A state insurance agents association, which is already involved in a lawsuit against insurance commissioner Nonnie S. Burnes, is alleging Burnes is again giving preferential treatment to companies new to the state's auto insurance market.The Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents contends that companies who this year became part of the state's new insurance system, most notably Progressive
This from Brad Hughes at KSBA:Frankfort — Education Commissioner John Draud and the Kentucky Board of Education are asking Gov. Steve Beshear to avoid reducing SEEK funding to the state’s 174 districts when he proposes how to eliminate a projected $456 million revenue shortfall.As it opened its two-day meeting Wednesday in Frankfort, both state board Chairman Joe Brothers and Draud urged Beshe
One of the races on this November's ballot is for Arizona Corporation Commissioner. Three out of the five seats are up for grabs in this election, with three republicans and three democrats in the running.
The democrats advertise themselves as a single package. The trio consists of Sam George, Sandra Kennedy, and Paul Newman. They have a fortunate combination of names, going by "George, Kenned
When Kevin Noland retired, it never occurred to me that KDE might find anyone with his depth of understanding of the major issue facing Kentucky schools - funding that is inadequate to reach the legislature's goals. Then, wham. Judge Raymond Corns.Corns will bring the proper judicial temperament to the issue. He understands what the courts can do to help the schools - and importantly, what they
Insurance commissioner of North Carolina Jim Long has recently called for a radical 16.1% cutback on auto insurance rates for the private passenger, followed by an 11.7% drop for motorcycle liability charges. This is following the Rate Bureau's decision to demand a 12.9% increase in rates. Auto insurance companies have the green light to raise rates (if the Rate Bureau decides to appeal Long's dec
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler, has condemned the the removal process implimented by the UK Border Agency, whilst speaking to delegates from across the UK at the launch of the Shared Futures project in Cardiff on Wednesday 17th September.
He recounts a story which would be familiar to anyone who has looked into the way in which the UK Border Agency operates.
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It’s interesting to note that Radwanski was turfed from office before he was able to finalize and release the Privacy Commissioner’s annual report to Parliament for 2001-2002, the recommendations of which were swept under the carpet. It includes the following warning to Canadians, among many specific warnings regarding intrusive surveillance (including biometric ID checks, public [...]
Local Restaurants to Participate in GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up, Kicking Off Texas Wine Month (PRWeb Sep 14, 2008) Read the full story at See headlines and more here…….
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Mr. Joel Edwards was appointed as an Equality and Human Rights Commissioner as part of this non-departmental public body in Great Britain. Unions and activists are currently asking for his removal. Mr. Edwards is director of the Evangelical Alliance, an organization which works tirelessly against LGBT rights."Last year they gave evidence to a House of Commons committee opposing a new crime of in
Texas Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones will run for U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s seat in the United States Senate in 2010 if Hutchison vacates it to run for governor, according to Dallas Blog.
Ames Jones, an interior decorator and former member of the Texas House of Representatives appointed to the Texas Railroad Commission by Governor Perry in 2005 to fill the unexpired ter
WASHINGTON – Constance S. Barker has been sworn in as a Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. Ms. Barker was nominated by President George W. Bush on March 31, 2008, and unanimously confirmed by the Senate on June 27 to serve the remainder of a five-year term expiring on July 1, 2011."We are delighted to welcome Commissioner Barker t
NFL source: Favre will petition for reinstatement, report to campUSA TodayBy Rob Demovsky, Green Bay Press-Gazette An NFL source confirmed reports today that Brett Favre has told the Green Bay Packers he will petition commissioner ... Read More
As the Sunset Commission review of the Texas Department of insurance continues, several Senate Democrats have made it clear that the Texas Department of Insurance should do more to focus on consumer rights and the high cost of property and health insurance during the upcoming debate surrounding reform of the agency.
One senator, Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen), went so far as to recom
PRESIDÊNCIA DA REPÚBLICAGABINETE DA PRESIDÊNCIADEPARTAMENTO DE COMUNICAÇÃO SOCIALEnglish Dili, 27 June 2008STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT JOSÉ RAMOS-HORTAI thank the many countries that in the last few weeks have encouraged me to table my candidacy for the position of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. I am very touched by the trust placed on me by the many friends in the world who believed that
The EU’s new Justice Commissioner, Jacques Barrot, was given an eight-month suspended jail sentence in France in 2000 for swindling public money.
He was later pardoned by former French President Jacques Chira. But because of the vagaries of French Law, once pardoned it was as if magically the whole episode never happened and it was [...]
I don’t watch a lot of episodic prime-time network TV. Two main reasons, first and foremost the lack of time. I constantly say to my beautiful bride of almost 25 years, that I wish that there were 28 hours in the day, then I would get at least 2 hours of sleep at night! If [...]
Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James sent the following e-mail to the family of a murder victim. I was cc'd on the e-mail and thought I would share: It is a sad day in America and Charlotte when your daughter and family can’t receive justice and closure over this tragedy from Charlotte’s officials.The County Commission here in Charlotte had an opportunity to leave $3 million in a reserve
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Commissioner Tranghese leaving Big East (AP)
By ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 19 minutes ago
Print
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)—Mike Tranghese, who presided over the Big East’s expansion from a basketball conference to one of college football’s top-tier leagues, is leaving as commissioner next year.
The 64-year-old Tranghese, who became commiss
Earlier today I suggested that somebody ought to get Paul Cleaver on the phone to clear up the suggestions made in C-J's story that it required a big engine to handle the demands of a little GPS unit.So I did.I knew Paul, a little bit, from a couple of principals dinners, back in the day, when his first wife (Becke, then with Fayette and later Clark Co & UK, now deceased) and I were colleagues
Article by By JOSH ROSENSONOriginal source of article: was formerly known as the "worthless check policy," is now called the "bounced or fraudulent check policy," and the amount of a bounced check deemed worthy of investigation has dropped significantly as part of the Police Department's update.Now, if a business accepts a check of $25 or more and it bounces, police will investigate, replacing the old policy of a check having to been written in excess of $100.Former Police Commissioner Barry Flanagan cautioned the current commission about the new policy, and urged them to keep the old policy intact during public comment at Wednesday night's meeting.Flanagan, who served as commissioner for more than 12 years, said the old policy had been in place for a number of years and was "looked at a
The BCCI today appointed advocate Sudhir Nanavati as Commissioner to conduct a preliminary inquiry into Harbhajan Singh’s alleged slapping of India teammate and IPL rival S Sreesanth.
“As per the constitution, BCCI has appointed Sudhir Nanavati, Advocate, Ahmedabad as Commissioner to make preliminary inquiry and call for explanation from the concerned person(s) and submit his report [...]
Another take on Jon Draud's visit to my clasa at EKU by Catherine Gooch at the Eastern Progress. Photo by Rachel Stone.Jon Draud, the Kentucky commissioner of education, spoke in the Grise Room of the Combs Building on Tuesday.Education has been an issue looming over the heads of state officials throughout Kentucky, and the nation, for years, with issues like the No Child Left Behind Act, the accuracy of testing and the effectiveness of public schools battling for attention. Tuesday, Jon Draud, the Kentucky commissioner of education, tackled some of those issues in the Grise Room of the Combs Building.Draud began by describing Kentucky's education system as a largebureaucracy with a state board of 11 people. There are also approximately 600 people working with the education system, more th
Community Continues to Show Its Commitment to Education through Charter School
Last year Kid’s Community College® Charter School earned national recognition from The Center for Education Reform in Washington, DC for its activities during National Education Week. This year parent and community support continued to reflect a strong dedication [...]
I had a special visitor in my Educational Foundations class this afternoon at EKU; Education Commissioner Jon Draud. After demonstrating the chemical processes involved in human respiration (just kidding - see photo) Draud helped my students better understand his role, how the education bureaucracy works, and the importance of dedicated teachers in Kentucky's future.This from Greg Stotelmyer; Photo by Steve Kaufmann/WTVQ:Expect cuts in teacher positions because of the state's tight budget. Kentucky Education Commissioner Jon Draud says he suspects some of the state's 174 school districts will have to cut teacher positions because of the lean budget."Some have larger contingency funds than others," said Draud. "Some have more of a student-teacher ratio that would give them an opportunity t
Normally, we at Capitol Annex don’t pay too much attention to Governor Rick Perry’s appointments to the nine hundred thousand boards and commission that help run the state of Texas–unless someone is being appointed as Chair.
However, this story about a new appointee to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is just too interesting to pass up. Check this out:
Steven Weinberg said he was surprised when a member of Gov. Rick Perry’s staff called to say the governor was offering him a spot on the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
“I told them that I, personally, don’t drink,” said Weinberg, 65, a semiretired surgeon and attorney who lives in Colleyville. “They said that was good, because I’d come to the issues with an open mind.”
DIAMOND Commissioner Kennedy Hamutenya has slammed alleged attempts by Malaysian businessman Subrmanian Ragubahti to discredit the Ministry of Mines and Energy, warning that the fight for control of the Skeleton Coast diamonds amounted to playing Russian roulette with Namibia's international reputation for clean diamonds.In a strongly worded press release issued late last week, Hamutenya called on the Government to bring an end to the fight for control of the so-called Toscanini claim "...before it is too late because Toscanini has become a liability for our industry's reputation".
Case Backlog Frustrates Police:
By Candia Dames -
Nassau, Bahamas:
Many police officers are frustrated by the inability of the powers that be to deal with the tremendous backlog of cases that exist, according to former Commissioner of Police B. K. Bonamy. Mr. Bonamy said as a result some police officers are losing the will to perform their jobs effectively.
The former commissioner, who was a guest on the Love 97/JCN TV programme "Jones and Company" on Sunday, said the courts appear overwhelmed by the numbers of cases they have to deal with.
"The police see that nothing is happening with that, so they turn a blind eye to things they are supposed to be dealing with," Mr. Bonamy said.
"You put people before the courts and you don’t hear about them any longer, then they (the police) st
Hardbeatnews, MIAMI, FL, Tues. Dec. 25, 2007: This Christmas Day, the woes of suspended Jamaican-born, South Florida commissioner, Fitzroy Salesman, are in the prayers of a Jamaican Diaspora advisory board member.
And questions use of ID cards
Giving evidence to the House of Commons Justice Committee hearing on the protection of private data, Information Commissioner Richard Thomas called for changes in the law and a rethink on government data-sharing between departments.…
Read more…
(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – During a special-called meeting today, the Kentucky Board of Education announced that it has selected Jon Draud as Kentucky’s commissioner of education.Draud was one of four finalists for the position, which was vacated in November 2006. Kevin M. Noland, deputy commissioner and general counsel for the Kentucky Department of Education, has served as interim commissioner during this time.“The board is very pleased with the selection of Jon Draud as commissioner,” said chair Joe Brothers. “He has been a middle and high school teacher, a school principal, a district superintendent, member of a local board of education and a legislator. Jon has won numerous awards in the positions in which he has served. The breadth and depth of his experience are evidence of his strong commitment to education, and he has received the support of our education partners, legislators and citizenry.”“I applied for the position of commissioner because I am confident that I can pr
Tomorrow afternoon the Kentucky Board of Education plans to announce their pick for the next education commissioner. Assuming there are no last minute changes of heart about defying the advice of Governor-elect Steve Beshear their choice ought to be Jon Draud. Of course, this is exactly the kind of thing one hates to say out loud, given the board's contrary nature and propensity for choosing the wrong path.Mark Hebert reports the chatter:This Kentucky state lawmaker from northern Kentucky has heard rumors that he's the favorite to be the next School Commissioner. And Jon Draud isn't the only one hearing that. The other rumored favorite for the job, former Florida state school chief Jim Warford has also heard Draud is the favorite. But both candidates say school board members and Chairman Joe Brothers haven't tipped their hands, only telling them what they're telling me. “We will vote and select a Commissioner, to be announced Sunday afternoon,”says Brothers.This recap and look
This from the Courier-JournalCOVINGTON, Ky. -- The state Board of Education said yesterday that it plans to name a new education commissioner later this month, despite a plea last week from Gov.-elect Steve Beshear to start a new nationwide search......[Board Chair Joe] Brothers said that, after two days of intensive interviews with the four finalists at the Embassy Suites in Covington, the board believes it is time to make a decision. "We've heard a message over the last few days from across the state that it is time to make a decision," he said. Brothers said the board's decision was not meant to be a rebuke to Beshear. But he said the board feared that the integrity of the search would have been jeopardized had it scrapped its current batch of finalists. "We have some responsibility to these people who have applied," he said. "Now, had it turned out today that they were not the quality people we wanted to be our commissioner, then certainly it would've been a different outcome co
This from today's Bowling Green Daily NewsEDITORIALProviding for the education of its citizens is arguably one of the most important functions of state government and one that consumes a big percentage of tax revenue.Given that importance, we hope the state Board of Education gets it right this time in selecting a new education commissioner.The board is scheduled to meet today in Covington to interview the four finalists for the commissioner’s job - a post that has been open for a year now.Kevin Noland, deputy commissioner and general counsel, has been serving as interim education commissioner.Noland has done a fine job since former commissioner Gene Wilhoit stepped down last November to take a job in Washington. The board hired a new commissioner earlier this year to succeed Wilhoit, but she was widely criticized and withdrew in mid-summer shortly before she was scheduled to begin. Questionable information in her resume' led to her problems.There is a chance that after the 12-memb
As the former superintendent of the Ludlow Independent School District, Jon Draud is easy to dismiss when thinking about Kentucky’s next Education Commissioner. After all, Ludlow is relatively tiny and the Kentucky Department of Education is very large.As a Republican legislator who served during a period of partisan gamesmanship, it may be hard for some to believe that he would truly care for the public schools. School reform requires a vigilance not often found among myopic lawmakers whose vision rarely extends past their own constituency and the next election.Kentucky’s Education Commissioner needs to see the whole playing field, and way down the road. But despite Ludlow’s size and stereotypes of politicians he might just be the guy. He’s not likely to break the KERA mold. But, he may very well reshape it.The commissioner will oversee about 665,000 students in 1,243 schools spread over 174 school districts with a budget of $ 4.209 billion. That’s a lot of money, but only
Kentucky's Governor-Elect weighs in on the rocky search for a new state education commissioner. He can't make the decision, but Steve Beshear hopes he can influence the process. The Governor-Elect is asking the Kentucky School Board to delay choosing a new education commissioner. "I am not here to interfere with your job," he told board members today. Beshear wants the board to re-open its search because he believes the "contentious" political climate has driven away candidates. "Many of them have had reservations about stepping forward simply because they could not tell where we were going at this time," he said. The commissioner search has been controversial. This summer, the board's original choice, Barbara Erwin, quit before she started. She was doomed by questions about her leadership style and resume. The board has its new search down to four finalists, three from Kentucky. Interviews are set for next week. Now, the next governor wants the board to rethink everything. "It’s
Friday night long-time journalist and host of KET's Comment on Kentucky Al Smith went off on the original commissioner search, the present commissioner non-search, and the lacklustre quartet of finalists it produced. (KET video)The result: "four write ins" of social security age.Smith tailored his language a bit for a similar Op-Ed that ran in this morning's Herald-Leader.He cited the weak effort to recruit candidates. "... just a few notices in education journals under Help Wanted and that we are an Equal Opportunity Employer (wink, wink), but Kentuckians preferred." And suggested, "The two men running for governor could stop this charade."Next week, after the election, Gov. Ernie Fletcher can render a signal service to the state with a proposal to his appointees who dominate the board to do two things:• Have a joint public meeting with him and his Democratic rival, Steve Beshear -- a civil discussion of educational issues from three perspectives: the two candidates and the board.
Governor Perry’s new Commissioner for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has turned out to be one of the anti-global warming crowd. Evidently, Dr. Brian Shaw doesn’t believe that anything humans do has anything to do with global warming:
On climate change, he said there is “cause for some skepticism of human activities influencing global warming.”
“It’s an issue that needs to be debated more,” he said.
Hum. God must be responsible for global warming. Either way, Governor Perry is standing by his new man and his thoughts–which fly in the face of known scientific fact:
“Under his leadership, Texas will continue developing policies and making decisions based on solid science that protects our natural resources while helping to meet the challenges of a rapidly growing state.”
Oh, jeez.
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At the risk of inciting the anti-diversity police:The good news about the selection of Barbara Erwin was always that she would have become Kentucky's first female Education Commissioner. Granted, Alice McDonald preceded her as an elected Superintendent of Public Instruction in the early 1980s, before KERA. As it turned out, both women ended their associations with Kentucky education in disgrace, of one kind or another. But I'm relatively certain that being a woman had nothing to do with the related foibles, shortcomings or crimes. Perhaps the board felt differently.Of course, it doesn't really matter if the education commissioner is a man or women - except for this one fact.In a field that has historically been dominated by men - first by white male Protestant ministers, and later by white males of broader descriptions - it's good to think that the best person for a given job will always be selected. It is only a problem when particular identifiable classes of persons are systemati
Capitol Annex has learned that Texas Governor Rick Perry is set to appoint Dr. Bryan Shaw, an Associate Professor and member of the Center for Agricultural Air Quality Engineering and Science in the Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department at Texas A&M University, as Commissioner of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Shaw received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Agricultural Engineering from Texas A&M University and his Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He teaches and conducts air quality research on topics including development of accurate emission factors for feed and grain handling, emissions from cattle feed yards, development of air pollution dispersion models, and fugitive dust emissions from field operations.
According to information Capitol Annex has received, Shaw recently spent one year working with USDANRCS as Special Assistant to the Chief under an Interagency P
I'm not sure I'm going to have the time to research the public utterances of all of the Commissioner candidates this time around. Since accepting a full-time position at EKU, on top of my part-time UK position, I just can't blog as much as I once could.But three of the finalists are known to a number of folks within the field of education, and Jon Draud is even better known state-wide because of his work in the General Assembly, and particularly on the House Education Committee. If there is anything really ugly, somebody in Kentucky already knows it.So, I decided to focus some attention this morning on Jim Warford, the candidate out of Florida.My Newsbank review produced more than 700 articles on Warford. I scanned them all and read many of them. Below you will find a chronological array of selected pieces from that search. My intent is to give the reader a sense of who Warford is from his background and from the positions he has taken on issues.I should note at the outset, that I h
The reason I support Mr Chronister for another term as York County Commissioner is he was the only one to vote against eminent domain to take a family farm and turn it into another park. After losing the primary in the spring these knuckleheads announce a write in
campaign to try to hold on [...]
The Kentucky Board of Education is still on the fast track to replace almost-Commissioner Barbara Erwin. The board promises to correct past failings and fully vet the next group of finalists. Good for them. I'm not crazy about the board's effort to find a new commissioner in the fall of the year - especially not on the eve of a gubernatorial election. But let's hope there are still qualified candidates in the mix, who have not been driven off by the months of missteps, empty proclamations and uncertain direction. Let's hope the board's judgment will improve as their process improves. Let's hope.Life with BarbieAnother glimpse into what life might have been like with Barbara Erwin as Kentucky's Education Commissioner arose this morning in Chicagoland. As his reelection campaign nears its conclusion, Kane County (Illinois) State's Attorney John Barsanti has launched yet another investigation into alleged "misuse of public funds" surrounding Barbara Erwin's 2004 contract in S
TMZ reports that Britney Spears likely lost physical custody of her two children Sean Preston and Jayden James to ex-husband Kevin Federline because the singer ignored L.A. County Commissioner Scott Gordon orders to meet with a drug counselor, to sub
This from Toni Konz at the Courier-Journal: Board of Education chief impressed with commissioner candidates In the second search for a state education commissioner this year, the chairman of the Board of Education said today that the number of applicants is “very encouraging.”So far, approximately 40 people have applied, said Chairman Joe Brothers. ......Rather than appoint a separate screening committee, the full board will review the applications itself and narrow the pool to several semifinalists at its meeting Wednesday.“We are going to hire someone to assist us with the criminal background and initial reference check,” Brothers said. “Once the applicants get through that stage, we will publicly identify about seven semifinalists.”This is the second search conducted for a commissioner this year after Barbara Erwin...resigned three days before she was to start work....after a series of revelations about her background, including inaccurate information on her resume. Ray
FantasySportsBook.com has announced the launch of their 100% legal, public league and commissioner-based, fantasy based Sportsbook contest website. You can sign up and play for free using the same format found in the Las Vegas casino sportsbooks in a legal and safe manner. FantasySportsBook.com provides authentic odds, match-ups, and ability for players to pick the favorite, underdog, over, and under total score all in a user friendly point and click website. “FantasySportsBook.com provides everyone, from the casual sports fan to the fantasy sports enthusiast, the ability to compete against each other in a fair, legal, and free environment, with the opportunity to win exciting prizes,” states Director of Operations and Founder, Eddie Murphy. The website keeps track of all the picks and balances via a leaderboard format and offers cash prizes each week to the players with the highest winning balance. The grand prizes based on the total season winning balances earns a trip to cham
(FRANKFORT, Ky.) - At its regular meeting Wednesday and Thursday, the Kentucky Board of Education heard presentations, had in-depth discussions and made decisions on a number of items.The board discussed the search for a new commissioner of education and agreed to a timeline for the selection. The position will be advertised as soon as possible in state and national publications. On October 3, the board will begin reviewing applications and select from three to seven candidates. Background and reference checks will begin immediately after the selection and should be completed by mid-October. Once the checks are completed, the board will announce finalists. Interviews are set to begin on November 13.The board had lengthy discussions about its strategic plan and budget priorities, both of which will be revisited at future meetings.The board took the following actions:· approved the appointment of three new members to the Kentucky Writing Program Advisory Committee: Denise Henry of Cumbe
Noli Eala who ascend from the line of broadcasting, A former TV anchorman and successor of the late Emilio “Jun” Bernardino as PBA Commissioner, now resigns after his disbarment.He was disbarred by the high court for “grossly immoral conduct” due to an extramarital affair.“To ease the pain of the people who matter most to me, my family especially my children and to shield the league I truly care for with so much passion from any erroneous perceptions related to my disbarment case, I’m tendering my immediate resignation,” said Eala in a statement read before the media at the PBA office.“It is a painful decision brought about by a painful personal circumstance but I have always believed that the PBA is bigger than any one man, one team, one player or one team owner,” Eala added.Eala, ended his statement with a request that he be allowed to deal with his personal ordeal privately.source: The Philippine Star
Connecticut Banking Commissioner Howard Pitkin Issues Temporary Order to Cease and Desist to American Home Mortgage
Connecticut State Banking Commissioner Howard F. Pitkin issued a Temporary Cease and Desist Order and Summary Suspension Against American Home Mortgage Corp. of New York (“American”) and two of its affiliates today. The action is the result of an on-going investigation of American for possible violations of Connecticut’s mortgage banking laws. Upon receipt of the order, American is required to cease and desist from failing to timely fund loans, failing to perform agreements with borrowers, failing to cooperate with the Department and from making material misstatements. American and its affiliates are also placed on notice that a maximum fine of $1,000,000 could be levied by the Department.
“This order comes after the Department determined that American did not transfer loan proceeds for 38 loans scheduled to close in Connecticut,” Commissioner Pitkin stated.
NEW YORK — While commissioner Roger Goodell was meeting with officials of the ASPCA, about 50 people urged the NFL to “Sack Vick” Friday in a demonstration outside the league’s headquarters following the indictment of Michael Vick on dogfighting charges. “Sack Vick!” chanted the demonstrators, organized by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals as they walked peacefully in front of the Park Avenue building. Many held dogs who had the “Sack Vick” signs on their backs and one more…
What? You thought the Board of Education was going to select the next commissioner? I heard that too. But apparently that doesn't prohibit a selection campaign. Afterall, rumors are swirling now - legislative intrusion - anyone close to leadership of the Council for Better Education OUT - hand picked successors - why not a campaign? Penny Sanders has a track record of tough-mindedness, knows the Frankfort terrain and served Kentucky well in the early days of reform. Penny deserves a look. But shouldn't the board at least review a few folks first?This from Family Foundation head Martin Cothran's vere loqui blog:Penney Sanders for State School CommissionerWhile the State School Board was scouring the country looking for someone to fill the post of State School Commissioner, they apparently didn't notice (or chose to ignore) an obvious candidate.After the Barbara Erwin fiasco, maybe one of the things they need to do anyway is look a little closer to home. Penney Sanders, the former he
This from Raviya Ismail of the Herald-Leader:The Kentucky State Board of Education is working to remain unified and accelerate the process of finding a new commissioner after its top choice pulled out of the position a week ago.But several members acknowledged tension within the board since controversial Illinois educator Barbara Erwin resigned the post last Friday, citing news media scrutiny of her performance at other districts she’s led.“It’s been a difficult time for all the board; it’s been a trying time,” said board member David Rhodes. “But I think we’re all solid individuals and everyone’s wanting to do what’s best for public education in Kentucky.”...“We really have not progressed that far,” [Doug] Hubbard said. “All we’ve really done is accept Dr. Erwin’s letter of resignation.”...At the Aug. 8-9 meeting, the board will elect new officers. Some members indicated there may be a movement to name a new chairman to replace [Keith] Travis, who has h
This from the Courier-Journal.The Erwin DebacleHaving failed to provide the state with an education board that can do the most basic of its assigned work, Gov. Ernie Fletcher should try again. He should ask this board to resign, then appoint one that can do the job.No challenge is more pressing for Kentucky than the development of a competitive education system. But, with the exception of Gov. Fletcher's merit hiring conspiracy, no recent state government spectacle has been more embarrassing, or depressing, than the board's horribly botched effort to find a replacement for former Education Commissioner Gene Wilhoit.It leads one to believe the speculation that Gov. Fletcher was focused on appointing a board that would quietly share a right-wing fundamentalist school agenda, not one that could function properlyHaving been given the commissioner's job, despite a career marked by destructive controversy -- not to mention unanswered questions about a faulty résumé and an investigation
This Editorial from the Cincinnati Post.Flunking the test Kentucky's newly constituted State Board of Education has flunked its first big test. Royally.The board, hand-picked by Gov. Ernie Fletcher, spent five months and $50,000 on a search firm to find a successor to commissioner Gene Wilhoite, who left in November to become executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers.After a search process that allowed little public input, the Board of Education in May offered the job to Barbara Erwin, a suburban Chicago school superintendent who had also run school districts in Arizona, Texas and Indiana. Erwin was supposed to start her job in Kentucky yesterday. But on Friday, citing "continued noise by the media,'' she backed away from the job - and a contract that would have paid her $220,000 per year over the next four years. According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, her decision came hours after board members questioned her anew about the controversy that has dogged h
Stu said No. Roger says maybe.Board members met Saturday for a special meeting and decided they wanted a Kentuckian for the Commissioner's job. Fayette County schools Superintendent Stu Silberman is not interested in becoming state education commissioner, but Marion County Superintendent Roger Marcum said he would strongly consider it....Marcum, who is president of the state's superintendent association, said he was contacted during the first search but wasn't sure if he wanted to take on the task. But after watching the controversy with Erwin unfold, he's rethinking his stance."It just reaffirms to me that we've got some folks in Kentucky that are very capable of providing that kind of leadership," Marcum said. "I hope this time we find the right person."Marcum also heads the Council for Better Education, a group representing most of the state's 175 school districts, which sued the legislature in 2003 for failing to adequately fund Kentucky schools. In February, a Franklin Circ
Search for new Interim commissioner also to proceed. Kevin Nolan to continue serving as interim commissioner until new interim is identified. After a two and a half hour closed session the board emerged and took the following action:The Board has asked Kevin Nolan to remain as interim Commissioner.Search for new interim with educational background will begin immediatelyThe Board will solicit names from across the state. Interested candidates can apply through the KDE website.The search for a permanent Commissioner has been reopenedApplicants should consult the KDE website for application details.Chairman Travis said, "We would encourage qualified Kentucky educators to apply for that position."~It would appear that the Kentucky Board of Education has bought itself some time through this process. The two references to "Kentucky" may raise questions about the scope of the new search. Looking at Kentucky educators produces a much shorter list.It may be time to look again at someone lik
Six people have filed applications to lead the state's education system. And they're not names you would automatically come up with, like K-12 chancellor Cheri Yecke or House Schools and Learning Council chairman Joe Pickens. Instead, they're a group of folks that, with perhaps one exception, you might never come up with for the post.
One hopeful that might get some attention is William Moloney, who recently resigned as Colorado's education commissioner after a decade on the job. Moloney, who has degrees from Harvard, has served three terms on the National Assessment Governing Board, and also was on the boards of the National Council on Teacher Quality and the Foundation for Teaching Economics.
Others on the list include Joseph A. Malloy, a Tampa assistant principal who once was general manager of the New York Yankees and Stephen Stohla, superintendent of schools in Alliance, Ohio - both of whom applied and failed to make finalist for Hernando County superintendent. Retired Pin
Jim Waters, of the Bluegrass Institute adds to the voices calling for the Kentucky Board fo Educationto reconsider Erwin appointment. It's not too late to do the right thing! ~I bet the Kentucky Board of Education hopes the flap over Education Commissioner Barbara Erwin goes away.It won’t, and it shouldn’t.After all, how many companies would tolerate someone misrepresenting his or her career on a mistake-ridden resume in order to secure a job with a salary higher than the governor’s?And this isn’t just any company. The Kentucky’s education commissioner plays a critical role in the future of every student attending the commonwealth’s public schools, regardless of grade.Most people don’t realize it, but many of the key decisions affecting a student’s education in Kentucky are not made at the local level. Instead, the real power lies with the commissioner and her minions who issue edicts from the education department’s castle atop Mount Frankfort on spending, curriculum
Elaine Farris named Deputy Commissioner, Learning and Results Services(FRANKFORT, Ky.) - Elaine Farris, current superintendent of the Shelby County school district, has been named deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Learning and Results Services, the Kentucky Department of Education announced today.Farris fills the post vacated by Linda France, who has served in the position since 2003 and is retiring.Farris will oversee five offices: District Support Services; Teaching and Learning; Assessment and Accountability; Leadership and School Improvement; and Special Instructional Services. Those offices and the divisions and branches within provide services to Kentucky public school districts, including finance, facilities, nutrition, curriculum development, virtual learning, early childhood education, assessment, school improvement, school assistance, special needs, career and technical education, federal programs and teacher and student diversity.Farris has nearly 30 years of educational
Minnesota's health commissioner apologized during a four-hour public hearing held Tuesday about her department's one-year delay in releasing to the public data about additional mesothelioma cases among Iron Range miners. Some lawmakers questioned whether Minnesota's governor was also involved in the decision to withhold information about the additional mesothelioma cases from the public. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer linked to asbestos exposure. To date, 58 mesothelioma cases have been identified among Iron Range miners, six of which were reported in the past week.The controversy regarding the delayed release of mesothelioma data involved 35 cases that were identified by the health department in March 2006 but not released to the public until March 2007. The health commissioner said that the department delayed the release of the information while waiting for federal funding for research into whether taconite dust from the mines may be a cause. A University of Minnesota environme
Union leaders and legislators representing Minnesota's Iron Range called for the resignation of the Minnesota Health Commissioner Wednesday, after learning that she had delayed-for at least a year-informing the public about the discovery of 35 more cases of mesothelioma among Iron Range mine workers. The Health Department had discovered in March 2006 another 35 cases of mesothelioma-double the number previously identified-among Iron Range miners. However, news of the 35 cases did not come to light until March 2007. The agency also reported another six mesothelioma cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of affected miners to 58. The Minnesota governor defended the commissioner, and his communications director said the commissioner should not be terminated for making a mistake.For the full story, go to www.twincities.com
(John Gittelsohn writes...)
State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner says the state's title insurance industry "is broken and I intend to fix it."
Poizner proposed reforms Thursday, saying there's no meaningful competition and that consumers are paying "unnecessarily high rates."
The title insurance industry trade group vehemently disagreed, noting that title insurance rates in California have fallen 29 percent in the past five years.
A December 2005 report by Poizner's predecessor, John Garamendi -- also disputed by the industry -- reported that homebuyers in Southern California pay escrow and title insurance fees that are almost double those in Northern California because of a lack of competition and extra layers of service.
Lisa Gross, Kentucky Department of Education Communications Director confirmed that she had received my message and that the state boarrd of education was still in executive session as of 1PM EST.The Kentucky School Boards Association reports they are, "in an extended, unplanned executive session to discuss the selection of the state's next commissioner of education."At its two-day retreat in Bowling Green, the state board opened today's session by amending its agenda and immediately going into closed session at 8:30 a.m. CT.Joining the members of the state board was Illinois superintendent Barbara Erwin, who had previously been identified by the state board as the leading candidate to replace Gene Wilhoit as the chief executive of the state Department of Education.Since her public identification at the top of three finalists, Erwin has come under criticism for her leadership style in superintendencies in two other states and for an error on her resume.The state board's search proce
CommentaryWe are told the search for a new state education commissioner to replace an excellent Gene Wilhoit has gone according to plan. If so - it must be a strange plan. State board chairman Keith Travis told the Herald-Leader "When we started the search process the entire board agreed on an entire process to go through” because they wanted to get a large number of qualified applicants while ensuring their confidentiality. But when the state board met in executive session, narrowing its commissioner search down to three individuals they refused to release the names, telling WHAS reporter Mark Hebert that the board only planned to release the name of one finalist, the person the school board planned to hire. All indications were that the state board was following the Barnhart plan. Everything was hush, hush. But the board of education was not reviewing the resumes of any Billy Ds or Billy Gs. Apparently, no sitting commissioners viewed Kentucky as a better place to go to advanc
It's about damned time average everyday people started having their say against the evil of political correctness and call a spade a spade. In this case it's calling a terrorist supporter and sympathizer a terrorist supporter and sympathizer and to hell with the lefts hand wringing about us not appreciating the diversity of the Religion of Peace . $5 says the media and Democrats in general paint this as a bunch of rabble rousing rednecks and racists. ~RJH Little Green Footballs article link Protest Against CAIR Commissioner in New YorkTheres a protest planned tonight in Manhattan beginning at 7 pm, to demand that Mayor Michael Bloomberg fire Omar Mohammedi from the NYC Commission on Human Rights.When Mr. Mohammedi isnt guarding human rights for New York City, he serves as president of the New York branch of the Hamas-linked radical Islamic front group called the Council on American Islamic Relations, and hes the lawyer who plans to sue unnamed John Doe airline passengers
New information from Mark Hebert this morning on his blog On the Mark.Summary:Erwin's the choice...contract is in the mail.There is an error on her resume [as reported here]. "Erwin told [Hebert] by phone that listing her as 1998 Superintendent of the Year was probably a mistake and not an embellishment. Ky. Board Chairman Keith Travis says the board will look at any possible discrepancies in Erwin's resume before voting on her hiring. Board member Doug Hubbard says the mistake "is a big deal" and he blames the search firm for failing to do a better job digging into the backgrounds of the three finalists for the job."After talking with several folks in three of her fromer districts, Hebert writes "Kentucky will either love or hate Barbara Erwin. Everyone describes her as hard working, innovative, extremely bright and able to connect with parents. They also describe her as divisive, vindictive and a micromanager with poor people skills. ""Travis says he's happy with the nominees and
The question raised by a Courier-Journal reader is now resolved. A little smoke. No fire.The reader was concerned by the quote, "She was named Texas Superintendent of the year in 1997 and 1998," so I checked it out. After some difficulties (the Texas Association of School Administrator's website was down for a while this morning) I got confirmation from Lisa Gross at KDE and finally the TASA website.Later, I got this frrom AASA: "Amy Vogt (TASA) has asked me to respond to your question regarding Barbara Erwin. Yes, in 1999 when she was a superintendent in Texas she was that state’s representative in the National Superintendent of the Year program. If you have any further questions, please let me know. Darlene S. Pierce, Director, National Superintendent of the Year Program"The Texas recognition program is tied to the American Assoication of School Administrators program. The way the AASA's national program works...Each state selects one nominee as its representative. Four nati
You'll recall, on Friday, the Courier-Journal opined that the selection process for the new commish, Barbara Erwin, was less than "perfect."Then came an online comment from someone screen-named "nowisright.""Credibility comes into question when the claim that "she was a two-time superintendent of the year in Texas in the 1990s" appears to be misleading at best, and a flat out lie at worst. If you look at the Texas Association of School Boards, she is on the list once, not twice. Also notable, this is NOT the first time she has made this claim."The KDE press release and numerous news reports repeat the claim that "She was named Texas Superintendent of the year in 1997 and 1998. " This sounds like she won the same award twice, but she didn't. Is this a case of shaky news reporting, or shifty candidate spin?The TASB list verifies Erwin's 1997 selection, as does the Dallas Morning News, 8 Oct 1997.In 1998, the winner was Gerald Anderson from Brazosport, whom I met when he visited with F
Hey Peter thanks for the addIn a story that's clearly too good to be true, the Evening Standard gleefully reported that Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy had a MySpace page and "has been spending evenings, weekends - and even part of his working day - i..
Of course, she won't be the first woman to lead the state schools. In the early 80's, when we elected our state superintendent, Alice McDonald ran the show. In those days the superintendent was something of a political hack and McDonald actually fought against school reform.~Regarding the selection process for the new Commish, maybe somebody can explain this to me...First, Mark Hebert reported the state "board met in executive session, narrowing its commissioner search down to three individuals. Board chairman Keith Travis referred [Hebert's] questions to search committee chair Bonnie Lash Freeman who refused to release the names of the three finalists for the state's top education job. Freeman initially told [Hebert] the board only plans to release the name of one finalist, the person the school board plans to hire. Freeman later said the board had not etched that plan in stone and might release the names of the three finalists AFTER the board interviews them in a few weeks."Then
Today's editorial in the Herald-Leader calls for an "apolitical" Commissioner of Education.Good. And, good luck.But, based on politics alone, the H-L's position suggest that one of the candidates might not be the best fit for Kentucky. The H-L says, "The commissioner must have the skills and ability to work with the governor and legislature without becoming embroiled in partisan politics."One of the three finalists, Richard La Pointe, carried political water for former Virginia Governor George Allen (of "macaca" fame) when he was state superintendent in Virginia.The Richmond Times Dispatch noted, La Pointe a former education official in the Reagan and Bush administrations "has been criticized by some in the legislature as too ideological." La Pointe backed graduation standards that reduced focus on the arts, and he supported the controversial Family Life Education program.When a more moderate Republican Governor James Gilmore succeeded Allen he chose not to reappoint La Pointe as Sup
This from the Courier-Journal....Gov. Fletcher said "dialogue and disclosure" were "critical components in assuring the selection of the best candidate."It's also true, as he pointed out, that lawmakers whose relationship with the commissioner is critically important at funding time will want to check out the three choices.The educational issues facing both the General Assembly and the new commissioner are profoundly important, with candidates for governor suggesting everything from a study of special education vouchers and a new look at more current testing programs to a full-blown review of the entire KERA approach.With accountability deadlines steadily approaching, and the failure to reach some of the goals now inevitable, real decisions must be made, and fairly soon.Speak up. E-mail your comments on the candidates to:education.ky.gov/FormServ/?ID=NextCommissioner.
Finalists for Kentucky Commissioner of EducationPublished comments from various newspapersRichard La PointeAge: 64 Education: Bachelor's degree in history from the University of California at Berkeley; master's degree in Latin American Studies from UCLA; and a doctorate in comparative education from UCLA.Family: Married with five daughters and four sons~Note: I was unsuccessful finding much on Dr. La Pointe in recent years. I did find his name on lists of conference speakers and on federal vocational grant applications. I assume my difficulties are the product of his assimilation into the vast education bureaucracy.~Richard LaPointe Tapped as New Director of High School, Postsecondary Education and Career EducationFrom U S Office of Education News Archives 2002Assistant Secretary Carol D'Amico is pleased to announce that Richard La Pointe will be joining our staff. Richard has been appointed to the position of Director, Division of High School, Postsecondary and Career Education. As
Finalists for Kentucky Commissioner of EducationPublished comments from various newspapersBarbara F. ErwinAge: 56 Education: Bachelor's degree in special education from Indiana University; master's degree in school administration from Purdue University; and a doctorate in school administration from Indiana UniversityFamily: Married with two sons.~From the Kane County Chronicle, 28 February 2007District 303 Superintendent Barbara Erwin is a finalist to be the new superintendent at Oak Park-River Forest District 200. In and of itself, such news is not that big a deal. People change jobs all the time, regardless of what field they are in. But several facts make Erwin's situation a bit more interesting.Erwin has been at the district about three years. In July 2005, Erwin received a new, five-year contract that extended through June 2010. Despite the commitment of the school board, Erwin announced in October 2006 that she planned to retire in July. The school board even filed a notice wi
I spent most of yesterday researching the public comments of the three candidates for Kentucky Education Commissioner. My tentative findings will follow in 3 separate posts. The finalists for the job are Mitchell Chester, an official with the Ohio Department of Education; Barbara Erwin, a superintendent in Illinois; and Richard LaPointe, a deputy assistant secretary from the U.S. Department of Education.This from the Kentucky Post.
On March 1st, 2007, the Shark Alliance sent an open letter to Commissioner Joe Borg. The letter calls on Borg to ensure that the European Union (EU) use the occasion of next week’s meeting of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI) to address the plight of the world’s valuable yet vulnerable shark populations. Commissioner Borg acknowledged last year that a comprehensive set of management measures is required and the Shark Alliance calls on him to set a timeline for plan development and implementation.Less than 20% of COFI member nations have completed the promised National Plans of Action and no international catch limits for sharks have been adopted. COFI provides a key opportunity for the EU to take the floor during discussions of the FAO International Plans of Action (IPOAs) to report on progress and expected completion of this important goal. OPEN LETTER TO COMISSIONER BORGCommissioner Joe BorgEuropean Commissi
“Lindsay sits down with the man who reigns supreme as “Commissioner” of the fastest money on CNBC, Dylan Ratigan.”
Friday, March 23, 2007 at Fast Money Studios:
“Lindsay sits down with the man who reigns supreme as “Commissioner” of the fastest money on CNBC, Dylan Ratigan.”
Friday, March 23, 2007 at Fast Money Studios:
If the Senate has its way, you might get to do just that. It's been a while since voters put Charlie Crist into the education commissioner's seat, and since then, Jim Horne and John Winn have held the post as an appointed position. Now the job is vacant, held by Jeanine Blomberg in the interim as the State Board of Education seeks a replacement. SB 388 would change the dynamic. Senators voted 27-8 in favor of the concept. Among the opponents were Evelyn Lynn, who is said to be seeking the job, Education Committee chairman Don Gaetz, whose name also is being bandied about, and senators Alexander, Argenziano, Bennett, Fasano, Oelrich, Saunders and Storms. There's a similar bill in the House (HB 679), but it has yet to receive a hearing.
Calgary’s Talisman Centre did not violate privacy rules by using video security cameras in its men’s locker room. That’s the ruling, released Thursday morning, from Alberta’s Information and Privacy Commissioner, Frank Work. Work says the fitness centre has taken reasonable steps and has proper policies in place to ensure the privacy of patrons.
Read [...]
Jeanine Blomberg was supposed to be Florida's interim education commissioner only through June. Today she agreed to stay on until the fall, as the State Board of Education decided to lengthen its time line for choosing a full-time replacement for John Winn, who retired at the end of February. The hang up? Only one executive search firm applied to run the national search, and that firm didn't meet all the board's requirements. Other companies didn't respond to the invitation to negotiate, and when department officials asked why, they learned that none thought they could do a good enough job in just four months. So the board is sending out a new request for proposals and looking to get a new commissioner on the job by October. And Blomberg, who has said she doesn't want the post permanently, will remain in charge until then.
MONTREAL TOURISM COMMISSIONER IN DEEP SHITMayor Gérald Tremblay wants to meet with the tourism board to discuss allegationsfrom it's head that montreal is turning into a dirty city and that tourists will shy away from Mtl.I, for one would like to remind the man that to accomodate winter parking the streets are not being cleaned twice a week as they are during other seasons and let's face it there is no snow this year to cover cigarette butts, papers and Burger King's containers. Winterfests here and there are just not the thing this year there is no snow. Travel agencies feel the pain, people don't see the need to go south.Montreal is one of the cleanest cities in North America, When we get a snow storm within days the snow is picked up and the garbage like papers are picked up with it.We have Recyclable material picked up every week and garbage collection, twice a week. On wednesdays and fridays City trucks pick up large pieces like mattresses and furniture What the hell is he ta
This is the cartoon in question.
Buffalo Police Commissioner, H. McCarthy Gipson, was very upset when interviewed by Channel 7 news. The video is here.
“I was chagrined when I saw it, I mean I was very upset. It’s in such poor taste that it’s inconceivable that the news editorial staff would allow something like this to be printed.”
After reading today’s article in the Buffalo News, I see the cartoon in a completely different light. In my opinion, the cartoon is questioning why information related to the identity of the Bike Path Rapist was so easily dismissed 26 years ago.
It was her phone call to Buffalo police that led detectives to the West Side home of Wilfredo S. Caraballo, the man who owned the car with the same plate number.
When police told Caraballo they were investigating a rape and asked him who was driving his car that day, he lied, police said.
Instead of admitting it was Sanchez, his nephew, Caraballo told them the 19
When you think about it, this is a foreshadowing of what the remainder of our lives will entail with regards to the Hall of Fame elections unless . . .
We all receive emails that we'd prefer didn't make it into our inboxes. God knows, if one was of a sufferer of paranoia, you'd be convinced that it would worth paying to add a few inches and investing in some Nigerian oil scheme.
So when Thinkhouse PR kept sending unwanted emails to Ireland Offline's email address, Damien Mulley complained to the Data Protection Commissioner requesting that they investigate. According to Thinkhouse PR's Managing Director, the DPC felt compelled to apologise to them for having to investigate this trivial complaint of abuse, made by a blogger of all people.
Meanwhile Damo's post has mysteriously disappeared from Google's SERPs but still appear on Yahoo! and MSN.
The DPC then told the bold kids to behave and never do it again. Unfortunately, they forgot to threaten to cancel playtime the next time it happens. So it seems every bold kid is allowed to pick on one of the small kids and not face the consequences.
Here is the full text of his original
strictly limited edition ... handnumbered & signed by Mr. Thornton ... only 1100 copies made!ripper.: yo moms date ripped..: Jan-03-2007label..: Funky Ass date released: Dec-29-2006encoder: Lame 3.90.3+APS release size.: 51,4 MBbitrate: VBR kbps tracks.......: 12mode...: Joint-Stereo source.......: CDDAurl....: threshrecs.com1.Cornfield2.Traffic Jam3.Knock on the Door4.Seattle Tacoma5.Shit Stains6.Bob Boss7.Report8.Bushman Tells It9.Rundown10.The Caribbean11.Running for Congress12.Border Patrol>>>Kool KeithInfo
Chief commissioner of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Surya Nath Upadhyay, and commissioner Basudev Lamichhane will retire on...
:: 24 November 2006Ms. Louise ArbourUnited Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights OHCHRUnited Nations – Palais Wilson1211 Geneva 10Dear Ms. Arbour,Subject: About Geng He, attorney Gao Zhisheng's wifeIn a phone call - to a family friend mr Hu Jia - Geng He for the first time revealed the abuse she and her family have suffered since her husband's arrest on August 15. The call is recorded (Audio below) with a transcript of this recording. The call from Geng He at around 11:55 a.m., Friday November 24. Mr Hu Jia wants the call to be read by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR. Listen to the TELEPHONE CALL with Geng He (in Chinese). TRANSCRIPT: See next pageSincerely,Attorney Gao Zhisheng & Geng He Beijing China/Hu Jia - ed.M’Xp DSr ::
The Times of India today (June 4) filed a petition in the Gujarat High Court challenging the FIRs lodged by city police commissioner accusing its resident editor and a correspondent of sedition and criminal conspiracy. Justice Z K Saiyed of the High Court vacation bench has scheduled for tomorrow (June ...
