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Hindustan Times
14-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Food Banks Are Running Out of Food Exactly When More Americans Will Need Them
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—Sarah Aragón glanced at the growing line of people snaking down Central Avenue, waiting for their allotment of everything from melons to pinto beans to frozen catfish. She wondered how she'll keep feeding them all. This year, the federal government has canceled food deliveries and cut hundreds of millions of dollars in annual aid to food banks. For Aragón, the head of programming for Roadrunner Food Bank, New Mexico's largest charitable food operation, that has meant losing more than seven million pounds of food she had been counting on. President Trump's megabill, passed earlier this month, includes cuts to food stamps, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Food banks across the country were already straining under rising demand. Now, they worry many more Americans will go hungry. Some food banks and pantries are pushing for more state, local and private funding. Others are considering cutting back services and the amount of food they can distribute. 'It's getting to the point where we can't fill every single need in terms of food,' Aragón said. 'I don't know how much more creative we can be to make things stretch.' Food banks have seen requests for assistance from households—including those with children—jump sharply over the past few years, driven by the end of pandemic aid programs and the impact of inflation on grocery prices. According to a recent survey from Feeding America, a national network of food banks, over half of 162 food banks reported demand rising this past April compared with April 2024. Sarah Aragón is the head of programming for the Roadrunner Food Bank in New Mexico. Earlier this year, the Agriculture Department canceled millions of pounds of shipments to food banks that were part of its emergency food-assistance program for low-income people. A spokesperson for the department said it had only terminated an additional fund set up by the Biden administration that resulted in inflated spending on the program. Deliveries for the main emergency food effort continue uninterrupted, the department said. A separate pandemic-era program, slated to disburse roughly $500 million this year to food banks to buy produce, dairy items and meats from local farmers, was also cut by the Agriculture Department. The department said it had released hundreds of millions of dollars to food banks that had been previously promised as part of the program. Yet food banks say they are already feeling the impacts of federal cuts. 'This is the most challenging situation I've seen in 17 years here,' said Paule Pachter, president and chief executive of Long Island Cares, a food bank that serves New York's Long Island. 'We've been through Superstorm Sandy, Covid, but this is a self-imposed crisis.' Pachter's organization faces mounting demand, opening two additional pantries over the past few years to add to its four others. In 2019, it recorded just over 59,000 visits from people needing food. In 2024, that number was more than 193,000. A waiting line last month at a Roadrunner Food Bank distribution in Albuquerque, N.M. The Roadrunner Food Bank is pushing state lawmakers to allocate more funding to offset cuts. Earlier this year, a delivery of a quarter million pounds of food from the emergency food program was canceled, Pachter said. Pachter and other food bank leaders say the SNAP reductions included in the new budget bill will strain resources by pushing more people whose benefits have either been cut or reduced toward pantries to get food. Republicans say changes to the SNAP program will ensure people receiving the benefits are working, as required. The budget bill expands work requirements for SNAP, raising the upper age limit for able-bodied adults from 54 to 64, meaning those people will typically have to work for 80 hours a month to qualify for food benefits. Caregivers of children ages 14 and older previously didn't have to work to get SNAP assistance. The new legislation removes that exemption in most cases. These changes are set to go into effect immediately, while other changes that shift some of the cost of paying for SNAP from the federal government to the states will be implemented in the coming years. A congressional analysis of an earlier House version of the bill found that roughly 3.2 million people would lose SNAP benefits in an average month over the next decade. Some food banks have seen a rise in people accessing their services who also get SNAP assistance. A pandemic-era program that provided households with the maximum amount of food benefits ended in 2023. According to data from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, the number of people who use its pantries and were also enrolled in SNAP jumped by 64% between the end of 2022 and the end of 2024. Zach Zook, chief strategy officer for the Pennsylvania organization, said the rise showed that even before the cuts, SNAP benefits often weren't enough. Families enrolled in the program use food banks to fill the gap. Madaline Yazell, 75, at left, says Roadrunner in Albuquerque enables her to supplement the groceries she buys with her Social Security money. Since April, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank has also had 23 loads of emergency food-assistance program goods canceled. The food bank receives $173,000 a month from the Agriculture Department's local food program to buy local pork, chicken and dairy items, among other products from farmers. The last payment will be in July, before its funds from the program run out, Zook said. The food bank has seen demand soar over the past several years. The number of times it served children nearly doubled between fiscal years 2019 and 2024. Some front-line pantries, the groups that actually distribute the food provided by food banks, are considering reductions in services to conserve resources. The Love Thy Neighbor community pantry in King George County, Va., recently drafted a contingency plan to prepare for the cuts. Among the options being considered: limiting the number of times people can visit pantries from weekly to biweekly, and reducing the 50 to 55 pounds of food each household receives per visit. 'There are different dials that we can spin to try and keep serving people in a reduced way,' said Ryan Ragsdale, treasurer and secretary of the pantry. In New Mexico, roughly one in five residents are enrolled in SNAP—among the highest participation rates in the country. Roadrunner is ramping up food drives and pushing state lawmakers to allocate more funding to offset cuts. Brian Hall, a burly former Army infantryman, is a regular at one of Roadrunner's weekly distribution sites. Hall, 60 years old, said a back injury has left him unable to work at all since 2018. He had been interested in working as a counselor for other veterans, but a recent series of strokes derailed that plan. Brian Hall, a veteran in Albuquerque, says he never thought he would seek help from a food-bank program. Hall said he gets $1,400 in disability payments from his back injury and $140 a month in SNAP benefits. He still relies on Roadrunner each week to help get enough to eat, calling it a lifeline. 'I moved to Albuquerque to help my parents because they're older and I wanted to give them a hand. But now I'm the one getting the help,' he said. 'Never in a million years, did I think I'd be in this situation.' Aragón said that this year, Roadrunner's distributions run out of food more often than they have in the past. 'When we have to tell people that we have no more left, the look on their faces when they walk away is like 'What am I going to do now?'' she said. 'I don't have an answer.' Write to Dan Frosch at Food Banks Are Running Out of Food Exactly When More Americans Will Need Them Food Banks Are Running Out of Food Exactly When More Americans Will Need Them Food Banks Are Running Out of Food Exactly When More Americans Will Need Them Food Banks Are Running Out of Food Exactly When More Americans Will Need Them
Times
05-07-2025
- Times
The brutalist beauty of Aragon: Spain's edgiest escape
On the incline of a remote woodland in northeastern Spain a monumental building of concrete and glass hides among thickets. Viewed from below it rises as an imposing, monolithic statement in contemporary brutalism, held up by a chunky plinth that houses its entrance. The building heaves with weight and materiality and yet — because of a narrower plinth supporting it from below — the main, upper part of the building appears from some angles to be floating. This piece of cutting-edge architecture stands among the hills of Matarraña, a tucked-away county in the region of Aragon, two hours' drive from Zaragoza, to the northwest, and three hours by road from Barcelona, to the east. This untouristy area borders the Catalan town of Horta de St Joan, where Picasso sojourned early last century, and has been dubbed 'the Spanish Tuscany'. It's a paradise of waterfalls and natural pools made for hiking and cycling — and the amazing house in which I'm staying is part of a wider art project that also features a new sculpture park, providing even more reason to visit. My holiday home — sleeping four and named after Pezo von Ellrichshausen, the Chilean architecture studio that designed it — is part of Solo Houses, a project run by the Madrid-based art dealers Marta Albarran and Christian Bourdais. The concept involves placing jaw-dropping architectural commissions in secluded rural landscapes, with two self-catering properties completed so far (the other sleeps six) and an ambition to create 15 houses in total. Meanwhile, the Solo Sculpture Trail can be explored on a two-hour hike through the landscape. It features 22 contemporary artworks including abstract sculptures and conceptual installations. 'Our idea has always been to step out of the white cube,' Albarran says, 'and here we have a giant playing field.' • Best villas with pools in Spain The Spanish-French couple also own galleries in Madrid and Menorca, plus an artistic production company in Paris that designs exhibitions and large-scale public art commissions. Their plot in Matarraña occupies 500 acres of olive groves, vineyards and forest, which they see as the ideal home for the magnificent works of art and architecture. The site neighbours Ports de Tortosa-Beseit Natural Park, comprising mountains, forests and canyons with crystal clear natural pools, as well as El Parrizal, a gorge with a path skirting rock walls along the Matarraña River. Also nearby are Valderrobres and Cretas, charming walled towns that retain their medieval splendour. • Best holiday villas in Spain 'This area is always green,' Bourdais says. 'It's not far from the sea, with a Mediterranean climate but a bit cooler.' The couple chose this spot because local construction laws allowed for the new builds they envisaged. 'But we don't want to urbanise this landscape,' Bourdais stresses. 'We have houses that can hardly be seen.' My lodging, built in 2013, is a masterpiece in symmetry, serenity and straight lines, its square layout around a pool courtyard creating four living spaces at right angles to each other, interconnected by verandas at each corner. Despite largely being glass, it feels cool inside, with 360-degree views and white floor-length curtains that billow softly in the breeze. Light moves slowly across the space from sunrise to sunset. • The most beautiful places in Spain It's a five-minute drive to the sculpture trail, where I wander through oaks and pines between the artworks, sniffing sprigs of rosemary and thyme as I go. Many of the pieces are tucked away, within clusters of trees and bushes, while others are in open areas with spectacular views. While being sure to keep my footing on the bumpy terrain, I also venture to the site of what will be the next instalment in the Solo Houses project — a hotel with 25 cylindrical pods as luxurious bedrooms, connected by a series of raised outdoor walkways through the forest. It was designed by another Chilean architect, Smiljan Radic, and is scheduled to open in 2028. The works on the sculpture trail include the Mexican artist Jose Dávila's piece made using giant boulders from quarries in the nearby Ebro Delta and the British-Palestinian artist Mona Hatoum's globe-shaped iron cage holding cement asteroids, as though in orbit, alluding to the planetary forces of creation and destruction. The Catalan artist Jordi Colomer has contributed a giant solar-powered neon sign reading 'No? Future!' — a nod to the 1977 Sex Pistols song God Save the Queen that also highlights the climate crisis. 'There's a dual message in the artworks,' Bourdais says. 'One is that the world is falling apart and the other is more hopeful — how to live together and reconnect.' After all that food for thought I need to wash it down with something, so it's handy that my journey ends at Venta d'Aubert, a bodega producing organic wines through regenerative farming that Albarran and Bourdais acquired from a Swiss couple and revamped in 2022 to offer tours and tastings. I try an appley, citrussy viognier, a grape typically from the Rhône region that the founders introduced. I also try newer wines produced under the present ownership from grenache, a variety that has been cultivated in Matarraña for centuries. Cheese, chorizo and salchichon complement the tastings (from £20; • Discover our full guide to Spain I also explore the cellars used for fermenting, ageing and bottling with the manager, Henry Escudero. He explains that the subsoil of these vineyards is rich in limestone and clay, informing the minerality of the drink. Nearby wine regions such as Priorat and Terra Alta have Denomination of Origin status, and Venta d'Aubert and other local bodegas are campaigning for this to also be granted to Matarraña. Similarly, the new sculpture park aims to follow Chillida Leku near San Sebastian and the Montenmedio Contemporary Foundation in Cadiz in helping to join the dots between art and design. 'Matarraña is being talked about, and we've contributed a bit to that,' Bourdais says. 'We've put it on the Spanish map, but my objective is to put it on the world map.'Agnish Ray was a guest of Solo Houses, which has two nights' self-catering for four from £550. Entry to the Solo Sculpture Trail is £4 or free for house guests ( Fly to Zaragoza or Barcelona
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Manu González to make MotoGP debut with Aprilia during Monday's Aragón test
According to information obtained by Aprilia will give Manuel Gonzalez his MotoGP debut during the collective test taking place this Monday at Aragón. The Madrid-born rider, current leader of the Moto2 World Championship with the Intact GP team, will step in for Ai Ogura at Trackhouse, Aprilia's satellite squad. This weekend, the American outfit will field only Raúl Fernández at Motorland while waiting for the recently operated Ogura — recovering from surgery on his left leg — to return, potentially in time for the Mugello round in two weeks. Manuel Gonzalez, Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Manuel Gonzalez, Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Gold and Goose Gold and Goose Advertisement González, 22, has emerged as the rider to beat in the early stages of the intermediate class season, racking up three victories and five podiums in the first seven rounds of the calendar. As a result of his strong performances, Aprilia and Trackhouse have decided to offer him the chance to ride a MotoGP prototype in Monday's test session. Manuel Gonzalez, Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Manuel Gonzalez, Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images It's understood that this test should not be interpreted as a confirmation of González stepping up to the premier class next season. However, the day will undoubtedly serve as a prime opportunity to assess how he might handle such a promotion. Advertisement Alongside the Spaniard, Aprilia will also test with Marco Bezzecchi, currently the brand's top performer given Jorge Martin's injury, which has limited the reigning world champion to just one race in the first seven rounds. Raúl Fernández — Ogura's teammate at Trackhouse — is also expected to take part, as is Lorenzo Savadori, who has had to step up his testing duties to fill in for the sidelined #1 rider. González made his Grand Prix debut directly in Moto2 in 2021, following a stint in the junior ranks of WorldSBK. In 2022, during his first full World Championship season, he raced for the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp team, securing three top-five finishes. His first career win came last year in Japan, racing with Gresini in a weather-affected Grand Prix. To read more articles visit our website.
The Guardian
08-06-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
MotoGP: Marc Márquez rules as king of Aragon … with brother Álex his closest challenger
Marc Márquez proved once again that he was the master of the circuit at MotorLand as the Ducati rider won the Aragon Grand Prix from pole to extend his lead in the championship on Sunday. Márquez's brother Álex finished second for Gresini Racing while Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia came third. Marc had completed the perfect weekend last year to win his first race in 1,043 days at the same circuit and he repeated his feat as the polesitter and sprint winner claimed a record-extending seventh victory. Such was Marc's dominance this weekend that he became the first rider in 10 years to lead every session – including warmups, practice and qualifying – since he did it himself at the German Grand Prix in 2015
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The 3️⃣ key questions ahead of the Copa de la Reina final
FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid bring the curtain down on the women's football season in Spain with the Copa de la Reina final in Huesca. With the Women's Euro on the horizon and the proud memory of the Champions League final in Lisbon, the Blaugrana stars want to redeem themselves with a new title that will allow them to return to being the great national dominators. For its part, Atlético de Madrid is looking to take a title back to the capital against the big favorites. A historic duel in Spanish football This final between Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid is the fourth that both clubs have played in this competition, becoming the most repeated confrontation for the title. Additionally, it is played in an unusual setting for a final, the El Alcoraz stadium in Huesca, which gives it a special character for both the local fans and several Aragonese players who will be on the pitch. The memory of 2026 Barcelona arrives as a clear favorite: it has won six of the last eight editions and has a streak of 21 consecutive victories in the Cup. Advertisement Despite the accumulated fatigue from the international calendar, the team seeks to close the season with the national triple crown (League, Cup, and Super Cup). For its part, Atlético de Madrid, which has two Cups in its record, trusts in repeating the feat of 2016, when it defeated Barça. Although they have lost all direct matches against the Blaugrana this season, they arrive with hope and without pressure. Several players at home A spectacular atmosphere is expected at El Alcoraz, with sold-out tickets and a capacity for more than 9,000 fans. The match will feature the participation of several Aragonese players such as Salma Paralluelo, Mapi León, Marta Cardona, and Patricia Larqué, who will feel at home in such a special match. Advertisement This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. 📸 PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA - AFP or licensors
