INSIDER
Mail carriers reach tentative contract with USPS that includes pay raises and air-conditioned trucks
Read full article: Mail carriers reach tentative contract with USPS that includes pay raises and air-conditioned trucksSome 200,000 letter carriers have reached a tentative contract deal with the U.S. Postal Service that includes backdated pay raises and a promise to provide workers with air-conditioned trucks.
Key swing state faces 'daunting' level of uncertainty after storm ravages multiple counties
Read full article: Key swing state faces 'daunting' level of uncertainty after storm ravages multiple countiesNorth Carolina election officials say they will do everything in their power to ensure that voters in the crucial presidential swing state will be able to cast their ballots despite the devastation of Hurricane Helene only about a month before the November election.
Postal Service chief frustrated at criticism, but promises 'heroic' effort to deliver mail ballots
Read full article: Postal Service chief frustrated at criticism, but promises 'heroic' effort to deliver mail ballotsThe U.S. Postal Service’s leader is expressing frustration with ongoing criticism of how it handles mail ballots.
Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff seeks more control over postmaster general after mail meltdown
Read full article: Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff seeks more control over postmaster general after mail meltdownAs the U.S. Postal Service faces delivery slowdowns, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Democrat from Georgia, has proposed legislation to impose stricter oversight on who leads the agency.
Election officials warn that widespread problems with the US mail system could disrupt voting
Read full article: Election officials warn that widespread problems with the US mail system could disrupt votingElection officials across the U.S. are warning that problems with the nation’s mail delivery system threaten to disenfranchise voters in the upcoming presidential election.
US Postal Service squeeze on shipping consolidators could raise consumer costs
Read full article: US Postal Service squeeze on shipping consolidators could raise consumer costsThe U.S. Postal Service is ending discounts that shipping consolidators such as UPS and DHL use to get packages to the nation’s doorsteps, in a move meant to help the Postal Service slow losses but that could see the higher costs passed on to consumers.
Shippers anticipate being able to meet holiday demand
Read full article: Shippers anticipate being able to meet holiday demandCarriers like the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx and United Parcel Service have capacity to meet projected demand this holiday season, which is cheery news for shoppers and shippers alike.
USPS touts crackdown on postal crime, carrier robberies, with hundreds of arrests
Read full article: USPS touts crackdown on postal crime, carrier robberies, with hundreds of arrestsThe U.S. Postal Service says law enforcement officials have charged more than 600 people with postal crimes since launching a crackdown in May.
From piñata to postage stamp, US celebrates centuries-old Hispanic tradition
Read full article: From piñata to postage stamp, US celebrates centuries-old Hispanic traditionThe U.S. Postal Service is rolling out its latest special edition postage stamps, paying homage to a Hispanic tradition that has evolved over centuries to become a universal symbol of celebration.
US Postal Service honors civil rights leader, Ponca tribe Chief Standing Bear, with stamp
Read full article: US Postal Service honors civil rights leader, Ponca tribe Chief Standing Bear, with stampA Ponca tribe chief whose landmark lawsuit in 1879 established that a Native American is a person under the law was honored with the unveiling of a U.S. Postal Service stamp that features his portrait.
US Postal Service taking new steps to prevent carrier robberies, stolen mail
Read full article: US Postal Service taking new steps to prevent carrier robberies, stolen mailThe U.S. Postal Service is replacing thousands of antiquated keys used by postal carriers and installing thousands of high-security collection boxes to stop a surge in robberies and mail thefts.
US Postal Service touts performance during 2022 election
Read full article: US Postal Service touts performance during 2022 electionThe U.S. Postal Service says it delivered more than 54 million ballots during the midterm elections, with nearly 99% of ballots delivered to election officials within three days.
Federal judge faults Postmaster General DeJoy in mail delays
Read full article: Federal judge faults Postmaster General DeJoy in mail delaysA federal judge has set limits on one of the Postal Service’s cost-cutting practices that contributed to a slowdown of mail deliveries ahead of the 2020 presidential election.
San Antonio man arrested for allegedly robbing US Postal Service workers, feds say
Read full article: San Antonio man arrested for allegedly robbing US Postal Service workers, feds sayA local man was arrested in connection with a series of U.S. Postal Service robberies in San Antonio and Austin, federal authorities said.
Govt watchdog faults Postal Service analysis of new trucks
Read full article: Govt watchdog faults Postal Service analysis of new trucksA government watchdog says the U.S. Postal Service's environmental evaluation used for purchases of next-generation delivery vehicles relied on some false assumptions.
Postmaster General says he's been cleared in federal probe
Read full article: Postmaster General says he's been cleared in federal probePostmaster General Louis DeJoy says the Justice Department has closed without criminal charges an investigation into political fundraising activity at his former business.
House Dems seek probe of USPS plan for new mail truck fleet
Read full article: House Dems seek probe of USPS plan for new mail truck fleetDemocrats on the House Oversight Committee are seeking an investigation into a U.S. Postal Service plan to replace its aging mail trucks with mostly gasoline-powered vehicles.
3 employees killed in shooting at postal facility in Memphis
Read full article: 3 employees killed in shooting at postal facility in MemphisThe three U.S. Postal Service workers who died in a shooting at a Tennessee sorting facility included a supervisor, a manager and a letter carrier temporarily assigned to the postal annex.
Critics: Postal Service plans imperil community newspapers
Read full article: Critics: Postal Service plans imperil community newspapersThe U.S. Postal Service’s plans to raise postage rates could present one more damaging blow to community newspapers already reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and advertising declines.
Postal Service looks to raise first-class stamp to 58 cents
Read full article: Postal Service looks to raise first-class stamp to 58 centsThe U.S. Postal Service wants to raises rates on first-class stamps from 55 cents to 58 cents as part of a host of price hikes and service changes designed to reduce debt for the beleaguered agency.
AP Interview: Disinformation concerns mail voting expert
Read full article: AP Interview: Disinformation concerns mail voting expertAmber McReynolds, the CEO of the National Vote at Home Institute, tells The Associated Press in an interview that she is concerned about disinformation, attacks on election officials and lack of uniform national standards for basic elements of conducting an election.
United will pay $49 million to settle air mail fraud case
Read full article: United will pay $49 million to settle air mail fraud caseFILE - In this Oct. 14, 2020 file photo, United Airlines employees work at ticket counters in Terminal 1 at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. United Airlines will pay more than $49 million to settle criminal and civil accusations of defrauding the post office in the handling of international mail. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)United Airlines will pay more than $49 million to avoid criminal prosecution and settle civil charges of defrauding the U.S. Chicago-based United agreed to pay nearly $17.3 million in criminal penalties and forfeited revenue to end the criminal investigation, and separately United will pay $32.2 million in related civil penalties, according to the Justice Department. United and several other U.S. airlines trace their roots to air mail delivery contracts in the early part of the last century, and mail remains a source of revenue for them.
Election of Democratic chair portends change at post office
Read full article: Election of Democratic chair portends change at post officePostal Service's stretch of challenges didn't end with the November general election and tens of millions of mail-in votes. Postal Service Board of Governors, marking the first step in a potential shakeup under President Joe Biden. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., a New Jersey Democrat, wants Biden to fire the entire Postal Service Board of Governors for what he called dereliction of duty. All of that mail helped the Postal Service improve its quarterly financial performance, officials said Tuesday. Fredric Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, said the pandemic has given postal carriers an opportunity to shine.
'Unprecedented' mail volume delays Christmas gifts
Read full article: 'Unprecedented' mail volume delays Christmas giftsSome Christmas gift-givers discovered their presents didn't arrive in time for the holiday despite ordering weeks ahead. Postal Service says it faces "unprecedented volume increases and limited employee availability due to the impacts of COVID-19. It hadn’t reached his father after the Postal Service passed through his neighborhood Thursday night, even though he was notified Dec. 8 that it was shipped by two-day priority mail. Joanna Goldstein ordered Christmas ornaments online Nov. 17 for her 10-year-old son’s soccer coach and her son’s friend. All appeared well Dec. 11 when she received a notice from the Postal Service that the ornaments had been received in Columbus, Ohio.
No sleigh and reindeer? Better ship Christmas gifts early this year
Read full article: No sleigh and reindeer? Better ship Christmas gifts early this yearSAN ANTONIO – Unless you have a sleigh and reindeer at your disposal, you‘d be wise to ship Christmas presents early this year as the U.S. Employees were as busy as elves Thursday at The UPS Store on Wurzbach Road in San Antonio. That’s the cutoff date for ground shipping for USPS, UPS, and FedEx. You will still be able to mail and ship after that, but it will cost you. Many retailers are urging customers to shop and ship early and take advantage of curbside pickup if available.
2020 Latest: Biden says 'no one' will take US democracy away
Read full article: 2020 Latest: Biden says 'no one' will take US democracy awayThe nation is waiting to learn whether Biden or Trump will collect the 270 electoral votes needed to capture the presidency. As the hearing unfolded Thursday evening, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden were locked in a tight battle for the 20 electoral votes in Pennsylvania. Trump last appeared in public early Wednesday, when he falsely declared victory over Democrat Joe Biden in the presidential race. The presidential race has not yet been called because neither Trump nor Biden has yet collected the requisite 270 Electoral College votes. Still, Trump’s campaign has held out hope that continued counting in Arizona could overcome a Biden lead in the state.
After judge's order, Postal Service sweep finds 13 ballots
Read full article: After judge's order, Postal Service sweep finds 13 ballotsPostal Service inspectors found just 13 ballots — all in Pennsylvania — during an Election Day sweep of mail processing centers ordered by a federal judge. The ballots were found in two separate mail processing facilities and were expedited for delivery to local election offices, according to court records filed Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in Washington, D.C., had given the Postal Service until Tuesday afternoon to search 27 facilities in several battleground areas for outstanding ballots and immediately deliver any ballots discovered to election offices. Justice Department attorneys representing the Postal Service said they could not meet the judge's order without disrupting the agency's own Election Day operations. Instead, they are expedited directly to the boards of elections,” Postal Service spokesman Dave Partenheimer said.
EXPLAINER: Postal Service, judge at odds over ballot search
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Postal Service, judge at odds over ballot searchPostal Service says it can't meet a federal judge’s order to sweep processing centers for undelivered mail-in ballots. THE BACKGROUND:U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan's order came after weeks of bruising court decisions for an agency that has become heavily politicized under its new leader, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. Much of Sullivan’s order hinged on postal data showing roughly 300,000 mail-in ballots in several states had not received scans showing they had been delivered. The Postal Service said it had already conducted rounds of morning checks at all its processing hubs. Further, the agency said has been performing daily reviews of all 220 facilities handling election mail and planned another sweep hours before polling places closed Tuesday.
2020 Latest: Biden campaign willing to fight Trump in court
Read full article: 2020 Latest: Biden campaign willing to fight Trump in courtPresident Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, are in a tight battle for the White House. ___2:40 a.m.President Donald Trump is vowing to ask the Supreme Court to weigh in on the inconclusive election. Nebraska, one of two states that divides its electoral votes, has five total electoral votes up for grabs. The Republican nominee on Wednesday was awarded six electoral votes from Iowa and three electoral votes from Montana. Biden nets 74 electoral votes for the three Western states, while Trump takes four electoral votes from Idaho.
Judge orders Postal Service to take extraordinary measures
Read full article: Judge orders Postal Service to take extraordinary measuresPostal Service facility in McLean, Va. A U.S. judge on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, blocked controversial Postal Service changes that have slowed mail nationwide. The judge called them "a politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Service" before the November election. Postal Service to take “extraordinary measures” to deliver ballots in time to be counted in Wisconsin and around Detroit, including using a priority mail service. “The Postal Service continues to implement extraordinary measures across the country to advance and expedite the delivery of the nation’s ballots." Postal Service that challenged the Postal Service's so-called “leave behind” policy, where trucks have been leaving postal facilities on time regardless of whether there is more mail to load.
Battleground postal delays persist with mail voting underway
Read full article: Battleground postal delays persist with mail voting underwayPostal Service records show delivery delays have persisted across the country as millions of Americans began voting by mail, raising the possibility of ballots being rejected because they arrive too late. Postal Service records show delivery delays have persisted across the country as millions of Americans are voting by mail, raising the possibility of ballots being rejected because they arrive too late. The agency also announced it will treat election mail as first-class, which had previously been an informal policy. Other battleground areas also showed problems in early October, with delivery rates of first-class mail below the national average. Postal delays also could compound existing issues that have cropped up in recent weeks as election officials manage the unpreceded surge in mail voting with deadlines looming.
Snail mail? What we found when we mailed 100 letters in San Antonio
Read full article: Snail mail? What we found when we mailed 100 letters in San AntonioSo, we tested the Postal Service, stuffing, stamping and mailing 100 letter-sized envelopes to a centrally-located post office box that we rented. We fanned out across Bexar County, dropping our letters in home mailboxes, cluster boxes, USPS blue boxes and post office mail slots. It took three more mail delivery days to receive the bulk of our letters — 74 of them came on day six. Those measures include extra deliveries, Sunday deliveries and running collected ballots to the Boards of Elections on Election Day. Postal Service:
Postal Service agrees to reverse service changes
Read full article: Postal Service agrees to reverse service changesPostal Service agreed Wednesday to reverse changes that slowed mail service nationwide, settling a lawsuit filed by Montana Gov. The agreement also requires the Postal Service to prioritize election mail. “The Postal Service was willing to resolve this matter because it has always been our goal to ensure that anyone who chooses to utilize the mail to vote can do so successfully,” said Postal Service spokesperson David Rupert in a statement. “This settlement underscores our unwavering commitment to that principle and to our important role in the nation’s electoral process.”The agreement comes after a federal judge temporarily blocked the controversial Postal Service changes on Sept. 17, calling the changes “a politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Service” before the November election. Postal Service.
Postal Service agrees to reverse service changes
Read full article: Postal Service agrees to reverse service changesPostal Service agreed Wednesday to reverse changes that slowed mail service nationwide, settling a lawsuit filed by Montana Gov. The agreement also requires the Postal Service to prioritize election mail. Postal Service did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The agreement comes after a federal judge temporarily blocked the controversial Postal Service changes on Sept. 17, calling the changes “a politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Service” before the November election. Postal Service.
Will mailed-in ballots be delivered on time?
Read full article: Will mailed-in ballots be delivered on time?Postal officials have repeatedly said the agency has more than enough capacity to handle the surge of ballots this fall, and its leaders have committed to prioritizing election mail. On top of that, each state has different rules on whether it accepts mail ballots that arrive after Election Day. Then, not too long after DeJoy took over, Trump openly admitted he was starving the Postal Service of coronavirus relief money to make it harder for the agency to process ballots. The Postal Service agreed Wednesday to reverse changes that had slowed mail service nationwide, settling a lawsuit filed by Montana Gov. AP’s Advance Voting guide brings you the facts about voting early, by mail or absentee from each state: https://interactives.ap.org/advance-voting-2020.
Man arrested after unprovoked attack on postal worker had grievance against USPS, police say
Read full article: Man arrested after unprovoked attack on postal worker had grievance against USPS, police saySAN ANTONIO – A 54-year-old man was arrested after he attacked a U.S. Postal Service worker who was delivering mail at his apartment complex, according to San Antonio police. The worker told police he didn’t hear or see Kelly prior to the attack. Investigators said Kelly had “a longtime grievance against the Postal Service” and he “acted upon that grievance," the affidavit states. RELATED: 26-year-old man charged with super aggravated sexual assault of a child, police say
US judge orders stop to Postal Service cuts, echoing others
Read full article: US judge orders stop to Postal Service cuts, echoing othersPHILADELPHIA – A federal judge in Philadelphia joined others Monday in ordering a halt to recent Postal Service cuts that critics say are causing mail delays and threatening the integrity of the presidential election. Postal Service itself that shows “a pronounced increase in mail delays across the country” since July, the judge found. The Postal Service, in response, called election mail the agency's “number one priority." Shapiro was joined in the Philadelphia case by attorneys general in California, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina and the District of Columbia. In the Washington case, which involved several presidential election battleground states, U.S. District Judge Stanley Bastian said state officials had made a “strong showing” that the Trump administration was using the Postal Service “as a tool in partisan politics.”
Judge: Postal Service must process election mail on time
Read full article: Judge: Postal Service must process election mail on timePostal Service to live up to its responsibilities to timely process election mail. The Monday, Sept. 21 written decision by Judge Victor Marrero came after several individuals including candidates for public office sued. Postal Service to process election mail. Officials at the Postal Service are reviewing the ruling, spokesperson Marti Johnson said in a written statement. “There should be no doubt, however, that the Postal Service is ready and fully committed to handling expected increased volumes of Election Mail between now and the conclusion of the November 3rd election,” the statement said.
US judge blocks Postal Service changes that slowed mail
Read full article: US judge blocks Postal Service changes that slowed mailPostal Service facility in McLean, Va. A U.S. judge on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, blocked controversial Postal Service changes that have slowed mail nationwide. Scott Applewhite, File)SEATTLE – A U.S. judge on Thursday blocked controversial Postal Service changes that have slowed mail nationwide, calling them “a politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Service” before the November election. Postal Service. They also sought to force the Postal Service to treat election mail as first class mail. “There's been a lot of confusion in the briefing and in the press about what the Postal Service has done,” Borson said.
Dem report: Postal Service changes delay prescription drugs
Read full article: Dem report: Postal Service changes delay prescription drugsFILE - In this Aug. 24, 2020, file photo, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testifies during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on the Postal Service on Capitol Hill in Washington. Postal Service operations, according to a report released Wednesday by Senate Democrats. The Postal Service had no immediate comment. In a letter to the Postal Service Board of Governors, the senators urged quick action to reverse these lapses in services," which they said "represent an ongoing public health threat.'' We know Louis DeJoy is sabotaging the Postal Service, Warren said.
No turning back in the state that pioneered voting by mail
Read full article: No turning back in the state that pioneered voting by mailBut for election officials and voters in Oregon, which pioneered all vote-by-mail in the nation 20 years ago, there's no turning back to the old way of having people cast ballots in person at neighborhood polling places. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)SALEM, Ore. Running an election by mail is a major undertaking, involving the U.S. But for election officials and voters in Oregon which pioneered all vote-by-mail in the nation 20 years ago theres no turning back to the old way of having people cast ballots at neighborhood polling places. State Elections Director Steve Trout said officials from around 30 states have asked him for advice about expanding mail-in voting. Election officials here believe other states can do similar pivots so they can offer voting by mail noting that all states already have absentee voting in some form.
Thousands of chicks arrive dead to farmers amid USPS turmoil
Read full article: Thousands of chicks arrive dead to farmers amid USPS turmoilPORTLAND, Maine At least 4,800 chicks shipped to Maine farmers through the U.S. Postal Service have arrived dead in the recent weeks since rapid cuts hit the federal mail carrier's operations, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree said. The Postal Services media contact for the Eastern U.S. did not immediately return a Press Herald reporters message Wednesday. The Postal Service is the only entity that ships live chicks and other small animals and has done so since 1918, according to the services website. Rural Americans, including agricultural producers, disproportionately rely on USPS for their livelihoods, and it is essential that they receive reliable service, Pingree said.
In Texas, USPS woes and state deadlines could leave voters without enough time to return mail-in ballots
Read full article: In Texas, USPS woes and state deadlines could leave voters without enough time to return mail-in ballotsBut the small number of voters who missed the cutoff to submit mail-in ballots on time also highlighted longstanding disconnects between state election law and the realities of the U.S. Postal Service recommends that Texans ask for mail-in ballots no later than 15 days out from that due date. Aided by the election funding her county received through the federal coronavirus relief package, Carew hired an election worker solely dedicated to mail-in ballots. To return their ballots, voters can either rely on the postal service or drop them off in person at their county elections offices. Texas voters will also be able to drop off their completed ballots at county election offices.
Thousands of chicks arrive dead to farmers amid USPS turmoil
Read full article: Thousands of chicks arrive dead to farmers amid USPS turmoilPORTLAND, Maine At least 4,800 chicks shipped to Maine farmers through the U.S. Postal Service have arrived dead in recent weeks after rapid cuts hit the federal mail carrier's operations, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree said. Postal Service. The Postal Service is the only entity that ships live chicks and other small animals and has done so since 1918, according to the services website. Rural Americans, including agricultural producers, disproportionately rely on USPS for their livelihoods, and it is essential that they receive reliable service, Pingree said.
Mail-delivery concerns put spotlight on ballot deadlines
Read full article: Mail-delivery concerns put spotlight on ballot deadlinesThe mail-in ballot deadlines are tight in the best of times. Georgia voters can request a ballot by mail until four days before the Nov. 3 election, with completed ballots due by 7 p.m. on Election Day. New Jersey ballots mailed on Election Day must be received within 48 hours of polls closing. Other states also are seeing conflicts between state officials and lawmakers over changing ballot deadlines. LaRose is urging voters to submit applications no later than Oct. 27, rather than waiting until the Saturday before Election Day.
Postal Service halts some changes amid outcry, lawsuits
Read full article: Postal Service halts some changes amid outcry, lawsuitsSeveral vowed they would press on, keeping a watchful eye on the Postal Service ahead of the election. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing ahead with Saturdays vote to prevent election-year mail changes and provide emergency postal funds. A Postal Service spokesman declined to comment beyond DeJoys statement. Ferguson and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced they were leading collections of other states in suing to block service changes at the Postal Service, just as the postmaster was making his own statement Tuesday. The Postal Service is among the nations oldest and more popular institutions.
Amid outcry, postmaster general to testify before House
Read full article: Amid outcry, postmaster general to testify before HouseFILE - In this Aug. 5, 2020, file photo Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, left, is escorted to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Postal Service said it has stopped removing mailboxes and mail-sorting machines amid an outcry from lawmakers. I have encouraged everybody: Speed up the mail, not slow the mail.Embattled Postmaster General Louis DeJoy will testify next Monday before Congress, along with the chairman of the Postal Service board of governors. The package will also include $25 billion to shore up the Postal Service, which faces continued financial losses. "Dont tell me or others that youre just trying to make the post office make money.
Asia shares mixed after tech rally takes S&P 500 near record
Read full article: Asia shares mixed after tech rally takes S&P 500 near recordA man wearing a face mask walks past a bank's electronic board showing the Hong Kong share index at Hong Kong Stock Exchange Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. Shares were mixed in Asia on Tuesday, after buying of technology stocks nudged the S&P 500 closer to the record high it set in February before the pandemic crunched the global economy. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)Shares were mixed in Asia on Tuesday, after buying of technology stocks nudged the S&P 500 closer to the record high it set in February before the pandemic crunched the global economy. Still, on Monday the S&P 500 picked up 9.14 points, or 0.3%, to 3,381.99. Tech stocks across the S&P 500 climbed 0.5%, accounting for about two-thirds of the index's gain.
Postmaster general to appear before Senate over mail delays
Read full article: Postmaster general to appear before Senate over mail delays(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)WASHINGTON Backlash mounting, President Donald Trump's embattled Postmaster General Louis DeJoy will appear Friday before the Senate to testify on mail delivery delays and service changes that lawmakers and others are warning could imperil the November election. The top Democrat on the Homeland Security panel seeking DeJoy's testimony called the Postal Service a lifeline to Americans. The package will also include $25 billion to shore up the Postal Service, which faces continued financial losses. The Postal Service said it has stopped removing mailboxes and mail-sorting machines following complaints from lawmakers and customers. Meanwhile, the Postal Service is seeking a short-term rate increase that would raise prices on commercial domestic competitive parcels, including Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, first-class package service, Parcel Select and Parcel Return Service.
Ballot drop boxes seen as a way to bypass the post office
Read full article: Ballot drop boxes seen as a way to bypass the post officeWashington state election officials said that there are 450 drop boxes statewide, and there are discussions about adding more. Typical security measures for drop boxes include video surveillance, locks, tamper-resistant seals and chain-of-custody logs that are completed each time ballots are collected. In Pennsylvania, a federal lawsuit by the Trump campaign and Republican National Committee has cast drop boxes into a legal gray area. Democratic state lawmakers are countersuing to get a judge to clarify that drop boxes are legal. Suburban Delaware County is plowing ahead with its plans for drop boxes without waiting for the outcome of the legal dispute, said County Council member Christine Reuther, a Democrat.
2020 Watch: Democrats begin their all-virtual convention
Read full article: 2020 Watch: Democrats begin their all-virtual conventionWhat were watching heading into a new week on the 2020 campaign:Days to general election: 78Days to first debate: 43___THE NARRATIVEThe first national political convention of the coronavirus era has arrived. President Donald Trump is working to step on the Democrats' convention and prevent Biden from earning any convention polling bounce. The Republican president launches a campaign tour on Monday that features in-person stops in three swing states, including Wisconsin. Forced to abandon their in-person convention in Milwaukee because of the pandemic, Democrats begin their all-virtual affair on Monday night. Biden won't be in Wisconsin for the Democrats' convention as initially planned this week, but Trump will.
House Dems summon postal leaders to hearing on mail delays
Read full article: House Dems summon postal leaders to hearing on mail delaysFILE - In this Aug. 5, 2020, file photo Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, left, is escorted to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)BEDMINSTER, N.J. The Democratic-run House on Sunday demanded that leaders of the U.S. Postal Service testify at an emergency oversight hearing Aug. 24 on mail delays as concerns grow that the Trump White House is trying to undermine the agency during the coronavirus pandemic while states expand mail-in voting options for the November presidential election. The House Oversight and Reform Committee said it wants to hear from new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and from the chair of the Postal Service board of governors, Robert Duncan. On Saturday, Trump tried to massage his message, saying he supports increasing money for the Postal Service.
Trump admits he's blocking postal cash to stop mail-in votes
Read full article: Trump admits he's blocking postal cash to stop mail-in votesPostal Service of money in order to make it harder to process an expected surge of mail-in ballots, which he worries could cost him the election. He's pairing the tough Postal Service stance in congressional negotiations with an increasingly robust mail-in-voting legal fight in states that could decide the election. That followed legal maneuvers in battleground Pennsylvania, where the campaign hopes to force changes to how the state collects and counts mail-in ballots. That figure, which would include money to help with election mail, is down from a $25 billion plan in a House-passed coronavirus measure. Judy Beard, legislative and political director for the American Postal Workers Union, said postal workers are up to the task of delivering mail-in ballots this year.
5 Things to Know for Today
Read full article: 5 Things to Know for TodayA man shows bruises he says were left by police beating after being released from a detention center where protesters were detained during a mass rally following the presidential election in Minsk, Belarus, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. Belarusian authorities have released more than 1,000 people detained during a violent police crackdown on protests and many talked about brutal beatings and other abuse by police. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:1. Postal Service of funding to make it harder to process an expected surge in mail-in ballots that he worries could cost him reelection. BELARUS FREES DETAINEES AMID PRESSURE Belarusian authorities release about 1,000 people detained during demonstrations contesting the results of the presidential election as anger mounts against a brutal crackdown on protesters.
Lawmakers: Postal changes delay mail-order medicine for vets
Read full article: Lawmakers: Postal changes delay mail-order medicine for vetsPostal Service facility in McLean, Va. Postal Service. Postal Service are taking a toll on military veterans, who are reporting much longer wait times to receive mail-order prescription drugs, according to Democratic senators. The lawmakers called on DeJoy to reassess the impact of the postal changes on veterans and urged him to work with VA Secretary Robert Wilkie to reduce delays. Those who gave so much to serve this country should be able to count on the nations Postal Service to deliver their medications in a timely manner, the lawmakers wrote Friday.
Report: Post Office warns 46 states about mail voting delays
Read full article: Report: Post Office warns 46 states about mail voting delaysFILE - In this July 31, 2020, file photo, letter carriers load mail trucks for deliveries at a U.S. Postal Service facility in McLean, Va. Postal Service. The Postal Service is bracing for an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. A spokesman for the Postal Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump: Widespread mail-in voting hard without funding USPS
Read full article: Trump: Widespread mail-in voting hard without funding USPSWASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Thursday that he opposes additional funding for the U.S. Trump also falsely stated that Democrats were pushing for universal mail-in voting and made the unfounded claim that mail-in voting would lead to massive voter fraud in the November election. Postal Service and election security ahead of the November election. They want $25 billion billion for the post office, he said, adding that, without it, the Postal Service won't be equipped to handle the influx of mail-in ballots. Democrats have pushed for $10 billion for the Postal Service in talks with Republicans on a huge COVID-19 response bill.
Postal Service emerges as flash point heading into election
Read full article: Postal Service emerges as flash point heading into electionPostal Service facility in McLean, Va. Postal Service. Postal Service. DeJoy has said repeatedly that the Postal Service is in a financially untenable position and needs to rein in expenses. Additional records obtained by AP outline upcoming reductions of hours at post offices, including closures during lunch and on Saturdays.
Senator launches investigation into Postal Service delays
Read full article: Senator launches investigation into Postal Service delaysPostal Service that are causing delays in mail deliveries across the country just as big volume increases are expected for mail-in election voting. Trump, a vocal critic of the Postal Service, contended Wednesday that "the Post Office doesnt have enough time to handle a significant increase in mail-in ballots. Democrats are calling for the Postal Service to rescind the restrictions on overtime and other operational changes, and they have pushed for $10 billion for the Postal Service in talks with Republicans on a huge COVID-19 response bill. David Partenheimer, a spokesman for the Postal Service, declined to comment on DeJoys meeting with Democrats. Partenheimer disputed reports that the Postal Service is slowing down election mail or any other mail.
House panel calls new postal chief to explain mail delays
Read full article: House panel calls new postal chief to explain mail delaysPostal Service that are causing delays in mail deliveries across the country. The Postal Service and Treasury Department announced an agreement in principle on loan terms last week, with a formal agreement expected in the next few weeks. If postal distribution centers are running late, they will keep the mail for the next day, Postal Service leaders say in a document obtained by The Associated Press. Democratic lawmakers have demanded answers from DeJoy following complaints from constituents about mail service delays and other problems. Under new social distancing mandates, the Postal Service has become even more essential in keeping rural communities connected and economically viable.''
Natalia post office to reopen Monday after 2018 fire destroyed building
Read full article: Natalia post office to reopen Monday after 2018 fire destroyed buildingNATALIA, Texas Flames forced the Natalia post office to close for nearly two years, and now its ready to reopen. In August 2018, a utility pole fell on top of the post office building before sparking a fire. Customers had to go to a post office in Lytle to send and receive their mail after the fire. The post office will be open from 9 a.m. to noon and then again from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. box key can do so this Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the post office.
Senator, union leader: Postal Service considers downsizing
Read full article: Senator, union leader: Postal Service considers downsizingA recent document from the Postal Service, obtained by The Associated Press, described the need for an "operational pivot" to make the cash-strapped agency financially stable. The logical conclusion is that hes going to try to close some post offices, Dimondstein said of the postmaster general's belt-tightening strategies. The coronavirus pandemic has created further strain on Postal Service finances. The money was intended to help the Postal Service maintain essential services during the pandemic. Later Wednesday, Treasury announced it had reached agreement with the Postal Service on the terms of any future borrowing but also said the service was able to fund its operations at this time without using a loan.
Mail-in ballots thrust Postal Service into presidential race
Read full article: Mail-in ballots thrust Postal Service into presidential raceUnlike its private competitors, the Postal Service cannot refuse to make costly deliveries to especially hard-to-reach addresses. Amid the pandemic, however, the Postal Service lost $4.5 billion in fiscal year 2020's second quarter. Since then, though, the Postal Service and the Treasury Department have had discussions about requirements to actually extend those loans. A 2018 Treasury Department task force also recommended the Postal Service increase package rates and cut labor costs. The Postal Service consistently ranks as Americans' favorite federal agency, with recent approval ratings topping 90%.
Still haven’t gotten your stimulus check? Some things you can check on in the meantime
Read full article: Still haven’t gotten your stimulus check? Some things you can check on in the meantimeImportant question: Have you gotten your stimulus check yet? In fact, most people don’t need to take any action, and will automatically receive the payment. Let’s talk through the tools available to investigate what might be holding up your check, prepaid debit card or direct deposit. You’re eligible for the Economic Impact Payment, right? Here’s a detailed list you should triple-check just to make sure you’re eligible for the payment, and see how much you should receive.
Free USPS program will alert you when your stimulus check is coming
Read full article: Free USPS program will alert you when your stimulus check is comingPostal Service offers a free service that can help. If you get a picture of an IRS envelope, you know it is likely your stimulus check. If their Informed Delivery notification shows you only received junk mail, there’s no need to go out and pick it up. Once you sign up, the USPS says it typically takes about three business days to start receiving those notification emails. Not every address is eligible for Informed Delivery.
Want your package to arrive by Christmas 2019? A guide to all your shipping deadlines
Read full article: Want your package to arrive by Christmas 2019? A guide to all your shipping deadlinesPostal ServiceDec. 14: USPS Retail Ground shipments ✅Dec. 18: Alaska to mainland First-Class Mail ✅Dec. 19: Hawaii to mainland First-Class Mail and Priority Mail, also Alaska Priority Mail ✅*There’s still time for dates below! Dec. 20: First-Class Mail ServiceDec. 21: Priority Mail; Also deadline for Alaska and Hawaii to the mainland through Priority Mail ExpressDec. 23: Priority Mail ExpressTrying to send something overseas or to a member of the military? Click or tap here to check out the guide we followed from USPS, and to learn more about your mailing specifics and guidelines. FedExDec. 9: SmartPost ✅Dec. 16: Ground and home delivery ✅Dec. 19: Express Saver ✅*There’s still time for the dates below! As for Amazon deadlines, you’re likely looking at Dec. 22 or Dec. 23, depending on if you’re a Prime member, where you live and what you’re ordering.