Friday, August 30, 2024

USPS offers update on election efforts | The organization outlines plans to repeat its 2020 and 2022 successes

USPS offers update on election efforts | The organization outlines plans to repeat its 2020 and 2022 successes

From the article: "...USPS officials also said that the organization will implement extraordinary measures from Oct. 21 to Nov. 15 to make sure mail-in ballots are delivered close to or on Election Day or by a state’s ballot return deadline. This includes additional pickups, extra deliveries and employing special features on processing equipment to expedite and enhance ballot delivery. “Since late last year, the Postal Service has met regularly with stakeholders across the Election Mail landscape, including state and local election administrators; postal unions and management associations; federal agencies and Congress; the mailing industry; and nongovernmental organizations,” said Adrienne Marshall, the Postal Service’s election and government mail services director. The Postal Inspection Service also described its plans to ensure the secure delivery of all mail-in ballots. ..."


Article Reference: usps.com

Monday, August 26, 2024

Slowing of the Mail | US Postal Service Plans to Change Mail Delivery Times

US Postal Service Plans to Change Mail Delivery Times

From the article: "...U.S. Postal Service (USPS) may slow down delivery times to some customers as it seeks to shave billions from its annual operations expenditure. ... "Depending on location, time and distance, expected time to deliver will increase for some ZIP code pairs," the release reads. Exactly how many zip codes could be affected is not reported. Newsweek has contacted the USPS for clarification via email. ..."


Article Reference: www.newsweek.com
Delay of Mail,

Monday, August 19, 2024

On Lake Geneva, the mail comes by boat

On Lake Geneva, the mail comes by boat

From the article: "...Known as jumpers, these special carriers leap from the moving boat onto piers to run the mail to mailboxes, collect outgoing mail and then jump back onto the boat, which is moving at 5 mph. The jumpers serve 75 homes along the shore. ... Applicants are also required to have at least one year of experience as an employee of the Lake Geneva Cruise Line, which operates the mailboat. ... USPS resumes normal delivery for the lakeside addresses once the season, which runs mid-June to mid-September, ends. ..."


Article Reference: usps.com

Thursday, August 8, 2024

A letter can have a huge impact | Man writes a final heartbreaking letter to granddaughter and it has left the internet sobbing

Man writes a final heartbreaking letter to granddaughter and it has left the internet sobbing

From the article: "...Grandpa advised her to get a good education and not let anyone's persuasion trick her into making wrong decisions. He told her to avoid temptations and navigate through peer pressure if her friends try to make her take drugs. Only staying true to her beliefs will help her in those situations. "I expect you will get interested in boys and start having boyfriends when you get older. Pick them well and make sure you only go out with boys that are good to you and are interested in you for yourself," the letter further read. ..."


Article Reference: scoop.upworthy.com
Beautiful Stories, Impact of Letters,Good Deeds,Good Advice, Love,

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Nashville postal worker placed on non-duty status after seen allegedly dumping mail in viral TikTok

Nashville postal worker placed on non-duty status after seen allegedly dumping mail in viral TikTok

From the article: "...A TikTok posted by user Mrs_Denton19 shows what appears to be a USPS worker in Antioch dumping boxes of mail into a dumpster over the weekend. “You gots to be smarter than this! So if yall waiting on something important coming from through the southeast region of Nashville well its in my backyard dumpster,” the user wrote. ..."


Article Reference: www.wsmv.com

Monday, August 5, 2024

Two Former Postal Workers Charged with Stealing

Two Former Postal Workers Charged with Stealing U.S. Treasury Checks Valued at more than $4 Million from Kennedy Airport Mail Facility

From the article: "...Two Former Postal Workers Charged with Stealing U.S. Treasury Checks Valued at more than $4 Million from Kennedy Airport Mail Facility. ..."


Article Reference: www.google.com

Police arrest ex-postal worker in Cobb County | Stolen mail in a stolen car

Stolen mail in a stolen car: Police arrest ex-postal worker in Cobb County

From the article: "Stolen mail was found inside a stolen car. Cobb County police say the woman with the car used to work for the U.S. Postal Service. ...woman identified as 39-year-old Ebony Williams get in the vehicle. "It was a rental car. The rental car company had reported the car as stolen because the person who rented the car did not return the vehicle on purpose ..."


Article Reference: www.fox5atlanta.com

Will the Postal Service do a better job vetting employees than they have the last 3 years?

APWU | Better Staffing, Better Service

From the article: "...While there was considerable progress with a series of Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) regarding Function 1 mail processing staffing, we have not convinced management to increase the complement in retail. Too often this results in temporarily closed post offices due to a lack of proper staffing. Along with all other avenues, we must win the staffing battles in the streets with the support of the public. If you are ready to get more involved in this fight, go to apwu.org/better-postal-staffing. You can also reach out to campaign lead Sam Wood or email staffing@apwu.org. ..."


Article Reference: APWU

Saturday, August 3, 2024

Cults post office to shut just weeks after Peterculter branch closure

Cults post office to shut just weeks after Peterculter branch closure

From the article: "...Another post office in Aberdeen will soon be closing its doors with Cults set to lose its North Deeside Road branch.

Located within Will's Toy Shop, the post office serves Cults and surrounding areas including Bieldside and Milltimber.

The closure comes just weeks after it was announced the Peterculter branch would be shutting further along the A93, sending more customers to the Cults branch. ...

"


Article Reference: www.aberdeenlive.news

Thursday, August 1, 2024

Braves launch Hank Aaron week as USPS dedicates Aaron stamp

Braves launch Hank Aaron week as USPS dedicates Aaron stamp

Hank Aaron Stamp
From the article: "...The Atlanta Braves launched Hank Aaron Week on Wednesday when the U.S. Postal Service dedicated a commemorative forever stamp honoring Aaron during a ceremony at Truist Park. ..."


Article Reference: www.espn.com
Stamp Collecting, Hank Aaron Stamp,

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Investigating internal mail theft: USPS customer believes mail carrier cashed his $3,000 check

Investigating internal mail theft: USPS customer believes mail carrier cashed his $3,000 check

From the article: "...BALTIMORE — Mail theft continues to be a problem. Thieves are targeting collection boxes, doorsteps, even postal workers - assaulting and robbing them of arrow keys used to open communal mailboxes. ..."


Article Reference: www.wmar2news.com
Mail theft,Check Fraud,

Sunday, July 28, 2024

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

Saturday, July 27, 2024

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

Monday, July 22, 2024

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,

Sunday, July 21, 2024

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

Friday, July 19, 2024

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,

Thursday, July 18, 2024

USPS has released low-denomination flower stamps

USPS has released low-denomination flower stamps

USPS 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

Monday, July 15, 2024

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,

Thursday, July 11, 2024

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,

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

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

Thursday, July 4, 2024

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

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

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