Blumenthal criticizes USPS rate hikes and calls for reconsideration

Blumenthal criticizes USPS rate hikes and calls for reconsideration

From the article: "...U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said he’s strongly opposed to the upcoming postage rate hikes. On Monday, the Democrat called on the United States Postal Service and the Postal Regulatory Commission to reconsider their decision.

The new rate increase, effective July 14, will raise “Forever” stamp postage from 68 cents to 73 cents. This marks the sixth increase since 2021, resulting in a total hike of 23%, which, according to Blumenthal, is nearly 200% above the inflation rate during this period...."

Article Reference: ctmirror.org

The history of the nation and the founding of the postal system are linked | Independence Day

The history of the nation and the founding of the postal system are linked

From the article: "...On July 26, 1775, the Second Continental Congress established “a line of posts” from Maine to Georgia, understanding how crucial it was to create a network of communications that kept Colonists’ messages from falling into the British Crown’s hands.

Benjamin Franklin was selected as the first postmaster general. Franklin had served the Crown for decades as joint postmaster general of British North America, but was dismissed in 1774 for being deemed too sympathetic to the Colonies. ..."

Article Reference: news.usps.com
Independence Day

USPS Semi-Truck Fire at Loves Travel Stop

USPS Semi-Truck Fire at Loves Travel Stop

From the article: "...The Haletown Volunteer Fire Department and Jasper Fire Department responded to a USPS semi-truck that caught fire at a Loves Travel Stop on Monday. The Haletown VFD said several firefighters suffered from heat exhaustion while extinguishing the fire, but none required medical care. USPS semi-truck fire ..."

Article Reference: www.local3news.com

Alabama | Birmingham man sentenced to more than 5 years for unlawful possession of USPS keys, stolen mail

Birmingham man sentenced to more than 5 years for unlawful possession of USPS keys, stolen mail

From the article: "...According to United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Derrell Matthews, 27, to 63 months in prison. Matthews pleaded guilty to conspiracy, paying a bribe to a public official, possession of U.S. Postal Service keys, stolen or reproduced, bank fraud and possession of stolen mail in February. Two other people were previously sentenced in the scheme. Keaundria Gresham, 30, of Pleasant Grove..."

Article Reference: www.cbs42.com

Thieves steal from USPS trucks on Northwest, West sides, Chicago police say

Thieves steal from USPS trucks on Northwest, West sides, Chicago police say

From the article: "...In each instance, two men wearing hoodies, face masks and blue plastic gloves parked near the USPS vehicle, broke the passenger window and stole mail and packages. They took off in a white SUV. ..."

Article Reference: abc7chicago.com

USPS publishes FY 2023 Household Diary Study

USPS publishes FY 2023 Household Diary Study

From the article: "...As the introduction to the Study states, the main objectives are to “measure the types and volumes of mail sent and received by U.S. households; track trends in mail usage over time; and compare mail usage by household demographic characteristics.” To produce the study, households are asked to participate a survey (online, by telephone, and on paper) about a variety of topics, including the amount of mail they send and receive, the household’s use of communication technologies like email, their bill payment behavior, and their attitudes towards advertising. ..."

Article Reference: www.savethepostoffice.com
FY 2023 USPS Household Diary Study,

USPS Savings Plan Isn’t Saving the Mail or Protecting Letter Carriers

USPS Savings Plan Isn’t Saving the Mail or Protecting Letter Carriers

From the article: "...According to Inspection Service officials, the size and placement of the postal police workforce at USPS facilities in fiscal year 2023 relied on the 2011 assessment. Inspection Service officials told us that the primary goal of the 2011 assessment was to meet a USPS deadline to reduce the number of authorized postal police. To accomplish this, the Inspection Service limited the 2011 assessment to the existing postal facilities—39 at that time—with authorized postal police staff.” In other words, the size, placement, duties and responsibilities of the Postal Police Force are not based upon the security needs of the Postal Service. ..."

Article Reference: www.fedweek.com

A rural carrier aided a feline in distress

A rural carrier aided a feline in distress

From the article: "...Rural Carrier Matt Tripp was delivering mail in Morganfield, KY, recently when he came upon a cat with her head stuck in a tin can. Tripp was unable to safely remove the can, so he called animal control and stayed with the cat until officers arrived...."

Article Reference: news.usps.com

Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Theft and Possession of USPS Key

Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Theft and Possession of USPS Key

From the article: "...ROCHESTER, NY – Nathan Romar Arnold, a 23-year-old Rochester resident, pleaded guilty to charges of possessing a United States Postal Service (USPS) key and theft of mail, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today. These charges could lead to a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is prosecuting the case, detailed the incidents that occurred on October 1 and 2, 2023. Arnold, along with accomplices, targeted USPS mail receptacles near the USPS Brighton Station Post Office on N. Winton Road, the Greece Post Office on Latta Road, and the Jefferson Road Post Office. The group used a stolen key from a USPS letter carrier to unlawfully access and steal mail for personal gain...."

Article Reference: www.shorenewsnetwork.com

SENATORS, COLLEAGUES CALL ON POSTAL SERVICE TO PREPARE FOR ELECTION

SENATORS, COLLEAGUES CALL ON POSTAL SERVICE TO PREPARE FOR ELECTION

From the article: "...On Thursday, Senator Ron Wyden said he is leading Senate colleagues including Senator Jeff Merkley in calling on Postmaster General Dejoy and the U.S. Postal Service to share their plans to accommodate high volumes of mail expected in the upcoming 2024 general election in Oregon and nationwide. ..."

Article Reference: kqennewsradio.com

Gen-Z voters told they are 100 years old in postal ballot blunder

Gen-Z voters told they are 100 years old in postal ballot blunder

From the article: "Chang Liu is a 22-year-old clinical medicine student at the University of Cambridge who received an erroneous ballot that would have prompted him to claim he was born in 1902. He told The Telegraph: “It is ridiculous that a simple printing error threatens to disenfranchise thousands of young people. ...A bungling council gave voters born after 2000 postal ballots with dates of birth in the 1900s. Cambridge City Council emailed more than 1,000 postal voters aged between 18 and 24, telling them a printing error meant their ballots suggested they were aged between 118 and 124. ..."

Article Reference: www.msn.com

The Election Hanky-Panky Begins | Five North Dakota Counties Report Absentee Ballots with No Postmarks

Five North Dakota Counties Report Absentee Ballots with No Postmarks

From the article: "Lisa Hart, Burleigh County elections coordinator, said the vast majority of the ballots that were missing postmarks were received between June 12-14. Ballots had to be postmarked by June 10 and received within 13 days of the election for the votes to count. ...Howe said he plans to reach out to the Postal Service to ensure that absentee ballots receive postmarks in November. A request for comment directed to the U.S. Postal Service was not immediately returned Monday. ..."

Article Reference: www.kvrr.com

Horses are the stars of these stamps

Horses are the stars of these stamps

From the article: "The Postal Service will release its Horses stamps on Monday, June 17. ...The stamps feature five individual horses. ...The Forever stamps will be available in panes of 20 at Post Offices and usps.com. The stamps will be dedicated during a ceremony at the National Pony Express Association’s 2024 Re-Ride event in St. Joseph, MO."

Article Reference: usps.com
Horses stamps, Stamp Collecting, National Pony Express Association,

U.S. Postal Service Reducing Package Presort Discounts

U.S. Postal Service Reducing Package Presort Discounts

From the article: "...The presort discount system, created decades ago, turned over large sections of postal operations to private companies, for private profit. The Postal Service gives companies like Pitney Bowes and other large mailers huge postage discounts, or “corporate welfare,” to presort letters and packages before entering them “downstream” in the postal network. These discounts vary based on how much sorting work the presort companies undertake (how much postal worker work they replace). This “last mile” strategy guts postal processing facilities and bypasses postal truck transportation. Today, private companies sort roughly 80 to 90 percent of all letter mail volume before entering the postal network. Likewise, private parcel “consolidators” presort the majority of parcels delivered by the Postal Service, with many being entered directly at the delivery unit, bypassing nearly the entirety of the Postal Service’s transportation and processing networks. The Postal Service has fully endorsed, promoted and accelerated this presort and last-mile strategy for decades – until now...."

Article Reference: apwu.org
Package Presort Discounts

Britain’s 500-year-old Royal Mail is being bought by a Czech billionaire

Britain’s 500-year-old Royal Mail is being bought by a Czech billionaire

From the article: "... London CNN — The owner of Royal Mail has accepted a £3.57 billion ($4.6 billion) takeover bid from Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský, paving the way for the sale of one of Britain’s oldest and most iconic institutions to a foreign owner for the first time. International Distribution Services, which owns the loss-making postal service, said Wednesday that it had accepted a £3.70-per-share ($4.69) takeover offer from Křetínský’s EP Group. The deal has consequences for thousands of workers and has sparked anxiety about the future of a key piece of national infrastructure, which delivers a vital public service. ..."

Article Reference: www.cnn.com

Tallahassee post offices suffer from lack of oversight, poor conditions, audits say

Tallahassee post offices suffer from lack of oversight, poor conditions, audits say

From the article: "At the request of U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, the Office of Inspector General was sent down to conduct comprehensive audits on several local facilities and take a look into the years-long mail delivery issues plaguing Florida's capital...The reports came back finding major problems across each of the facilities: Delayed mail, improper package scanning, problems with carriers filling out time cards, and dilapidated properties, to name a few. ..."

Article Reference: www.tallahassee.com

Birmingham Alabama Area | U.S. Postal Service temporarily shuts down Bluff Park post office

U.S. Postal Service temporarily shuts down Bluff Park post office

From the article: "...A press release from the Postal Service didn’t elaborate on the “safety concern,” but the post office for years has been dealing with a pervasive mold problem in that building at 762 Shades Mountain Plaza. “The U.S. Postal Service’s priority is the safety and well-being of its employees and customers,” the press release said. The shutdown was due to “an abundance of caution. “Postal officials are working to resolve this safety issue and will be providing an update to customers once a thorough assessment has been completed,” the Postal Service said. ..."

Article Reference: hooversun.com
Health Issues Caused By Mold, Mold, Safety,

USPS to let new stamps fly on Flag Day

USPS to let new stamps fly on Flag Day

From the article: "...U.S. Flags, the Postal Service’s latest set of stamps celebrating the Stars and Stripes, will be released on Friday, June 14 — Flag Day. The four designs depict Old Glory majestically waving..."

Article Reference: news.usps.com
Flag Day

Postal Service will begin upgrading the operating system on ACE desktop and laptop computers in August

Postal Service will begin upgrading the operating system on ACE desktop and laptop computers in August

ACE computers to get Windows 11 in August

From the article: "...The installation will take two to four hours. The upgrade will not affect any files stored on the ACE workstations. More information is available in the May 28 CIO Notice of Information...."

Article Reference: news.usps.com
USPS ACE computers to get Windows 11 in August 2024, Windows 11,

NPMHU MOU | New Annual Leave Carryover for Leave Year 2024 and Annual Leave Exchange Option for Leave Year 2025

NPMHU MOU | New Annual Leave Carryover for Leave Year 2024 and Annual Leave Exchange Option for Leave Year 2025

From the article: "...two new Memoranda of Understanding that expands annual leave benefits for the 2024 leave year. The first MOU allows for additional Annual Leave Carryover for the 2025 Leave Year. In the 2022 National Agreement, the MOU on Annual Leave Carryover allows regular work force employees to carryover 440 hours of accumulated annual leave. The new MOU on Annual Leave Carryover for Leave Year 2025 expands that limit and allows regular work force employees to carryover 520 hours of accumulated leave from leave year 2024 to leave year 2025...."

Article Reference: National Postal Mail Handlers Union
National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU),

Chesapeake man sentenced for role in robberies of USPS mail carriers

Chesapeake man sentenced for role in robberies of USPS mail carriers

From the article: "...Court documents reveal that 22-year-old O’Sirus Charles Landres Ford was involved in the social media group “Three Keys” which conspired to steal arrow keys from USPS mail carriers. Arrow keys are used by mail carriers to unlock blue collection boxes, outdoor parcel lockers and apartment mailbox panels. According to officials, Ford was specifically warned by fellow group members while discussing how to commit the robberies to “proceed carefully,” as the crime is considered federal and carries a more severe penalty. ..."

Article Reference: www.wavy.com
Arrow keys, Robbery,

Rhode Island man sentenced to prison for role in drug trafficking conspiracy involving kidnapping of U.S. Postal Worker

Rhode Island man sentenced to prison for role in drug trafficking conspiracy involving kidnapping of U.S. Postal Worker

From the article: "...PROVIDENCE, RI – A Providence man who previously admitted to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, which involved a plot to kidnap a U.S Postal Service employee while members of the conspiracy searched for missing cocaine that had been shipped from Puerto Rico, was sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary Cunha. 36-year-old Irving Medina pleaded guilty..."

Article Reference: fallriverreporter.com

Jury can hear ex-Brooklyn postal worker's boasts about criminal past in shooting threat case

Jury can hear ex-Brooklyn postal worker's boasts about criminal past in shooting threat case

From the article: "...Former United States Postal Service mail carrier Quadri Garnes, a registered sex offender from Brooklyn who served time for a 1994 attempted rape conviction, faces federal charges after he exploded over the phone Sept. 29, 2022, at two state Labor Department workers, threatening to shoot up a post office and kill several people. ..."

Article Reference: www.nydailynews.com

Dale Strong calls for North Alabama (Huntsville) Postal Service distribution facility

Dale Strong calls for North Alabama Postal Service distribution facility

From the article: "The congressman has formally requested that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) invest in a new Processing and Distribution Facility (PD&F) in Huntsville. ...Huntsville, once home to its own distribution facility, saw its operations consolidated to Birmingham in 2011, a fact Strong noted in his letter to the USPS chief. ...According to Strong, the root cause of mail delivery issues stems from the Birmingham distribution facility lacking the capacity to efficiently serve North Alabama residents. “Most Postal Service issues reported to my office involve the timeliness of priority mail and package processing in the Birmingham P&DF,” Strong wrote. “Post Office clerks from various locations in my district have communicated to constituents that these delays are solely due to mail being lost or stalled in Birmingham because the facility is lacking the operational capacity to process the current volume of mail.” In making his case for North Alabama to USPS, Strong noted that since the 2010 census, the population of Huntsville and Madison County has grown by 36% and 23%, respectively."

Article Reference: yellowhammernews.com
Huntsville Processing and Distribution Facility (Huntsville P&DF),Birmingham Mail Processing Facility,delay of mail, Largest City in Alabama (Huntsville),