West
Southern California community members return for first time to site where church burned down ahead of Easter
Community members in the Pacific Palisades area in Los Angeles County returned on Good Friday to the site of a 103-year-old church that burned down in January during the Southern California wildfires.
And while the Community United Methodist Church’s building is nothing but rubble and ashes at the moment, Pastor John Shaver told Fox News Digital Saturday it will remain a “community without walls” until it’s rebuilt.
“As many share familiar ancient words worldwide, ‘Christ is Risen!,’ we know these words of hope are for the Pacific Palisades Community United Methodist church family, the people of Pacific Palisades, the Altadena community and all who need the strength to keep moving forward worldwide,” Shaver said. “This great gift of hope gives us the fortitude to rebuild, and, in the meantime, we will strive to be a faith community (even without walls) that is a center of hope and healing for our neighbors near and far.”
Shaver, who had led the church for just six months before it burned down, three years after its centennial celebration, gathered with a handful of community members at the site Friday before they embarked on a cross walk through the neighborhood.
FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP SHARES GOOD FRIDAY MESSAGE AHEAD OF EASTER
Pastor John Shaver carries a cross during a cross walk by the Community United Methodist Church of the Pacific Palisades Friday in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
They stopped at nine locations in the devastated neighborhood, reading Bible verses at each stop to represent a different part of Jesus Christ’s path.
“On this Easter Sunday, even though we know there are still significant challenges to come, we give thanks for the hope God gives us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Shaver told Fox News Digital.
He added that the Community United Methodist Church “wants to share God’s love and hope through our words and service to everyone. We hope that by being the hands and feet of Christ, we can build bridges of unity with others throughout the amazing city of Los Angeles.”
The church was built by the same people who founded Pacific Palisades more than a century ago and, over the decades, it has borne witness to weddings, funerals, community gatherings, sports competitions, holiday celebrations and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
Members of the Community United Methodist Church listen to a prayer by Pastor John Shaver during a cross walk. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Inspired by the Chautauqua social movement of the 1920s, the founders started a “peace movement,” building the church and offering arts, music and cultural programs to residents, Shaver told The Associated Press.
The congregation has continued services since the fire at other sites, but it was its first time back to the site Friday.
FRANKLIN GRAHAM SHARES HOPE MESSAGE IN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ON EASTER SPECIAL: ‘GOD HASN’T FORGOTTEN THEM’
Shaver, along with most of his congregation, lost his home in the Palisades Fire.
Carli Wright plays music for a church prayer during a cross walk by the Community United Methodist Church of the Pacific Palisades Friday. (AP Photo/William Liang)
The Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, which was further inland near Pasadena, destroyed tens of thousands of homes and businesses and killed 29 people, including a congregant of Shaver’s church.
Shaver remembered 85-year-old Annette Rossilli during the cross walk and stopped in front of the rubble where his own house once stood. His family moved into the home last July.
“It’s also a reminder how much of what we have, we take for granted,” Shaver told the AP.
And while the church burned down, the community was able to save important parts of it like stone tiles, a metal cross that stood atop its tower and another stone cross.
Shaver said the church will try to find ways to incorporate those items when the new church is built.
Shaver said the cross walk was also a reminder of “how much of what we have, we take for granted.” (AP Photo/William Liang)
Thomas Knoll, a resident who didn’t attend the church and isn’t religious, told the AP he attended the event because it felt “like sort of a funeral for Pacific Palisades.”
Knoll also lost his home.
The church before the fires (Google Maps)
“The whole story of crucifixion and resurrection is appropriate here,” he said. “This town will be rebuilt, but it’s going to take a long time.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Montana
Montana Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Dec. 22, 2025
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 22, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 22 drawing
03-18-36-41-54, Powerball: 07, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 22 drawing
09-16-23-34-46, Lucky Ball: 07
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from Dec. 22 drawing
01-09-18-19-44, Star Ball: 02, ASB: 05
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Dec. 22 drawing
10-11-16-19, Bonus: 08
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Dec. 22 drawing
14-32-47-48-69, Powerball: 17
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Nevada
Holiday loneliness affects thousands in Nevada as many face Christmas away from loved ones
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Loneliness has become a significant health issue for people everywhere, and the holiday season sometimes intensifies those feelings. For many, December looks like family gatherings, matching pajamas and bustling homes. But this time of year can also be very difficult for those who may be battling distance, work commitments or recent life changes.
Marc Valli, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, has lived in Las Vegas since 1988. He moved to Nevada to join a ministry and be closer to his wife’s parents.
WATCH| Shellye Leggett talks to an army vet who’s recently moved into Escalante at the Lakes assisted living facility
Holiday loneliness affects thousands in Nevada as many face Christmas away from loved ones
“I wanted to come and join ministry here. Also my wife’s parents lived here,” Valli said.
Valli’s wife Barbara, known to friends and family as Bobby, passed away in 2018 after 54 years of marriage.
“I’m still counting the years. We’ve been married 54 years,” he said.
His children moved him into Escalante at the Lakes assisted living facility in June, making this his first holiday season in his new home.
“People are very nice, they treat you good,” Valli said.
Come Christmas Day, the facility’s common room will be filled with residents ready for holiday activities, but Valli hopes to get outside these walls to see his family that still lives nearby.
“I have grandkids. One goes to Cal Poly. He’s here right now, but he’s on vacation, and then I have two little granddaughters, one’s 11, one’s 7,” Valli said. “I don’t know if they’re gonna come for Christmas or I’m going there.”
Gus Farias, the executive director of Escalante at the Lakes Assisted Living, says many of his residents don’t have family nearby. Keeping their spirits high throughout the holidays is an important task.
“We can tell when our residents are feeling down. There’s a lot of pressure during the holidays because some of our residents don’t have families that are nearby, but they have us,” Farias said.
The organisation A Mission for Michael released a study showing just how many people are expected to spend the holidays alone this year. Nevada ranked 43rd on the list of loneliest states, with more than 212,000 people expected to spend Christmas by themselves.
“It’s pretty surprising that there’s so many Nevadans that are gonna spend the holidays by themselves,” Farias said.
He says combating loneliness will take a community effort.
“When you’re at the grocery store or whatever, reach, look back and ask them, you know, wish them a merry Christmas or happy holidays and ask them how they passed their holidays in the past because we, we as a younger generation than our seniors, we can learn a lot from that,” Farias said.
It’s an effort that Valli says makes the holidays a little brighter.
“Oh, it makes a big difference,” he said.
New Mexico
Dermatology wait times soar as New Mexico faces deepening doctor shortage
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A statewide doctor shortage is increasing wait times for New Mexico patients. This year, dermatology wait times reached record highs, and medical groups warn delays will continue to grow without legislative action.
“Many of the doctors who are here are tired; they’re overworked. They need some help. We need to recruit more doctors into this state, and if we don’t take action right now, I think you know it’s not too outlandish to think about it: a collapse of the medical system.”
That’s according to retina surgeon Dr. Nathaniel Roybal, who spends his spare time as a physician advocate, working with communities and lawmakers to find ways to incentivize doctors to stay in — and come to — New Mexico. He said doctors around the state believe it is risky to practice here because it is easy to be sued for medical malpractice, which he calls the major driver behind the doctor shortage.
Roybal is a former president of the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association and a councilor for the New Mexico Medical Society. He warned that the state’s health care system is at a crisis point — and that New Mexican patients and their loved ones are the ones who suffer most. “In this state, in this healthcare system, the most vulnerable are always the poor. Always the sick. It just is,” said Roybal. “And if you can’t take care of 100% of New Mexicans, I worry that the ones that will be taken care of are the ones that have insurance that can afford to be taken care of.”
A prime example of the shortage is the dermatology department at UNM Hospital, which sent a memo to providers about six months ago.
The memo reads, “due to a critical shortage of dermatologists at UNMH,” wait lists for new patient appointments have reached an unprecedented one to one-and-a-half years. The UNM dermatology department said it is still only accepting referrals for urgent cases. “Obviously, that’s concerning if you are the New Mexican who has a dermatologic problem and needs to see a physician,” Roybal said.
In a statement to KRQE News 13, UNMH said that since the memo was sent, additional doctors have been hired, with two more expected to join next year. The hospital said it has expanded e-consults, is holding free walk-in skin cancer screenings in rural areas, and has reduced the number of patients waiting for an appointment by nearly 50%.
UNMH is not the only health care group working to close the gap. Dr. Denise A. Gonzales, medical director for Presbyterian Medical Group, said Presbyterian Hospital has some promising developments planned for the new year. She said the shortage of dermatologic care providers has been an issue for a long time, particularly in New Mexico, where UV exposure risk is high.
Presbyterian has never had a full-scale dermatology department like UNM’s and has often referred patients to UNM and community dermatologists for Mohs surgeries. Gonzales said that over the past few years, Presbyterian has brought teledermatology to Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis, New Mexico.
She said thanks to that program, dermatologists can evaluate Albuquerque patients while they are home, and if a biopsy is needed, they can have it done in Presbyterian facilities. “That’s just a very small amount of increase in services that we’ve been able to do in the last two years, recognizing that there is a shortage of dermatology services throughout the state.”
The Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation recently announced it is launching its first full-service dermatology clinic, funded by a $2.5 million gift from Ellen and Jim King to the newly formed “King Fund for Dermatology.”
“In the fall of 2026 is when we expect to have our clinic fully open and staffed with physicians and PA’s who can do the full breadth of treatments and diagnoses so they can treat things like acne and skin cancers, they can treat it with light therapy and lasers, and can cut things out if they need to be cut out,” Gonzales said.
She said the long-term goal is to expand those services across Presbyterian’s regional centers by connecting patients to experts in Albuquerque through telemedicine. “So, it’s as easy as putting a camera on it and talking to that expert in Albuquerque to then decide on what the next steps should be,” Gonzales said.
Still, medical professionals said meaningful change must happen at the legislative level. Many welcomed Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s decision to include medical malpractice reform in the call for the upcoming 30-day legislative session.
UNM’s statement and Dr. Roybal said the issue extends far beyond dermatology. “That’s the problem, not just playing out in dermatology, it’s playing out in ophthalmology and internal medicine, and family practice, and you name it,” Roybal said.
UNMH said it could not provide a current estimate for new patient wait times, citing the difficulty of projecting timelines while working through existing patient lists.
While the New Mexico Medical Society and the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association said medical malpractice reform should be the top priority, some lawmakers are pushing to broaden the discussion. Proposals include increasing residency slots and changing the gross receipts tax rule that requires physicians to pay taxes on payments received for medical services.
There is also disagreement over data. Think New Mexico, a local think tank, reports that New Mexico has one of the nation’s highest rates of medical malpractice lawsuits. And that the state lost more physicians between 2019-2024 than any other state in the country. However, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Joseph Cervantes (D-Las Cruces) said during a recent radio interview that the data is false.
Dr. Roybal, however, stands by Think New Mexico’s data and adding he’s always willing to take anyone to the CMS.gov website (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) to walk people through it. He also suggested lawmakers who are also trial lawyers, such as Sen. Cervantes, should recuse themselves from both the discussion and votes on the issue due to a conflict of interest.
Roybal said he is confident New Mexico communities will unite to make their voices heard, calling the issue a generational fight that will shape the state’s future. He believes a balance can be found that protects patients while incentivizing doctors. “Doctors want their patients to be whole. We don’t want it to be impossible to ever sue, or if there was somebody who did something nefarious that was just terrible and hurt somebody, we want that person to be taken care of, their future medical to be covered, we want them to make sure they’re compensated for something that happened that was terrible,” Roybal said. “We also have to recognize, on the other hand, the number of people that happens to is between .1 and .01 percent of the population. And so when you have a law that’s overly protective in that situation and really stretches it allows for hundreds of millions of lawsuits in a single suit, it no longer serves the greater good.”
Dr. Gonzales said addressing the shortage will require multiple solutions. “Things like tort reform are important and the cost of medical malpractice, but it’s also important to make sure that Medicare and Medicaid have appropriate funding levels that we make it easy for people to obtain licenses in this state,” Gonzales said.
She added that New Mexico does not participate in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. “That’s a very difficult nut to crack, because it’s not as simple as just join the compact. There are downsides and risks to that as well,” she said.
Gonzales closed with a personal note, saying she wants better access to care for her mother in rural New Mexico. She emphasized the need for sustained effort beyond legislative sessions. “It has to be continuous. It has to be multifaceted, and it’s got to be something where we’re moving the ball along all the time. And we can’t give up on it, because it impacts so many things about New Mexico,” Gonzales said.
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