beat Georgetown 81-51.

No. 7 Oklahoma (10-1) lost to No. 11 North Carolina 81-69.

No. 8 Tennessee (9-3) beat Tarleton St. 65-46.

No. 9 Kentucky (9-2) beat Louisville 95-76.

No. 10 Baylor (10-2) lost to No. 21 Duke 78-70; beat MVSU 107-48.

No. 11 North Carolina (8-3) beat No. 7 Oklahoma 81-69.

No. 12 Creighton (9-3) lost to Villanova 68-66, OT. No. 13 Illinois (9-2) beat Missouri 97-73.

No. 14 FAU (10-2) beat No. 4 Arizona 96-95, 2OT. No. 15 Gonzaga (9-3) beat Jackson St. 100-76.

No. 16 Colorado St. (11-1) beat Loyola Marymount 76-67.

No. 17 BYU (11-1) beat Bellarmine 101-59.

No. 18 Clemson (10-1) beat Queens (NC) 109-79.

No. 19 Texas (9-2) beat Texas A&M-CC 71-55.

No. 20 James Madison (12-0) beat Coppin St. 8748; beat Morgan St. 89-75.

No. 21 Duke (8-3) beat No. 10 Baylor 78-70.

No. 22 Virginia (9-2) lost to No. 23 Memphis 77-54.

No. 23 Memphis (10-2) beat No. 22 Virginia 7754; beat Vanderbilt 77-75.

No. 24 Wisconsin (9-3) beat Chicago St. 80-53.

No. 25 Mississippi (12-0) beat Troy 74-53; beat Southern Miss. 89-72.

SATURDAY’S SCORES EAST

Mississippi St. 70, Rutgers 60 Mount St. Mary’s 87, LIU 59 Penn 77, Rider 73, OT Providence 85, Butler 75, OT West Virginia 91, Toledo 81

SOUTH

SAN ANTONIO (119) Champagnie 4-6 2-2 12, Sochan 9-16 1-2 23, Collins 6-10 0-0 14, Branham 5-11 1-1 12, Vassell 3-13 3-3 9, Cissoko 0-3 2-2 2, Mamukelashvili 4-6 5-6 14, McDermott 0-0 0-2 0, Osman 1-3 0-0 3, Johnson 6-16 2-4 16, Wembanyama 0-0 0-0 0, Graham 0-3 0-0 0, Jones 4-8 0-0 9, Wesley 2-3 1-2 5.

Totals 44-98 17-24 119.

DALLAS (144) Hardaway Jr. 9-20 0-0 23, Jones Jr. 4-7 0-0 11, Williams 5-8 0-0 14, Doncic 13-27 8-11 39, Exum 8-10 2-2 20, Brown III 0-1 0-0 0, Prosper 0-3 0-0 0, Powell 5-5 4-4 14, Dennis 0-2 0-0 0, Hardy 1-7 3-4 6, Lawson 7-10 0-0 17. Totals 52-100 17-21 144.

SAN ANTONIO 119 DALLAS 40

26 33

3-Point Goals_Houston 9-29 (Smith Jr. 4-5, VanVleet 2-7, Sengun 1-1, Holiday 1-2, Brooks 1-4, Je.Green 0-1, Thompson 0-1, Eason 0-2, Tate 0-2, Ja.Green 0-4), New Orleans 8-31 (Murphy III 3-7, Jones 2-4, McCollum 2-7, Williamson 1-2, Alvarado 0-2, Daniels 0-2, Ingram 0-2, Valanciunas 0-2, Robinson-Earl 0-3). Fouled Out_Houston None, New Orleans 1 (Valanciunas). Rebounds_ Houston 44 (Sengun, Smith Jr. 11), New Orleans 46 (Valanciunas 11). Assists_Houston 21 (Sengun 6), New Orleans 21 (Ingram, Valanciunas 5). Total Fouls_Houston 20, New Orleans 22. A_17,399 (16,867)

SATURDAY’S GAMES

28 20

35 33

UTAH (126) Markkanen 12-21 2-2 30, Olynyk 3-5 0-0 7, Collins 4-7 0-0 10, Dunn 3-11 0-0 8, Sexton 5-11 5-6 16, Fontecchio 2-3 0-0 6, Kessler 5-6 0-0 10, Agbaji 3-5 2-2 9, Clarkson 11-22 4-4 30. Totals 48-91 13-14 126.

TORONTO (119) Barnes 12-23 4-4 32, Siakam 7-20 5-6 19, Poeltl 1-4 0-0 2, Anunoby 8-13 1-1 19, Schroder 4-9 2-3 11, Achiuwa 3-7 2-2 8, Boucher 3-3 2-3 9, Flynn 1-3 0-0 3, Trent Jr. 6-12 0-0 16. Totals 45-94 1619 119.

HOUSTON NEW ORLEANS

DALLAS 144, SAN ANTONIO 119

USU

PCT

W

.714 .571 .483 .379

L

21 32

3-Point Goals_Detroit 15-35 (Stewart 4-5, Knox II 3-3, Ivey 3-6, Bogdanovic 2-7, Thompson 1-3, Burks 1-5, Cunningham 1-5, Sasser 0-1), Brooklyn 10-24 (Finney-Smith 2-4, C.Johnson 2-5, Dinwiddie 2-5, O’Neale 1-1, Smith Jr. 1-2, Thomas 1-3, Bridges 1-4). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Detroit 36 (Bogdanovic 8), Brooklyn 38 (Claxton 7).

Assists_Detroit 26 (Ivey 7), Brooklyn 32 (Bridges, Dinwiddie 7). Total Fouls_Detroit 25, Brooklyn 22.

A_17,732 (17,732)

3-Point Goals_Minnesota 10-33 (Conley 3-7, McDaniels 3-9, A.Edwards 3-12, Milton 1-2, Reid 0-1, Alexander-Walker 0-2), Sacramento 8-33 (Murray 3-7, Fox 3-11, Duarte 1-3, Lyles 1-4, Sabonis 0-1, Vezenkov 0-1, Barnes 0-2, Ellis 0-2, Huerter 0-2). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Minnesota 43 (Gobert 17), Sacramento 40 (Sabonis 10). Assists_Minnesota 31 (A.Edwards 10), Sacramento 23 (Sabonis 10). Total Fouls_Minnesota 18, Sacramento 20. A_17,983 (17,608)

NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE

7 13 14 18 27

MINNESOTA SACRAMENTO

First downs 24 18 Total Net Yards 643 346 Rushes-yards 49-386 32-158 Passing 257 188 Punt Returns 0-0 1-9 Kickoff Returns 1-10 2-61 Interceptions Ret. 1-17 0-0 Comp-Att-Int 19-22-0 19-32-1 Sacked-Yards Lost 5-31 3-15 Punts 2-39.0 5-38.4 Fumbles-Lost 3-1 0-0 Penalties-Yards 11-107 4-30 Time of Possession 39:02 20:58 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING_Georgia St., Brock 24-276, Grainger 24-111, (Team) 1-(minus 1). Utah St., Booth 4-71, Faison 13-48, L.Williams 9-23, Briggs 3-19, Hillstead 3-(minus 3).

PASSING_Georgia St., Grainger 19-22-0-257. Utah St., L.Williams 12-21-1-131, Hillstead 7-11-0-57.

RECEIVING_Georgia St., Thompson 5-117, Carter 4-49, T.Williams 3-34, Brock 2-15, Green 2-12, Laney 1-12, Kikwata 1-10, Credle 1-8. Utah St., Vaughn 8-86, Royals 3-57, Bowman 2-25, Booth 2-11, Faison 2-2, Sterzer 1-5, Rowan 1-2.

MISSED FIELD GOALS_Georgia St., Rickman 42.

Utah St., Nimrod 37.

Memphis, Tenn.

Memphis vs. Iowa St., 1:30 p.m.

COTTON BOWL

7 7

22 17 14 13 2

FRIDAY’S GAMES

N.Y. Jets at Cleveland, 6:15 p.m.

0 14

Milwaukee Cleveland Indiana Chicago Detroit

PACIFIC

ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL CFP SEMIFINAL

7 7

11 12 17 20 23

NORTHWEST

Glendale, Ariz.

No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 18 Liberty, 11 a.m.

JAMES MADISON AIR FORCE

17 17 12 7 5

SOUTHWEST

CITRUS BOWL

Houston Semifinal winners, 5:30 p.m.

New Orleans Jacksonville St. 34, Louisiana 31, OT

Orlando Miami Atlanta Charlotte Washington

W

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Tampa, Fla. No. 13 LSU vs. Wisconsin, 10 a.m.

CELEBRATION BOWL

Atlanta Florida A&M 30, Howard 26

8 12 15 18

CENTRAL

ARIZONA BOWL

Las Vegas at Kansas City, 11 a.m.

N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia, 2:30 p.m.

Baltimore at San Francisco, 6:15 p.m.

THURSDAY, DEC. 28

20 16 14 11

SOUTHEAST

MONDAY, JAN. 1 RELIAQUEST BOWL

THURSDAY’S GAMES

BROOKLYN 126, DETROIT 115

DETROIT (115) Bogdanovic 5-13 7-9 19, Thompson 2-7 2-3 7, Stewart 8-9 0-0 20, Cunningham 9-20 3-4 22, Ivey 6-11 8-10 23, Knox II 5-6 1-1 14, Bagley III 2-4 1-2 5, Burks 2-8 0-0 5, Harris 0-0 0-0 0, Sasser 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 39-79 22-29 115.

BROOKLYN (126) Bridges 9-17 10-10 29, C.Johnson 6-10 4-4 18, Claxton 4-8 3-4 11, Dinwiddie 5-12 2-4 14, Thomas 7-16 5-5 20, Finney-Smith 4-6 0-0 10, O’Neale 2-3 0-0 5, Watford 0-0 0-0 0, Wilson 1-2 0-0 2, Giles III 0-0 0-0 0, Sharpe 5-6 1-3 11, Smith Jr. 2-6 1-2 6.

Totals 45-86 26-32 126.

UNDERDOG at PORTLAND Old Dominion at HAWAII at GEORGIA TECH

Phila.

New York Brooklyn Toronto

109 95

3-Point Goals_L.A. Lakers 16-32 (James 5-5, Hachimura 3-5, Russell 3-6, Prince 2-5, Reaves 2-5, Davis 1-1, Vanderbilt 0-1, Reddish 0-4), Oklahoma City 13-41 (K.Williams 3-4, Jal.Williams 2-5, Dort 2-6, Bertans 1-2, Dieng 1-2, Wallace 1-4, Gilgeous-Alexander 1-5, Holmgren 1-6, Joe 1-6, Jay.Williams 0-1). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_L.A. Lakers 44 (Davis 11), Oklahoma City 42 (Holmgren 10). Assists_L.A. Lakers 37 (Reaves 9), Oklahoma City 24 (Gilgeous-Alexander 7).

Total Fouls_L.A. Lakers 13, Oklahoma City 17.

A_18,203 (18,203)

DIV

3-1-0 2-2-0 3-2-0 1-4-0

— —

L.A. LAKERS 36 35 36 22 — 129 OKLAHOMA CITY 39 20 32 29 — 120

DETROIT BROOKLYN

FAVORITE Temple at UMASS TCU Nevada

27 23

L.A. LAKERS 129, OKLAHOMA CITY 120

COLLEGE BASKETBALL SUNDAY

25 16

L.A. LAKERS (129) Reddish 2-7 0-0 4, Vanderbilt 1-4 0-0 2, Davis 1121 3-6 26, James 13-20 9-9 40, Prince 3-7 2-2 10, Hachimura 8-14 2-2 21, Hayes 0-0 0-0 0, Reaves 4-8 1-1 11, Russell 5-9 2-3 15. Totals 47-90 1923 129.

OKLAHOMA CITY (120) Dort 3-9 0-0 8, Jal.Williams 11-17 4-4 28, Holmgren 8-18 2-5 19, Gilgeous-Alexander 12-21 9-10 34, Wallace 2-6 0-0 5, Bertans 1-2 0-0 3, Dieng 2-3 0-0 5, Jay.Williams 0-1 0-0 0, K.Williams 4-6 0-0 11, Sarr 0-0 0-0 0, Joe 3-11 0-0 7, Wiggins 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 46-95 15-19 120.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL TUESDAY

25 26

3-Point Goals_Cleveland 12-45 (Strus 5-17, Wade 3-10, Bates 1-2, Jones 1-2, Porter Jr. 1-3, Niang 1-5, Allen 0-1, Okoro 0-5), Chicago 8-35 (Caruso 2-5, Vucevic 2-5, Williams 2-5, DeRozan 1-3, Carter 1-5, Terry 0-1, Dosunmu 0-3, White 0-8).

Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Cleveland 48 (Allen 17), Chicago 37 (Vucevic 12). Assists_Cleveland 28 (Porter Jr. 8), Chicago 23 (DeRozan 8).

Total Fouls_Cleveland 16, Chicago 22. A_19,583 (20,917)

NFL SUNDAY

WEDNESDAY

AMERICAN CONFERENCE EAST

CLEVELAND 32 CHICAGO 30

NFL 11 a.m. CBS — Cleveland at Houston 11 a.m. FOX — Detroit at Minnesota 2:25 p.m. FOX — Dallas at Miami 6:15 p.m. NFLN — New England at Denver

TENNIS 7 a.m. TENNIS — Ultima World Tennis League Day 2: Final

IIHF HOCKEY (MEN’S)

1, Carter 1-7 0-0 3, Dosunmu 2-6 0-0 4. Totals 3580 17-19 95.

CLEVELAND (109) Okoro 3-9 6-7 12, Wade 4-12 0-0 11, Allen 6-9 7-10 19, Porter Jr. 8-14 2-5 19, Strus 9-22 3-3 26, Bates 1-2 0-0 3, Niang 3-12 0-0 7, Thompson 3-4 0-0 6, Jones 2-4 1-1 6. Totals 39-88 19-26 109.

CHICAGO (95) DeRozan 6-14 8-9 21, Williams 5-11 1-1 13, Vucevic 7-11 4-4 20, Caruso 4-9 0-0 10, White 8-19 1-1 17, Terry 2-3 2-2 6, Drummond 0-0 1-2

Alabama 111, E. Kentucky 67 Memphis 77, Vanderbilt 75 Mississippi 89, Southern Miss. 72 NC State 83, Detroit 66 UNC-Asheville 79, Kennesaw St. 70

MIDWEST

Villanova 84, DePaul 48 Xavier 74, Seton Hall 54

SOUTHWEST

North Texas 78, Texas-Arlington 52

FAR WEST

FAU 96, Arizona 95, 2OT Missouri St. 69, Saint Mary’s (Cal.) 64 Santa Clara 81, Duquesne 73 UMass 100, Portland 78

WOMEN’S NCAA BASKETBALL TOP 25 RESULTS THIS WEEK

No. 1 South Carolina (11-0) beat Bowling Green 93-62.

No. 2 UCLA (11-0) beat No. 13 Ohio St. 77-71; beat Hawaii 85-46.

No. 3 NC State (12-0) beat Old Dominion 87-50.

No. 4 Iowa (12-1) beat Loyola Chicago 98-69.

No. 5 Texas (12-0) beat Texas Rio Grande Valley 104-51.

No. 6 Southern Cal (10-0) beat Cal St.-Fullerton 93-44; beat Long Beach St. 85-77.

No. 7 LSU (12-1) beat Coppin St. 80-48.

No. 8 Colorado (10-1) beat N. Colorado 78-56.

No. 9 Stanford (10-1) beat UC Davis 92-52.

No. 10 Baylor (11-0) beat Providence 61-36; beat South Florida 73-50.

No. 11 Utah (10-2) beat Weber St. 89-36.

No. 12 Kansas St. (12-1) beat Oral Roberts 10259; beat Southern U. 84-52.

No. 13 Ohio St. (10-2) lost to No. 2 UCLA 77-71; beat Belmont 84-55.

No. 14 Notre Dame (9-1) beat W. Michigan 84-47.

No. 15 Virginia Tech (9-2) beat William & Mary 76-43.

No. 16 Indiana (10-1) beat Evansville 109-56; beat Bowling Green 84-35.

No. 17 UConn (9-3) beat Butler 88-62; beat Toronto Metropolitan Bold 111-34.

No. 18 Marquette (12-0) beat Bucknell 67-39.

No. 19 Louisville (11-2) beat No. 23 Washington 59-51.

No. 20 Gonzaga (13-2) beat Arizona 81-69; beat New Mexico 67-56.

No. 21 Florida St. (9-3) beat Alabama St. 110-45.

No. 21 Creighton (9-2) beat S. Dakota St. 58-46.

No. 23 Washington (11-1) lost to No. 19 Louisville 59-51.

No. 24 North Carolina (8-4) beat Oklahoma 61-52.

No. 25 TCU (13-0) beat Omaha 96-56; beat Mount St. Mary’s 87-34.

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL SATURDAY’S SCORES

Cleveland 77, Centennial 61 Dexter 67, Capitan 45 Eldorado 58, Rio Grande 50 Escalante 62, Native American Community Academy 21 Fort Sumner/House 86, Roy Municipal Schools 18 Grants 64, Magdalena 59 Loving 66, Clayton 46 Springer 66, Mescalero Apache 52 West Las Vegas 61, Espanola Valley 60 West Mesa 62, Capital 32

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL SATURDAY’S SCORES

Clayton 48, Mescalero Apache 42 Cleveland 46, Centennial 45 Dexter 51, Hagerman 8 Eldorado 59, Rio Rancho 46 Espanola Valley 48, West Las Vegas 47, OT Eunice 58, Ruidoso 44 Magdalena 51, Grants 33 Mosquero/Roy 40, Fort Sumner/House 29 Reserve 49, Cloudcroft 40 Springer 61, Loving 34 Wingate 38, Rock Point, Ariz. 36

NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC

GP W L OT PTS GF GA

Boston Toronto Florida Tampa Bay Detroit Montreal Buffalo Ottawa

32 19 7 31 17 8 33 19 12 35 17 13 34 16 14 33 15 13 35 14 17 29 12 17

6 6 2 5 4 5 4 0

44 100 85 40 115 105 40 96 87 39 118 120 36 121 113 35 95 112 32 106 121 24 100 103

32 23 8 33 16 8 33 18 11 31 17 9 34 17 13 32 17 13 32 15 13 35 11 18

1 9 4 5 4 2 4 6

47 108 89 41 104 108 40 101 92 39 77 86 38 111 110 36 109 115 34 93 90 28 108 128

METROPOLITAN GP W L OT PTS GF GA

N.Y. Rangers N.Y. Islanders Philadelphia Washington Carolina New Jersey Pittsburgh Columbus

WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL

GP W

PACIFIC

GP W

Dallas Colorado Winnipeg Nashville Arizona St. Louis Minnesota Chicago

32 34 32 34 33 33 32 33

20 21 20 19 17 17 15 10

L OT PTS

8 11 9 15 14 15 13 22

4 2 3 0 2 1 4 1

44 44 43 38 36 35 34 21

L OT PTS

GF GA

114 125 109 107 103 100 100 80

100 104 82 104 95 111 103 123

GF GA

Vancouver 36 24 9 3 51 142 93 Vegas 35 21 9 5 47 122 96 Los Angeles 30 19 7 4 42 112 76 Calgary 34 14 15 5 33 105 120 Seattle 35 12 14 9 33 95 112 Edmonton 31 15 15 1 31 108 106 Anaheim 33 12 21 0 24 86 111 San Jose 35 9 23 3 21 77 147 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Top three teams in each division and two wild cards per conference advance to playoffs.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Detroit 7, Philadelphia 6, SO Edmonton 4, N.Y. Rangers 3 Winnipeg 5, Boston 1 Montreal 5, Chicago 2

SATURDAY’S GAMES

Dallas 3, Nashville 2 Florida 4, Vegas 2 Toronto 4, Columbus 1 New Jersey 3, Detroit 2 Minnesota 3, Boston 2 Tampa Bay 2, Washington 1, SO Ottawa 5, Pittsburgh 4, OT N.Y. Islanders 5, Carolina 4 N.Y. Rangers 4, Buffalo 3, OT St. Louis 7, Chicago 5 Seattle 3, Anaheim 2 Colorado 4, Arizona 1 Vancouver 7, San Jose 4 Los Angeles 5, Calgary 3

SUNDAY’S GAMES No games scheduled

MONDAY’S GAMES No games scheduled

TUESDAY’S GAMES No games scheduled

TRANSACTIONS BASEBALL Major League Baseball National League SAN DIEGO PADRES — Agreed to terms with LHP Yuki Matsui on a five-year contract.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Agreed to terms with C Tom Murphy on a two-year contract with an option for 2026.

FOOTBALL National Football League ARIZONA CARDINALS — Promoted WRs Dan Chisena and Kaden Davis to the active roster from the practice squad.

ATLANTA FALCONS — Promoted P Pat O’Donnell and OL John Legiue to the active roster from the practice squad. Placed FB Keith Smith on injured reserve. Signed TE Tucker Fisk to the active roster.

BUFFALO BILLS — Promoted RB Leonard Fournette to the active roster from the practice squad.

CAROLINA PANTHERS — Promoted G Gabe Jackson ad J.D. DiRenzo to the active roster from the practice squad.

CHICAGO BEARS — Signed K Cairo Santo to a four-year contract extension. Promoted WR Collin Johnson to the active roster from the practice squad.

CLEVELAND BROWNS — Promoted S Tanner McCallister and LB Charlie Thomas III to the active roster from the practice squad.

DALLAS COWBOYS — Promoted DT Carl Davis and RB Malik Davis to the active roster from the practice squad.

DETROIT LIONS — Promoted K Michael Badgley and TE Anthony Firkser to the active roster from the practice squad.

GREEN BAY PACKERS — Promoted WR Bo Melton and S Benny Sapp III to the active roster from the practice squad.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Promoted OT Jared Veldheer and WR Ethan Fernea to the active roster from the practice squad.

MIAMI DOLPHINS — Promoted CB Ethan Bonner and LB Melvin Ingram to the active roster from the practice squad.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Promoted CB Jaylin Williams and WR Lucky Johnson to the active roster from the practice squad. Activated LB Jordan Hicks. Waived LB Nick Vigil.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Placed OT Conor McDermott on injured reserve. Promoted CB Breon Borders and TE Matt Sokol to the active roster from the practice squad. Signed C James Ferentz to the active roster.

NEW YORK JETS — Promoted FB Nick Bawden and LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball to the active roster from the practice squad.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS — Promoted CB Kelvin Joseph and S Ty Okada to the active roster from the practice squad.

TENNESSEE TITANS — Signed LB JoJo Domann, T John Ojukwu and OL Andrew Rupcich to the active roster. Placed LBs Jack Giddens and Luke Gifford and DT Jeffery Simmons on injured reserve. Promoted DB Shyheim Carter and CB Tay Gowan to the active roster from the practice squad.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS — Promoted LS Tucker Addington and C Nolan Laufenberg to the active roster from the practice squad.

HOCKEY National Hockey League ANAHEIM DUCKS — Activated C Trevor Zegras from injured reserve.

BOSTON BRUINS — Recalled D Ian Mitchell from Providence (AHL) loan.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS — Reinstated D Damon Severson to the active roster.

DETROIT RED WINGS — Recalled D Simon Edvinsson from Grand Rapids (AHL).

LOS ANGELES KINGS — Recalled D Jacob Moverare from Ontario (AHL).

NEW YORK ISLANDERS — Reassigned F Reece Newkirk to Bridgeport (AHL) from Worcester (ECHL).

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS — Returned C Rhett Gardner to Lehigh Valley (AHL). Reassigned G Cal Peterson to Lehigh Valley.

SPORTS MA JOR LE AG UE BA SEBALL

Mets hit with record $101M luxury tax New York finished 4th in NL East despite bill that topped ’15 L.A.

By Ronald Blum

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — The New York Mets must pay a record luxury tax of nearly $101 million after a fourth-place finish in their division, among an unprecedented eight teams that owe the penalty for the 2023 season.

Owner Steve Cohen’s Mets finished with a tax payroll of $374.7 million, according to figures finalized by Major League Baseball on Thursday and obtained by The Associated Press. That topped the previous high of $291.1 million by the 2015 Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Mets’ tax bill came to $100,781,932 after they finished fourth in the NL East at 75-87 in the most expensive flop in baseball history. That more than doubled the prior high of $43.6 million by the 2015 Dodgers.

The Mets saved about $18 million for this year with their summer selloff that saw them trade Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, David Robertson and Mark Canha. Their projected tax payroll June 30 was $384 million, according to MLB, and that additional $9.3 million in payroll would have resulted in a tax $8.4 million higher.

The final amount owed by the Mets would have been slightly more, but they benefited

from a tax credit of $2,126,471 under a provision in the latest collective bargaining agreement for a payroll overcharge involving three players they traded. New York’s two-year tax total is $131.6 million.

Other teams owing tax money are San Diego ($39.7 million), the New York Yankees ($32.4 million), the Dodgers ($19.4 million), Philadelphia ($6.98 million), Toronto ($5.5 million), Atlanta ($3.2 million) and World Series champion Texas ($1.8 million).

The Blue Jays, Braves and Rangers are paying tax for the first time.

The Yankees and Mets were the only teams to exceed the fourth threshold of $293 million, added in the 2022 labor contract, an initiative dubbed the Cohen Tax and aimed at reigning in Cohen.

The previous high for taxpayers was six, in 2016 and last year. This year’s tax totaled $209.8 million, more than double the prior record of $78.5 million for 2022.

The Los Angeles Angels finished with a tax payroll $28,654 below the $233 million tax threshold. The Angels were projected at $231.15 million on June 30 and got under by allowing pitchers Lucas Giolito, Matt Moore, Dominic Leone and Reynaldo López along with outfielder Hunter Renfroe to be claimed off waivers on Aug. 31.

Texas was projected at $220.2 million on June 30 before boosting its pitching staff

by trading for Scherzer, Aroldis Chapman, Jordan Montgomery and Chris Stratton and also acquiring catcher Austin Hedges. The Rangers’ final payroll was $242.1 million.

Total spending on luxury tax payrolls rose 12.2% to a $5.79 billion from $5.16 million last year, the previous high.

The Yankees have been taxed just under $390 million since the penalties began in 2003, 43% of the $901 million total, followed by the Dodgers at $234 million. Fourteen of 30 teams have owed tax over the two decades.

Tax payrolls are calculated by average annual values, including earned bonuses, for players on 40-man rosters along with just over $17.1 million per team for benefits and $1.67 million for each club’s share of the $50 million pool for prearbitration players that started in 2022. Deferred salaries and bonus payments are discounted to present-day values.

MLB has not finalized regular payrolls, which are based on 2023 salaries and earned bonus plus prorated shares of signing bonuses.

Because they owe tax for the third straight year, the Padres and Dodgers pay at a 50% rate on the first $20 million above the $233 million threshold, a 62% rate on the next $20 million and a 95% rate on the amount from $273 million to $293 million.

Sunday, December 24, 2023

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

D-3

PREP ROUNDUP Boys basketball WEST LAS VEGAS

62

ESPAÑOLA VALLEY

61

What happened: In a back-and-forth affair, the Dons got in the final punch when P.J. Montaño drained a 3-pointer from the corner at the buzzer for the nondistrict win in Gillie Lopez Gymnasium. Down 60-59 with .6 left, Montaño made a hard cut to the left corner to take the inbounds pass from the left sideline and hit his shot in one motion. It capped a 24-14 rally in the final quarter after Española outscored West Las Vegas 21-10 in the third quarter to take a 47-38 lead.

Standouts: Montaño scored 11 of his 20 points in the final quarter to lead the Dons, while Marcus Sena added 14 and Jonathan Gonzales had 11. The Sundevils were led by Irvin Primero’s 15 points, and Jadyen Durna added 14.

What’s next: West Las Vegas (7-0) plays Pecos in the opening round of the Stu Clark Tournament on Wednesday. Española (2-7) plays Albuquerque Hope Christian in the opening round of the Rio Rancho Invitational on Wednesday.

Girls basketball ESPAÑOLA VALLEY

48

WEST LAS VEGAS

47

What happened: A defensive battle exploded into a track meet in the final quarter and overtime. Lady Sundevils guard Aliya Rael Lopez hit one of two free throws with 3.8 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 43-all as both teams scored 15 points in the final quarter. In the extra period, Española’s Alexis Montoya drained a 3 with 2:34 left for a 46-43 lead the Lady Dons could not overcome.

Standouts: Alyanna Medina had 13 points to lead the Lady Sundevils. Alexis Pacheco paced West Las Vegas with 18 points — 12 of which came in the second half. Tyra Horner added 10.

What’s next: Española (6-6) plays Peñasco in the opening round of the Lady Horsemen Christmas Tournament at St. Michael’s Wednesday. West Las Vegas (7-3) plays Albuquerque Highland at home Friday.

COLLEG E FO O TBALL

MWC’s Air Force runs away with bowl Falcons top No. 24 JMU behind 351 yards rushing

Blue Devils lineup altered by transfer portal departures.

Jaylen Coleman ran for Duke’s only touchdown. Todd Pelino kicked three field goals for the Blue Devils.

Both teams were playing with interim coaches after Duke’s Mike Elko departed for Texas A&M and Troy’s Jon Sumrall took the job at Tulane.

The Associated Press

FORT WORTH, Texas — Emmanuel Michel rushed for a career-best 203 yards and two 1-yard touchdowns and Zac Larrier passed for one TD Air Force 31 and ran for 24 JMU 21 another score, leading Air Force to a 31-21 win over No. 24 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl on Saturday.

Air Force (9-4) posted its fifth consecutive bowl win after losing its last four games of the season.

James Madison (11-2) lost in regulation for the first time this season while playing in the program’s first bowl game. The Dukes, who are completing their transition to the FBS level from FCS, earned the berth after there weren’t enough bowl-eligible teams to fill all the spots.

Air Force’s triple-option offense got the better of the top run defense in the FBS. The Falcons entered second in rushing at 275.8 yards per game, and finished with 351 yards.

James Madison gained 283 total yards — only 26 rushing.

Jordan McCloud finished 20 for 33 for 257 yards with three TD passes and an interception for the Dukes.

FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO GEORGIA STATE 45, UTAH STATE 22 In Boise, Idaho, Darren Grainger threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two more, Freddie Brock rushed for a

CAMELLIA NORTHERN ILLINOIS 21, ARKANSAS STATE 19

JULIO CORTEZ/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Air Force fullback Emmanuel Michel holds the Armed Forces Bowl most valuable player award following Saturday’s win in Fort Worth, Texas. Michel rushed for a career-best 203 yards and scored a pair of 1-yard touchdowns in the 31-21 victory. career-best 276 yards and a score, and Georgia State rolled past the Mountain West’s Utah State.

Georgia State (7-6), which had lost five of six entering the game, scored 31 straight points to break it open.

Utah State (6-7) fell apart after rolling up 161 yards of offense in the first quarter, tallying just 186 yards in the final three periods.

Grainger, a senior who transferred from Furman in 2021, was 19-of-22 passing and rushed for 111 yards, accounting for 368 yards of total offense to earn MVP honors.

LAS VEGAS NORTHWESTERN 14, UTAH 7 In Las Vegas, Nev., Ben Bryant passed for 222 yards and found Bryce Kirtz in the corner of the end zone midway through the fourth quarter, helping Northwestern beat Utah.

Bryant went 22 for 34 with two touchdowns as Northwestern (8-5) closed out its season with a

Kill steps down as NMSU coach Continued from Page D-1

the Aggies’ fold. Kill announces Saturday he tendered his resignation earlier this week, citing a lack of energy to continue leading the program, ending one of the more wildly successful coaching tenures in the program’s history after just two seasons.

NMSU athletic director Mario Moccia said in an online news conference Saturday receivers coach Tony Sanchez will replace Kill. Sanchez, an NMSU graduate, previously was the head coach at UNLV from 2015-19, going 20-40 in that span.

In a news release, Kill said the grind of a long season took a toll on him. NMSU went 10-5 in 2023, finishing 7-1 and second place in the Conference USA. The Aggies lost to Liberty, 49-35, in the conference championship game, then lost to Fresno State 37-10 in the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 16.

“This year has been tremendously difficult for me, and I gave it everything I had physically, mentally and emotionally,” Kill said.

“New Mexico State holds a special place in my heart as it marks the end of my journey as a head coach.”

Moccia said Kill “exceeded my wildest dreams in the 24 months since he came on board,” pointing to the bowl appearances and the success the Aggies achieved in such a short period of time. He added it is imperative for the program to continue what Kill created.

“I’m going to tell you we are not going to regress,” Moccia said. “We’re going to do everything we can to keep the program

fourth straight win. The Wildcats limited Utah (8-5) to 221 yards and had two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Bryson Barnes was 8 for 13 for 55 yards with two interceptions for the Utes, who lost three of their last four games. Utah’s only score was a 6-yard touchdown run by Micah Bernard early in the fourth quarter.

BIRMINGHAM DUKE 17, TROY 10 In Birmingham, Ala., freshman Grayson Loftis threw for 183 yards and Duke’s defense came up with a final stop to beat Troy.

Jeremiah Lewis intercepted Troy’s Gunnar Watson at the 50-yard line with 1:22 remaining to secure the victory for the Blue Devils (8-5).

Troy (11-3), the Sun Belt Conference champion, fell short of finishing the season on an 11-game winning streak for the second straight year. The Trojans couldn’t find an offensive rhythm against a

where it is and/or increase. [It] may be a bold statement, but we work too damn hard to get here. We sure ain’t going to sit back and cry in our beer.”

Moccia said money was not the reason for Kill’s resignation. He pointed to a conversation with Kill during the week leading into the Auburn game in which he expressed a desire to see his salary increased.

Moccia said a recent story indicated Kill was the lowest paid head coach in Conference USA, and he began the effort to increase the coach’s salary in the moments after the 31-10 win over Tigers on Nov. 18. He said his fundraising efforts produced 48 donors to give $260,000 per year for the remainder of his current contract.

The athletic department also partnered with the NMSU Foundation to augment Kill’s salary by another $200,000 per year, Moccia said, and presented Kill with a yearly salary of $1.1 million. Kill ultimately turned it down, informing Moccia of his decision Thursday.

Still, Moccia said he appreciated the efforts by donors and the foundation to meet Kill’s request.

“We tried everything we could and offered the greatest financial package in the history of the school,” Moccia said. “But obviously it was not about money. It was about other things, and I’m not going to go into those.”

As for Sanchez’s hire, Moccia said he felt it was necessary given the transfer portal is open and the possibility of a mass player exodus was a real possibility if there was a national search.

“I know that the jackals come out, and we wanted to move as fast as we can to blunt anybody from poaching our players,” Moccia said. “Players will make their own decisions, but we wanted to make a decision internally before any outside forces could poison the well.”

Kill had a reputation of being a program

In Montgomery, Ala., Rocky Lombardi passed and ran for touchdowns and Northern Illinois held on to beat Arkansas State when the Red Wolves couldn’t convert a late 2-point pass.

Antario Brown rushed for 132 yards for the Huskies (7-6), who won six of their final eight games.

Neither team scored in the second half until Jaylen Raynor’s 13-yard touchdown pass with 1:14 left to Corey Rucker. Raynor’s potential tying 2-point pass sailed out of the end zone, and Arkansas State (6-7) couldn’t convert the onside kick.

The 25-year-old Lombardi completed his seventh and final college season by going 18 of 29 for 200 yards. Grayson Barnes had 105 yards and a score on five catches.

68 VENTURES SOUTH ALABAMA 59, EASTERN MICHIGAN 10 In Mobile, Ala., freshman Gio Lopez threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, and South Alabama trounced Eastern Michigan.

Playing on their home field at Hancock Whitney Stadium, the Jaguars (7-6) scored on their first three possessions, led 38-3 at halftime and outgained Eastern Michigan (6-7) 627 yards to 150.

It was the first bowl victory for South Alabama, which joined the FBS in 2012.

builder. He parlayed success at NCAA Division II schools Saginaw Valley State and Emporia State and Division 1-AA (now FCS) Southern Illinois to his first FBS job at Northern Illinois. He guided the Huskies to a 23-16 record and three straight bowl games before taking the University of Minnesota job in 2011.

He guided the Gophers to a 29-29 record and three straight bowl games before suddenly resigning after a 4-3 start in 2015 because of epileptic seizures — one of which he suffered during a 44-21 win over New Mexico State in 2011.

Kill couldn’t get away from the game, returning to the game as the offensive coordinator at Rutgers in 2017 and as a special assistant at Virginia Tech in 2019 and TCU from 2020-21. He also took over the Horned Frogs program late in the 2021 season after then-head coach Gary Patterson resigned.

A report by 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz on Saturday said Kill may be taking an off-thefield position at Vanderbilt for next season.

The Commodores’ earlier this month hired New Mexico State offensive coordinator Tim Beck to the same position at the Southeastern Conference school. Kill did not release any information on his future plans.

Kill ended his career at NMSU with a memorable New Mexico Bowl post-game news conference in which he accused UNM athletic director Eddie Nuñez of trying to prevent his team from practicing in the school’s indoor facility prior to the game.

The coach referenced an incident involving Aggies quarterback Diego Pavia, in which he was filmed urinating on the indoor facility’s field, that he claimed led to the bowl-week incident.

“When [Nuñez] doesn’t want to let us practice in the indoor facility, when he don’t want us to do this, do that, that’s [expletive],” Kill said.

JIM WEBER/NEW MEXICAN FILE PHOTO

St. Michael’s center Taven Lozada, center, blocks a shot by Crownpoint’s Tyrell Archie, left, during last season’s opening-round game of the Horsemen Shootout at St. Michael’s.

St. Michael’s AD Josh Grine said the cost of running a tournament, from purchasing food, gear and equipment every year to paying officials, and a lack of attendance can make a tournament not as financially lucrative.

Tourneys

of early December tournaments.

St. Michael’s AD Josh Grine said the Lady Horsemen Christmas Tournament has benefitted from Continued from Page D-1 its slot between Christmas and New Year’s because there are not schools or a last-minute cancela lot of other tournaments during lation that leaves the host in a that time. lurch, ADs and coaches have to He also has been able to get become creative in making the a strong contingent of strong best of a bad situation.

Northern schools that make the “I think everybody has tournament inviting. However, figured out they want a tournahe added the cost of running a ment,” said Rio Rancho Clevetournament, from purchasing land AD Matt Martinez, who food, gear and equipment every created the Ben Lujàn Tournayear to paying officials, and a lack ment at Pojoaque. “Sometimes, you have a tournament, and it’s of attendance can make a tournament not as luxurious financially. watered down and you can’t “I want to say our girls tourenough teams to come back.” nament may have lost money Pojoaque Valley AD Mark last year,” Grine said.

Mutz faced that dilemma when Among the few tournaments Moriarty’s boys team pulled not to face the issues that othout of last weekend’s Ben Lujàn ers do have been the Stu Clark, Tournament because its own Bruce King Tournament moved the Northern Rio Grande and Raton’s Cowbell tournaments. back a week when the New The NRG and the Cowbell have Mexico Activities Association set teams that return yearly for pushed the start of the 2023-24 the tournament. When a school athletic season back a week. leaves, those tournaments have Mutz developed a round-robin found suitable replacements to schedule with the remaining ensure full eight-team brackets. teams instead of using PojoaThe tradition of the Stu Clark que’s junior varsity. Since games Tournament, which takes place involving sub-varsity teams do just before the New Year at not count to a varsity squad’s New Mexico Highlands Univerrecord when trying to qualify for the state tournament, the last sity and regularly has Las Vegas Robertson and West Las Vegas thing a host school wants to do is drive schools away by making in the bracket, has made filling that tournament easier. them playing those teams.

Tripp said newer, less estabMutz hopes that it is a onelished tournaments have the time situation and is already problem of trying to make a name trying to set up teams for the for themselves amid a sea of 2024 tournament. Even more important, Mutz said, is making other events striving for the same prestige. He said West Las Vegas’ sure teams that commit to Brian Gallegos Memorial Tournaplaying in a tournament honor it. That means adding a financial ment has focused on bringing in penalty to tournament contracts. solid Class 3A and 2A schools so that teams face good competition.

“Hopefully, that will keep His ultimate goal is to have a them from backing out of the of strictly 3A field that gives everythe tournament,” Mutz said. body what they want — three Sometimes, even the best good games early in the season. tournaments can’t avoid those “The coach from Cottondilemmas. The Ben Lujàn Tournament has dealt with that situa- wood Classical said those three tion a few times over the past 10 days were awesome because we played three 3A schools and years. Capital’s Al Armendariz and Santa Fe High’s Capital City now we know where we stand,” Tripp said. tournaments have been forced Grine said he hopes the to dip into the JV ranks to fill a number of tournaments start bracket. to shrink so that the quality Timing is also a factor to these tournaments. The first few weeks improves.

“I would like to see some sort of December and January see a of cap on it,” Grine said. “Some plethora of tournaments across the state, and Mutz said he is con- tournaments are so watered sidering moving the Ben Lujàn down, but I honestly see it Tournament from that traffic jam staying the way that it is.”

D-4

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

NFL

Sunday, December 24, 2023

Bills kick late field goal to escape L.A.

By Joe Reedy

The Associated Press

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Josh Allen accounted for three touchdowns, Tyler Bass made a 29-yard field goal with 28 seconds remaining, and the Buffalo Bills Bills 24 escaped with a 24-22 Chargers 22 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday night to improve their playoff chances.

Allen ran for two TDs and threw for one, becoming the first player in NFL history with four consecutive seasons with 40 combined touchdowns.

Bass’ go-ahead kick capped a 13-play, 64-yard drive that included Allen’s 15-yard completion to Khalil Shakir on third down.

“When you play a team with nothing to lose, they’re dangerous. We gutted it out and found a way,” said Allen, who completed 15 of 21 passes for 237 yards with an interception. “This is our playoffs. It doesn’t matter how we get it done, just get it done.”

The Bills (9-6) have won four of their last five. They are competing with Indianapolis and Houston (both 8-6) for the two final playoff spots in the AFC. Buffalo got some

help earlier in the day when Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati.

Buffalo turned the ball over three times to keep the short-handed Chargers in the game in their first outing under interim coach Giff Smith. Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco were fired on Dec. 15, one day after the Chargers were pummeled 63-21 at Las Vegas.

Cameron Dicker kicked a career-high five field goals and Easton Stick passed for 210 yards for Los Angeles (5-10), which has lost six of seven.

“I think we went into this game thinking it was going to be a heavyweight fight, and we wanted to have a chance at the end for a knockout,” Smith said. “We were going to play it a little close to the vest, the team knew that. Get points on the board and give ourself a chance to win, and that’s the way it went. Came up a little bit short.”

Allen leads the league with 40 total touchdowns (27 passing, 13 rushing). With his 2-yard run off right tackle late in the second quarter, he became the second quarterback in NFL history with at least 50 rushing scores. Cam Newton was the first and finished with 75 in his 10-year career.

Davis, who had not caught a pass in the past two games after having six receptions

for 105 yards against Philadelphia, had four receptions for a season-high 130 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Stick, making his second NFL start in place of the injured Justin Herbert, was 23 of 33 passing and rushed for a touchdown.

The Chargers jumped out to a 10-0 lead with 13:49 remaining in the second quarter when Stick rolled right and scored from 1 yard out. Los Angeles got the ball at the Buffalo 27 when Amen Ogbongbemiga recovered a fumbled punt by the Bills’ Deonte Harty.

Buffalo finally got on the scoreboard on its fourth drive. Allen scrambled right and found Davis open downfield. Davis hauled in the pass at the Chargers 19 and beat linebacker Kenneth Murray into the end zone.

It was Allen’s second-longest completion of the season.

Allen then put the Bills on top 14-10 with 38 seconds remaining in the first half with the first of his two rushing scores.

Dicker got the Chargers within one point when he made a 40-yard field goal midway through the third quarter. Buffalo pushed its lead to 21-13 on the ensuing drive that was capped off by Allen’s 1-yard sneak.

DALL A S AT MIAMI 2:25 P.M. FOX

Teams seek to cement contender status Dolphins, Cowboys boast good records but have struggled against league’s elite teams

By Alanis Thames

The Associated Press

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — At various times this season, the Miami Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys have looked like contenders or pretenders.

Both teams are 10-4, have offenses and defense ranked near the top of the league, and have taken care of lesser competition — sometimes winning by eye-popping margins.

But both have struggled against the best teams in the league.

Three of Miami’s four losses have come against teams with winning records, while all 10 of its wins have come against teams that entered at .500 or worse. The Cowboys’ only win against a team that currently has a winning record came two weeks ago in a 33-13 blowout of the ebbing Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cowboys are 3-4 on the road. Last week, they lost 31-10 at Buffalo, giving up 266 yards rushing while recording only 195 yards total.

“You can’t get to where you want to go being a .500 team on the road,” Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said. “You’re not going to be playing playoff games at home with that record either. It’s

PHELAN M. EBENHACK/ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson tries to get past Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson during last week’s Ravens win in Jacksonville, Fla. AFC-leading Baltimore takes on NFC-leading San Francisco on Monday in one of the best games of the year.

WEEK 16 CAPSULES

By Cindy Boren

Giants (5-9) at Eagles (10-4)

Twenty-six teams remained in contention for a playoff berth to one degree or another as Week 16 opened, but Christmas brings with it two of the biggest matchups of the season: the Dallas Cowboys facing the Miami Dolphins on the road and the San Francisco 49ers hosting the Baltimore Ravens.

The Cowboys-Dolphins game is the first in NFL history between teams with 20 or more combined wins and one (or zero) against teams with a better-than-.500 record. Dallas is 9-1 against teams with a .500-or-worse record and 1-3 against teams above .500. Miami is 10-1 against .500-or-worse teams and 0-3 against teams above .500.

The Ravens-49ers game features a Baltimore team that is 6-1 on the road against a San Francisco team that is 5-1 at home.

Here’s a look at some other interesting facts about Week 16.

2:30 p.m. Monday, Fox Philadelphia is playing poorly at the exact wrong time and has a threegame losing streak — its first over three games since Weeks 2 to 4 of the 2021 season — to show for it. In each of their four losses, the Eagles have been held under 20 points.

The Washington Post

TELEVISED LOCALLY

Browns (9-5) at Texans (8-6) 11 a.m., CBS Beware of Joe Flacco, Cleveland’s fourth-starting quarterback. The 38-year-old has led 26 game-winning drives, which may make him the ideal quarterback for a team that is 5-0 in games decided by three or fewer points.

JEFFREY T. BARNES/ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott hands off to running back Tony Pollard during last week’s loss to the Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y. The previously high-flying Cowboys offense gained only 195 yards.

definitely a focus for us.”

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is averaging 304 yards passing with two interceptions and a 74% completion rate at AT&T Stadium. On the road, he’s averaged 216 yards per game with five picks and a 63% completion rate.

The Cowboys clinched a playoff berth before kicking off against Buffalo but still have a chance to win the NFC East

and secure the top seed in the conference.

McCarthy said his team will lean on a mix of veterans and youngsters the rest of the way.

“This is why we spend so much time with our younger players,” he said. “Because this is the time of year that young players are playing. And it’s the most important time of the year because we’re all fighting for playoff seeds and so forth. I think the biggest thing

is just to stay after it, stay consistent and lean on your leadership.”

COWBOYS INJURIES Dallas right guard Zack Martin is expected to play despite sustaining a left quadriceps bruise in the first half against Buffalo. Left tackle Tyron Smith, an eight-time Pro Bowler, was ruled out after injuring his back against the Bills.

McCarthy said defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins would be “hard-pressed to go” because of a sprained ankle.

NEW EN G L AND AT D E NVER 6:15 P.M. NFLN

Broncos could hand Belichick his worst season

By Arnie Stapleton

The Associated Press

DENVER — Bill Belichick doesn’t have a losing record against anybody during his 24 seasons with New England. That could change Sunday night when the Patriots visit the Mile High City for what could be a slog through the snow.

The Denver Broncos (7-7) are 6½-point favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, the most they’ve been favored by all season as they try to stay alive in the AFC playoff race.

The Patriots (3-11) are pinballing through their worst year since Belichick’s inaugural season in 2000.

Belichick has a winning record against every team save for three — the Broncos (10-10), Giants (4-4) and Packers (3-3) —

during his tenure in New England, which could be coming to an end in three weeks.

The Broncos already are the only team to beat Belichick’s Patriots three times in the playoffs, including twice in AFC championships pitting Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

A Broncos victory on Christmas Eve would keep alive their chances of ending an eight-year playoff drought and hand Belichick the first 12-loss season of his 29-year coaching career.

Sean Payton, who famously dressed as Belichick and imitated his voice as a motivational ploy before a huge win over the Patriots in the New Orleans Saints’ Super Bowl-winning 2009 season, is the ninth Broncos coach during Belichick’s time in New England.

Steelers’ season still alive

“They’re a well-balanced team,” Belichick said of the Broncos. “Obviously, you see Sean’s mark on the team. Sean, ton of respect for him, what he’s done for his career, just the way he coaches, the way he prepares and just the football coach that he is. I think Sean does a great job.”

The respect is mutual.

“They’re always extremely well coached and prepared,” said Payton, who got to know Belichick when the two coached against each other in the Pro Bowl following the 2006 season.

“They’re going to have a way to win the game,” Payton said. “That’s evident when you watch them on tape. ... He’s just really good at taking away some things that you want to do or making you play left-handed, if you will. It’s always something different.”

a long, long time, did just that, with the 22-year-old Pickens shrugging off criticism for his sometimes lackadaisical play by showcasing the game-breaking Continued from Page D-1 offense mostly along for the ride. talent that Tomlin was so enamored with Rudolph spent the overwhelming before the 2022 draft. lacking in the NFL’s 28th-ranked offense majority of that time on the sideline with Pickens caught four passes for 195 for years as the Steelers snapped a three- a headset on or a clipboard in his hand, yards — including a 44-yard sideline game skid. feeling a bit like a “freeloader.” The grab just before halftime that set up a He hit Pickens for an 86-yard catch28-year-old knew opportunities to prove field goal — and afterward apologized, and-run touchdown on Pittsburgh’s sec- himself were running out, one of the sort of, for saying during the week that ond offensive snap and lobbed a rainbow reasons he couldn’t sleep before practice his critics were “media guys” who never in the third quarter that Pickens turned on Tuesday. played the game. Yet he also said he into a 66-yard score as the Steelers There was no sleepless night on was keeping “receipts” and called the posted their highest point total in a win Friday. Maybe because Rudolph felt negativity that’s engulfed the Steelers so since 2020. prepared. He certainly looked that way much “outside noise.”

“I felt like we were balanced and we while directing the Steelers to a 24-point “People like to question [our commitwere clicking,” said Rudolph, who comhalftime lead. ment] a lot,” Pickens said. “But that just pleted 17 of 27 passes for 290 yards.

With his team’s season hanging in the shows you [who we are].”

That feeling has been rare for Pittsbalance and speculation mounting his The path for Pittsburgh to reach the burgh even before Ben Roethlisberger’s 17-year tenure may be drawing to a close, playoffs remains complicated — and retirement after the 2021 season. The coach Mike Tomlin told his players who knows what will happen at Seattle Steelers have spent the last three years “scared money don’t make money.” next week, when Pickett could be ready relying heavily on a defense that would Translation: Go out and let it rip. to return from right ankle surgery — but the Steelers’ first sweep of the Bengals find ways to win tight games, with the The Steelers, for the first time in

Lions (10-4) at Vikings (7-7) 11 a.m., Fox With a quarterback carousel that seems to have stopped at Nick Mullens, Minnesota remains in the playoff picture. Mullens completed 26 of 33 passes for 303 yards and two TDs in the overtime loss to Cincinnati last week.

Cowboys (10-4) at Dolphins (10-4) 2:25 p.m., Fox Miami has a two-game division lead over Buffalo, but the Dolphins’ next two opponents (Dallas and Baltimore) are 20-7; Buffalo’s next two (Chargers and New England) are 8-20. The Dolphins host the Bills in Week 18.

Patriots (3-11) at Broncos (7-7) 6:15 p.m., NFL Network In winning six of eight games before Week 15, Denver’s defense had allowed only 16 points per game, but it allowed five straight TD drives that took 4:07 or less (even though each went for 60 or more yards) in a loss to Detroit. The Broncos gave up 42 points, the most they had surrendered since Week 3.

Raiders (6-8) at Chiefs (9-5) 11 a.m. Monday, CBS, Nickelodeon K.C. may have beaten the Patriots by what in 2023 was a fairly comfortable margin (i.e., 10 points), but the offense still sputtered, failing for the fifth straight game to generate more than 400 yards (326). That’s tied for the longest such streak in the Patrick Mahomes era.

since 2019 made it a little more navigable.

Cincinnati (8-7) is still in the mix, too, but Jake Browning fell to 3-2 as a starter in place of the injured Joe Burrow. The longtime practice squad player threw for 335 yards and a touchdown but was also picked off three times, with all three turnovers leading to points the other way.

“This is a humbling league; this is a humbling day,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said.

Tee Higgins finished with five receptions for 140 yards and an 80-yard touchdown for Cincinnati, but the game effectively ended Rudolph went deep on third down to a streaking Pickens on the Steelers’ next possession. Pickens ran under it, then ran away from defenders to push the lead back to 23.

By the time the clock ran out, the crowd was singing “Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer” and the quarterback who had been an afterthought for so

Ravens (11-3) at 49ers (11-3) 6:15 p.m. Monday, ABC San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy has had a passer rating of 130 or better in six games, tying Aaron Rodgers (2011 and 2020), Tony Romo (2014) and Ryan Tannehill and Russell Wilson (both in 2019) for the most in NFL history.

OTHER GAMES

Colts (8-6) at Falcons (6-8) 11 a.m.

Indianapolis is averaging 24.6 points — nearly two points better than the Chiefs, for instance — and is 5-1 since Halloween. Atlanta has switched from Desmond Ridder to Taylor Heinicke after a loss to Carolina in which Ridder committed his sixth red-zone turnover. Only three players have had more.

Packers (6-8) at Panthers (2-12) 11 a.m.

Green Bay got to 6-6 after a 2-5 start but has lost two in a row, its first December defeats since 2018.

Commanders (4-10) at Jets (5-9) 11 a.m.

The Jets have used 11 combinations on the offensive line. Their most recent iteration allowed six sacks and 14 quarterback hits in a loss to Miami that ensured they would miss the playoffs for the 13th straight season.

Seahawks (7-7) at Titans (5-8) 11 a.m.

Seattle’s 92-yard game-winning touchdown drive against Philadelphia on Monday night was only the Seahawks’ second game-winning touchdown drive of 90 or more yards in the last two minutes of a game in the Pete Carroll era (since 2010).

Jaguars (8-6) at Buccaneers (7-7) 2:05 p.m.

Baker Mayfield passed for 381 yards and four touchdowns (to four different receivers) with a perfect 158.3 passer rating in a win over Green Bay last week, made more significant by the fact that he is only the third player in NFL history with at least 375 passing yards, four touchdown passes and a 158.3 rating in a road game.

Cardinals (3-11) at Bears (5-9) 2:25 p.m.

The last thing Bears fans want to see is a Panthers victory; Chicago has Carolina’s first-round pick in the 2024 draft. The next-to-last thing they want to see is a victory by their team. Chicago currently has the No. 1 pick from Carolina and its own No. 5 pick.

long was searching the stands looking for his parents.

Who knows if he’ll start next week.

Tomlin said it’s too early to say. Rudolph has been through enough to know that there’s no point in getting ahead of himself. The player who remembers getting a treehouse as a Christmas present as a kid received a game ball from defensive tackle Cam Heyward in a jubilant and relieved locker room.

“This is pretty up there,” he said with a laugh.

INJURIES Steelers: LB Elandon Roberts exited early in the second quarter with a pectoral injury and did not return.

UP NEXT Bengals: Visit Kansas City on Dec. 31, a place they’ve become regulars in the playoffs over the last two seasons.

Steelers: Will try to win at Seattle for the second time in franchise history when they play the Seahawks on Dec. 31.

SPORTS

Sunday, December 24, 2023

Can new movie make waves for rowing?

Sport’s supporters hope ‘Boy in the Boat’ will help increase popularity and diversity before Olympics

By Eddie Pells

The Associated Press

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The journey from nowhere to an Olympic gold medal is a tale as old as time.

Just as well-worn, but far less explored, are the stories about great athletes who realize they can’t make it anywhere unless they have a way to bankroll the trip.

The Boys in the Boat is Hollywood and director George Clooney’s way of stringing those plot lines together. That it opens Christmas Day, a mere seven months before the start of the Paris Olympics, is good fortune for the people who oversee rowing in the U.S. and know the general public mostly either a) doesn’t think about that sport or b) sees it as the exclusive playground for East Coast and Ivy League elites.

USRowing worked with producers of the movie to sponsor dozens of screenings across the country with two purposes: raising funds for an organization that received about $3.5 million of its $15 million budget in 2023 from charitable donations, and building awareness across racial and socioeconomic lines. One jarring stat: In 2021, a study found only 2% of women who competed in NCAA rowing

LAURIE SPARHAM/MGM PICTURES VIA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bruce Herbelin-Earle, from left, Callum Turner and Jack Mulhern appear in a rowing scene from The Boys in the Boat.

were Black. (Men’s rowing isn’t sanctioned by the NCAA, and so, wasn’t part of the study.)

“What we’re trying to do here, and what so many clubs are doing around the country, is trying to create programs and opportunities” for people to row, said USRowing CEO Amanda Kraus.

The Boys in the Boat is about a group of poor students at the University of Washington who try out for the junior varsity crew team. It’s 1936, and far from seeking Olympic glory, these guys are simply trying to find a way to make a buck.

“All you gotta do is make the team,” one of them says. “How hard can that be?”

Plenty hard, it turns out, and what ensues is the Miracle on Ice, except on water — and with one other notable difference: Most of those hockey kids always knew where their next meal was coming from.

Certainly there are others out there in a country of 330 million looking for a fresh start, a taste of the great outdoors and a chance to try something new. Kraus believes her sport might be that thing — and that all those potential rowers don’t have to be daughters and sons of millionaires.

Rowing is hoping to inspire more people like Arshay Cooper, who was a member of the first all-Black high school rowing team

at Manley High School in Chicago.

Cooper authored a book, A Most Beautiful Thing, that itself was made into a movie produced by basketball stars Grant Hill and Dwyane Wade.

“In rowing, you move forward by looking in the opposite direction,” is a quote from Cooper on his website that describes his worldview. “I learned that it’s OK to look back, as long as you keep pushing forward.”

The sport also hopes to build more programs, such as Learn to Row Day, when rowing clubs are urged to welcome newcomers and teach them about the sport.

So much about rowing is a steep climb. Kraus says it costs around $50,000 a year to support a Team USA rower; that comes after the tens of thousands expended on their development at the grassroots and college levels. But, she said, building a pipeline is an investment worth making, and it doesn’t mean everyone has to end up at the Olympics.

“We hope people can get inspired to really check the sport out for themselves,” Kraus said.

“You can be 30 or 40 or 70 and go do a ‘Learn to Row’ course at your local club. That’s a real thing. You don’t have to row in college to be part of this sport.”

USRowing has around 74,000 members (by comparison, the U.S. Tennis Association has 680,000) and, like all niche sports, the Olympics are its time to shine. That makes a rowing movie a Christmas present for this sport.

Plans for new stadiums abound, with big public cost

By David A. Lieb

The Associated Press

Standing on a portable stage erected at home plate of the Milwaukee Brewers ballpark, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers recently praised the professional baseball team as an “essential part” of the state’s “culture and identity” and “economic success.”

With fanfare, Evers then signed off on $500 million in public aid for the stadium’s renovation, adding to a remarkable run of such blockbuster deals. This year alone, about a dozen Major League Baseball and National Football League franchises took steps toward new or improved stadiums.

A new wave of sports facility construction is underway. One driven, in part, by a race to keep up with rivals and one that could collectively cost taxpayers billions of dollars despite skepticism from economists that stadiums boost local economies.

Though the Brewers primarily cited a need for repairs, many of the other new projects are much more than that. In some cases, sports teams are even seeking a new jolt of public funding for state-of-the-art stadiums while public entities are still paying off debt from the last round of renovations a couple of decades ago.

“These facilities are not physically obsolete.

It’s not as if the concrete is falling down and people are in grave danger if they attend a game,” said Rob Baade, a retired economics professor at Lake Forest College in Illinois.

“Teams are clamoring for new stadiums because it’s in their economic interest to do so,” Baade said, adding, “The new stadium model is one that spills over the stadium walls.”

The power of peer pressure New or improved stadiums provide team owners with fresh revenue opportunities from luxury suites, dining, shopping and other developments, especially for those who control the nearby area.

For many, Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke is the model: His $5 billion football stadium opened in 2020 as the centerpiece of a sprawling development that will feature apartments, offices, retail stores, public parks and a theater.

The difference, however, is that Kroenke is privately financing the project, after uprooting the Rams from a publicly funded stadium in St.

Louis that was still being paid off.

The Kansas City Royals in August unveiled two options for a new $1 billion baseball stadium as part of an overall $2 billion development. The Tampa Bay Rays followed suit in September, unveiling plans for a $1.3 billion baseball stadium as the centerpiece of a $6.5 billion development in St. Petersburg, Fla., that also features housing, retail stores, restaurants and bars and a Black history museum.

They joined the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans, all of whom announced plans for or began construction on new billion-dollar football stadiums with luxury amenities.

Those projects all also came with public funding, including the $760 million in local bonds the Nashville City Council approved to go with $500 million in state bonds to pay for the Titans’ new $2.1 billion stadium. As part of the deal, the Titans agreed to pay off the remaining $30 million of public debt owed for their current stadium, which opened in 1999.

As the Baltimore Ravens announced a publicly funded $430 million renovation this month, the football team’s senior vice president for stadium operations said the facility is “already considered by many to be top-of-line.” But “we must remain cutting-edge and captivating,” Rich Tamayo said.

The trend extends beyond baseball and football.

On Dec. 12, Oklahoma City voters approved a 1-cent sales tax for a new Thunder basketball team arena costing at least $900 million.

The next day, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a proposed $2 billion development to lure basketball’s Washington Wizards and hockey’s Washington Capitals to a new arena surrounded by a performing arts center, hotels, convention center, housing and retail stores.

The emerging cycle of stadium construction has a “level of extravagance that has ratcheted up tremendously” and is projected to peak around 2030, said J.C. Bradbury, an economics professor at Kennesaw State University in Georgia who has been tracking the projects.

Fears of teams leaving Underlying the pitch for new stadiums is an assumption that teams may head elsewhere if they don’t get what they want, a rare yet real-

istic possibility highlighted by MLB’s approval last month for the Oakland Athletics to relocate from California to Las Vegas, Nev. The team’s new $1.5 billion baseball stadium in Nevada is being aided by $380 million in public funding. It will be built not far from the $2 billion football home of the Las Vegas Raiders, which opened in 2020 with $750 million of public funding from hotel room taxes.

The Raiders and A’s previously shared Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, which had been renovated at taxpayer expense in the 1990s to lure the Raiders back from Los Angeles. The remaining $13.5 million in public debt from that renovation is to be paid off by February 2025, by which time both teams could be gone.

Longtime A’s fan Ken Rettberg is frustrated by both the A’s impending departure and the lavish public aid benefitting wealthy team owners.

“It’s crazy ... how they can get away with giving away taxpayer money. It’s completely absurd,” said Rettberg, a software engineer who lives near Oakland.

A public backlash Ultimately, not everyone supports efforts to renovate or replace stadiums, or the trend of asking taxpayers to bear the cost.

The Titans’ new stadium carries the nation’s largest public subsidy for a professional sports facility. But voters delivered a rebuke in September, electing a progressive councilman who voted against the subsidy to serve as mayor.

The Chicago Bears in February bought a former suburban horse racing track as a potential site for a new football stadium and surrounding development but have yet to go forward with the potentially controversial move from downtown. The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority still owes $589 million through 2032 on public bonds issued for a renovation of the Bears’ current stadium two decades ago.

Many economists contend public funding for stadiums isn’t worth it, because sports tend to divert discretionary spending away from other forms of entertainment rather than generate new income.

“When you ask economists should we fund sports stadiums, they can’t say ‘no’ fast enough,” Bradbury said. “Yet when you ask a politician, they can’t say ‘yes’ fast enough.”

MEN’S COLLEG E BA SKE TBALL

No. 14 Owls get first top-10 win against No. 4 Arizona 1-1 Big East) and Cam Spencer scored 15.

Joel Soriano had 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead St. John’s, which had won six of seven. Daniss Jenkins added 13 points for the Red Storm (8-4, 1-1).

The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Johnell Davis had 35 points and nine rebounds and No. 14 Florida Atlantic beat No. 4 Arizona 96-95 in double overtime on Saturday in the Desert Classic, the Owls’ first win over a top-10 14 FAU 96 team.

Giancarlo 4 Arizona 95 Rosado made the back end of two free throws with just under a minute remaining for what turned out to be the winning point for the Owls (10-2), who beat their second ranked opponent of the season. FAU defeated then-No. 12 Texas A&M 96-89 on Nov. 24.

Caleb Love, who led Arizona (9-2) with 26 points, missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer. He was one of five Wildcats to score in double figures.

Pelle Larsson added 15 points.

Jalen Gaffney scored 20 points and Alijah Martin added 13 for FAU, which made a surprising run to the Final Four in the NCAA

NO. 23 MEMPHIS 77, VANDERBILT 75 In Memphis, Tenn., David Jones scored 21 of his 28 points in the second half as Memphis held on to deal Vanderbilt its fourth straight loss.

Jahvon Quinerly added 13 points for Memphis (10-2), which won its fifth straight.

NO. 25 MISSISSIPPI 89, SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI 72 LUCAS PELTIER/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Arizona center Motiejus Kris catches a rebound against Florida Atlantic’s Jalen Gaffney during Saturday’s Owls win in Las Vegas, Nev.

Tournament last season.

NO. 5 UCONN 69, ST. JOHN’S 65 In Hartford, Conn., Tristen Newton scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half, including a key free throw

with just under 17 seconds left, and UConn held off St. John’s.

Samson Johnson, starting in place of injured center Donovan Clingan, added 16 points for the Huskies (11-2,

In Biloxi, Miss., Matthew Murrell had a season-high 26 points and five assists, Jaylen Murray scored 21 points and unbeaten Mississippi defeated Southern Miss.

The victory extended one of the nation’s longest winning streaks and wrapped up a 2-0 week for an Ole Miss (12-0) team that’s ranked inside the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2019.

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

D-5

Labor case Continued from Page D-1

athletics as it has evolved into a billion-dollar business, allowing schools to pour money that might have gone directly to players into coaches’ salaries, glittering facilities and ballooning staffs.

Granting athletes employee status would bolster their standing in antitrust lawsuits and arm the highest-profile athletes, football and men’s and women’s basketball players, with the power to collectively bargain directly with universities for salaries and other rights.

The case threatens to “disrupt and transform more than 100 years of college athletics,” said Adam Abrahms, a lawyer representing USC, which, along with the Pac-12 Conference and the NCAA, is a defendant.

Such disruption would be welcome, said Ramogi Huma, the executive director of the National College Players Association, an athlete advocacy group. Earlier this year, Huma filed the complaint with the NLRB on behalf of USC’s football and men’s and women’s basketball players.

“The years of tradition we’re trying to stop is the tradition of exploitation, the tradition of double standards and the tradition of refusing to pay fair market value to employees,” Huma said Wednesday after the third day of the hearing. The proceedings are scheduled to continue in late January, when coaches and administrators may be called to testify, and conclude by the end of February. A ruling is not likely to come until later next year.

The hearing, in Los Angeles, is but one salvo in an assault against amateurism that was supercharged in 2021 by a unanimous Supreme Court decision in which Justice Brett Kavanaugh characterized the NCAA as a price-fixing cartel.

Players on the Dartmouth men’s basketball team have also gone before the NLRB to ask that they be considered employees; and a lawsuit, Johnson v. the NCAA, seeking to have athletes considered employees, is winding its way through federal court.

Then there is a raft of antitrust suits, including House v. NCAA, a class-action grievance asking for $1.4 billion in damages (which the court could triple) for athletes in the top conferences. The athletes in that case argue that the NCAA’s previous restrictions on name, image and likeness rights unfairly deprived them from a share of television and social media revenue.

These challenges have prompted the NCAA to repeatedly ask for an antitrust exemption from Congress, where they have seldom found a sympathetic ear.

The lack of traction prompted Charlie Baker, a former Massachusetts governor in his first year as NCAA president, to suggest this month that the wealthiest athletic programs begin putting at least $30,000 annually into trust funds for at least half their athletes, an offering he hopes will get Congress to accede to narrow antitrust relief.

“We all know this is a big public issue and people have opinions about college sports,” said Daniel Nash, the lead counsel for the Pac-12. “But this is an unfair labor practice case.”

The stage in Los Angeles — far from the halls of Congress or august courtrooms with wood paneling and high ceilings — reflected that. The hearing took place in a conference room in a generic glass office building with the administrative judge, Eleanor Laws, seated in a portable box where she looked eye to eye across a table of more than a dozen lawyers. (About the only other people in the room were several members of the news media.)

That a case would end up before the NLRB, which handles fair employment cases involving private businesses, has seemed inevitable since Jennifer Abruzzo, the board’s general counsel, invited a challenge two years ago by issuing a memo saying that the law would support classifying scholarship football players in the NCAA’s top division as employees.

The NLRB accepted Huma’s case, which has been broadened to include men’s and women’s basketball players as well as nonscholarship athletes, who are commonly referred to as walk-ons. The Pac-12 and the NCAA have been named as co-defendants so that any ruling would apply to both public and private schools that are part of those organizations.

Over the opening days, Amanda Laufer, the lead attorney for the general counsel, sought to demonstrate through the testimony of two recent former walk-on football players, Outlaw and Kohl Hollinquest, that USC exerted extraordinary control over the athletes, even ones who were not being rewarded with scholarships or earning hundreds of thousands of dollars in endorsements like Caleb Williams, the team’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.

In addition to the fingerprint monitoring of their dining hall attendance, the class monitors and the nearly daily hydration and weight checks, players were required to remain in the team hotel when they were on the road unless they left with the team — even if the game was many hours away.

Laufer asked Outlaw if he could meet a friend for coffee?

“No,” Outlaw said.

Could he visit the Space Needle while the team was in Seattle?

“No,” Outlaw said.

Both players described a point system under the current head coach, Lincoln Riley, and his predecessor, Clay Helton, in which being late or missing meetings, meals, weightlifting sessions or classes would add up to punishment from the team. Outlaw testified on Monday mornings, Riley would stand in front of the team and read a list of the previous week’s transgressions. For each one, every player would have to do one up-down, an exercise where players drop down to a pushup position then bounce back up.

Outlaw, who ran track at the University of Virginia for four years before he transferred to USC and joined the football team, said while some workouts are considered voluntary — the NCAA has hours restrictions on team activities — players are expected to participate.

“They’d say things like, ‘No, this isn’t mandatory. You don’t have to do it,’ ” Outlaw said with a smile. “‘But it’s also not mandatory for us to play you in the fall.’”

This contrasted with the picture Abrahms had illustrated of football as an extracurricular activity that is part of the “institutional fabric” of the school. Athletes “don’t come to USC with the intention of punching a clock,” he added. Abrahms sought to make the point in his cross-examination that the players had gained skills like discipline and leadership from playing football that would benefit them long after college.

Abrahms, Nash and Rick Pins, the lead counsel for the NCAA, tried to draw a connection in their questioning of Outlaw and Hollinquest between the demands of college football and those of high school football, where the players also had coaches, schedules and rules to follow.

D-6

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

ALMANAC

Midnight through 6 p.m. Saturday

Santa Fe Area .Yesterday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.28" .... .Month . . . . . to . . .date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.46" .... . . . . .to Year . .date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11.78" .....

AREA RAINFALL

Albuquerque Area .Yesterday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.33" .... . . . . . . to Month . . .date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.12" ....

Tonight

Today

Few Snow Showers.

37

13

POLLEN COUNTS Santa Fe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.5, Severity . . . .Low ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Juniper Allergens ......

Albuquerque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.5, Severity . . . .Low ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Juniper Allergens ......

Source: https://pollen.com

TODAY'S UV INDEX + 10 8 6 4 2 0

Extreme Very High High Moderate Low

The UV index forecasts the ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun. The higher the number the more risk of sun damage to your skin.

Sunny.

35 / 18

Humidity (Noon)

Friday

Partly Cloudy.

39 / 21

Partly Cloudy.

41 / 23

Humidity (Noon)

Saturday

Partly Cloudy.

40 / 24

Humidity (Noon)

41 / 22

Humidity (Noon)

Humidity (Noon)

80%

47%

38%

42%

47%

50%

55%

Wind: SW 15 mph

Wind: N 15 mph

Wind: NW 10 mph

Wind: NW 15 mph

Wind: NW 10 mph

Wind: SW 10 mph

NATIONAL WEATHER

NEW MEXICO WEATHER Shown is today's weather. Temperatures are today's highs and tonight's lows.

Taos 35 / 7

Farmington 39 / 14

Raton 32 / 11

~ ola Espan 42 / 10

San Francisco 58/47

Las Vegas 41 / 14

Pecos 38 / 12

Gallup G 4 /8 40

Albuquerque 46 / 17

Truth or Consequences 56 / 28

L

Denver 31/14

L

Atlanta 64/54

Dallas 66/42

New Orleans 65/59

Mérida 90/65

Guadalajara 72/53

-0s

0s

10s

20s

30s

40s

50s

60s

Carlsbad 61 / 28

70s

Rain

67° in Jal 26° in Sanostee

90s

100s

110s

Thunderstorms

Snow

Ice

Jet Stream

Warm

Cold

Stationary

The Northeast will see partly to mostly cloudy skies with isolated showers, highest temperature of 63 in Metropolis, Ill. The Southeast will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain, highest temperature of 77 in Marathon, Fla. In the Northwest there will be partly to mostly cloudy skies with isolated rain and snow, highest temperature of 54 in Coos Bay, Ore. The Southwest will see partly cloudy skies with the highest temperature of 67 in Palm Springs, Calif.

WEATHER HISTORY

NEW MEXICO CITIES

Yesterday Today Tomorrow Hi/Lo W Hi/Lo W Hi/Lo W City

Alamogordo 59/46 mc 52/26 s 47/27 s Albuquerque 48/37 ra 46/17 s 43/20 s Angel Fire 35/32 mc 29/-5 ss 26/-2 s Artesia 61/50 mc 60/27 s 48/24 s Carlsbad 63/48 mc 61/28 s 50/26 s Chama 42/32 cl 30/-1 ss 31/1 s Cimarron 35/32 mc 38/11 mc 36/14 s Clayton 55/37 mc 38/19 pc 39/20 s Cloudcroft 59/46 mc 33/15 s 32/16 s Clovis 57/40 mc 47/22 s 43/21 s Crownpoint 40/28 rs 38/14 s 34/19 s Deming 57/45 pc 55/24 s 52/25 s 40/35 mc 42/10 rs 39/11 s Espan~ ola Farmington 46/36 mc 39/14 s 38/16 s Fort Sumner 57/42 mc 51/23 s 45/20 s Gallup 37/30 rs 40/8 s 41/11 s Grants 44/32 rs 42/11 s 41/13 s Hobbs 64/50 mc 57/28 s 48/29 s Las Cruces 57/46 pc 57/28 s 52/27 s

Las Vegas Lordsburg Los Alamos Los Lunas Portales Raton Red River Rio Rancho Roswell Ruidoso Santa Rosa Silver City Socorro T or C Taos Tucumcari Univ. Park White Rock Zuni

Yesterday Today Tomorrow Hi/Lo W Hi/Lo W Hi/Lo W 46/36 mc 41/14 s 42/35 pc 52/25 pc 40/35 cl 36/14 ss 49/40 s 48/21 s 57/40 mc 49/22 s 51/34 mc 32/11 ss 35/32 mc 32/-1 ss 45/36 cl 44/19 s 57/46 mc 58/26 s 45/32 mc 44/21 s 51/39 rs 49/22 s 51/40 mc 46/25 s 51/38 mc 52/23 s 55/43 pc 56/28 s 40/28 mc 35/7 ss 56/42 ra 48/21 pc 57/46 pc 57/28 s 40/35 cl 39/14 s 35/31 rs 42/11 pc

39/15 s 51/23 s 32/15 s 43/18 s 45/20 s 33/14 s 26/1 s 41/21 s 50/27 s 42/22 s 43/20 s 47/26 s 47/21 s 50/26 s 32/5 s 42/18 s 52/29 s 35/13 s 41/14 s

Dec. 24, 1983 - The barometric pressure reached 31.42 inches at Miles City, Mont. to establish a record for the United States. It was the coldest Christmas Eve of modern record. More than 125 cities reported record low temperatures for the date.

NATIONAL EXTREMES SATURDAY High

83° in Rio Grande Village, Texas

NIGHT SKY

Low

0° in Peter Sinks, Utah

Sunrise Today Monday Tuesday

Mercury 7:11 a.m.

7:11 a.m.

7:11 a.m.

Rise Set

6:45 a.m.

4:40 p.m.

4:55 p.m.

4:56 p.m.

4:56 p.m.

Rise Set

Mars

4:05 a.m.

2:33 p.m.

Rise Set

6:26 a.m.

4:06 p.m.

2:53 p.m.

3:39 p.m.

4:33 p.m.

Rise Set

1:27 p.m.

--

5:02 a.m.

6:09 a.m.

7:11 a.m.

Rise Set

Uranus

10:45 a.m.

9:38 p.m.

Rise Set

2:05 p.m.

--

Sunset Today Monday Tuesday Today Monday Tuesday

WIND TRACKER

Moonset Today Monday Tuesday

8 p.m.

2 a.m. Mon.

Full Dec. 26

Last Q. Jan. 3

Venus

Jupiter

Moonrise

Weather (w): cl-cloudy, fg-fog, hz-haze, mc-mostly cloudy, pc-partly cloudy, r-rain, rs-rain & snow, s-sunny, sh-showers, sn-snow, ss-snow showers, t-thunderstorms

2 p.m.

80s

Fronts:

STATE EXTREMES SATURDAY

8 a.m. Sun.

Miami 77/72

Cancún 81/74

Mexico City 69/55

Hobbs 57 / 28

High Low

H

Monterrey 80/61

La Paz 72/66

Alamogordo 52 / 26

Washington D.C. 51/39

St. Louis 64/54

Albuquerque 46/17 Phoenix 62/44

New York 47/40

Detroit 50/43

Chicago 56/49

Hermosillo 71/55

Roswell 58 / 26

Las Cruces 57 / 28

City

L 55/39 Omaha 56/32

Las Vegas 58/37

Boston 45/39

Minneapolis

Billings 37/13

Boise 36/23

Los Angeles 65/47

Clovis 47 / 22

Ruidoso 44 / 21 Sillver City 46 6 / 25

H

Santa Fe 37 / 13

Los Alamos 36 / 14

H

Seattle 42/37

Clayton 38 / 19

Saturn

New Jan. 11

Yesterday Today Tomorrow Hi/Lo W Hi/Lo W Hi/Lo W

City

Wind: E 15 mph

AIR QUALITY INDEX

Source: www.airnow.gov

32 / 16

Humidity (Noon)

Thursday

56%

A partial list of the City of Santa Fe's Comprehensive Water Conservation Requirements currently in effect: No outside watering from 10am to 6pm from May 1 to October 31.

For a complete list of requirements call: 955-4225 http://www.santafenm.gov/water_conservation

0-50, Good; 51-100, Moderate; 101-150, Unhealthy for sensitive groups; 151-200, Unhealthy; 201-300, Very Unhealthy, 301-500, Hazardous

Sunny.

Wednesday

Wind: W 15 mph

WATER STATISTICS

.Saturday's . . . . . . . . .rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 .. . . . . . . . .Forecast Today's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 ..

Tuesday

Sunny.

Humidity (Mid.)

Los Alamos Area .Yesterday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.36" .... . . . . . . to Month . . .date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.49" ....

The following water statistics of December 21st are provided by the City Water Division (in millions of gallons).

Total water produced from: Canyon Water Treatment Plant: 3.993 Buckman Water Treatment Plant: 1.947 City Wells: 0.0 Buckman Wells: 1.226 Total production: 7.167 Total consumption: 6.449 Santa Fe reservoir inflow: 0.90 Reservoir storage: 298.86 Estimated reservoir capacity: 23.39%

Monday

Clear.

Humidity (Noon)

Las Vegas Area .Yesterday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.36" .... . . . . . . to Month . . .date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.40" ....

Taos Area .Yesterday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.15" .... . . . . . . to Month . . .date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.84" ....

NATIONAL CITIES

7 DAY FORECAST FOR SANTA FE

Santa Fe Airport Temperatures High/low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47°/37° ......

Normal . . . . . . . high/low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43°/18° ...... . . . . . . .high Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61° . . . in . . 1955 .... . . . . . . .low Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1° . . in . . 1949 ....

Santa Fe Airport Precipitation .Yesterday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.23" .... .Month . . . . . to . . .date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.90" .... . . . . . . . month Normal . . . . . .to . . date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.61" ....

Year . . . . .to . .date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.44" ....

Normal . . . . . . . year . . . . to . . .date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13.34" .....

Last . . . . year . . . . .to. .date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11.81" .....

THE WEATHER

Sunday, December 24, 2023

First Q. Jan. 17

Anchorage Atlanta Baltimore Bangor Billings Bismarck Boise Boston Charleston,SC Charlotte Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Dallas Denver Des Moines Detroit Fairbanks Flagstaff Helena Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Kansas City Las Vegas Los Angeles Louisville Memphis Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis New Orleans New York City Oklahoma City Omaha Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Portland,OR Richmond Salt Lake City San Antonio San Diego San Francisco Seattle Sioux Falls St. Louis Tampa Trenton Tulsa Washington,DC

34/16 mc 66/37 pc 49/39 mc 36/15 mc 43/28 sn 42/24 pc 41/30 s 43/24 pc 72/46 pc 63/36 pc 49/45 fg 52/39 cl 48/43 ra 64/60 fg 52/37 mc 52/39 mc 48/42 cl 18/9 mc 45/32 mc 45/30 mc 79/72 pc 75/64 cl 50/44 fg 61/46 mc 65/44 s 66/54 pc 55/46 cl 66/54 mc 79/65 pc 48/44 fg 47/40 cl 72/61 pc 44/34 mc 65/52 mc 53/32 fg 75/57 pc 47/32 cl 59/52 mc 54/39 cl 41/32 fg 54/30 s 39/32 mc 73/64 ra 65/52 mc 63/46 s 45/29 pc 54/28 mc 63/50 cl 81/61 s 44/28 cl 61/55 fg 49/37 mc

32/14 sn 64/54 mc 50/43 sh 39/27 mc 37/13 s 32/15 sn 36/23 pc 45/39 cl 67/56 mc 64/46 pc 56/49 mc 60/46 mc 53/44 mc 66/42 sh 31/14 sn 57/42 ra 50/43 cl 16/-6 mc 44/14 s 32/15 s 80/69 pc 70/51 sh 60/49 mc 59/38 ra 58/37 s 65/47 s 64/50 pc 66/56 sh 77/72 mc 51/46 cl 55/39 ra 65/59 sh 47/40 cl 64/34 t 56/32 ra 73/64 mc 50/38 cl 62/44 pc 54/41 ra 42/39 ra 57/45 pc 33/18 pc 74/46 sh 65/50 mc 58/47 pc 42/37 ra 50/27 ra 64/54 mc 77/65 mc 49/37 cl 61/38 sh 51/39 mc

18/9 pc 62/57 sh 59/45 mc 42/33 mc 38/18 s 29/18 mc 37/27 pc 48/37 mc 68/59 sh 59/54 ra 53/44 ra 58/51 ra 58/50 mc 52/34 s 34/17 pc 47/30 ra 53/48 cl 3/-10 mc 45/16 s 33/18 pc 81/70 mc 57/40 mc 57/48 sh 41/30 ra 59/38 s 66/48 s 59/51 sh 64/38 sh 79/71 mc 52/42 ra 46/40 ra 68/49 mc 50/42 mc 44/30 s 34/26 rs 74/65 sh 52/40 mc 63/42 s 62/47 mc 46/42 ra 59/46 mc 34/19 pc 60/37 mc 67/52 pc 60/48 mc 46/42 ra 34/28 sn 60/38 ra 75/66 sh 53/38 mc 44/31 mc 57/43 mc

WORLD CITIES

Yesterday Today Tomorrow Hi/Lo W Hi/Lo W Hi/Lo W

City Amsterdam Athens Baghdad Beijing Berlin Bermuda Bogota Cairo Copenhagen Dublin Frankfurt Guatemala City Istanbul Jerusalem Johannesburg Lima London Madrid Mexico City Moscow Nassau New Delhi Oslo Paris Rio Rome Seoul Stockholm Sydney Tel Aviv Tokyo Toronto Vienna

52/46 ra 66/51 s 68/55 s 30/1 pc 36/34 sn 65/59 ra 69/48 ra 71/57 s 37/34 sn 52/50 mc 51/45 ra 72/54 pc 57/46 mc 57/48 ra 90/63 s 77/69 mc 53/47 mc 56/37 s 73/45 pc 36/33 sn 75/63 ra 74/56 pc 25/14 mc 53/47 ra 93/74 ra 60/44 s 28/6 s 32/26 sn 76/60 ra 66/59 ra 49/36 s 39/31 ra 46/34 ra

53/49 ra 65/53 s 63/54 ra 26/13 pc 49/34 ra 66/60 ra 67/48 ra 71/60 s 46/30 ra 56/53 ra 50/49 ra 78/55 mc 55/47 ra 55/51 ra 85/69 mc 76/69 mc 56/51 ra 52/39 s 69/55 mc 32/26 sn 75/71 ra 75/50 s 25/4 sn 53/48 cl 90/77 ra 58/56 ra 30/18 sn 25/22 cl 71/67 ra 67/59 ra 48/38 pc 39/37 ra 49/47 ra

53/51 ra 64/53 s 70/58 pc 28/15 s 53/47 ra 66/64 ra 66/50 ra 71/60 s 45/41 ra 49/48 ra 51/48 ra 78/56 pc 57/51 s 59/49 s 70/62 ra 71/69 cl 55/52 ra 52/40 s 70/54 mc 25/13 cl 76/75 ra 77/62 s 27/20 sn 54/50 cl 91/77 pc 60/54 ra 34/27 sn 33/32 sn 76/66 ra 67/61 s 50/42 s 43/39 cl 56/53 cl

Study: Reindeer vision may have evolved to spot food Animals’ eyes can see UV light, making lichen stand out against snow

By Holly Ramer

The Associated Press

CONCORD, N.H. — Finding food in a cold, barren landscape is challenging, but researchers from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland report reindeer eyes may have evolved to allow them to easily spot their preferred meal.

It’s further evidence that while reindeer are famous in song for pulling Santa’s sleigh, it’s their vision that really sets them apart, says Nathaniel Dominy, a Dartmouth anthropology professor and co-author of a recent study published in the journal i-Perception.

“They’ve been sort of obscure and unheralded in the annals of visual neuroscience, but they’re having their moment because they have a really fascinating visual system,” he said in an interview.

Scientists have known for years that mirror-like tissue in reindeer eyes changes color from a greenish gold in the summer to

vivid blue in the winter, a process that is thought to amplify the low light of polar winter.

But they weren’t sure what to make of another curious fact: Unlike other mammals, reindeer can see light in the ultraviolet spectrum.

“Most animals that are active under daylight conditions want to avoid UV light. UV light is damaging,” Dominy said. “Snow reflects UV light, which is a problem, which is why humans get snow blindness.”

Some scientists believe reindeer vision evolved to protect the animals from predators, allowing them to spot white wolves against a snowy landscape, for example. The new study points to another possibility: food.

Reindeer subsist largely on light-colored reindeer moss, which isn’t actually a moss but rather a type of lichen that grows in crunchy, carpet-like patches across northern latitudes.

Researchers traveled to the Cairngorms mountains in the Scottish Highlands, which hosts more than 1,500 species of lichen as well as Britain’s only reindeer herd. They found reindeer moss absorbs UV light, meaning the white lichen humans have trouble seeing against the snow

stands out as dark patches to the animals.

“If you’re a reindeer, you can see it, and you have an advantage because then you’re not wandering around the landscape. You can walk in a straight line and get to that food, and you conserve energy in the process,” Dominy said. “These animals are desperate for food, and if they can find lichen sufficiently, then they have an advantage.”

Dominy said there has been a lot of pharmacological research on lichens because they have antioxidant properties. Reindeer eyes allowing in UV light suggests there might be some mechanism in place to protect them from damage, he said.

“Reindeer eyes are full of ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, and vitamin C is just terrific for repairing damaged cells,” he said.

With that in mind, Dominy is updating the advice he offered after writing a 2015 paper exploring why a reindeer’s red nose would be ideal for guiding Santa’s sleigh.

Back then, he recommended children leave Rudolph cookies and other high-calorie food to make up for the body heat he loses through his nose.

Now, he says, focus on his

ED MURRAY/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A reindeer named Thunder in Branchburg, N.J., in 2018. New research suggests the animals’ unique eyes may have evolved to allow them to more easily spot their preferred meal, lichen.

eyes, and save the milk and cookies for Santa.

“The best thing to give them

to protect the health of their eyes would be something rich in vitamin C,” he said. “Orange juice,

carrots, these would be perfect treats for reindeer on Christmas Eve.”

How ‘The Chipmunk Song’ became an unlikely Christmas smash space, and fashion nonsense lyrics that are meant to be stammered, whistled, turkey-talked.”

The chase was on, as it had been There had been Christmas hits after for years. After the tale of “Rudolph “Rudolph,” even chart-toppers like 1952’s the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was put to “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” music and sold in a frenzy in 1949, each sung by 13-year-old Jimmy Boyd. But few yuletide brought a bumper crop of were bona fide sensations from the start sonic delights (or irritants) in hopes of like “Rudolph,” whose original Gene finding the next holiday smash. By 1958, Autry version sold 1.7 million records there were reportedly hundreds of new its first year. By 1958, the song was the genre’s top hit, with its many iterations attempts annually in a scramble one journalist dubbed “the nightmare before having sold 27 million copies in the United States.

Christmas.”

But by the start of December 1958 — “Gaily, madly, [songwriters] hang holly 65 years ago this month — another senwreaths about the necks of practically sation was emerging: “The Chipmunk every member of the animal kingdom,” Song,” by the Chipmunks with David Associated Press reporter Hugh A. Seville.

Mulligan lamented. They put Santa everywhere “from inside jail to outer It was gimmicky, cute and as catchy

By Danny Freedman

For The Washington Post

as a smile (or the flu, depending on the listener). In it, Seville coaxes a holiday ditty from his childlike chipmunk trio of Alvin, Simon and Theodore.

The song, which had been released in November, got a jump-start when DJs bucked a tradition of not playing holiday records before Thanksgiving, and it then spent December scaling Billboard’s Hot 100 pop singles chart. Three days before Christmas, it hit No. 1 and held the spot for four of its 13 weeks on the chart.

In a year that also produced Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run,” sales of “The Chipmunk Song” nonetheless shot into the millions before New Year’s Day — around 4 million, by some accounts. It also was the last Christmas song to hit No. 1 for six

decades, until 2019, when Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” finally got there, 25 years after its release.

At the first-ever Grammy Awards the following year, “The Chipmunk Song” was nominated for Record of the Year.

It lost that category — to Domenico Modugno’s “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)” — but won three others, including Best Comedy Performance.

And it wasn’t even the only No. 1 hit of 1958 for Seville, who had started the year as a struggling songwriter.

Seville, who died in 1972 at age 52, was the stage name of Ross Bagdasarian, a son of Fresno, Calif., grape farmers.

“It’s a really interesting time in ’58, because you’ve got so much going on musically,” said Daniel Goldmark, a music professor at Case Western

Reserve University who studies popular music and the music of cartoons. Rock ’n’ roll pioneers jockeyed for chart position alongside doo-wop groups, folk revivalists, R&B stars, the surviving titans of big-band jazz and the future ones of bop. It also was the heyday of the loose genre of curios known as novelty records. And in his time, Bagdasarian was perhaps “its greatest popularizer,” Steve Otfinoski writes in his book The Golden Age of Novelty Songs.

Decades later, the song remains in perennial rotation, casting a specific shade of nostalgia.

That long success may be, in part, due to mechanics: the song’s gentle, treadmill-like movement — and its brevity, at a little over 2 minutes, said Goldmark.

“It’s good enough to know when to stop.”

REAL ESTATE

Home listings E-3 Jobs E-5 Classifieds E-7

recent city and county home salles

8%

HOME BASE A snapshot of the Santa Fe housing market

city, county home sales, Dec. 15-21

30-year

Source: Freddie Mac

7%

6.67% 6%

Average u.S. mortgage rates

25

median sales price, Dec. 15-21

15-year

Sales data for the period of Dec. 15-21 from the Santa Fe Association of Realtors MLS reports. Not all sales are reported.

5.95%

12/21

$540,000

city and county home inventory

420

SunDAy, DEcEmBEr 24, 2023 THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

NORTHWEST COUNTY

NO ORTHEAST COUNTY

Homes sold: 1 Median price: $818,000

Ho omes sold: 1 Me edian price: $535,000

NO ORTHEAST CITY

NORTHW WEST CIT TY

Ho omes sold: 2 Me edian price: $1,483,250

Homes so old: 1 Median pric ce: $365,000

SO OUTHEAST CITY Ho omes sold: 6 Me edian price: $805,000

SOUTHWE EST CITY Homes sold d: 11 Median pric ce: $392,000

Weekly average rates from June 8-Dec. 21 6/8

SECTION E

Source: Santa Fe Association of Realtors unless otherwise noted

SO OUTHEAST COUNTY Ho omes sold: 1 Me edian price: $2,150,000

SOUTHWEST T COUNTY

ELDORA ADO

FA AR SOUTH COUNTY

Homes sold: 0 Median price: NA

Homes sold d: 2 Median price: $583,0 000

Ho omes sold: 0 Median price: NA

Garage, reimagined

Kim Shanahan Building Santa Fe

Pondering the future of city’s north-side parcel

Four homeowners go beyond parking to make the most out of valuable space

I

n September 2020, the city became sole owner of 228 acres west of N.M. 599 near Ridgetop Road.

It had been a partial owner since 1930 when former New Mexico Gov. John Dempsey struck a deal with the city whereby his company, Santa Fe Estates, got free city land and agreed to split development profits 50-50 with the city.

The 228 acres is a piece of the original sprawling Santa Fe Estates. The area’s 1996 master plan recorded restrictive covenants in 2003 and was renamed Las Estrellas in 2004.

A few tracts were built out before the collapse of 2008, including Thornburg’s campus, but 228 acres remained fallow. That’s going to change.

The city almost dumped it in a fire sale in March 2021, a few short months after securing ownership and 60 days after a quiet request for proposals was offered by the city.

Then, over growing public alarm at what felt like an inside deal, the RFP offer was withdrawn hours before the deadline — with no explanation.

I wrote in March 2021 that the city should take a few months to get it right and shine maximum light on any future deals. A few months turned into 34, but it’s still opaque and on an even faster track for a rushed sale.

On Wednesday, a pre-bid Zoom conference will be held for those wishing to respond to an invitation to bid. Those bids will be due Jan. 22. That’s a lightning-fast turnaround.

It’s more like a silent auction since nobody could possibly produce any plan details in 18 working days. Unless they already have been spending time and money working something up.

The state has strict procurement confidentiality rules the city follows. When city attorneys cited those rules for keeping secret the details received from midtown requests for expressions of interest, many of the respondents wanted their proposals seen by the public but were threatened with disqualification if they did.

But is an invitation to bid procurement? Procurement typically means buying, not selling. Similar transparency issues are at stake with last Wednesday’s request for qualifications from organizations seeking to develop a potentially free 19-acre city parcel across N.M. 599 intended for maximum affordability.

What did not happen between December 2020 and today was updating covenants for Santa Fe Estates/Las Estrellas. The original obsolete rules are embedded and Please see story on Page E-2

MARVIN JOSEPH/THE WASHINGTON POST

Audrey Neuman joins neighbors at a recent gathering in Meg Donnelly’s garage, which Donnelly transformed into a social space.

By Amanda Long

Special to The Washington Post

C

ars in your garage? How quaint.

Makeover mania has come for what has been called the junk drawer of the home, with homeowners turning garages into classrooms, neighborhood social clubs, home gyms, DIY workshops, dance floors and more.

“We’ve seen a shift toward the garage space getting more attention as a valuable space in the home,” says Aaron Cash, presi-

dent and co-founder of Ontario-based Garage Living. The overall trend, he says, is toward function and value. “The importance paid to other parts of the home is finally coming to what is often called ‘America’s front door,’ and homeowners can see it as a blank canvas for what they need.”

We spoke with several homeowners who put their garages into overdrive without breaking the bank. And as for the cars? Many sources told of transformations that still allow for parking on the dance floor when necessary (think: snow).

Garagaritaville When Meg Donnelly and Mike Tecson, both 49, moved into their Herndon, Va., home in October 2020, Donnelly would sit on her porch, waving at every neighbor who walked by, wondering how she’d ever really get to know them, with the pandemic limiting neighborly interactions.

The gregarious Donnelly, with the help of handy friends, took matters into her own Please see story on Page E-2

5-month skid in home sales snapped amid easing mortgage rates

By Alex Veiga The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes rose in November, ending a five-month skid, as easing mortgage rates provided some breathing room for homebuyers.

Existing home sales rose 0.8% last month from October to a seasonally adjusted annual total of 3.82 million, the

National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. That tops the 3.78 million sales pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet. Sales were still down 7.3% compared with November last year, and are down 19.3% through the first 11 months of 2023 compared with the same period last year.

The pickup in sales helped push up home prices compared with a year earlier for the fifth month in a row. The

national median sales price rose 4% from November last year to $387,600.

The modest increase in sales arrives with mortgage rates in decline after a sharp run-up that sent borrowing costs on home loans higher. The rising cost of borrowing money compounded hurdles for buyers because there are so few homes on the market, sending home prices higher as well.

The average rate on a 30-year mort-

gage has eased after climbing to 7.79% in late October to its highest level since late 2000. The average dropped to 6.67% last week, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac. “Home sales always respond to lower interest rates,” said Lawrence Yun, the NAR’s chief economist, adding that he has “no doubt” home sales have hit their low point in the current housing market cycle.

Despite the recent decline, the average rate on a 30-year home loan remains sharply higher than just two years ago, when it was around 3%. The large gap between rates now and then is contributing to the low inventory of homes for sale by discouraging homeowners who locked in rock-bottom rates two years ago from selling.

Please see story on Page E-2 SANTAFENEWMEXICAN.COM

Design and headlines: Brian Barker, bbarker@sfnewmexican.com

Nothing compares to what’s next.

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Sunday, December 24, 2023

Homebuilders step up construction of single-family homes

By Alex Veiga

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Homebuilders are stepping up construction of single-family homes following a steady decline in mortgage rates and broad expectations among economists that home loan borrowing costs will ease further next year.

Builders broke ground on single-family homes in November at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of about 1.14 million units, the Commerce Department reported last week. That’s an 18% jump from October and a 42.2% increase from November last year. It also marks the fastest pace for single-family hous-

ing starts since April 2022.

Single-family housing starts have now risen three months in a row and are outpacing home completions for the first time since the spring of last year.

Even with November’s ramp-up, construction of single-family homes remains on pace for its second straight annual decline, with starts down 7.2% through the first 11 months of this year versus the same period in 2022.

Still, if mortgage rates continue to fall, that should spur more homebuyers to come off the sidelines and give builders more reason to accelerate construction next year.

Another incentive: The inventory of

Garage, reimagined Continued from Page E-1

hands in August 2021. After a rainy day gathering in a blowup pool in her two-car garage, she decided to convert the room into what’s now known neighborhood-wide as Garagaritaville.

For less than $800, she estimates, they outfitted the space with custom floors, a mini-golf hole, a bar (including a “little liquor library” for neighbors to leave and take from), space heaters and murals — all under twinkling lights. It has become the neighborhood’s social hub, hosting monthly meetups and inspiring other neighbors to open their garage doors for progressive garage-party nights.

“Every time we open the garage doors, we meet a new neighbor,” says Donnelly, a massage therapist.

They started by sealing the floor with epoxy and using 26 bags of paint chips to create the effect of shimmering ocean water.

Then Donnelly dragged in naturally distressed Ikea outdoor furniture from another deck and applied peel-and-stick murals on two walls. Over time, they added a big-screen TV, which they frequently tune to the Fireplace Channel, and golf clubs and balls. Donnelly’s friend Anna Gibson, an interior designer, gifted both her expertise and a wine refrigerator.

“I do everything in excess, but I am so glad we went all-out for this,” Donnelly says. “I couldn’t imagine the neighborhood without Garagaritaville.”

Eat, box, broadcast, repeat Joe Livingston, a La-Z-Boy repairman and volunteer local public radio host in Springfield, Mo., bought an 800-square-foot fixer-upper in 2017 and was working on the main living space when it became obvious the home lacked three key things: a dining room, a recording studio and a boxing ring, of sorts.

Two years ago, the 52-year-old was diag-

previously occupied homes for sale is likely to remain constrained because many homeowners have locked in a mortgage rate well below where rates are today.

Consider, some 67% of U.S. homeowners with a mortgage have a 30-year fixed-rate home loan at 5% or less. Even with its recent decline, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage remains just under 7%, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac. Several housing economists are projecting that mortgage rates will ease only moderately next year, with forecasts calling for the average rate on

nosed with Parkinson’s, and began working with a speed bag and doing Pilates as therapy.

The garage was the only area in the small home big enough for the speed bag and a stationary bike. He also needed a place where he could do his weekly rock show, The Roundabout, on local NPR station KSMU. But the garage was “dirty, cold, semi-drywalled, filled with lots of bugs and cobwebs and all my junk,” says Livingston, so he got to work on converting it into a usable space.

“Turning it into a room helped me free myself from a bunch of unnecessary junk,” he says.

The turnaround in the tiny space took six months and cost about $7,000. A friend who is also a contractor pitched in after work and on days off. They installed windows, a sliding door at the front of the garage and a single door at the back. (The old garage door lives on as a friend’s upcycled headboard.)

They also spruced up the space with insulation, drywall and paint. Livingston added sound barrier tiles to the recording studio section and bought a couch, dining chairs and a few four-bin record racks to use as a studio desk. The room has air conditioning, and they tapped into the original duct work for a vent into the room for heat.

Livingston says he spends most of his time at home — at least six to eight hours a day — in the “nice and new, barely recognizable garage,” working out, eating and entertaining, and recording the show. Another favorite feature, a pet door from the main house, allows his two cats and two dogs to make guest appearances on the show. “They get plenty of shoutouts, and now fans know all about them,” Livingston says.

A builder’s paradise Building furniture. Building a small business. Building muscles. All three are getting a home under the roof of Jonisha Holmes’s two-car garage in Baton Rouge, La. The interior designer and mother of two began her garage makeover over the summer with specific needs: an organized, cohesive space to store plywood, tools, holiday decorations and equipment for her secondary business (a mobile nail salon for kids). She also wanted a space where she

MARVIN JOSEPH/THE WASHINGTON POST

Meg Donnelly sealed the floor with epoxy and used 26 bags of paint chips to create the effect of shimmering ocean water.

Pondering the future of city’s north-side parcel Continued from Page E-1

will presumably go unchallenged by the highest bidder.

While it’s good to see “guest houses” are allowed on lots, the minimum primary house size is 2,000 square feet of heated space. That’s big and unaffordable. Specifications for guest houses are also subject to somebody’s interpretation — they must be “proportionate” to the main house and

5-month skid in home sales snapped Continued from Page E-1

Homebuyers in many markets continue to face a low inventory of available homes for sale. There were 1.13 million homes on the market by the end of last month, down 1.7% from October, but up 0.9% from November last year, the NAR said. Before

within “close proximity.”

The affordable housing rules reference the abandoned Housing Opportunity Program or whatever replaces it. The Santa Fe Homes Program replaced it in 2005 and says three-bedroom, two-bath homes must be at least 1,150 square feet. Requiring 2,000-square-foot affordable homes is a developer nonstarter.

And while either the main house or the guest house can be rented, only to those

the pandemic, there were roughly twice as many homes on the market.

The available inventory at the end of last month amounted to a 3.5-month supply, going by the current sales pace. That’s down 3.6% from the previous month, but up from 3.3% from November 2022. In a more balanced market between buyers and sellers, there is a 4- to 5-month supply.

“If the inventory levels were, say, 30% or 40% higher, surely home sales would be probably 10% or 20% above what [they are] today,” Yun said. “A lack of inventory is clearly holding back some of the sales potential.”

Homebuyers still had to navigate a competitive market due to the shortage of

a 30-year home loan to remain above 6%. That means many homeowners are likely to remain discouraged from selling next year — another incentive for builders to expand construction in 2024 off this year’s low level.

“New supply of housing is needed to meet demand, especially in an environment where most existing homeowners are rate-locked in and unwilling to part with their low mortgage rate,” said Odeta Kushi, deputy chief economist at First American. “Builders are benefitting from a lack of resale inventory. The recent decline in mortgage rates should contribute to the single-family momentum.”

could build furniture and work out.

The process took two months, and Holmes, 38, kept the budget to $500 by shopping Target’s clearance section for storage bins and crates, and repurposing pillows, bookshelves and other construction materials. The left side of the space became storage central, with simple open-cubby bookcases to house spa and household equipment. On one wall, she installed a Gladiator organizer for garden tools and a peg board for construction and crafting tools. To hang clamps, she used a tension curtain rod.

Holmes is particularly proud of her solution for plywood storage. “I build a lot of things — big things, tables and chairs, and that means lots of large, plywood pieces hanging around,” she says. She hung a floorto-ceiling wall a couple of feet from one of the garage’s original walls, creating a nook into which she can slide pieces of plywood.

She put a bench in front of it and added coat hooks on the face, creating the look and utility of a standard mudroom hutch.

Shoes go under the bench, and Holmes covered a pillow with a colorful fabric to complement the oranges, greenish-blues and blues of her tools and equipment.

She painted the wall Sherwin Williams’s Tricorn Black to contrast with the garage’s white walls and added Sherwin Williams’s Shamrock as an accent color on the inside of the garage door.

Holmes switched out the overhead light for something brighter and added a window air conditioning unit to help with temperature control — a must in Louisiana.

She plans to use a space heater for winter.

“Seeing how well it came together, and how good it makes me feel to be in here has inspired me to see what’s possible on the gym side,” Holmes says.

‘Back on the dance floor’ Jessica Preteroti, 31, a former professional dancer and a full-time DIY-er and design influencer, was aching to get back to the dance floor and give her husband, Matt, a home gym.

Her three-car garage in Joshua Tree, Calif., was practically begging for its glam-up, with its multiple big windows and the couple’s one car parked in it only occasionally.

To ensure there was plenty of square footage for the car, outdoor equipment and a forthcoming workshop (a must for a fulltime DIY-er), Preteroti opted for vertical storage for weights and yoga equipment, painting alcoves a deep green, Clare’s Current Mood, to create a floating-bookshelves vibe. She built shelves and dowels and reused storage crates. For the gym flooring, she repurposed equestrian mats, and the pièce de résistance — her dance floor — is remnant vinyl cut from Home Depot.

Every dance studio needs a large mirror, and while the windows were great for light, they made it difficult to cover a wall with one. An oddly recessed utility alcove provided the solution. She made a 52-square-foot mirror for less than $100 by attaching 12 mirrors to wooden frames, and she turned them into doors for the alcove.

We spoke a week after the gym reveal in September. “My husband has worked out every day; before, it was two or three times a week, and I am finally back on the dance floor!” Preteroti says. “I’m already planning the next big thing [aforementioned workshop] for the garage.”

staying longer than 30 days. The owner of the lot must live in one of the units. Those restrictions are contrary to current citywide accessory dwelling unit ordinances.

The covenants for Las Estrellas are typical for high-end north-side neighborhoods and not intended to encourage affordability.

HOA fees are mandated, and undoubtedly more than affordable homes can bear. It’s likely the 80% market-rate homes will be attractive to six-figure salaries wanting faster commutes to Los Alamos.

Maybe then rents will drop in the new apartments where they live now and drive up rents.

Contact Kim Shanahan at kimboshanahan@ gmail.com.

properties on the market, especially the most affordable homes.

Homes sold last month typically within just 25 days after hitting the market, and about 19% of properties sold for more than their list price, a sign that many homes are still receiving multiple offers, the NAR said.

First-time homebuyers who don’t have any home equity to put toward their down payment have had a particularly tough time getting into the housing market this year.

They accounted for 31% of all homes sold last month, which is an improvement over 28% in October, but still well below the 40% of sales they’ve typically accounted for historically.

The National Association of Home Builders is projecting a roughly 4% increase in single-family starts next year as “mortgage rates settle lower, economic growth slows and inflation moves lower,” according to Robert Dietz, the NAHB’s chief economist.

Realtor.com, meanwhile, projects a more modest 0.4% increase.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, forecasts that builders will break ground on 1.04 million single-family homes next year. That would be amount to a 13% increase from a projected 920,000 starts this year.

A hot-pink earth star (Cryptanthus), an easycare bromeliad suited to growing in a small pot. Bromeliads tend to have an “easy disposition” that allows them to flourish in low light with infrequent watering.

MARGARET ROACH VIA THE NEW YORK TIMES

Easiest houseplant?

Many experts will give you one answer

By Margaret Roach

The New York Times

And the answer is: bromeliads.

The question?

“Which houseplants can adapt to low light and don’t require frequent watering, but will flower anyway?”

It’s a question that tropical plant experts like Angel A. Lara hear regularly, particularly from those who have put other houseplants in jeopardy by subjecting them to this kind of no-frills regimen.

Unlike many houseplants, bromeliads tend to have “an easy disposition,” said Lara, the vice president for botanical horticulture at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, in Sarasota, Fla. That’s because many of the ones marketed as houseplants are epiphytes.

Lara speaks from extensive hands-on experience. Epiphytes from four plant families — bromeliads, orchids, Gesneriads and ferns — are the central focus of study at Selby, a renowned research facility and popular visitor attraction that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Most epiphytes, or air plants, don’t sink their roots into soil to absorb moisture and nutrients, Lara explained. Instead, they use their roots to attach themselves to other plants, especially trees and shrubs, or sometimes rocks.

Epiphytic bromeliads derive sustenance not from the ground but from the atmosphere, and from other living organisms. Their specialized design — whether it’s a central, vase-like tank formed by a rosette of leaves; complex cellular structures on the foliage called trichomes; or both — allows them to gather and conserve water.

They also use their tanks to collect organic matter such as insects or bits of leaves.

All of this amounts to “survival tactics,” Lara said.

“They’re doing what desert plants do,” he added, likening it to the impressive water- and nutrient-storage capabilities of cactuses. “But bromeliads are doing it in the tropics.”

Bromeliad basics With roughly 3,500 species — and probably 100,000 hybrids — bromeliads offer a staggering number of choices if you’re looking for a houseplant.

Lara recommends Tropiflora Nursery or Bird Rock Tropicals as mail-order sources. You may find yourself easily seduced by a hot-pink earth star (Cryptanthus) or the showy pattern of venation on the foliage of some big, standout Vriesea.

Most bromeliads have a couple of things in common: They’re stemless, usually with a rosette structure. And they’re native, almost exclusively, to the New World tropics and subtropics.

(Only one species hails from West Africa.) But for the last 500 years, since the discovery of the pineapple — a terrestrial species, not an epiphytic one — bromeliads have been moved around the globe.

With the notable exception of Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides), a Zone 8-hardy epiphytic bromeliad (and an odd one out in appearance, too), these are generally Zone 10 plants. That makes them perennial garden candidates only in portions of

Florida, California and Texas.

Everywhere else, they are happy outdoors only in the summer — and Lara recommends bringing them outside if possible, so they can stock up on resources before the leaner times of indoor houseplant season hit.

Beginner bromeliads If you are new to bromeliads, maybe don’t start by going too big or too prickly at first, Lara suggested.

Such practical considerations figure into matching plant to place. For example, large bromeliads with rosettes of leaves deep enough to form water-holding tanks — such as the spectacular Vriesea gigantea, or V. hieroglyphica with its banded leaf markings — may not be ideal for a busy family room, even if the other conditions are suitable.

“I have kids, and I have dogs,” he said, wincing at the vision of the ample tank’s contents upended onto the carpet.

Another consideration: Many bromeliads have spines on the edges of their leaves or are serrated, “and they do sort of scratch you up,” he said. “Bromeliads are notorious for being not the friendliest of sorts.”

Lara’s top-five list starts with gentler ones, like the pink quill bromeliad (Tillandsia cyanea, now classified as Wallisia but often sold by its former name). With green, grassy leaves that form a small tank, or water reservoir, it makes a good choice for growing bare root, in a slatted hanging basket, or mounted with zip ties onto a piece of wood. The fragrant flower scape — which resembles a big, flattened pink pine cone — lasts for as long as six months.

Next, he recommends the earth stars, or Cryptanthus. Among the most colorful and forgiving of all, they are easily grown in pots.

Their wavy leaf margins are serrated, but not bitingly so. Unlike his other recommendations, earth stars are semi-terrestrial, often living on rocks and sand in the wild.

Care and feeding Owing to their epiphytic nature, most bromeliads don’t need soil so much as a solid footing — something to grab onto, the way they would a tree in the forest canopy. Those that do get potted up, like the Cryptanthus, Guzmania or Aechmea, are best underpotted, or given pots that may appear to be too small. This can create the look of a mismatch, but it keeps roots healthier.

“The Bromeliaceae should have what we refer to as ‘a little pot and a big head,’ because if you’re doing the opposite, you’re going to rot that plant,” Lara said.

Letting plants stand in a saucer of water will do the same.

He recommends using a potting mix labeled for Phalaenopsis orchids, which are also epiphytic.

Such blends are typically heavy on the bark and may contain ingredients such as sponge rock, coarse perlite and charcoal.

If you have bromeliads grown in pots, water them as you would any other potted plant. If a plant’s leaves form a tank — the way Aechmea, Vriesia, Guzmania and Neoregelia do — add water into it, too.

HOME Featured Listings Sunday, December 24, 2023

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

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208 San Francisco & 207/211 West Water Street

11 Tesuque Ridge

11 Bishops Trail

HIDDEN RIGHT IN THE HEART OF HISTORIC SANTA FE

ICONIC ADOBE MASTERPIECE

A TREASURE IN THE SANTA FE SKIES

Hidden right in the heart of historic downtown Santa Fe is a secret residential building. Part was built in 1845, and includes the jail that held the outlaw, Billy, the Kid from 1880-1881; the rest was built 140 years later in 1986. The lucky investor will acquire 27 residential units, including studio apartments, one bedrooms, and a two bedroom penthouse, along with three prime street level retail boutiques. $7,250,000 MLS # 202340229

Beautifully renovated adobe estate • 5,600 sqft • 3 bedroom, 5 bath • Panoramic views • 10 acre lot • Living room with 16ft ceilings, beams, corbels, oak flooring • Contemporary kitchen with top-tier appliances • Formal dining, wine cellar, sunroom, office, media room • 2 ensuite guest bedrooms • Designed by John McHugh, architect for the Santa Fe Opera • Gated community, 5 minutes to The Plaza $3,995,000 MLS # 202234620

ASHLEY MARGETSON

(505) 920-2300 • ashley.margetson@sothebys.realty Sotheby’s International Realty • (505) 988-8088 231 Washington Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501 sothebysrealty.com

THE DURAN ERWIN GROUP

505-204-2491 • duranerwingroup@santaferealestate.com Barker Realty • (505) 982-9836 530 S. Guadalupe St., Santa Fe, NM 87501 santaferealestate.com

Minutes to The Plaza • 2013 Kim Unger home • 4,200 Sqft • East & West views • 2.15 acres • Gated Bishops Lodge Estates • Folding glass doors for integrated indoor/outdoor space • Open kitchen/dining area, raised kiva fireplace • Primary suite has office space, kiva fireplace, private patio, steam shower, outdoor shower, hot tub • Guest suite, private patio • Lower-level wine & media rooms, bedroom, 3/4 bath $3,995,000 MLS # 202341172 THE DURAN ERWIN GROUP

505-204-2491 • duranerwingroup@santaferealestate.com Barker Realty • (505) 982-9836 530 S. Guadalupe St., Santa Fe, NM 87501 santaferealestate.com

498 Camino Pinones – Museum Hill

96 Double Arrow Road

33 Teddy Bear Trail

GATED IN-TOWN PRIVACY AND VIEWS

HACIENDA STYLE ADOBE HOME & GUEST HOUSE

SUNSET, CITY LIGHT, AND MOUNTAIN VIEWS

Experience unparalleled in-town serenity at this refined Museum Hill residence with 3 Bedrooms, 4.5 baths, Office, and Studio on 1.9-acres with it’s own private gate and views of Sun & Moon Mountain. The perfect combination of Territorial architecture with Craftsman interior finishes, renovated by Wolf Corp in 2005. Just a short 1.1-mile walk to Kaune’s. $3,750,000 MLS # 202341552

Main house @ 4097 Sqft, 3 bedroom/3 bathroom • Guest house @ 820 Sqft, 1 bedroom/1 bathroom • Panoramic views • Adobe construction • Pool and sunken jacuzzi • 5 acres, fenced with 500 trees • Large portales w/ fireplace • Gated entrance • Coved vigas ceilings • 9 fireplaces • Primary suite with office • Primary bathroom with kiva fireplace, steam shower • Separate Den • Private well • 2-car garage $3,250,000 MLS # 202341258

On a private 5 + acre site in the foothills, this 4BR, 6BA home offers expert detail craftsman’s finishing throughout the house. Open concept living and dining room w/fireplace & 16-foot ceiling, chef’s kitchen, private primary suite, large media room, built-in speakers, roof deck, mudroom and more. An expansive portal w/outdoor kitchen offers views across the city toward mountains. 3-car garage. $2,590,000 MLS # 202341526

TIM & PAULA GALVIN

THE DURAN ERWIN GROUP

DARLENE STREIT

505-204-2491 • duranerwingroup@santaferealestate.com Barker Realty • (505) 982-9836 530 S. Guadalupe St., Santa Fe, NM 87501 santaferealestate.com

(505) 920-8001 • dstreit@dstreit.com Sotheby’s International Realty • (505) 988-8088 326 Grant Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501 sothebysrealty.com

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(505) 795-5990 • Tim@GalvinSantaFe.com Sotheby’s International Realty • (505) 988-8088 326 Grant Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501 sothebysrealty.com

1106 Calle Conejo - Sierra del Norte

55 Calle San Martin

50 Polaris Road

5 BEDROOMS & 4 BATHS - GATED & VIEWS

$500K PRICE REDUCTION! ASTONISHING NEW PRICE!

TIMELESS ARCHITECTURE & ENCHANTING VIEWS

Sandia, Sunset and Night Light Views plus Privacy are yours at this Single-Level Soft Contemporary 5 Bedroom / 4-Bath home that includes a spacious 2 Bed / 1 Bath Guest House, built by Respected Builder Doug McDowell, on 2-plus acres in a private, gated community inside Sierra del Norte with easy walking access to the Dale Ball Trail System. $2,495,000 MLS # 202340660

This true Adobe Hacienda is unlike any other property on the market!

Brilliantly conceived by master builder Buzz Bainbridge, this spectacular estate has seen many a sunset fiesta and jaw dropping wedding. On 2.5 private acres, the rambling 7,500 sq. ft. ranchera offers a lofty living room, like a palace lounge; and a cantina bar, like a private club. A hedonistic main suite, patios and fireplaces everywhere! $2,450,000 MLS # 202233099

TIM & PAULA GALVIN

ASHLEY MARGETSON

(505) 920-2300 • ashley.margetson@sothebys.realty Sotheby’s International Realty • (505) 988-8088 231 Washington Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501 sothebysrealty.com

NATALIE RIVERA BENAVENT

505-455-8750 • natalie@santaferealestate.com Barker Realty • (505) 982-9836 530 S. Guadalupe St., Santa Fe, NM 87501 santaferealestate.com

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(505) 795-5990 • Tim@GalvinSantaFe.com Sotheby’s International Realty • (505) 988-2533 326 Grant Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501 sothebysrealty.com

Stellar home on 6 acres with unobstructed views of the Barrancas, Sangres, and Jemez mountains to enjoy from 1000+ sqft of portals.

Featuring 14-foot coved ceilings, diamond plaster, museum-quality lighting, heated brick floors, fireplaces, premium appliances, stone countertops, oversized 2-car garage, carport, and workshop, comfort and tranquility abound in this timeless 3 bed, 3 bath design. $2,249,000 MLS # 202341949

8 South Star Gazer

996 Old Pecos Trail

998 Old Pecos Trail

LA MIRADA 3BR, 2.5BA SOFT CONTEMPORARY HOME

SOPHISTICATED CONDOMINIUM ON OLD PECOS TRAIL

GLAMOROUS CONDOMINIUM ON OLD PECOS TRAIL

Impeccably re-imagined in 2022, this home on 1.17 acres with mountain views flawlessly blends traditional Santa Fe style with elegant sleek lines of contemporary refinement. Features hand-carved double entry doors, new plaster walls and ceilings throughout. Open living and dining with vigas, beams, high ceilings, nichos and stone tile floors, Chef’s kitchen and 4 wood burning corner kiva fireplaces. $1,895,000 MLS # 202342140

Soaring ceilings, plaster walls, polished-concrete and hardwood floors, graceful curves, and oversized windows contribute to the singular ambience of this chic condominium on Old Pecos Trail. Sleek open great room with a modern fireplace, two bedrooms and baths, powder room, study or office, and a two-car garage. Surrounded by fruit trees, is walking distance from the Plaza, Canyon Road, and Museum Hill. $1,695,000 MLS # 202339137

Glamorous living in a prime location on the historic Old Pecos Trail, just walking distance from the Plaza, Canyon Road, and Museum Hill. Majestic high ceilings, soothing plaster walls, oversized windows, and theatrical open spaces, it is an entertainer’s dream. Completing the compelling picture are two bedrooms and baths, a powder room, an office, a direct-entry two car garage, and a refreshing courtyard. $1,650,000 MLS # 202340413

DARLENE STREIT

(505) 920-8001 • dstreit@dstreit.com Sotheby’s International Realty • (505) 988-2533 326 Grant Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501 sothebysrealty.com

ASHLEY MARGETSON

(505) 920-2300 • ashley.margetson@sothebys.realty Sotheby’s International Realty • (505) 988-8088 231 Washington Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501 sothebysrealty.com

ASHLEY MARGETSON

(505) 920-2300 • ashley.margetson@sothebys.realty Sotheby’s International Realty • (505) 988-8088 231 Washington Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501 sothebysrealty.com

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E-4 THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN Sunday, December 24, 2023

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640 Camino De La Luz

10 E Sand Sage

806 E Palace Unit #C

HISTORIC EASTSIDE WITH A VIEW

CONTEMPORARY MEETS PUEBLO DESIGN

THE PERFECT PACKAGE ON EAST PALACE

Adobe construction • 1421 Sqft • 2 bedrooms, 3 baths • 1/2 acre hillside location • Open living/kitchen/dining area with dramatic views of Sangre de Cristos & Picacho Peak • Flagstone flooring, vigas and picture windows • Spacious primary suite, 12 ft ceilings, wood plank flooring, tongue & groove ceilings, fireplace • Deep portal for outdoor dining with kiva fireplace • Tiered landscaping with gazebo $1,395,000 MLS # 202340989

Serene sunrises AND magical sunsets! • 3 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms • 3,750 sqft • 2.5 acres • High ceilings, vigas, wood-burning fireplace • 2 deep portals with Jemez and Sangre mountain views • Recently renovated kitchen • Generous Primary Suite with mountain views & direct access to the interior courtyard • 400 sq ft art studio/3rd bedroom with private entrance & half bath • Office • Attached 2-car garage $1,250,000 MLS # 202342020

Minutes’ Walk to The Plaza & Canyon Road • 2 Bedrooms, 2 Ensuite Bathrooms • Powder Room • Primary Bedroom with Open Deck Access • Sleek, Contemporary Trey Jordan Design • Private Back Yard with Covered Portal, Floating Deck • Beamed Ceilings, Concrete Floors, Plaster Walls • Kitchen w/ Stainless Steel Countertops, Wolf and Sub-Zero Appliances • Two Designated Parking Spaces $1,195,000 MLS # 202341765

THE DURAN ERWIN GROUP

THE DURAN ERWIN GROUP

THE DURAN ERWIN GROUP

505-204-2491 • duranerwingroup@santaferealestate.com Barker Realty • (505) 982-9836 530 S. Guadalupe St., Santa Fe, NM 87501 santaferealestate.com

505-372-5500 • duranerwingroup@santaferealestate.com Barker Realty • (505) 982-9836 530 S. Guadalupe St., Santa Fe, NM 87501 santaferealestate.com

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505-204-2491 • duranerwingroup@santaferealestate.com Barker Realty • (505) 982-9836 530 S. Guadalupe St., Santa Fe, NM 87501 santaferealestate.com

65 & 67 Camino Soledad

2 Stone Ridge Road

43 Avenida Frijoles

HILLTOP HAVEN WITH MOUNTAIN AND RIVER VISTAS

SERENE COMPOUND MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN

BEAUTIFUL DESIGN & LANDSCAPING IN ALDEA

On a 1.34-acre hilltop overlooking the Pecos River Valley, this stunning home and guesthouse offer four bedrooms and baths, plentiful space for comfortable living and entertaining, a deck and an inviting hot tub. It also includes numerous modern conveniences, a separate in-law suite with an efficient kitchen, 2 outdoor dog kennels, a heated doghouse, and a heated 2-car garage. $1,175,000 MLS # 202341724

A quick 10min to town, this 2-level home, adjoining studio & separate guesthouse sited on 4 acres, offers comfort, privacy & VIEWS. The ultra private 2800+ sqft home blends contemporary & Southwestern elements, features an open concept living space w/. sleek kitchen, den, formal dining, & living rooms on the main floor, all bathed in natural light w./ stunning vistas. Paved access, AC, new well & septic. $1,145,000 MLS # 202341680

Aldea de Santa Fe • 2,500 Sqft • 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms • Single level • 3 fireplaces • Recently updated kitchen, granite countertops, premium appliances • Diamond plastered walls, vigas, tongue and groove ceilings • Primary bedroom, raised fireplace, egress to back portal • Primary bathroom, large walk-in shower, deep soaking tub, double vanities • Oversized 2-car garage • New roof w/ 10-year warranty $1,095,000 MLS # 202341968

RACHELE GRIEGO

(505) 690-9386 • rachele.griego@sothebys.realty Sotheby’s International Realty • (505) 988-2533 326 Grant Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501 sothebysrealty.com

THE DURAN ERWIN GROUP

NATALIE RIVERA BENAVENT

505-204-2491 • duranerwingroup@santaferealestate.com Barker Realty • (505) 982-9836 530 S. Guadalupe St., Santa Fe, NM 87501 santaferealestate.com

505-455-8750 • natalie@santaferealestate.com Barker Realty • (505) 982-9836 530 S. Guadalupe St., Santa Fe, NM 87501 santaferealestate.com

18 Avenida La Scala

66 Tesuque Ridge

1918 Hopewell St. Unit C

2BR, 2BA CONDOMINIUM WITH MOUNTAIN VIEWS

5.36 ACRE LOT – TESUQUE RIDGE RANCH

PERFECT LIVE/WORK SPACE

Located in the private gated community of Casas de San Juan, this open concept floor condominium features a wall of 2-story windows in the living area, brick floors, a kiva fireplace and an intimate nook. Offers a Chef’s kitchen, spiral staircase leading to a generous open area loft. Split bedroom plan for privacy. 260 + sq. ft. detached studio with its own entrance. Lush landscaping & short drive to town. $$875,000 MLS # 202341060

Premium elevated lot in the gated Tesuque Ridge Ranch subdivision • 5.36 acre • Commanding views of both the Sangre De Cristo and Jemez Mountain ranges • Just 10 minutes on paved roads to the Santa Fe Plaza • Semi-public 1.5 mile hiking & equestrian trails with access to Dale Ball Trails and Santa Fe National Forest • Build in one of the most desirable and prestigious subdivisions in the Santa Fe area $795,000 MLS # 202340713

Seller will consider Seller Financing with 20% down. Part of the Granaries Compound, the middle tan unit, and built by L.D. Burke III, this huge live/work condominium is zoned C-2, and is filled with possibilities!

The tri-level compound has a great central location near Cerrillos Rd. and St.Michael’s Dr. with easy access to restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. $675,000 MLS # 202340996

DARLENE STREIT

(505) 920-8001 • dstreit@dstreit.com Sotheby’s International Realty • (505) 988-2533 326 Grant Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501 sothebysrealty.com

THE DURAN ERWIN GROUP

ERIKA COULEUR

505-204-2491 • duranerwingroup@santaferealestate.com Barker Realty • (505) 982-9836 530 S. Guadalupe St., Santa Fe, NM 87501 santaferealestate.com

(505) 670-4754 • erikadresf@gmail.com Dougherty Real Estate Co., LLC • (505) 989-7741 433 W. San Francisco St, Santa Fe, NM 87501 www.dresf.com

HOME Fea

Sunday, Januar y 31, 20 21

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10 Campo Rancheros Lot 66 LAS CAMPANAS PRIVATE 3.67-ACRE RESIDENTIAL LOT This desirable, secluded 3.67-acre residential lot borders 68,000 acres of BLM land with unobstructed, spectacular mountain views. Located in the Estancias neighborhood. HOA fees include maintenance of gated and paved roads, and common areas, 24-hour roaming security, and 24- hour EMTs on site. Membership to the Club at Las Campanas is optional and subject to approval. $495,000 MLS # 202335146 DARLENE STREIT

(505) 920-8001 • dstreit@dstreit.com Sotheby’s International Realty • (505) 988-2533 326 Grant Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501 sothebysrealty.com

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Sunday, December 24, 2023

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

.com

JobsSantaFe

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To advertise call: Laura Harding • 505-995-3878 or email:lharding@sfnewmexican.com www.jobssantafe.com

Senior Director of Finance Experienced • Full-Time Apply at nisn.bamboohr.com Make an impact! Our ideal candidate is professional, forward-thinking, and a highly relational leader with at least fifteen years of finance experience and CPA certification. Experience should include managing federal, state, and foundation grant funding for a high-growth national non-profit.

We offer a competitive salary with a benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance.

Position based in the Albuquerque, NM office with a flexible approach towards working remotely.

NISN is a national nonprofit supporting thirteen Network schools in five states.

Learn more at nacainspiredschoolsnetwork.org, or call (505) 331-9401.

Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency has the following job openings: Transfer Station Manager

Buckman Road Recycling and Transfer Station Bachelor’s degree required Hourly rate range: $35.63 – $57.04

Equipment Mechanic I

CDL A with Hazmat endorsement or obtain within six months of hire Hourly rate range: $21.60 – $31.32

Scale Master - Floating Work Schedule Perform cashier and office duties Full-time Must be available Sundays $19.59 per hour plus benefits

Laborer

$16.99 per hour Excellent full-time employee benefits, including paid leave, PERA retirement benefit plan, health insurance, dental and vision insurance and life insurance.

For more information on the job openings or to download employment application forms, please call (505) 424-1850 x 150 or visit our website at www.sfswma.org.

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has openings for the following positions (various levels/types/multiple positions) in Santa Fe, NM. Some positions may allow for telecommuting. To Apply: Send resume w/ Ref # to cadencejobs2@cadence.com.

Platform Developers (Ref. #B202312G): Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs for multinational computational software company. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computational chemistry, computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis.

Scientific Developers (Ref. #B202312X): Conduct research using biophysical theory and methods in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational chemistry, computer information science, chemistry, biology and medical informatics. Develop algorithms and protocols for processing and analyzing structural biology information, and modeling biological systems.

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has openings for Scientific Developers (various levels/types/multiple positions) in Santa Fe, NM. All positions require travel to various unanticipated sites throughout the U.S. Some positions may allow for telecommuting. To Apply: Send resume w/ Ref #B20231205 to cadencejobs2@cadence.com.

Conduct research using bioinformatics theory and methods in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology and medical informatics.

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has openings for the following positions (various levels/types/multiple positions) in Santa Fe, NM. All positions require travel to various unanticipated sites throughout the U.S. and internationally. Some positions may allow for telecommuting. To Apply: Send resume w/ Ref # to cadencejobs2@ cadence.com.

Scientific Developers (Ref. #B2031206): Conduct research using bioinformatics theory and methods in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology and medical informatics.

Scientific Developers (Ref. #B20231212): Conduct research using bioinformatics theory and methods in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology, chemistry and medical informatics.

Applications will be accepted until positions are filled. EEO/AA

It’s the People here at LAMC who make the difference…

New Competitive Rates! $25,000.00 or $30,000.00 Sign-On Bonus for Bedside Nurse Inpatient Services Director Surgical Services Director FT RNs in L&D, Med Surg, FT/PT ED Nights, FT ICU PRN Nursing Positions - all areas Special Incentives for fully trained LDRP RNs Tech to RN program for New Grad Nurses Many other Sign-On Bonuses Available for Specific FT Positions

STEER THE FUTURE Become a school bus driver!

• Full Time positions with Full Benefits • Get paid while you get your CDL! • Part-time, hourly posit ons available

FEATURED POSITION: FT & PRN Polysomnographic Tech in our exciting new Pulmonology Clinic FT & PRN Rad Techs; CT Techs, Nuclear Med Techs, Echo Tech FT & PT Patient Access Representatives FT & Nutrition Services Aide FT Cook FT Nutrition Aide PRN Lab Assistant PT and PRN Respiratory Therapists PRN Certified Nursing Assistants PRN Materials Mgt. Specialist FT GI Endoscopy Tech Physician Practices FT Medical Assistant/Clinic Service Reps FT& PRN Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Tuition reimbursement program available in all areas for Full & Part Time Employees *Housing Allowance for specific positions To apply please go to: losalamosmedicalcenter.com For more information call LAMC Recruitment Line 1-505-661-9187.

EOE This facility and its affiliates comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race color, national origin, age, disability or sex.

ATENCION: si habla espanol, tiene a su disposicion servicios gratuitos de asistencia linguistica. Llame al 1– 505-662-4201

Apply Today! go.sfps.info/Drive

E-6 THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN Sunday, December 24, 2023

GIVE THE GIFT OF BRING THEM THE WORLD THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Our last-minute Holiday Special makes smart giving

easy and affordable!

PRINT + DIGITAL COMBO SPECIAL

FOR 2 MONTHS. REGULAR RATE OF $34.32/MONTH APPLIES THEREAFTER

The Santa Fe New Mexican is more than just a newspaper—it’s a community institution, a window into Northern New Mexico living, and a passport to global news. So this holiday, give your loved ones the gift of knowledge and community with a subscription to The New Mexican.

Call 505.986.3010 TO RECEIVE OFFER

We bring the latest from the state’s capital on local events, state politics, arts, culture and sports direct to your mobile device, 24/7, and daily to your driveway

© 12/24/23

sfnm«classifieds HOUSES UNFURNISHED Spectacular 3 Bdrm. 2 Ba. Newly remodeled with an extra-large den plus fireplace. New central air conditioning and heating. Plus, an excellent large game room easily handles a ping pong or pool table or can be a home office. Super low maintenance exterior. DON’T MISS THIS ONE! $3000.00 per month.

Inquiries can call office at 505-988-5299

APARTMENTS FURNISHED

jobs

1 bdrm.+ office + great amenities Indoor pool, sauna & gym. Furnished garden level condo. Arroyo views.

1 bdrm. + guest/office. Full size refrigerator, W/D, dishwasher & AC. Housekeeping included. Great long term corporate/film industry rental.

Pet-friendly. Minutes to 10K, skiing, markets & historic downtown. $2,350 monthly casitagalisteo@gmail.com

JOB SEEKERS

APARTMENTS UNFURNISHED

JANRIC CLASSIC SUDOKU

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and 3x3 block. Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle. The difficulty level ranges from Bronze (easiest) to Silver to Gold (hardest).

Rating: SILVER Solution to 12/24/23

IN HOME CARE SERVICE

UNLIMITED DIGITAL ACCESS santafenewmexican.com/subscribe

12/24/23

MISCELLANEOUS

Casita. Exclusive Eastside. East Alameda.

2 bed 1 bath. washer/dryer. Fireplace. Saltillo Tile. Radiant heating. Carport. $2500/ mo. 505-982-3907 2 bdrm. 1 bath. Centrally located near Santa Fe High School. Upstairs unit with yard. $1250.00 per month plus utilities. Inquiries may call office at 505-988-5299.

The Santa Fe New Mexican

In-App replica editions santafenewmexican.com/theapp 2 Bedroom 1 Bath. Located in a small single-story compound. Fenced yard.

Fireplace. $1250.00 per month plus utilities. Inquiries may call 505-988-5299

HOUSES FURNISHED

merchandise

Creators

FIREWOOD - FUEL

737 3rd Street • Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 310-337-7003 • info@creators.com

WANTED: FULLFULL-TIME DELIVERY DELIVER Y DRIVER STAR ST ART T TO TODAY AND STA STAY ALL YEAR! THE SANT SANTA A FE NEW MEXICAN MEXICAN IS SEEKING CARRIERS CARRIERS FOR FOR ROUTES IN THE SANT ANTA A FE AREA This is a great way to make some money and still have most of your day for other things - like picnics or time with family, other jobs or school. The Santa Fe routes pay $650 every other week and take 2-2.5 hours a day.

The New Mexican is a daily newspaper and our subscribers love having it at their homes every day. You can make that happen! You must have a clean driving record and a reliable vehicle. This is a year-round, independent contractor position. You pick up the papers at our production plant in Santa Fe. It’s early morning in and done!

The Santa Fe New Mexican seeks a dependable person with a valid driver’s license and spotless driving record to help us get the news out to the community we serve. As Single Copy Delivery Driver, you’ll be responsible for making sure The New Mexican is available everywhere it’s sold. Duties include stocking vending racks, supplying street vendors, monitoring inventory, and safely operating a company vehicle in every weather condition Northern New Mexico has to offer.

Hours are 4:30am12:30pm, Thursday-Monday—your workday is done when most folks are just getting to lunch!

The N New ew M Mexican exican is a family family-friendly,, equal friendly equal--opportunity employ emplo yer, and we offer a comprehensiv compr ehensive e benefits pack ackage. age.

ANTIQUES PINE WOOD $350 FOR FULL MEASURED CORD. HALF CORD, $180. FREE DELIVERY IN SANTA FE AREA. 505-316-3205

986-3000

announcements

PERSONALS

JobsSantaFe.com

Have a product or service to offer?

MID CENTURY 20TH CENTURY DESIGN Buy and Sell Furniture, Decorative Arts, Applied Arts, Art and Jewelry.

Stephen Maras Antiques 924 Paseo De Peralta Smantique@aol.com 10am - 4pm or Appointments 847-567-3991

Let our small business experts help you grow your business.

CALL 986-3000

FURNITURE

Classifieds

You ma may y apply her here e: https:// https: //sfnm.co/ sfnm.co/sfnmjobs sfnmjobs or come by our facility at 1 N New ew Mexican Plaz Plaza a to pick up an application.

Applicants should call: 505-986-3010 or email circulation@ cir culation@ sfnewmexican.com sfnewmexican.co

4 bedroom 2 bath available Dec. 10th.

Gated community. 2 Car Garage. Large backyard. $4000/ mo. Short or longterm lease. Call 505-484-7889

PART-TIME

MAIL MANAGER Responsible person needed to work Wednesdays and possibly Thursdays to stuff, label and organize weekly mailings. Excellent organizational skills and references required.

505-820-2333 or robett@prodigy.net

MISCELLANEOUS Available, near town 1 bdr., 1 bath apartment in town. one parking space; Yard, Washer; Tenant pays gas and electric. No pets. $1550/ month Sam 505-557-9581

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to place an ad call: 986-3000 | email: classad@sfnewmexican.com | visit: sfnmclassifieds.com

If you need help taking care of your Elderly Family Members in need, I have many years of experience and patience. I am a Certified CNA. I can help with your family members necessities.

So you can be free of all your worries.

I am available day or night. I have excellent references, please contact me at (505)316-4668

THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

© 2023 Janric Enterprises Dist. by creators.com

rentals

Sunday, December 24, 2023

THE TIME IS FULFILLED AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT AT HAND: REPENT YE AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL MK 1:15

Get Results!

Call 986-3000 to place your ad!

Italian Leather Couch For Sale. 84 inch length. Good condition. Perfect for home or professional office. Black.

Eldorado area. Asking $1250 Contact John 719-357-3221

JEWELRY Indian made, quality, contemporary jewelry. Including concho belts, large assortment of earrings, and many bolos. All new. 505-983-6676

JobsSantaFe.com

JANRIC CLASSIC SUDOKU

E-8 THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN Sunday, December 24, 2023 Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and 3x3 block. Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle. The difficulty to place ad call: 986-3000 | email: classad@sfnewmexican.com | visit: sfnmclassifieds.com level ranges from Bronze (easiest) to Silveran to Gold (hardest).

sfnm«classifieds WANT TO BUY

PETS - SUPPLIES

Rating: SILVER

recreational

PETS - SUPPLIES

Solution to 12/24/23

© 2023 Janric Enterprises Dist. by creators.com

CASH PAID PAID FOR FOR VINYL RECORDS RECORDS 33RPM Albums/LPs, 45RPM Singles/7”s, even 78s! Bring them to our NEW location at 131 W. Water St in Santa Fe every weekday from 11AM to 4PM or Call 505-399-5060 to schedule an appointment!

pets

Small breed puppies Registered small breed local NM puppies for sale. Potty pad started. Payment plan available. Shots included.

Check out cmoes-puppies.com or text 575-308-3017. Cards/PayPal/ CashApp/ApplePay all accepted Pomeranian puppies Blue male $800, tcups $1250. Black Maltipoo pups $600 female $500 male.12/24/23 Pure bred Maltese pups $800. Yorkie pups $1250.

505-901-2094 505-929-3333

PETS - SUPPLIES

CAMPERS & RVS

Using

JANRIC CLASSIC SUDOKU

1979 Apollo, 33ft RV, Stored for over 10 years. All fiberglass top of Fill in the blank cells Maremma using numbers 1 to puppies 9. Each Purenumber can appear onlyoriginal once in miles. each row, sheepdog the line.

42,000 bred Maremma puppies, pedigree, Great for the temporary or column and 3x3 block. logic and process elimination to solve puzzle. living The difficulty firstUse shots, de-wormed, ready now. construction office. Needs TLC. please call for more info.

1000 level ranges from Bronze (easiest) to Silver to Gold (hardest). $2,177. 505-699-6161 9709858610

CKC Yorkie Male. Black and tan. Cute and playful. Shots and wormed. Will be about 4 lbs grown. $950 o.b.o.

505-227-7728 CKC Male Maltese. So sweet and playful! Born June 21, 2023. Shots and wormed. $750 o.b.o. 505-227-7728 CKC Wheaton Female Scotty. Born June 6, 2023. Smart and playful. Shots and wormed. $750 o.b.o. 505-227-7728

business service directory &

AUCTIONS

986-3000

santafenewmexican.com/subscribe

French bulldog pups, females $1500.

Potty trained. Health guarantee. Utd on shots. 4 months old, loving and playful. Great addition to your home.

505-901-2094 505-929-3333.

12/24/23

CHIMNEY SWEEPING

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