Ignoring President Erdoans call for a new civilian constitution, the Turkish opposition is pushing forward with plans of its own

Its happening again.

More than half a decade since the last process petered out, the Turkish government is chattering once more about introducing the countrys first new civilian constitution.

Its a careful choice of words: civilian, because the previous two efforts were brought in after military coups in 1961 and 1982; first new, because the republic was founded by civilians in the Ataturk era.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoans words this week announcing a revival of the process would have been music to European ears a decade ago.

By their nature, constitutions must obtain the support of an entire society if possible, but certainly a vast majority, he told his partys parliamentary group on Wednesday. This can only be possible if the new constitution is prepared through a formula that has a place for everyone in the country.

He went on: Our preference is for all our political parties to take part in this process. We will demonstrate a sincere effort for this to the end.

The trouble is that, unlike a similar all-party constitutional effort that made some progress before falling apart in 2013, Turkeys opposition parties now do not believe him.

They have been working, quite openly and for quite some time, on an alternative: a cross-party deal that would reverse the executive presidency system introduced four years ago.

In its place they plan what they call a strengthened parliamentary system but beyond abolishing Mr Erdoans executive presidency and restoring the post of prime minister, there is very little detail publicly available yet.

So far, there are two main documents in circulation:

There is another efforts in the works from Ali Babacan, another former AK Party politician who now leads the Democracy and Progress (DEVA) Party, but no policy document exists publicly for this.

There is a lot of overlap between the two documents currently in circulation. Here is what we do know:

Both opposition proposals involve restoring the post of prime minister and the concept of collective cabinet government. The presidency would be scaled back to a largely ceremonial role and be elected by parliament, not the public.

"Ceremonial" Turkish presidencies have always some hard powers, including: appointing and dismissing prime ministers, calling occasional cabinet meetings and a one-time veto on laws passed by parliament

Appointing ministers; passing laws by decree

with power to veto laws once, but fewer direct appointments

with power to veto laws once, but fewer direct appointments

Both proposals draw attention to the concept of constructive no-confidence meaning that a majority of MPs can vote to bring down a government only if they also vote to nominate a replacement. This, they say, will help prevent a return to the chaotic coalitions of the 1970s and 1990s.

No time limit for a reply.

No time limit for a reply.

Time limits for a reply.

Time limits for a reply.

"Gensoru" in Turkish

MPs can only unseat the president by calling early elections

A government falls if a majority of MPs vote against it

A government falls if a majority of MPs vote against it AND vote to support a replacement

A government falls if a majority of MPs vote against it AND vote to support a replacement

Under both proposals, the 10% electoral threshold would be reduced and presidency would last for longer than a five-year parliamentary term. They differ on the details.

The national share of the vote a party must receive before it can win seats in parliament

Originally posted here:
What would a 'strengthened' parliamentary system mean for Turkey? - James in Turkey

Google has announced that it intends to unify its Google Drive solutions for keeping files in sync on users' desktops.

Later this year, these two clients will become one: Google Drive for desktop. Google explains that for Drive File Stream users, this is just a name change, and all functionality will remain the same.

For Backup and Sync users, they will essentially be using Drive File Stream in all but name, except with the features they're used to incorporated into the one client.

The reason for the change is that some Google Workspace customers have deployed both sync solutions, which can be confusing for end users and challenging for IT departments to manage.

As of version 45, Drive File Stream is known as Google Drive for desktop, and the company will give three months' notice for Google Workspace admins and end users before the deadline to transition to Drive for desktop.

Google Workspace customers with end users who are currently using Backup and Sync can apply for a beta of the new unified Drive for desktop experience, which includes Backup and Sync features.

Google says it will announce when Drive for desktop is officially ready for all Backup and Sync users, and will also share more details later this year on how Backup and Sync users can get started with the new client.

See the original post:
New Google Drive Desktop App to Replace Backup & Sync and Drive File Stream Clients Later This Year - MacRumors

Katherine Gregg|The Providence Journal

PROVIDENCE On second thought, Lt. Gov. Dan McKee has decided to release the names of the 60 or so people seeking appointment as his replacement when Gov. Gina Raimondo leaves and he moves up.

On Thursday, McKee communications director Andrea Palagi told the media the lieutenant governor would not release the names of all 62 applicantsfor appointment, by McKee, that are being vetted by an advisory group headed by Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena.

"The transition is reviewing the submissions and verifying the authenticity of each application. The transition plans to release a list of candidates who are interviewed for the position,'' Palagi said.

That did not sit well in a state thatelects its lieutenant governors, by popular vote, except in the rare circumstance where the job opens mid-term, as is about to happen now with Raimondo's imminent departure for a cabinet post in Washington, and McKee's ascension.

The $122,740-a-year job comes with few statutory responsibilities, but a State House office, a$1,145,231 budget and sevenstaffers.

Facing pushback from the Rhode Island media and radio talk show nation, the McKee team announced a new and different plan on Friday.

Transition spokesman Mike Trainor announced that McKee had "directed his transition team to authenticate each of the more than 60 applications from individuals who are interested in becoming the next lieutenant governor.

"Calls will be made to each applicant to ensure the application is valid and was submitted with their knowledge. Once the authentication process is complete, the transition team will release the names of all validated applicants the team expects this will occur early next week."

Trainor said: "The incoming governor believes this process should be transparent; the delay is only based upon ensuring a valid list is provided to the public and the media."

He also said: "The incoming governor is laser-focused on the COVID-19 response and vaccine rollout. He will address filling the lieutenant governors position after he is sworn in as governor."

There is no firm date yet on when the U.S. Senate will vote on Raimondo's nomination to become commerce secretary. The Rhode Island Constitution bars her from holding state and federal office at the same time so she will have to resign her Rhode Island job before being sworn in to her new federal job.

Here is the original post:
McKee to release names of Lt. governor applicants after all - The Providence Journal

No fewer than 11 of the 50 Democrats in the U.S. Senate would be replaced by a Republican governor should they be unable to continue serving in office.

It's a prospect no one wants to consider, but one that cannot be ignored. Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Republicans would regain control of the Senate if a single one of those 11 became unable to serve and had their seat filled -- even in the short run -- with a Republican.

The subject came up briefly late in January when Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, who is 80, was briefly hospitalized after not feeling well while presiding over the opening of the Trump impeachment proceedings. Leahy recovered quickly, but for a moment, the forbidden topic got a little airing. That provided a grim reminder that control of the Senate could shift in a blink of an eye. Vermont's governor is a Republican, Phil Scott.

As to the prospect of losing a seat, there's not much President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats can do but pray it doesn't happen. Strategically, though, it's a strong reason to push their agenda with a sense of urgency and without an assumption that control of the Senate is safe through the end of 2022.

For example, it is common for both parties to urge judges approaching retirement age -- and, of course, again U.S. Supreme Court justices -- to consider stepping aside a little early to preclude the possibility of the other side filling key judicial posts. The tragic case of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was just the most recent example of what can happen. Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer turns 83 in August.

Appointment of judges is just one aspect of Biden's agenda that would be impacted by a sudden shift in Senate power. Bottom line: Things that seem like they can wait until 2022 perhaps should not.

The process of filling Senate vacancies is governed by The Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution, passed in 1913, which established direct election of senators, as well as a means of filling vacant Senate seats. The states were given latitude and their processes differ widely. In 45 states, the governor is empowered to make at least an interim appointment to fill a vacant Senate seat until a special election can take place. (None of the remaining five have Republican governors and Democratic senators.)

Most significantly, only six states have laws requiring a governor to appoint a replacement senator from that senator's political party. They are Arizona, Hawaii, Maryland, North Carolina, Utah and Wyoming. Those provisions protect four Democratic seats that otherwise would be jeopardized, two each in Arizona and Maryland. Without those laws, there would have been 15 Democrats vulnerable to a party switch.

That leaves seven states--with the aforementioned 11 Democratic senators--subject to replacement by a Republican governor. Six of the 11 senators are over 70 and nine are 62 or over. (Conversely, there are nine Republicans holding seats that would be filled by a Democratic governor, but those wouldn't alter control of the Senate.)

It is not a certainty that all of their governors would act to flip control of the Senate -- when Senator Bernie Sanders name was floated for Biden's cabinet, Scott said he'd appoint a replacement who would caucus with Democrats -- but it's a safe assumption that most or all would move to facilitate a change in power given the nation's polarized politics.

The following is a state-by-state breakdown of the 11 Senate seats that could be affected by appointments of a Republican governor, with the ages of the senators, the Republican governor and a brief description of the replacement process. (Source for process information is the Congressional Research Service).

GEORGIA: Senators Raphael Warnock, 51, and Jon Ossoff, 35; Governor Brian Kemp. The governor would fill Senate vacancies by appointment, with the temporary Senator serving the balance of the term or until a special election is held concurrently with the next statewide general election.

MASSACHUSETTS: Senators Edward Markey, 74, and Elizabeth Warren, 71; Governor Charlie Baker. In November, Baker threatened to veto any legislation changing the rules for a how a vacancy is made. That arose when Warren was being considered for the Biden Cabinet. The governor would call a special election to fill a Senate vacancy between 145 and 160 days after the vacancy occurs, unless the vacancy occurs after April 10 of an even-numbered year, in which case the special election is held at that year's general election.

MONTANA: Senator Jon Tester, 64; Governor Greg Gianforte. The governor would fill Senate vacancies by appointment, with the temporary Senator serving the balance of the term or until a special election is held concurrently with the next statewide general election.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Senators Jeanne Shaheen, 74, and Maggie Hassan, 62; Governor Chris Sununu. The governor would fill Senate vacancies by appointment, with the temporary Senator serving the balance of the term or until a special election is held concurrently with the next statewide general election.

OHIO: Senator Sherrod Brown, 68; Governor Mike DeWine. The governor would fill Senate vacancies by appointment, with the temporary Senator serving the balance of the term or until a special election is held concurrently with the next statewide general election.

VERMONT: Senators Leahy, 80, and Sanders, 79; Governor Scott. As suggested, Scott is a wild card: He's a moderate who called for Donald Trump to resign or be removed on January 6. The governor would fill a Senate vacancy by appointment until a successor has been elected. The governor would call a special election, which is held within three months of the vacancy, except if the vacancy occurs within six months of a general election, in which case the special election is held at that election.

WEST VIRGINIA: Senator Joe Manchin, 73; Governor Jim Justice. Justice switched party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 2017 at an event with Trump, but he supported Manchin's reelection in 2018. The governor would fill Senate vacancies by appointment, with the temporary Senator serving the balance of the term or until a special election is held concurrently with the next statewide general election.

Here are the 18 times a Senate seat has been vacated due to death or illness in the past four decades:

Johnny Isakson, Georgia, 2019 (resigned over health issues at 75)

John McCain, Arizona, 2018 (died of brain cancer at 81)

Thad Cochran, Mississippi, 2018 (resigned over health issues at 80)

Frank Lautenberg, New Jersey, 2013 (died of pneumonia at 89)

Daniel Inouye, Hawaii, 2012 (died of respiratory issues at 88)

Robert Byrd, West Virginia, 2010 (died of natural causes at 92)

Edward Kennedy, Massachusetts, 2009 (died of brain cancer at 77)

Craig L. Thomas, Wyoming, 2007 (died of leukemia at 74)

Paul D. Wellstone, Minnesota, 2002 (died in plane crash at 58)

Mel Carnahan, Missouri, 2000 (died in plane crash at 66, elected posthumously)

Paul Coverdell, Georgia, 2000 (died of cerebral hemorrhage at 61)

John H. Chafee, Rhode Island, 1999 (died of heart failure at 77)

Quentin Northrop Burdick, North Dakota, 1992 (died of heart failure at 84)

Henry John Heinz, III, Pennsylvania, 1991 (died in plane crash at 52)

Spark Masayuki Matsunaga, Hawaii, 1990 (died of prostate cancer at 73)

Edward Zorinsky, Nebraska, 1987 (died of heart attack at 58)

John East, North Carolina, 1986 (died of suicide at 55)

Henry M. Jackson, Washington, 1983 (died of aneurysm at 71)

Read more:
Dems could lose up to 11 seats in the Senate before the next election -- so they need to act like there's no tomorrow - Raw Story

The leaders of the World Health Organization and others also bemoaned the long-term damage of continued vaccine nationalism if current trends continue rich countries getting a pandemic cure at a much higher rate than poorer ones.

It was a message that could provide some political cover for the Liberals, who have been widely criticized for shortfalls in deliveries of vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna while also facing international criticism for pre-buying enough doses of vaccines to cover Canadas population several times over.

Some international anti-poverty groups have also criticized Canada for planning to take delivery of 1.9 million doses from the COVAX Facility, a new international vaccine-sharing program that is primarily designed to help poor countries afford unaffordable vaccines, but also allows rich donor countries including Canada to receive vaccines.

Trudeau and his cabinet ministers on the vaccine file have repeatedly said that the pandemic cant be stamped out for good if it isnt defeated everywhere.

Also this

A parliamentary committee is expected to launch formal hearings today into allegations of inappropriate conduct by former defence chief Gen. Jonathan Vance and what the Liberal government knew about them.

The planned investigation by the House of Commons defence committee follows a Global News report last week that Vance allegedly had an ongoing relationship with a woman he significantly outranked.

The report also alleged the former chief of the defence staff made a sexual comment to a second, much younger soldier in 2012, before he was appointed commander of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Vance, who turned over command of the military last month after more than five years in the job, has not responded to requests for comment by The Canadian Press and the allegations against him have not been independently verified.

Global says Vance, whose tenure as defence chief included a substantial focus on eliminating sexual misconduct from the ranks, has acknowledged that he dated the first woman nearly 20 years ago, but said the relationship had evolved over the years and was not sexual.

Global also reported that Vance said he had no recollection of making a sexual comment to the other junior member, adding if he did make the comment it would have been intended as a joke and that he was prepared to apologize.

What we are watching in the U.S.

When it comes to impeaching Donald Trump, a new poll suggests Americans are just as divided as the United States Senate.

The online Lger poll, conducted last month for the Association for Canadian Studies, found 49 per cent of U.S. respondents supported impeachment.

Forty per cent said they opposed it, while 11 per cent said they didnt know.

A similar split exists in the Senate, where the former president will stand trial beginning today on a single count of inciting an insurrection.

The week-long trial isnt currently expected to end in conviction, which requires two-thirds of the 100 senators to vote in favour.

Online polls cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.

What we are watching in the rest of the world

Rescuers in northern India worked Monday to rescue more than three dozen power plant workers trapped in a tunnel after part of a Himalayan glacier broke off and sent a wall of water and debris rushing down a mountain in a disaster that has left at least 26 people dead and 165 missing.

More than 2,000 members of the military, paramilitary groups and police have been taking part in search-and-rescue operations in the northern state of Uttarakhand after Sundays flood, which destroyed one dam, damaged another and washed homes downstream.

Officials said the focus was on saving 37 workers who are stuck inside a tunnel at one of the affected hydropower plants. Heavy equipment was brought in to help clear the way through a 2.5-kilometre (1.5-mile) -long tunnel and reach the workers, who have been out of contact since the flood.

The tunnel is filled with debris, which has come from the river. We are using machines to clear the way, said H. Gurung, a senior official of the paramilitary Indo Tibetan Border Police.

Authorities fear many more people are dead and were searching for bodies downstream using boats. They also walked along river banks and used binoculars to scan for bodies that might have been washed downstream.

The flood was caused when a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier snapped off Sunday morning, releasing water trapped behind it. Experts said the disaster could be linked to global warming and a team of scientists was flown to the site Monday to investigate what happened.

On this day in 1970

The first traffic lights in the Northwest Territories were switched on in Yellowknife, replacing four-way stop signs at the citys main intersection.

In sport

When it comes to picking a new name for the Edmonton Football Team, Eric Upton simply isnt a fan of some candidates.

The former Edmonton offensive lineman had a heavy heart as he looked through a shortlist of seven possibilities released by the team Monday. After playing 10 seasons and winning five Grey Cups with the CFL club in the 1970s and 80s, he still doesnt want to see the name Eskimos replaced.

Its very emotional for me. Its very emotional to me to have the name changed, Upton said. I get it, but I dont like it.

The team dropped its name last year, opting to temporarily be known as the Edmonton Football Team or EE Football Team as it searched for a replacement. The team made the decision after consulting with the Inuit community.

The decision followed a similar move by the NFLs Washington team as pressure mounts on teams to eliminate racist or stereotypical names.

Clevelands Major League Baseball team has since announced it also is changing its name.

The Edmonton Football Team revealed the seven candidates in an online survey Monday. They include Elk, Evergreens, Evergolds, Eclipse, Elkhounds, Eagles and Elements.

ICYMI

An unusual friendship between a Turkish man and a swan he rescued has endured for decades.

Retired postman Recep Mirzan found Garip, a female swan, 37 years ago in Turkeys western Edirne province.

Mirzan and a group of friends were taking a shortcut in their car when they noticed the swan, with a broken wing, in an empty field. Mirzan immediately took the swan in to protect her from predators and kept her in the car until that afternoon, when he was able to take the swan to his home.

Since then, Garip has lived on the mans farm in the Karaagac region, bordering Greece.

Garip follows Mirzan whenever she is out of her pen, accompanying him when he is doing his chores around the farm or for his evening walks.

Since I love animals, I said to myself that I should take her home instead of leaving her as prey to foxes, Mirzan told The Associated Press, recounting the day he took Garip in. We got used to each other. We never separated.

Mirzan named the swan Garip, which translates as bizarre but is also used to describe those who are down on their luck.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2021

The Canadian Press

Read more from the original source:
Vaccines for poor countries and split over Trump impeachment: In The News for Feb. 9 - Lethbridge News Now

Council bosses have admitted that details included in a planning application to refurbish Rochdale Crematorium are incorrect.

The application, submitted by Rochdale Borough Council for the refurbishment of the crematorium, stated that the crematorium is unable to process bariatric coffins - which hold people who are severely overweight - among a backlog of other issues.

However, when contacted by the Observer, the council admitted that details included in the application were "incorrect."

They said: "Rochdale definitely has the capacity to process bariatric coffins at Rochdale Crematorium."

They added that the planning department has now been contacted over the issue.

In explaining the need for the refubishment - a section which the council has not disputed - the application highlights the issues of equipment consistently breaking down.

A council spokesman said: Rochdale Council currently operates two cremators at Rochdale Crematorium, one of which is capable of processing larger bariatric coffins it is one of the few bariatric cremators in Greater Manchester, regularly assisting with cremations from neighbouring local authorities.

"And, we already have fully functioning cremulators and ash transfer cabinets at Rochdale.

We are also well underway in replacing Crawford cremators and Mercury abatement system with two further bariatric cremators; new abatement systems and ash processing equipment for our Rochdale site. Works are expected to be completed within the next twelve months.

Further cremation facilities can also be found at Middleton Crematorium, with similar ash processing equipment meaning we have a greater capacity to offer cremations for families who have lost loved ones than most other authorities in the area.

Rochdale Crematorium is the only crematorium out of eight areas to have not had its faulty equipment replaced, causing delays in cremations, the application says.

In 2011, Rochdale was one of eight authorities to have cremators installed by a firm which went into liquidation two years later.

The cremators have caused a catalogue of problems, frequently breaking down among other operational issues, according to planning docuements.

In total eight crematoriums fitted the cremators, and all authorities have now removed them and installed different manufacturers equipment, apart from Rochdale, council chiefs say.

As plans have been submitted to refurbish Rochdale Crematorium, it is hoped the cremators will now finally be replaced.

Cremation equipment usually has a life span of twenty years and Middleton Crematorium's equipment has currently been in use for over 25 years.

The problems at Rochdale have been compounded further by the poor quality of both the cremators and mercury abatement equipment.

As a result, the council must now to consider replacing the entire installation with proven equipment from a new manufacturer which will also be flexible to cope with anticipated future emission level requirements, and operate more energy efficiently than at present.

New cremation equipment makes up part of the proposals to renovate the crematorium.

The Leader of the Conservative Party in Rochdale has criticised the facilities, which sometimes require people to be cremated in Middleton.

Councillor Ashley Dearnley said: "I think it's really unfortunate if that's the case because people who live in Rochdale wish their families to be cremated in Rochdale, and not need to go out of the town.

"Often, they have to wait weeks and weeks which is unacceptable.

"We should make sure that the equipment not only works but is also able to deal with present day circumstances - people are bigger than they used to be.

"We should be able to handle larger coffins.

"I am aware there have been major breakdowns in the past.

"It's so unfair for the families and it's not good for our undertakers either.

"We need to make sure that our equipment is of the standard it should be.

"Middleton is always the fallback and it shouldn't be like that - there have been problems with Rochdale crematorium since almost the start of the equipment being fitted."

The chapel at the crematorium is also to be extended and refurbished, with a new waiting area created.

The crematorium, situated in Rochdale Cemetery, first opened in 1938 and has largely remained the same except for a small extension to the existing crematory, enlarged staff facilities and small book of remembrance building.

The facilities "therefore do not reflect those which are expected by visiting mourners in the modern day", the docuements say.

The building is not listed, but is situated in the landscape of the cemetery.

The area housing the existing cremation process is very restricted and requires enlargement together with strengthening works to the support slab, improvements to the electricity supply and replacement of the central heating boiler, according to council documents.

A new cremulator and ash transfer cabinet - which process the remains post-cremation - are required along.

Further improvements planned include upgraded accommodation for funeral directors on site and enhanced weather protection for mourners attending services between the new waiting room and the chapel entrance.

Also integral with the new layout will be facilities for those mourners wishing to safely view the charging of a coffin into the cremator, as required by some religious groups notably Hindus and Sikhs.

Whilst this cremator is fully operational it does not have mercury filtration equipment fitted, and therefore consideration will have to be given in the future to either replacing it, which may not be viable given the relatively small number ofcremations being held there, or removing it entirely, offering the opportunity to expand the chapels capacity and carrying out the cremations at Rochdale instead.

A planning application has now been submitted by the council to replace the cremators and refurbish the crematorium.

Read more from the original source:
Council admits wrong information was included in crematorium planning application - In Your Area

By Bev Knight

Due to a number of factors, we are enjoying one of the best sellers market of this millennium. Interest rates are still at historic lows, and the world is changing significantly due to COVID-19. People who are working at home and sharing their space with kids who are doing remote school have a compelling reason to rethink where they live. There is a notable exodus from crowded cities, and vacations have become staycations. Its a great time to move to the lake; therefore, its a great time to sell your lake house, especially since there is a shortage of available homes. You have very little competition.

For a lot of lake homeowners, once they decide to sell, panic sets in. Many of the homes built in the housing boom of the 80s are now outdated. The thought of renovating an entire home is quite overwhelming, so experts agree that you should probably start with the kitchen. Thats great, but what are the latest trends? Here are some guidelines on renovating kitchens in 2021.

Lets start with the good news. Homes that are more than 20 years old had enclosed rooms with doors. For several decades, open floor plans have been the trend and these chopped up homes have fallen out of fashion. Now, picture mom and dad working on their laptops while the kids are doing their remote schooling in the same room. The noise and chaos of that situation have reignited the need for doors that shut. There are still people who prefer open floor plans, but others are now seeing the value in rooms with walls.

Counter tops have evolved, too. For years, very dark Uba Tuba granite was in almost every house. Todays most popular counter tops are lighter with more of a marble look. In addition, granite is no longer the market leader. Quartz counters, which have come down in price, are more common.

Granite counters are carved out of quarries, whereas quartz counters are man-made by mixing crushed rock with resin. While granite is better for hot pots, it does need to be sealed and can stain. Quartz counters, because they have resin in the mix, are not good for hot pots. However they do not stain easily and do not need to be sealed.

If you need help deciding, the top selling quartz counter at Home Depot is Calacatta Gold. According to their rep, it goes with everything. The top-selling granite is White Springs. Keep an eye out for the next big trend which will be Ultra-compact counters. These do not have resin and are extremely durable counter tops. Unlike other counters that yellow and wear in the sun, Ultra-compact is ideal for outdoors.

Youd be surprised to see what a difference a refreshed coat of paint on cabinets and new counters can do for an older home. The average counter replacement job is in the range of $2,000-$3,000, much less than you might expect. Youll probably want an expert to paint your cabinets, so that price

will vary with the number of cabinets in your kitchen. Its worth the effort because this is one update that you will get back with the sale of your home. Good luck, and have fun renovating.

Continue reading here:
Need to renovate to sell? Start with the kitchen - Lakeside on Lanier

To minimize the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Andy Beshear today announced an extension of a special program for remote renewal of qualifying expired Kentucky drivers license and ID cards. The new official order grants Kentuckians access to renew or replace a driving or identity credential through their Circuit Court Clerks preferred mail-in or drop method.

The order applies to Kentucky drivers licenses, permits and state-issued identification cards that expired or will expire by June 30, 2021. Applicants who require driver testing performed by Kentucky State Police must successfully complete that step before renewing a credential. Up to now, the cutoff has been a Feb. 28, 2021 expiration date.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the lives of nearly 4,000 Kentuckians, so all of us have a responsibility to minimize its spread however we can. Mail-in renewal of drivers licenses is just one way to enable people to stay healthy and avoid crowds, Gov. Beshear said.

Those who qualify can apply for renewal or replacement remotely through the circuit court clerk in their county of residence. The lone exception is Fayette County, where all driver licensing functions including mail-in renewal have been transferred from the circuit court clerk to a new Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Regional Driver Licensing Office at 141 Leestown Center Way, Suite 125.

For residents of all other counties, check with the clerk as to preferred method, such as drop-off form or mail-in form. The forms can be downloaded here. Please note that there is one form for residents of Fayette, Franklin and Woodford counties and a different form for residents of all other counties.

Dont wait until the expiration date to renew by mail, Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray said. Plan ahead and allow sufficient time for processing. A license can be renewed up to six months before its expiration date. We want to make renewal as convenient and as healthy as possible.

The mail-in option is not available for REAL IDs or new standard licenses, permits and IDs, all of which must be renewed or obtained in person. Nor does it apply to commercial driver licenses or cardholders who have had an address change. Learn more at drive.ky.gov.

There now are 14 KYTC regional driver licensing offices Paducah, Madisonville, Owensboro, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Frankfort, Lexington, Burlington, Richmond, Somerset, Morehead, Prestonsburg, Columbia and Jackson. There also are temporary offices, operating by appointment only and with limited services, in Louisville and Catlettsburg. More regional offices will be opened around the Commonwealth as conditions permit.

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Gov. Beshear extends mail-in renewal option for expiring driver's licenses to limit COVID-19 exposure - The Trimble Banner

First ministerial cabinet of Ivn Duque in 2018 / Presidency of Colombia

Since the presidential campaign, the now president Ivn Duque announced that he was going to work, for the first time, with a joint cabinet, that is, where half (or even more) were women, a commitment that he fulfilled when he appointed eight within his ministries : Culture, Justice, ICT, Education, Mines, Labor, Transportation and Interior, the latter one of the most important. But in February 2020, his cabinet became the opposite.

As La Silla Vaca analyzed it, this was one of the commitments that Duque repeated the most in the campaign, which Today it could be classified as a lie since of those eight that started, only two remain (ngela Mara Orozco in Transportation and Mara Victoria Angulo in Education). According to the Quota Law cited by the media, women should occupy at least 30 percent of the positions, but today they represent 27.78 percent of these. With the vice president and Duke himself, the quota would be 30 percent closed.

In January 2020, the president appointed Mabel Torres as head of the newly inaugurated Ministry of Science and thus women became a majority in the cabinet. For the first time in the history of the country, 10 of the 18 most important positions were led by a woman. La Silla recalls that even the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights congratulated Duque on the cabinet at the beginning of his term.

But the bliss didnt last long: in February of last year, Duque lowered the quota to nine when he sent Alicia Arango to the Interior Ministry and replaced ngel Custodio Cabrera in the Ministry of Labor, all this after the resignation of Nancy Patricia Gutirrez. But it was in June, four months later, when the parity ended. Duque appointed Diego Mesa as a replacement for Mara Fernanda Surez in the Ministry of Mines, leaving the list of women at eight and, later, leaving the cabinet with seven women when he changed the current Attorney General and then Chief of Justice, Margarita Cabello, by Wilson Ruiz.

But it didnt stop there. In December 2020, Alicia Arango left the Interior Ministry, replaced by her vice minister, Daniel Palacios, and Carmen Vsquez from the Ministry of Culture, who handed over her position to Felipe Buitrago. Currently, as of February 2020, there are only five female ministers, of 10 that came to be, while men occupy 13 headquarters.

La Silla also brought up that Duques idea of having permanent ministers throughout his term was not fulfilled with the 14 changes he has made and taking into account that of the 18 that started only five continue: Alberto Carrasquilla, in the Treasury and to whom the opposition has tried several times to remove from office; Jos Manuel Restrepo in Commerce, Jonathan Malagn in Housing and who accused of having plagiarized his thesis; Mara Victoria Angulo in Education and ngela Orozco in Transportation.

Finally, the media says that of the six administrative departments, only one has a woman as head and that of Social Prosperity, with Susana Correa. He also mentions that of 38 vice ministries there are only 10 women and in their 18 general secretariats, there are seven. The promise was not kept.

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Originally posted here:
Parity in government: only five women remain in 18 ministries - Explica

Katherine Gregg|The Providence Journal

PROVIDENCE Weeks away from his likely stepup to governor,Lt. Gov. Dan McKee has begun lining up his cabinet, his own replacement in the state's No. 2 spot, and his counter-arguments to legislators seekingto halt the expansion of "charter" schools.

In a wide-ranging interview on Sunday, McKee said he has been reaching out one-by-one to the members of Gov. Gina Raimondo's cabinet that he hopes to keep.

He said a handful, he declined to name, have already signaled their intent to leave their jobs soon. But he said state Health Department Director Nicole Alexander-Scott,Business Regulation Director Elizabeth Tanner,VeteransAffairs Director Kasim Yarn,Adjutant General Christopher P. Callahan and James Manni, the superintendent of the R.I. State Police, would remain at the helm of their respective agencies.

And he told The Journalhehad more calls to make.

At the same time, he confirmed that Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisenais leading his effort to screen the candidates seeking to replace him aslieutenant governor when Raimondo leaves for her anticipated new job as commerce secretary in the new Biden administration and he moves up.

Once he is governor, McKee will get to appoint his own replacement, subject to Senate confirmation. .

The mayor of Cumberland before his own election as lieutenant governor six years ago, McKee said Polisena, as a mayor, "knows me [and] that's a top priority."

Polisena has already stated his first choice out of the dozen or so applicants: former Central Falls Mayor James Diossa.

Im coming out publicly for Mayor Diossa,'' Polisena told the Johnston Sunrise."Hes a friend and I feel confident in his abilities."

"I think he would make a great lieutenant governor,'' Polisena is quoted as sayingin an article published on January 15,"because hes got experience in running municipal government... Its not a position for someone to start learning... Hes very bright, very articulate, he ran Central Falls and he left Central Falls in a better position than when he took over.

McKee said: "I talked to Joe about that ... I know that mayors like mayors and I like (James)Diossa as well, but that doesn't mean the decision is made."

Women'sadvocates have pushed for the appointment of a woman; Black advocates for the appointment of a Black person and Latinos for a Latino.

McKee said the most important characteristic to him is: "someone that is able to work with me."

As an example, he would like the next lieutenant governor to be someone who would keep the 39 city and town plaques he placed on the wall leading to his State House office. Put another way: "somebody who has an interest in including all 39 cities and towns in their efforts."

Asked how important "diversity'' will be in the decision, he said: "It's important ... but I don't think it is a disqualifier to be non-minority ... I think that would be discrimination as well, right?"

McKee said he's been briefed on the state's budget predicament, but will not be in a position to say how he intends to close the projected $513-million deficit in the budget until he has a clearer picture of how big the deficit really is.

"If you need to raise taxes to be solvent, you are going to do it,'' he said, while stressing he is not yet convinced that is necessary.

He is most clear, at this point, on where he stands on the latest in a series of annual bills to curb the expansion of "charter schools."

The latest championed by Senate President Dominick Ruggerio and the top-ranked players on his leadership team is scheduled for a hearing Wednesday by the Senate Committee on Education.

Charter schools are publicly funded alternatives to traditional schoolswith more freedom from mandates.

The legislation says: "The state shall not approve or appropriate funding to any new charter school orto expand an existing charter school that had not been approved by the council on elementary andsecondary education prior to July 1, 2020."

McKee, who as a mayor helped found a type of charter school in which mayors chair the board of directors and teachers dont pay into the pension system, objectedto any effort to stop the sixcharter schools that won approval in December toexpand or open in Providence.

"The agenda there is pretty obvious,''he said. "The agenda is to stop charters."

He said he would be "open'' to discussing a "reasonable pause to take a look at it."

But he pushed back hard against the argument "an argument motivated by self interest" that the public dollars given charter schools come at the expense ofthe traditional public school system.

"It's public money that's going to a public school," McKee said.

"So the notion that it is taking away from kids' education is not accurate,'' he said, citing the overall improvement in schools in his hometown when "mayoral academies" were added to the mix.

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McKee starts putting the puzzle pieces in place for move up to governor - The Providence Journal