Sen. Kerry preparing for confirmation

BOSTON (WWLP) - The State Department says Sen. John Kerry has started meeting with diplomatic staff to prepare for his confirmation as the next Secretary of State.

A State Department spokeswoman says Kerry will report to the State Department regularly starting Friday.
  
Kerry is expected to easily win confirmation in the Senate, where he chairs the Foreign Relations Committee.
  
President Obama nominated Kerry in December to replace Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who intends to step down at the start of Obama's second term.