World News

INDIANAPOLIS (March
16, 2011) – Governor Mitch Daniels today appointed Indiana State Senator Connie
Lawson, of Danville, as the new Indiana Secretary of State, effective
immediately.

“Connie was an
obvious choice. Indiana has probably never been served by a Secretary of State
better prepared on day one,” said Daniels. “I want to reiterate our thanks to
the staff of the office, and in particular, Jerry Bonnet, for their superb
professionalism during some difficult months. Thanks to them, the public has
been well served every day.”

Bonnet was
appointed interim Secretary of State on February 4. He has resigned from the
interim role and will return to his previous duties.

Tigers, yes. Cheetahs, absolutely. Snow leopards, of course. Even people who are not expert at biology or the environment probably recognize that many of the world’s species of large cats are in danger of extinction. But lions? These large and formidable predators do not readily come to mind when one thinks of all the animals in Africa that face challenges to their very survival. And yet African lion populations have decreased by half in the last two decades, and their long term survival outside of national parks and designated reserves is currently untenable.