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‘Christmas Light Fight’ Host Carter Oosterhouse on Holiday Traditions, Marriage to Amy Smart & More, /PRNewswire/ -- SmartDrone Corporation, "The Drone Company" , is excited to announce the acquisition of the drone operations of Skytec, LLC, a -based leader in remote sensing and GIS technology. This acquisition allows SmartDrone to expand its UAV service offerings while continuing to support Skytec's clients with high-precision aerial data collection across industries, including landsurveying, construction, and environmental management. Skytec, founded in 2015, has built a reputation for excellence in geospatial technology, combining satellite imagery, drone platforms, and GIS expertise to deliver scalable, high-resolution . said , CEO and Founder of SmartDrone. said , CEO of Skytec. Through this acquisition, SmartDrone will provide ongoing to Skytec's existing client base, ensuring a seamless transition and access to best-in-class aerial data collection. With Skytec's operational excellence in geospatial data analysis and its excellent UAV services carried forward by SmartDrone, clients can expect to benefit from a fully integrated approach to data-driven decision-making. Based in , SmartDrone Corporation designs, engineers, and manufactures LiDAR and imaging drones and provides nationwide Professional Services. As "The Drone Company" , SmartDrone leads the way in the American Drone Revolution. Founded in 2015, Skytec is a global leader in remote sensing and GIS technology. Based in , Skytec uses a combination of satellite imagery, drone technology, and GIS expertise to deliver scalable, high-impact data solutions for sustainable resource management and informed decision-making. For more information, please visit or contact at . View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE SmartDrone Corporation

Abercrombie & Fitch's EVP sells $880,070 in stockJeannette Neumann | (TNS) Bloomberg News The Nordstrom family is joining forces with a Mexican retailer to take its namesake department store private in an all-cash transaction valued at about $6.25 billion, including debt. Related Articles Business | New shoplifting data explains why they’re locking up the toothpaste Business | Netflix is airing 2 NFL games on Christmas Day. Here’s what to know Business | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus Business | For some FSA dollars, it’s use it or lose it at year’s end Business | American Airlines flights resume at Bradley International Airport after FAA halts them The founding family is betting that the century-old retail chain will be more successful without the scrutiny and demands of the public market after shares in Nordstrom Inc. plunged 40% in the last five years. During the same period, the S&P 500 rose 84%. As part of the transaction, which is expected to close in the first half of 2025, the family and Mexican department-store chain El Puerto de Liverpool SAB will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Nordstrom. The Nordstrom family will have a majority ownership stake in the company of 50.1%, with Liverpool owning 49.9%. Nordstrom common shareholders will receive $24.25 in cash for each share of Nordstrom common stock they hold under the terms of the agreement, the company said Monday. That’s roughly in line with where shares were trading on Monday. Shares in Nordstrom fell as much as 1.3% on Monday in New York. The company’s stock was up 33% so far this year as of Friday’s close as reports of a take-private deal boosted the stock price. The board’s acceptance of the offer underscores Nordstrom’s decline from its peak and its subdued growth prospects. In 2018, the board rejected the family’s bid to take the company private at $50 per share as too low. Nordstrom’s annual revenue, including income from credit cards, peaked at $15.9 billion in the fiscal year ended February 2019. The company was hit hard by Covid-19 and has never returned to its pre-pandemic highs. Nordstrom is expected to report $14.9 billion in total revenue at the end of the current fiscal year, according to a Bloomberg survey of analysts. Other department-store chains in the U.S. have also struggled as shoppers pivot to online competitors such as Amazon.com Inc., or brand-specific stores such as Louis Vuitton. Executives at Macy’s Inc., for example, are shrinking the company’s store fleet to cut costs, while the owners of Saks Fifth Avenue bought Neiman Marcus Group earlier this year. During the past couple of years, investors had hoped that Nordstrom Rack, its off-price chain, could help buoy the company’s growth prospects and compensate for sluggish sales at the more upscale flagship chain. Shoppers flocked to competitors such as TJ Maxx, seeking deals as inflation soared post-pandemic. But Rack’s performance has been spotty. It stumbled when executives tweaked their strategy and stopped offering as many high-end fashion brands at a discount. Rack reversed course and sales have bounced back. Company executives have focused on opening more Rack stores in recent quarters, boosting revenue. In November, Nordstrom raised the lower end of its annual sales guidance after revenue was better than expected at Rack and the flagship chain. But the outlook is still weak, highlighting the attraction of going private: The company is forecasting that annual sales, including credit-card revenues, will be flat to up 1% versus last year. The take-private deal will be financed through a combination of rollover equity by the Nordstrom family and Liverpool, cash commitments by Liverpool, up to $450 million in borrowings under a new $1.2 billion ABL bank financing, and company cash on hand. The board also intends to pay a special dividend of up to 25 cents a share in cash contingent on the deal closing. The transaction must be approved by holders of two-thirds of the company’s common stock shareholders and the holders of a majority of the shares not owned by the Nordstrom family or Liverpool. Erik and Peter Nordstrom, who are members of the company’s board, recused themselves from the vote, which unanimously approved the transaction. “On behalf of my family, we look forward to working with our teams to ensure Nordstrom thrives long into the future,” said Erik Nordstrom, chief executive officer of Nordstrom. Liverpool, run by descendants of a French shareholder group that dates back more than a century, is one of Mexico’s most important department store chains, with an ornate flagship location in the capital’s historic center. The $7 billion publicly-traded company has ventured beyond Mexico in recent years, acquiring a stake in Latin American retail operator Unicomer in 2011 and attempting unsuccessfully to acquire control of Chile’s Ripley SA in 2015 before turning its eyes to the U.S. with the Nordstrom investment. Max David Michel, part of Liverpool’s founding family and one of the richest people in the country, retired as head of Liverpool’s board earlier this year. (Updates to include what stock is trading at versus the offer price.) ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.The decision to arrest President Yoon has exposed deep divisions within South Korean society, with supporters and opponents of the president deeply polarized. The country is now faced with the challenge of healing these divisions and rebuilding trust in its political institutions.In conclusion, Three-Dimensional Universe is a shining example of innovation and ingenuity in the world of low-code platforms. With its completely self-developed and tailored approach, 3DU empowers businesses to create custom software solutions that drive success and growth. By focusing on simplicity, versatility, customization, and innovation, Three-Dimensional Universe is revolutionizing the way applications are developed, setting a new standard for excellence in the industry. Embrace the power of 3DU and unlock the true potential of your business in the three-dimensional universe of technology.

That's the message from the two Indiana General Assembly finance leaders whose two-year legislative task force recently completed a comprehensive review of state and local tax policies. State Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton, and state Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, the co-chairmen of the State and Local Tax Review Task Force, said any tax law changes enacted in 2025 likely will be incremental in nature and their financial impact spread over a number of years so as not to cripple local government spending on education, public safety and other essential services. "The complexity of this system cannot be fixed to provide overnight relief to any one classification of taxpayer. The process requires a multiyear effort to ease into a reform," Holdman said. "The legislation you will see introduced this session will take time to fully implement. (Property) tax bills for 2025 cannot be fixed this session further beyond what the Indiana General Assembly has done the last couple of sessions, like capping general fund local levy growth." Braun repeatedly has said cutting property taxes is among his top priorities when he takes over the governor's office Jan. 13 from term-limited Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb. On the campaign trail, Braun promised to reset residential property tax bills to 2021 levels, reduce the amount of a home's assessed value subject to tax, strictly limit future property tax increases, and make it more difficult for taxing units to temporarily increase property tax revenue through a voter referendum. Holdman, who also leads the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee, said he's been "working closely with the Braun team" and help for Hoosier taxpayers "could be on its way." But Holdman also acknowledged, "It may take some time to work its way through the established system, as well as the General Assembly." "The overall tax policy in Indiana is one of the best in the nation," Holdman said. "With regards to property tax, the state of Indiana does not levy property tax from any classification of property taxpayers. The property tax is entirely a local tax. We have nothing to do other than set policy." The policy seemingly most annoying to Hoosiers is that an increase in the assessed value of their home results in a higher property tax bill — until an owner-occupied home hits the constitutional maximum tax bill of 1% of the property's assessed value. Thompson, who also leads the budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said the recent surges in assessed value growth often generate so much additional money for local governments that even when a unit's governing authority raises or lowers its property tax rate the change is little noticed by the taxpayer. "At some point you have to have a system where when you raise the rate the taxpayer sees an increase," Thompson said. "(Or, after lowering the rate,) "all the money just goes to other units. The taxpayer doesn't see a penny change." At the same time, Holdman noted local units of government statewide currently have about $4.8 billion in unused local income tax capacity. He said local governments interested in reducing property taxes potentially could replace that revenue with higher county income taxes, even as the state continues gradually reducing its individual income tax rate to 2.9% by 2027. Though Holdman also is interested in pursuing strict spending caps for local governments that more or less match the typically inflation-level annual spending growth at the state level. "We do not need to be spending much more than a 3.25% increase from one year to the next," Holdman said. The task force's final report also endorsed reductions in agricultural and business property tax categories that Democratic task force members pointed out would shift onto homeowners an even greater share of the cost of funding local government. "I see no focused relief for homeowners in here, whatsoever," said state Rep. Ed Delaney, D-Indianapolis. "We're presiding over tax shifts onto homeowners (and) away from businesses. We're doing that." "I think it's time to get serious about what's happened to the tax caps after 13 years of one-party (Republican) control and 15 or 16 years of the tax caps. I don't think they're working for the homeowners, and I think that's what we should be addressing." Delaney said part of the problem is Indiana has more than 2,000 local units of government and the General Assembly repeatedly has shied away from eliminating any of them, including the more than 1,000 township governments that duplicate, in many places, services provided by the county or municipalities. State Sen. David Niezgodski, D-South Bend, said Democrats stand ready to partner with Republicans to begin tackling these issues when lawmakers return to the Statehouse in January for their four-month regular legislative session. "We absolutely know that taxpayers are crying out for some relief. We know that there is a need out there," Niezgodski said. "We have a lot of work in front of us."

So, if you've got what it takes to contribute to one of the most highly anticipated games of the decade, now is your chance to join the Rockstar family. Head over to their website, check out the recruitment ad, and take the first step towards being a part of gaming history.The passengers and crew on China Eastern Airlines flight MU583 were left shocked and saddened by the sudden turn of events, with many expressing gratitude for the professionalism and compassion demonstrated by the airline staff and emergency responders during the crisis. The airline has extended its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the passenger who tragically passed away and has offered support and assistance to those affected.

Born in one of the world's most ancient cities with a rich cosmopolitan history, Nevart and Silva are celebrating their first Christmas with their family in their new home after fleeing Aleppo, in Syria. or signup to continue reading The twin Armenian-Syrian sisters, now in multicultural western Sydney, have put up a Christmas tree and decorations to celebrate their first feast with Nevart's son since they were separated 13 years ago. They landed in Australia as refugees in December 2023 but after a few months of staying with family and looking for a suitable home in a tight rental market, they are finally able to gather under one roof for Christmas. It is a far cry from living under constant bombardment in Syria during a decade-long civil war that claimed more than 500,000 lives and displaced more than 10 million people including the sisters. "It's happiness for me to be reunited with my only son after 13 years," Nevart told AAP. "Every time we talked to him it was after a bomb had gone off here and there. "We left our home in Aleppo not knowing if we'd ever go back there again. It was terrifying ... we didn't know if a missile would fall on us." The regime of long-time autocrat Bashar al-Assad fell in December in a lightning offensive by Turkish-backed Islamist rebels. The sisters fled Aleppo and sought refuge in neighbouring Lebanon in 2017 - part of the exodus of 1.5 million Syrians who moved there following the outbreak of the war. Like most of their compatriots, they could not secure permanent residency and were rendered illegals. They made ends meet by teaching and caring for the elderly for three years until the COVID-19 pandemic hit, shuttering their meagre sources of income. Further tragedy hit in August 2020 when the port of Beirut exploded, killing more than 200 people including an Australian toddler. "It was so scary ... at first we thought someone had made a (suicide) bombing ... we didn't think it was that far away in the port," Nevart said. The explosion triggered memories of the missile strikes and barrel bombs the sisters had fled in Aleppo. "It was all fear. We didn't know what the future would hold - there was darkness." The darkness was also literal, with electricity only available for a couple of hours during the day. Water in the household was considered a luxury and clothes were washed by hand. "We feel safe in Australia ... there's no bombings, water is on all the time, electricity is available always," Nevart said. Rima Ramdani, the sisters' casework manager with not-for-profit refugee resettlement agency , said acclimatising to life in Australia could be challenging, with each new arrival's unique journey depending on their circumstances. "We advocate on their (refugees') behalf - from doctors to employers to driving schools," she said. "We are here to orient them so they can be independent." It was not the first time the twin sisters had escaped war. They previously fled Kuwait, where they had a comfortable life with their parents after Iraq invaded the oil-rich Gulf country in 1990. Silva has been busy whipping up a Christmas storm of delectable Armenian and Middle Eastern dishes from kibbeh traboulsieh (fried meat and bulgur) to muhammara (roasted red pepper and walnut dip) and ouzi (a lamb and rice dish). "We were two women only by ourselves which was hard ... we only had God. We prayed to him and he answered our prayers," Silva said of the six years she lived through the brutal conflict in Aleppo. "We are totally different but inseparable. We feel each other always," the sisters said in unison, laughing. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. 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DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementIn the world of football, where individual glory often takes precedence, Enzo and Jackson's story was a refreshing reminder that true success comes from working together as a team. As they celebrated their victory, they knew that their bond would carry them through any challenges that lay ahead, on and off the field.

Title: Unveiling Bayern's 19-Year-Old Talent Terl: 9 Matches, 292 Minutes, 0 Goals, 0 AssistsIn recent weeks, the media has been abuzz with speculation and analysis regarding the monetary policy direction of the central bank in the coming year. Economic analysts and financial experts are predicting that there may be a further reduction in interest rates and reserve requirement ratios in the first half of next year. The reasoning behind this forecast is based on the perceived need for continued stimulus to support economic growth and stabilize financial markets.

As Love Island star Maura Higgins and author Reverend Richard Coles join fellow celebrities Down Under. The latecomers were revealed on Wednesday, November 20 and have yet to join the other campmates. The two are currently in their own private camp as hosts Ant and Dec told viewers they would be living in the 'Junkyard' camp for the next few days. Thinking it would be really bad living conditions, the camp transformed with a mattress bed, bubble bath, grill and more. Maura influencing a priest was not on my 2024 bingo card #ImACeleb pic.twitter.com/ZFCl2buUuC However, the two had to complete a mission by convincing the celebrities in the other camp that they were living in awful conditions. Despite not yet being with the other celebrities, fans of the ITV show have said that they are already loving them. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one I’m A Celeb viewer said: “These two are like polar opposites but so funny together." As another added: “Richard and Maura are MY WINNERS ALREADY." A further said: ““Sorry Father.” HAHAHAHAHA adding Maura to an already 10/10 camp is ridiculously brilliant!" While one said: “Aww I’ve missed Maura, I love her! I saw her on Love Island USA but I still have missed her." The reason celebrities no longer have their phone numbers printed on their uniforms is because ITV has changed the way viewers vote this year. Usually, viewers can vote for celebrities to take part in trials or to leave camp by calling the phone numbers assigned to each of them. However, this year, the ITV show is not accepting votes via phone calls. Therefore, viewers must use the app to make their votes. RECOMMENDED READING I'm A Celeb's Danny Jones in tears as he shares mental health journey GK Barry and Dean branded ‘awful’ on I’m A Celebrity I'm A Celebrity's Melvin Odoom was on this hit TV show - do you remember him? The app is available to download either via the App Store or Play Store. One viewer took to X (formerly Twitter) to say they didn't like the change: "Don’t like how they no longer stick phone numbers on the back of their shirts on I’m A Celeb. "Some things should never change, even with technological advances."Army-Navy game has added buzzTravis Hunter is still six months shy of his 22nd birthday, but he already has the entire world at his fingertips. And yet, he has not let the fame or money go to his head. He remains as down-to-earth and mature as you can imagine for a young Heisman Trophy finalist. During a visit to The Pivot podcast, former NFL player Ryan Clark acknowledged this trait that Hunter has and called the two-way star “wise beyond his years.” And Hunter added that he intends to pass that wisdom on to his younger brother. Travis may be just 21 years old, but he’s the oldest of four children in the Hunter clan. He has a younger sister, Taylor, and two younger brothers, Junior and Trayvis. The latter seems to be following in Trav’s footsteps already, as Trayvis has already started to turn heads as a high school sophomore. Travis, however, wants to make sure his brother is “gonna get it just like” he himself got it: on his own. Hunter is speaking to the hustle-and-grind mindset that helped many athletes in previous generations reach the greatest heights in their sport. Things weren’t handed to them. And Travis wants Trayvis to have the same type of mentality he did when he was coming up without a famous older brother. Travis spoke about how “being the oldest” means he has to set an example, not just hold their hands through the process. Travis doesn’t want his newfound wealth and fame to make things too easy for his siblings. But he’s also not ignoring them. The Colorado Buffaloes WR/CB hybrid spoke about how he still supports his brother. He won’t market Trayvis on his social platforms, but he says that his main focus is to “help” him and his other siblings. Trayvis played his freshman season at the same school as Travis: Collins Hill in Suwanee, Georgia. He transferred to Effingham County High School in Springfield, Georgia this past year. As a sophomore, Trayvis—who plays as a receiver like Travis but not as a cornerback—chipped in with 36 receptions for 496 yards and six touchdowns as his team made it to the 5A Georgia state playoffs.

Ultimate guide to Bitcoin: How and what to buy, how to protect yourself... and if you can make a fortune

Makinde Commends Oyo Muslim Community Over Support For His GovtNEW YORK (AP) — The founder and former CEO of the failed cryptocurrency lending platform Celsius Network could face decades in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to federal fraud charges, admitting that he misled customers about the business. Alexander Mashinsky , 58, of Manhattan, entered the plea in New York federal court to commodities and securities fraud. He admitted illegally manipulating the price of Celsius’s proprietary crypto token while secretly selling his own tokens at inflated prices to pocket about $48 million before Celsius collapsed into bankruptcy in 2022. In court, he admitted that in 2021 he publicly suggested there was regulatory consent for the company's moves because he knew that customers “would find false comfort” with that. And he said that in 2019, he was selling the crypto tokens even though he told the public that he was not. He said he knew customers would draw false comfort from that too. “I accept full responsibility for my actions,” Mashinsky said of crimes that stretched from 2018 to 2022 as the company pitched itself to customers as a modern-day bank where they could safely deposit crypto assets and earn interest. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a release that Mashinsky “orchestrated one of the biggest frauds in the crypto industry” as his company's assets purportedly grew to about $25 billion at its peak, making it one of the largest crypto platforms in the world. He said Mashinsky used catchy slogans like “Unbank Yourself” to entice prospective customers with a pledge that their money would be as safe in crypto accounts as money would be in a bank. Meanwhile, prosecutors said, Mashinsky and co-conspirators used customer deposits to fund market purchases of the Celsius token to prop up its value. Machinsky made tens of millions of dollars selling his own CEL tokens at artificially high prices, leaving his customers “holding the bag when the company went bankrupt,” Williams said. An indictment alleged that Mashinsky promoted Celsius through media interviews, his social media accounts and Celsius’ website, along with a weekly “Ask Mashinsky Anything” session broadcast that was posted to Celsius’ website and a YouTube channel. Celsius employees from multiple departments who noticed false and misleading statements in the sessions warned Mashinsky, but they were ignored, the indictment said. A plea agreement Mashinsky made with prosecutors calls for him to be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison and to forfeit over $48 million, which is the amount of money he allegedly made by selling his company's token. Sentencing was scheduled for April 8. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.In the past, the "Brothers of Four Seas" series has been renowned for its intricate plotlines, flashbacks, and parallel story arcs that often left viewers piecing together the narrative puzzle. However, the new film has chosen to streamline the storytelling process by presenting events in a straightforward chronological order. This decision not only simplifies the plot for audiences but also allows for a deeper exploration of character development and emotional resonance.Julia Wick | (TNS) Los Angeles Times As California politicos look ahead to 2025, the biggest question looming is whether Vice President Kamala Harris — a native daughter, battered just weeks ago by presidential election defeat — will enter the 2026 California governor’s race. Related Articles National Politics | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump invites China’s Xi to his inauguration even as he threatens massive tariffs on Beijing National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump National Politics | What Americans think about Hegseth, Gabbard and key Trump Cabinet picks AP-NORC poll Harris has yet to give any public indication on her thoughts and those close to her suggest the governorship is not immediately top of mind. But if Harris does ultimately run — and that’s a massive if — her entrée would seismically reshape the already crowded race for California’s highest office. Recent polling suggests Harris would have a major advantage, with 46% of likely voters saying they were somewhat or very likely to support her for governor in 2026, according to a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey co-sponsored by The Times. “If Vice President Harris were to choose to run, I am certain that that would have a near field-clearing effect on the Democratic side,” Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, said during a recent UC Irvine panel interview . Porter, a high-profile Democrat who has been eyeing the wide-open governor’s race, has yet to say whether she plans to run. Porter’s point was broadly echoed in conversations with nearly a dozen California political operatives and strategists, several of whom requested anonymity to speak candidly. Most speculated that a Harris entry would cause some other candidates in the race to scatter, creating further upheaval in down-ballot races as a roster of ambitious politicians scramble for other opportunities. “In politics, you always let the big dogs eat first,” quipped Democratic political consultant Peter Ragone. The current gubernatorial field is a who’s who of California politicians, but lacks a clear favorite or star with widespread name recognition. The vast majority of California’s 22 million voters have yet to pay attention to the race and have little familiarity with the candidates. The list of Democratic candidates includes Los Angeles’ first Latino mayor in more than a century ( Antonio Villaraigosa ); the first female and first out LGBTQ leader of the state Senate ( Toni Atkins ); the sitting lieutenant governor and first woman to hold that post ( Eleni Kounalakis ); the state superintendent of public instruction ( Tony Thurmond ) and the former state controller ( Betty Yee ). Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is serving his second term as California governor, meaning he is ineligible to run again. Several other Democrats, including Porter, outgoing Health and Human Services Director Xavier Becerra and state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta have also publicly toyed with the idea of a run. They could be less likely to enter the fray should Harris decide to run. What the billionaire mall mogul Rick Caruso — who has also been exploring a run — would choose to do is an open question, as Caruso might contrast himself with Harris as a more centrist candidate. The real estate developer was a registered Republican until November 2019. It’s unlikely that Harris will proffer a public decision in the immediate term, leaving plenty of time for political insiders to game out hypotheticals in the weeks and months to come. Harris’ office did not respond to a request for comment. “I think every candidate for governor is trying to get some kind of intel,” Mike Trujillo, a Los Angeles-based Democratic political consultant and former Villaraigosa staffer, said of a potential Harris run. Trujillo speculated that Harris’ current state was probably similar to Hillary Clinton’s hiking sojourns in the Chappaqua woods after losing to Donald Trump in 2016, or Al Gore growing a beard in the bruising aftermath of his 2000 defeat. “The first thing she’s probably thinking about is, ‘Well, can I run again for president in four years?’ Not, ‘Do I run for governor in two years?’” said one political operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. Harris maintains a home in Brentwood and previously served as California’s senator and attorney general. A successful run for governor in 2026 would almost certainly impede a grab for the presidency in 2028. (Though if history is any guide, an unsuccessful run for California governor does not definitively preclude a bid for the Oval Office: Two years after losing the White House to John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon lost the 1962 contest for governor to Pat Brown . The Yorba Linda native became the nation’s 37th president in 1969.) As the chief executive of a state that doubles as the world’s fifth-largest economy, Harris would have more power to steer policy and make changes as a California governor than she did as vice president, where her job required deference to President Biden. But leading a state, even the nation’s most populous, could feel like small potatoes after being a heartbeat (and a few dozen electoral votes) from the presidency. The protracted slog to November 2026 would also be a stark contrast to her ill-fated 107-day sprint toward the White House, particularly for a candidate whose 2020 presidential primary campaign was dogged by allegations of infighting and mismanagement. “I don’t think Kamala Harris has a deep psychological need to be governor of California, or to be in elective office in order to feel like she can contribute to society,” said the operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. “I think some of these people do, but she’s somebody who has enough prominence that she could do a lot of big, wonderful things without having to worry about balancing California’s budget or negotiating with Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel,” the Encino Democrat who chairs the Assembly’s budget committee. Technically, Harris has until March 2026 to decide whether she enters a race. But political strategists who spoke to The Times theorized that she probably would make a move by late spring, if she chooses to do so. “People will be more annoyed if she drops in in June,” a Democratic strategist involved with one of the gubernatorial campaigns said. Sending a clear signal by February would be more “courteous,” the strategist continued, explaining that such a move would give candidates more time to potentially enter other races. Kounalakis is a longtime friend and ally of Harris’ , and the vice president also has long-term relationships with some of the other candidates and potential candidates. California has eight statewide elected offices and campaign finance laws allow candidates to fundraise interchangeably for them, meaning money already raised for a candidate’s gubernatorial campaign could easily be redirected should they decide to run for, say, lieutenant governor instead. There are already a number of candidates running for lieutenant governor, including former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, former state Sen. Steven Bradford and former state Treasurer Fiona Ma. But that office probably would see even more interest should Harris enter the gubernatorial race. It’s a largely ceremonial position, but one that has served as a launching pad for the governorship. Still, even if Harris does enter the race, Republican political strategist Mike Murphy threw cold water on the idea that she would have an automatic glide path to the governor’s office. “It’s like Hollywood. Nobody knows anything. She’s famous enough to look credible in early polling. That’s all we know for sure,” Murphy said. “Does that predict the future? No. Are there a lot of downsides (to a potential Harris candidacy)? Totally, yes.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.