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DES MOINES — Gov. Kim Reynolds named Sen. Chris Cournoyer as her new lieutenant governor Monday, filling the role that was left open since former Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg resigned from the position in September. The governor said Cournoyer, a LeClaire Republican who has served as a state senator since 2019, was her choice after months of consideration because of her work on issues like education and technology. “Her first instinct isn’t just to wonder ‘why’ something isn’t working right or to complain, it’s actually to get in there and fix the problem herself,” Reynolds said. “She takes responsibility, she gets her hands dirty and she does the work. And the people of Iowa couldn’t ask for more in a lieutenant governor, and neither can I.” Cournoyer took the oath of office Monday, administered by Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen, officially taking the position as lieutenant governor. She thanked Reynolds for appointing her to the position, and said she was ready to help serve the state from the executive branch. “It’s an honor, and somewhat surreal, to be standing at this podium as Iowa’s lieutenant governor,” Cournoyer said. “... This is a humbling responsibility for me, and Iowans can be confident that I will always approach it with the seriousness that it deserves. That’s why I want to thank you, Governor. Reynolds, for placing your trust in me.” In addition to serving in the Iowa Senate, Cournoyer was formerly president of the Pleasant Valley Community School District School Board, member of Governor’s STEM Advisory Council and previously worked as a senior consultant in the technology division of the Chicago-based Andersen Consulting — a firm that later became Accenture. Reynolds praised Cournoyer’s experience in these roles, saying she will play an important role as lieutenant governor in tackling issues like artificial intelligence and expanding STEM opportunities in Iowa schools. “Chris’ qualifications go far beyond an impressive resume,” Reynolds said at the news conference held in the governor’s office Monday. “In fact, I believe they get to the heart ... of what it takes to be a lieutenant governor. First and foremost, she’s someone that Iowans can trust to serve as governor if I were ever unable to. I have complete confidence in her character, her judgment and her ability. It’s these same qualities that also make her ideally suited to serve as a member of my team.” Cournoyer will serve as Reynolds’ second-in-command for the remainder of the governor’s current term of office, until 2026 — the time of the next Iowa gubernatorial election. Though Reynolds has not made any announcement regarding another reelection campaign, she is expected to run for another term in the next election. Iowa Republicans and state leaders sent congratulations to Cournoyer for her appointment to the position. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver released a statement Monday saying Cournoyer had “proven herself over the last 6 years as a smart, capable conservative” as a member of the Iowa Senate Republicans. “During her tenure in the Iowa Senate, she was a leading advocate for legislation to secure Second Amendment rights, protections for law enforcement, historic income tax relief, and every other common sense conservative priority the Senate has advanced,” Whitver said. “She will be missed, but I am happy for her and I look forward to watching her succeed in her new role as Lieutenant Governor.” Alongside her role in the gubernatorial line of succession, the lieutenant governor is also assigned duties by the governor. For Gregg, that meant initiatives like the Empower Rural Iowa Initiative. Gregg, who became the Iowa Bankers Association’s president and CEO in September after resigning as lieutenant governor, said that he chose to leave public office to spend more time with his family. He had held the position since Reynolds took office in 2017 after former Gov. Terry Branstad vacated the governor seat to serve as U.S. ambassador to China during President-elect Donald Trump’s first term in office. When Gregg was appointed to serve as the state’s executive second-in-command by Reynolds in May 2017, his role was limited. Former Attorney General Tom Miller issued a legal opinion in 2017 that Reynolds had technically not vacated her position as Branstad’s lieutenant governor when she ascended to the governorship, meaning that she could not formally appoint her own lieutenant governor. Gregg did not officially take the position until he and Reynolds won reelection in 2018. Reynolds did not face the same challenges appointing a person to fill Gregg’s position in 2024, as Reynolds, who won reelection in 2022, has the power as governor to fill the vacancy for the remainder of her term. Additionally, Iowans approved a constitutional amendment in the 2024 general election that changed language in the Iowa State Constitution to clarify that a vacancy is created in the lieutenant governor’s position when a lieutenant governor takes the position of governor. The largest difference in being officially appointed to the lieutenant governor’s position lies in the gubernatorial line of succession. When Gregg held the position unofficially prior to the 2018 election, Whitver, then-Senate president, would have become governor if Reynolds vacated the governor’s office at that time. For the past few months without a sitting lieutenant governor, Senate President Amy Sinclair has been next in line to serve as Iowa governor. Reynolds will need to call a special election to fill Cournoyer’s seat in the Iowa Senate. The governor’s office has not yet shared details about their plans to fill the vacancy.kk jili online casino 。

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As Maryland lawmakers approach the 2025 General Assembly session, the state has an impending $2.7 billion deficit they’ll need to address — a significant hole that all but guarantees another debate in Annapolis over whether they should make deep budget cuts or raise taxes. With President-elect Donald Trump planning to launch the Department of Government Efficiency , which aims to make sweeping government spending cuts, do you think a similar effort is needed in Maryland? var pd_tags = new Array;pd_tags["14751473-src"]="poll-oembed-simple"; The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here.Nearly two dozen charities that help at-risk youth have received Fraser Valley Realtors Charitable Foundation (FVRCF) grants to help fund their work. Every year, the foundation gives grants to eligible charities that have applied to help at-risk youth under 29 in select cities south of the Fraser River. The charities must work in Surrey, North Delta, Mission, Abbotsford, the City of Langley, the Township of Langley, or White Rock. "At-risk youth are a key part of our communities, and it is essential that we support them with the tools, guidance, and opportunities they need to succeed," said John Barbisan, chair of the FVRCF. "We are grateful to partner with these outstanding organizations that are making a meaningful difference in the lives of youth across the Fraser Valley." The grant recipients were announced at a celebration on Wednesday (Dec. 11) at the foundation's office in Surrey (15463 104 Ave). "Among the recipients are organizations providing mentorship programs, educational support, mental health counselling, and recreational activities — all aimed at helping young people build resilience, self-confidence, and a sense of belonging. These initiatives are essential for fostering positive change and ensuring a healthier, more inclusive future for the region," notes an FVRCF news release Thursday (Dec. 12). The following charities received grants: Cyrus Centre (Abbotsford), Mackie's Place Social House (Surrey), Greater Vancouver Youth Unlimited (Mission), Encompass Support Services Society (Langley City & Township of Langley), Take a Hike Youth Mental Health Foundation (North Delta & Mission), Surrey Fire Fighters' Nutritional Snack Program Society (Surrey), Options Community Services (Surrey), BeMorr Society (All regions), You Wear it Well...Just for Grads Society (Surrey, North Delta, White Rock), Cares Counselling Society (Abbotsford), The Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver (Surrey), Pathfinder Youth Centre Society (Surrey), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Langley (Langley City, Township of Langley), Communitas Supportive Care Society (Langley City, Township of Langley, Abbotsford, Mission), Camp Choice BC (all regions), Zajac Ranch Society (all regions), Alex Neighbourhood House (Surrey, White Rock), Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation & CTS Youth Society (Surrey & Township of Langley), Nisa Foundation (Surrey, North Delta, Abbotsford and White Rock), Fraser Region Community Justice Initiatives Association (Langley City, Township of Langley), PLEA Community Services of BC (Surrey). Cyrus Centre in Abbotsford, Mackies Place Youth Social House in Surrey, and Encompass Support Services Society in the Township and City of Langley received two-year grants. For more information on the foundation visit, .

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The United States called Monday for de-escalation in Syria, where an Islamist-led rebel alliance has wrested swathes of territory from the control of President Bashar al-Assad's government in a lightning offensive. The European Union also called on "all sides to de-escalate", while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "alarmed" by the violence and called for an immediate halt to the fighting. Syria has been at war since Assad cracked down on democracy protests in 2011. The conflict has since drawn in foreign powers and jihadists, and left 500,000 people dead. The conflict had been mostly dormant with Assad back in control of much of the country, until last week when the Islamist-led rebel alliance began its offensive. The attack has seen swathes of Syria fall to rebel control, including second city Aleppo for the first time since the start of the civil war. "We want to see all countries use their influence -- use their leverage -- to push for de-escalation, protection of civilians and ultimately, a political process forward," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. In a statement issued by EU foreign affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni, the European Union also called for de-escalation and the protection of civilians, while also condemning Assad backer Russia for conducting air strikes in his support. Russia first intervened directly in Syria's war in 2015 with strikes on rebel-held areas. Its help, along with that of Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, were instrumental in propping up Assad's rule. On Monday President Vladimir Putin and Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian both pledged "unconditional support" for their ally, according to the Kremlin. Aleppo is home to two million people and saw fierce fighting earlier in the war. The Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies took the city at the weekend, except for neighbourhoods controlled by Kurdish forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. They also seized Aleppo International Airport. HTS, led by Al-Qaeda's former Syria branch, has faced accusations of human rights abuses including torturing detainees. Abu Sufyan, a rebel commander, told AFP: "God willing, we will continue, go into Damascus and liberate the rest of Syria." One Aleppo resident spoke of panic. "There were terrible traffic jams -- it took people 13 to 15 hours to reach Homs" in central Syria, which is under government control. Normally, he said, it would take a couple of hours. AFPTV footage showed rebels patrolling the streets, some burning a Syrian flag and others holding the flag of the revolution. On Monday, Assad branded the rebel offensive led by HTS an attempt to redraw the regional map in line with US interests. His comments came in a call with Iran's Pezeshkian, who in turn pledged continued support and said Iran hoped "Syria will pass through this stage with success and victory". On Monday, Syrian and Russian air raids on several areas of Idlib province in the northwest killed 11 civilians including five children, the Observatory said. "The strikes targeted... families living on the edge of a displacement camp," said Hussein Ahmed Khudur, a 45-year-old teacher who sought refuge at the camp from fighting in Aleppo province. Other strikes in Aleppo killed four civilians, two of them children, the Observatory said, adding that air raids also targeted a Christian-majority neighbourhood. AFPTV footage showed rebels pushing into Hama province in central Syria. Syria's defence ministry said troops were clashing with "terrorist organisations" in the northern Hama countryside. Islamist-led rebels killed six civilians on Monday in a rocket attack on the government-held city of Hama, the Observatory said. Aron Lund of the Century International think tank said a major question hangs over possible Turkish involvement. "I have a hard time imagining that Turkey-backed groups could launch a major rebel offensive out of Turkey-held areas without Turkey being very significantly involved," he said. "But I also don't think Turkey necessarily wanted the rebels to get this far." Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an end to the "instability" in Syria and an agreement to stop the civil war. On a visit to Ankara, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said it was crucial "to protect the achievements" of the so-called Astana process to end Syria's civil war, which involves Turkey, Russia and Iran. Several hours later, he said the respective foreign ministers would meet on the matter next weekend in Qatar. "We will try to activate this process again," he said. While the current fighting is rooted in a war that began more than a decade ago, much has changed since then. Millions of Syrians have been displaced, with about 5.5 million now in neighbouring countries. Most of those involved in the initial anti-Assad protests are either dead, in jail or in exile. Russia is at war in Ukraine, and Iran's militant allies Hezbollah and Hamas have been massively weakened by more than a year of conflict with Israel. Lebanon's Hezbollah played a key role in backing government forces particularly around Aleppo, but it withdrew from several positions to focus on fighting Israel. HTS and its allies launched their offensive on Wednesday, the day a Lebanon ceasefire began. The violence in Syria has killed 514 people, mostly combatants but also including 92 civilians, according to the Observatory. burs-srm-ser/smw

Mumbai: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) is concerned over insurers' heavy dependence on parent banks for bancassurance sales and may come up with regulations to address it, according to sources. The regulator may ask life insurers to diversify their bank partnerships, curbing the dominance of parent banks, which in some cases contribute over 90% of total sales for their insurance subsidiaries. Insurers like Max Life , HDFC Life and SBI Life depend largely on their parent bank to sell products. The regulatory nudge is coming at a time when both the finance minister and Irdai chairman has expressed concerns over misselling of insurance products by banks. If a company relies on just one channel to sell insurance products, they may believe their business is doing well. However, regulators will monitor how things are going. It's important for the company to gradually reduce reliance on that one channel and start focusing on other ways to distribute their products, the source said. If implemented, the rules would follow stakeholder consultations and the issuance of an exposure draft, ensuring industry-wide feedback. 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As New York City prosecutors worked Thursday to bring murder charges against Luigi Mangione in the brazen killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , supporters of the suspect are donating tens of thousands of dollars for a defense fund established for him, leaving law enforcement officials worried Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Several online defense funds have been created for Mangione by anonymous people, including one on the crowdfunding website GiveSendGo that as of Thursday afternoon had raised over $50,000. The GiveSendGo defense fund for the 26-year-old Mangione was established by an anonymous group calling itself "The December 4th Legal Committee," apparently in reference to the day Mangione allegedly ambushed and gunned down Thompson in Midtown Manhattan as the executive walked to his company's shareholders conference at the New York Hilton hotel. "We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right to fair legal representation," the anonymous group said in a statement. The crowdfunding campaign prompted donations from more than 1,500 anonymous donors across the country, many of them leaving messages of support for Mangione, including one person who called themselves "A frustrated citizen" and thanked Mangione for "sparking the awareness and thought across this sleeping nation." The GiveSendGo fund for Mangione appeared to be briefly taken down before it was restored on Thursday. GiveSendGo did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for comment. Other crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe have also taken down campaigns soliciting donations for Mangione's defense. "GoFundMe's Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes," the crowdfunding website said in a statement. "The fundraisers have been removed from our platform and all donors have been refunded." Amazon and Etsy have removed from their websites merchandise featuring Mangione, including T-shirts and tote bags reading "Free Luigi" and the phrase "Deny, Defend, Depose," words police said were etched in the shell casings discovered at the scene of Thompson's homicide. "Celebrating this conduct is abhorrent to me. It's deeply disturbing," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told ABC News senior investigative reporter Aaron Katersky in an interview Wednesday night. "And what I would say to members of the public, people who as you described are celebrating this and maybe contemplating other action, that we will be vigilant and we will hold people accountable. We are at the ready." Prosecutors at the Manhattan district attorney's office have begun presenting evidence to a grand jury as they work to try to secure an indictment against Mangione, sources told ABC News on Thursday. Mangione's attorney, Thomas Dickey of Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested Monday following a five-day manhunt, said his client is presumed innocent and will plead not guilty to any charges filed against him. Mangione is contesting extradition to New York. Asked about people contributing to Mangione defense funds that have popped up, Dickey said, "People are entitled to their opinion and, like I said, if you're an American and you believe in the American criminal justice system, you have to presume him to be innocent and none of us would want anything other than that if that were us in their shoes. So, I'm glad he had some support." But law enforcement officials have expressed concern that Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Someone this week pasted "wanted posters" outside the New York Stock Exchange naming other executives. A bulletin released Wednesday by the Delaware Valley Intelligence Center, a multi-agency law enforcement intelligence-sharing network based in Philadelphia, included a photo of a banner hanging from an overpass reading, "Deny, Defend, Depose." "Many social media users have outright advocated for the continued killings of CEOs with some aiming to spread fear by posting 'hit lists,'" the bulletin, obtained by ABC News, reads. Meanwhile, New York Police Department investigators continue to build a murder case against Mangione, who is being held in Pennsylvania on charges stemming from his arrest there, including illegal possession of ghost gun and fraudulent identification. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the charges in Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that the three shell casings recovered at the scene of Thompson's shooting matched the gun found in Mangione possession when he was arrested. She also confirmed that Mangione's fingerprints were recovered from a water bottle and the wrapper of a granola bar found near the crime scene.