Colombia has 32 departments (Spanish: "departamentos", sing. "departamento") and a Capital District ("Distrito Capital"). Each department has a Governor ("gobernador") and a Department Assembly ("Asamblea Departamental"), elected by popular vote for a four-year period. The governor cannot be re-elected in consecutive periods. Departments are country subdivisions and are granted a certain degree of autonomy.
Mittlach
Mittlach is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department of east France.
Saransk
Saransk (; ) is the capital city of the Republic of Mordovia, Russia. In 2010 there were 297,415 people living there.
Saransk is twinned with:
Mathon
Mathon () is a municipality of the district Hinterrhein in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.
Mitzach
Mitzach is a commune. It is found in the Haut-Rhin department of eastern France.
Krampus
In folklore, Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure. It is described as being half-goat and half-demon. During the Christmas season, Krampus punishes children who have misbehaved. The is the opposite of Saint Nicholas, who rewards the well-behaved with gifts. Krampus is one of the companions of Saint Nicholas in several regions including Austria, Bavaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, South Tyrol and parts of Northern Italy. The origin of Krampus is not known, but some folklorists and anthropologists believe it has pre-Christian origins.
Yu Kwang-chung
Yu Guangzhong (; 21 October 1928 – 14 December 2017), also spelled Yu Kwang-chung, was a Taiwanese writer, poet, educator, and critic. He was born in Nanjing, Taiwan.
His best known works were "Lanse de yumao" [Blue feather], "Zai lengzhan de niandai" [Cold war years] and "Yu yongheng bahe" [Tug-of-war with eternity]. He was known for his collaboration with fellow poet Luo Fu. He was Professor Emeritus at National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung. He taught in the United States, including at Gettysburg College.
Yu died on 14 December 2017 from pneumonia in Kaohsiung, Taiwan at the age of 89. He was married to Fan Wo-tsun 1956 until his death.
Dan Johnson (Kentucky politician)
Danny Ray "Dan" Johnson (October 18, 1960 – December 13, 2017) was an American evangelical pastor and Republican politician. He was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, representing the 49th District serving from January 2017 until his death in December. He was born and raised in Bastrop, Louisiana.
In December 2017, Johnson was accused of having molested a member of his church in 2012 when she was 17 years old. The Republican Party of Kentucky called on Johnson to resign the same day the allegations were published. The following day, Johnson held a news conference at his church where he claimed the allegations were untrue and were politically motivated.
Johnson shot himself in the head on December 13, 2017 near the Salt River in Mt. Washington, Kentucky. He was 57 years old.
Tina Smith
Tina Flint Smith (born March 4, 1958) is an American politician. She is the United States Senator from Minnesota upon being appointed by Governor Mark Dayton and office on January 3, 2018.
Smith was the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota from 2015 to 2018. She has been a high-profile member of Governor Mark Dayton's administration and a key participant in legislative negotiations. She is a former Chief of Staff to Dayton. She is a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party.
Dayton appointed her to replace U.S. Senator Al Franken upon his resignation, to serve until a special election is held in November 2018.
Karl-Erik Nilsson
Karl-Erik Nilsson (4 January 1922 – 14 December 2017) was a Swedish light-heawyweight (-87 kg) Greco-Roman wrestler. He competed at the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympics and won one gold and two bronze medals. He won another bronze medal at the 1955 World Wrestling Championships. He was born in Stehag, Sweden.
Nilsson died at the age of 95 in Stockholm on 14 December 2017.
R. C. Sproul
Robert Charles Sproul ( ; February 13, 1939 – December 14, 2017) was an American apologist, author, and pastor. He was the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries.
Sproul was heard daily on the "Renewing Your Mind" radio broadcast in the United States and internationally. "Renewing Your Mind with Dr. R. C. Sproul" was also broadcast on Sirius and XM satellite radio.
In late July 2012, a new Christian internet radio station called RefNet (Reformation Network) was also announced by Ligonier Ministries in an effort to reach "as many people as possible" where Internet access is available.
Sproul died at a hospital in Altamonte Springs, Florida on December 14, 2017 of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at the age of 78.
Conservative Democrat
In American politics, a Conservative Democrat is a member of the U.S. Democratic Party who has conservative views.
The term "Democrat in Name Only" is sometimes used by Democrats on the left to refer to conservative Democrats.
In the 2006 midterm elections, the Democratic Party ran moderate Democrats and a few conservative Democrats for at-risk Republican seats.
Frank Lary
Frank Strong Lary (April 10, 1930 – December 13, 2017) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Detroit Tigers (1954–1964), New York Mets (1964, 1965), Milwaukee Braves (1964), and Chicago White Sox (1965).
Lary led the American League with 21 wins in 1956 and ranked second in the same category with 23 wins in 1961.
Lary was selected to the American League All-Star team in 1960 and 1961 and won the Gold Glove Award in 1961. He was known as "Taters", "Mule", and the "Yankee Killer." The latter nickname was won due to his 27-10 record against the New York Yankees from 1955 to 1961.
Lary died on December 13, 2017 in Northport, Alabama of pneumonia at the age of 87.
Mark Takai
Kyle Mark Takai (July 1, 1967 – July 20, 2016) was an American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's 1st district from January 3, 2015 until his death. He was also a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from 1994 to 2014. He became a lieutenant colonel in the Hawaii Army National Guard in 2013.
Takai was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was of Japanese ancestry. He was married to Sami and had two children.
Takai was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October 2015. He died on July 20, 2016 in Aiea, Hawaii. He was 49.
Bill Hudson (American football)
William Alex "Bill" Hudson (July 9, 1935 – December 13, 2017) was an American football player. He played as a defensive tackle. He played professionally in the American Football League for the San Diego Chargers and the Boston Patriots. He also played in the Canadian Football League for the Montreal Alouettes. He was a member of the South Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. He was born in Hartsville, South Carolina.
Hudson died on December 13, 2017 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He was 82.
Rod (Slavic religion)
Rod (Cyrillic: Род) is the supreme God of the universe in the Slavic Native Faith. Old Church Slavonic sources about pre-Christian religion, say that Rod represents divinity and ancestrality.
Among the South Slavs, the concept is also known as "Sud" (Judge) or "Prabog" (First God).
Jarilo
Jarilo (Cyrillic: Ярило, Ярила or Јарило) is a Slavic god of vegetation, fertility and springtime.
The only historical source that mentions Jarilo was from a German bishop who encountered pagans celebrating a festival called Gerovit (likely a German way of saying, "Jarovit"). Until the 19th century in Russia, Belarus and Serbia, folk festivals called "Jarilo" were celebrated in late spring. In these festivals, they worshiped a springtime god. Similar festivals occurred in Croatia and Slovenia.
Eric the Victorious
Eric the Victorious (Old Norse: Eiríkr inn sigrsæli; Swedish: Erik Segersäll) was the first Kingdom of Sweden. There is debate about whether or not he was actually the first king.