France is selling scratch-and-sniff baguette stamps — but local bakers are causing a stink

France is selling scratch-and-sniff baguette stamps — but local bakers are causing a stink

From the article: "...“You just have to rub the stamp here like this with your nails,” Clarisse Briend, a postal worker, told Today. “You can smell the bread, the baguette.” However, Paris’ Leonie Bakery manager Jeanne Barrere says it “smells more like vanilla.” Meanwhile, the bakery’s chief baker, Harlem Gbodialo, likened the scent to a “sugary, fruity aroma” that he couldn’t pin down..."

Article Reference: nypost.com

Take Action Now! | Social Security Administration makes change that will impact millions of beneficiaries

Social Security Administration makes change that will impact millions of beneficiaries

From the article: "...The portal for millions of Social Security beneficiaries to access their online account is changing.

I received an alert in my e-mail last week from the Social Security Administration. Perhaps you have too.

The gist of it is that you will no longer be able to sign in to your online Social Security account using your existing username and password.

To access Social Security online services, you will need to create a Login.gov or ID.me account. If you have a My Social Security account that started before Sept. 18, 2021, you must..."

Article Reference: Yahoo Finance

Express Scripts overcharged postal workers by $45 million, audit says

Express Scripts overcharged postal workers by $45 million, audit says

From the article: "...The findings are likely to intensify scrutiny of the controversial role played by PBMs in the opaque pharmaceutical pricing system. The report, which was released in March but received little if any public attention, examined drug spending between 2016 and 2021 within the health plan that covers more than 200,000 unionized mail carriers and post office workers, as well as retirees. Notably, nearly half of the overcharges stemmed from drug rebates that Express Scripts negotiated with pharmaceutical companies. But instead of passing back 100% of that money to the health plan, as the contract required, the PBM skimmed millions for itself, according to the audit, which was conducted by the Office of Inspector General for the Office of Personnel Management. ..."

Article Reference: www.statnews.com
APWU Health Plan, Express Scripts overcharged postal workers,

Postal worker who was killed while delivering mail remembered as the ‘mother to the neighborhood’

Postal worker who was killed while delivering mail remembered as the ‘mother to the neighborhood’

From the article: "...Police in Chicago are investigating after a United States Postal Service worker was shot and killed Friday. Police said the woman was delivering mail when someone in a car drove by and shot her. Officials are now looking for the person responsible for killing Octavia Redmond...."

Article Reference: www.waff.com

OPM | Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program Overview and FAQ

OPM | Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program Overview and FAQ

From the article: "...The Postal Service Health Benefits Program is a new program that will provide health insurance to eligible Postal Service employees, annuitants, and their eligible family members starting in 2025. ..."

Article Reference: www.opm.gov
Postal Service Health Benefits Program (PSHB), OPM,

USPS has released low-denomination flower stamps

USPS has released low-denomination flower stamps

From the article: "...The designs include tulips, daffodils, peonies and more...The stamps will be:

• One-cent Fringed Tulip, featuring one purple fringed tulip;

• Two-cent Daffodils, featuring two yellow daffodil blossoms;

• Three-cent Peonies, featuring three red peonies;

• Five-cent Red Tulips, featuring five red tulip blossoms;

• 10-cent Poppies and Coneflowers, featuring an array of 10 blossoms — six white poppies and four purple coneflowers — with a touch of greenery.

“These stamps will" ...

Article Reference: news.usps.com

This postmaster helped a customer trying to put out a lawnmower fire

This postmaster helped a customer trying to put out a lawnmower fire

From the article: "...Plymouth, OH, Postmaster Edward Blum recently came upon an older customer trying to extinguish a lawnmower fire by herself. The equipment was engulfed in flames, which were rising higher than a nearby shed. Blum guided the woman a safe distance away and..."

Article Reference: news.usps.com
Good Deeds,Edward Blum,

Transforming the USPS network | A new video showcases Atlanta's black Postal Service & processing and distribution changes

Transforming the USPS network | A new video showcases processing and distribution changes

From the article: "...The video also features comments from employees at the new Atlanta Regional Processing and Distribution Center (RPDC), including a truck driver, mail handler, expediter, surface logistics planner, and supervisors and managers. ..."

Article Reference: usps.com
processing and distribution changes, Video,

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