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Tag: USPS

  • No, USPS letter is not a sign of impending martial law

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    After U.S. postal workers got a letter advising how to work during epidemics, hurricanes and civil unrest, social media posts spun the guidance into a conspiracy theory: Surely this was a sign of an approaching crisis or confirmation that President Donald Trump would impose martial law, they said.

    “So does the USPS postal service know something that we don’t?” asked one speaker in a TikTok.

    “Letter signals that an impending crisis of civil unrest or an epidemic could be imminent!” said an X post. “Government prepping while we’re in the dark?” 

    Some posts speculated that the USPS letter is a sign that President Donald Trump will impose martial law.

    The Jan. 5 memo from Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino is real. An American Postal Workers Union representative sent us a copy to confirm its authenticity. A U.S. Postal Service spokesperson said the letter was reissued; we found similar ones from 2020. 

    The letter says if essential workers aren’t exempted from local or state curfew orders or travel directives during emergencies, postal workers are governed by federal law and can continue to work during local or state curfew orders or travel directives. The letter instructs employees and contractors to carry an “essential service provider letter” explaining that they are exempt from restrictions that they can give to law enforcement should their activity come under question. 

    The Jan. 5 letter does not mention any specific crisis or current event and does not mention immigration enforcement, Trump or martial law, despite social media posts’ attempts to tie it to those topics.

    Many of the social media posts are dated after Jan. 7, when an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot Renee Good, a U.S. citizen, in Minneapolis. Protests against ICE intensified after the shooting.

    The speaker in a TikTok video speculated about whether the letter was related to ICE, asking, “Is the stage set? Is it a powder keg ready waiting to go?”

    The U.S. Postal Service website shows employees received similar letters in March, June, July and December of 2020 for the same purpose. Many states had travel or other restrictions because of the pandemic and some cities experienced civil unrest during protests after the murder of George Floyd, a Minneapolis man, by a police officer.

    Postal workers said in January social media post comments that they had also gotten such letters during hurricane season or snowstorms.

    Although Trump threatened Jan. 15 to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to Minneapolis protests, legal experts told PolitiFact in 2025 that invoking the Insurrection Act would not create what is commonly understood as martial law. 

    Trump has not said he will impose martial law, which typically means suspending civil law while the military takes control of civilian functions such as courts. The U.S. imposed martial law in Hawaii after the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and President Abraham Lincoln declared martial law in certain parts of the country during the Civil War.

    We rate the claim that a postal service letter sent to employees is a sign that Trump will impose martial law False.

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  • ‘I would’ve cried’: Texas woman orders new Hydrojugs. Then she catches USPS through the Ring camera

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    Most of us know the restless excitement of waiting for a package you finally splurged on, refreshing tracking updates like it’s a full-time job. You expect delays, maybe a porch pirate if the universe is feeling chaotic, but you don’t expect the delivery itself to be the thing that destroys it.

    According to one Texas woman, that’s exactly what happened, and of course, it involved her new TikTok-favorite Hydrojugs.

    Woman Catches USPS Driver in 4K

    TikTok creator Eileen (@eileenp06) went viral after posting the moment her long-awaited order met its unexpected fate.

    “POV: you’re excited for your new limited edition hydrojugs to arrive only for this to happen,” she writes in the video’s text overlay.

    The clip, now at more than 24.5 million views, shows her Ring camera capturing a USPS driver rolling up to her home, tossing the package out of the van window without stopping, and then unbelievably driving over it.

    He doesn’t hit the brakes or circle back immediately. Instead, he pulls forward, parks, steps out, picks up the flattened package, sets it neatly on the porch, and casually walks away as if nothing happened.

    “There goes my order,” she wrote in the caption.

    The Hydrojugs Miraculously Survive

    The wildest twist is what happened next.

    In a follow-up video, Eileen unboxes the two Hydrojugs, and they look shockingly alive.

    The first, the red sparkly Holly model, has a tiny dent at the bottom. The rest looks untouched.
    The second, the Espresso, looks completely perfect, not even a scratch.

    “If you’re thinking of getting a HydroJug, this is what one looks like after being completely ran over,” she writes, basically giving the brand the strongest durability review anyone could ask for.

    What Is This Brand?

    Hydrojugs are exactly what they sound like: oversized tumblers designed to make drinking water feel more intentional. They lean heavily into the “cute hydration” aesthetic with their fun colors, trendy drops, and limited-edition collections that TikTok treats like concert tickets.

    At this point, the brand has tens of thousands of tags across the app, and a surprising number of viral moments.

    The comments section came out swinging, shocked at the delivery technique but also low-key mourning the near loss of the jugs.

    One person wrote, “Nooo not the hydrojug.”

    Another added, “Usps are the laziest employees I’ve ever met, honest to god.”

    @eileenp06 There goes my order ??@HYDROJUG ♬ nothing beats a jet2 holiday – A7-BBH | MAN

    A third viewer tried to keep it practical: “Please go and show this to your postmaster at your post office. The driver is not supposed to do that.”

    “He really said: delivery AND destruction in one go,” chimed in the company Ring in the comments.

    The Mary Sue has reached out to Hydrojugs via their contact form, USPS via email, and Eileen via Instagram messages.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Ljeonida Mulabazi

    Ljeonida Mulabazi

    Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and her work can also be found at the Daily Dot.

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    Ljeonida Mulabazi

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  • USPS plans new price rises after $9-billion loss

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    The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) plans to increase shipping prices in January as it attempts to stabilize its finances while adapting to a rapidly changing postal delivery market. The proposed changes—which were recently approved by the service’s governors—follow the release of its fiscal year 2025 financial results, which showed losses of $9 billion, despite a fairly modest revenue growth.

    Why It Matters

    Unlike most federal entities, USPS operates without taxpayer funding, relying almost entirely on postage and shipping purchases from consumers and businesses. So, increasing shipping prices is likely an attempt by the service to generate additional revenue so it can maintain its nationwide mail and package delivery services.

    What To Know

    The USPS’s new shipping prices are set to take effect January 18, 2026, pending review by the Postal Regulatory Commission. The proposed changes will increase rates by 6.6 percent for Priority Mail, 5.1 percent for Priority Mail Express, 7.8 percent for USPS Ground Advantage, and 6 percent for Parcel Select. Despite these increases, USPS has established that prices for certain mail services—like first-class stamps—will not change in January, as these are adjusted based on the consumer price index.

    The rate changes come as USPS seeks to address ongoing financial challenges highlighted in its fiscal year 2025 financial results. The agency reported $80.5 billion in operating revenue—a 1.2 percent increase from 2024—driven largely by growth in its Ground Advantage service, which offers affordable ground delivery options for non-urgent packages, and past pricing adjustments.

    Despite higher revenue, USPS reported a $9 billion net loss for fiscal year 2025, a minor improvement over the previous year’s $9.5 billion deficit. The agency attributed its losses to rising labor and operational costs and structural financial challenges, despite seeing some reductions in transportation expenses.

    What People Are Saying

    Postmaster General David Steiner said: “To correct our financial imbalances, we must explore new revenue opportunities and public policy changes to improve our business model.”

    USPS chief financial officer Luke Grossmann said: “The financial results reflect the difficulties of our mandated cost structure and the continued decline in volume, offset to some degree by the Postal Service’s efforts to push back against those trends by aggressively managing the costs we can control and by the judicious use of our pricing authority.”

    What Happens Next

    The proposed shipping price increases will undergo formal review by the Postal Regulatory Commission. If approved, the changes will take effect on January 18, 2026, directly impacting shipping costs for businesses and individual customers across the U.S. 

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  • ‘We just can’t send anything to the United States’: American in France tries to mail letters to the U.S. Then a worker tells her it’s impossible

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    A woman living in France says she tried to mail a few cards to the U.S. and was met with a confusing surprise: postal workers told her they couldn’t do it.

    The TikToker, who goes by @movedtoeurope, posted a video about her experience that now has over 2.2 million views.

    Did France Block Her Letters to the U.S.?

    “So, fun fact,” she says at the top of the video, “we can’t mail letters to the United States anymore.”

    She explains that she’d gone to the post office to send a Halloween card to her parents, a condolences card to a friend, and a few other letters.

    After standing in line, she speaks to a postal worker. “She’s like, ‘Yeah, I don’t know why, but we just can’t send anything to the United States,’” the TikToker recalls. Confused, she tries to clarify what that means.

    She Googles the issue and sees a notice saying packages to the U.S. might be impacted due to new tariffs. “And I’m like, interesting,” she says.

    Still unsure, she visits a second post office with her husband in case she misunderstood because of the language barrier. “Maybe it was a translation error. Maybe my French just, like, misunderstood,” she says. But no—again, she’s told they can’t send mail to the U.S.

    “We can’t even send mail to the United States anymore in France,” she repeats. “Which is very concerning in terms of what the f is going on with the United States right now.”

    What’s Actually Going on With International Mail to the U.S.?

    While the situation sounds bizarre, there’s a reason behind it—though it might not make the whole thing less frustrating.

    As reported by The Guardian, several European countries temporarily suspended U.S.-bound postal services in late August 2025. That’s when the U.S. ended its so-called “de minimis” exemption, which previously allowed packages worth under $800 to enter duty-free.

    Now, every parcel is subject to import tariffs, regardless of value, which makes it significantly more expensive to send packages and more complicated for international carriers. Postal services must collect and transmit new customs data and may be liable for tariffs if they don’t.

    Because of the sudden policy shift, some national carriers—like France’s La Poste—temporarily stopped shipping anything to the U.S., even letters, while they restructured their systems.

    Although the changes officially applied to packages, not letters, some locations halted all outgoing U.S. mail to avoid mistakes.

    In a follow-up video, the TikToker says she eventually managed to send her letters by waiting in line at a third post office and speaking to someone directly, rather than using a self-service kiosk.

    Her comments section quickly filled with U.S. viewers just as confused as she was.

    “Texas here,” one wrote. “WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE EFF IS GOING ON EITHER!! We did not sign up for this. We did not vote for this.”

    Another person added, “ISOLATING IS PART OF ABUSIVE CONTROL.”

    One commenter pointed out a larger concern: “Is this going to impact mail-in voting from citizens abroad?” The creator responded, “OMG I just gasped. Didn’t even think of that. Here I am concerned about Halloween cards lol when HELLO we need to vote!”

    @movedtoeurope I guess they’ll get my Halloween cards next year #fyp #americanabroad #france #politics ♬ original sound – Moved to Europe

    Others noted they’ve seen similar delays. “None of us in the United States are aware of things like this. Everything is being censored,” one wrote. “Please keep sharing things like this.”

    Another added, “Okay this is strange because my husband sent post cards to family and friends from Vietnam and NO ONE got them. NO ONE.”

    The Mary Sue has reached out to @movedtoeurope for comment.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Ljeonida Mulabazi

    Ljeonida Mulabazi

    Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and her work can also be found at the Daily Dot.

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    Ljeonida Mulabazi

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  • Mail Handler Jobs Available In Portland – KXL

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    Acquired Through MGN Online on 07/01/2025

    PORTLAND, OR – If you are thinking about new line of work, the Postal Service has immediate openings for mail handlers at the Portland Regional Processing and Distribution Center.

    In addition to what is described as “good pay,” Postal Service jobs reportedly include health and life insurance options, pension benefits, a savings plan similar to a 401(k), vacation time, and sick leave.

    Applicants are welcome to apply at the recruitment center this coming Saturday, October 4th, 2025, between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.

    At the time of appointment, applicants must meet the following requirements:

    • 18 years old at the time of appointment
    • United States citizen, permanent resident, or citizen of American Samoa or other U.S. territory
    • Able to pass a criminal background check, drug screening, and medical assessment
    • Bring your driver’s license, education history with addresses, employment history for past 7 years, and DD214 if you are a veteran

    For additional information on how to apply for positions, go online to How to Apply for a Postal Service Jobs.

    More about:


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  • Can I still get a passport or driver’s license during the government shutdown?

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    U.S. congressional lawmakers have failed to agree on a spending package for the new fiscal year, which triggered a federal government shutdown on Wednesday.Many Americans are wondering how the shutdown will impact travel, and, specifically, how it will affect passport applications and driver’s license services. Here’s what we know.Are passports still being processed?Yes. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency responsible for overseeing the naturalization process, is primarily funded by application fees, meaning a lapse in funding at the federal government has minimal impacts on most passport and visa processing.What if I have a passport appointment with the United States Postal Service?The U.S. Postal Service is unaffected by a government shutdown. It’s an independent entity funded through the sale of its products and services, not by tax dollars. You can still make appointments for new passport applications, passport renewals and photo services on the USPS website.Can I still get a driver’s license or REAL ID?You can still get a driver’s license or REAL ID during a government shutdown.That’s because motor vehicle departments are primarily funded and operated through state budgets.This means you can also make an appointment or visit one of your state’s driver’s license centers to receive a REAL ID with proper paperwork. The shutdown will not stop Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees from enforcing the REAL ID Act in U.S. airports and other federal facilities.TSA officers are typically deemed essential and must remain on the job, though they are not paid. What about visas?Agency spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said in a statement, however, that the shutdown does temporarily shutter the agency’s E-Verify program, a free online system that employers can use to confirm their new employees are authorized to work in the U.S.The Associated Press and CNN contributed to this report.

    U.S. congressional lawmakers have failed to agree on a spending package for the new fiscal year, which triggered a federal government shutdown on Wednesday.

    Many Americans are wondering how the shutdown will impact travel, and, specifically, how it will affect passport applications and driver’s license services.

    Here’s what we know.

    Are passports still being processed?

    Yes. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency responsible for overseeing the naturalization process, is primarily funded by application fees, meaning a lapse in funding at the federal government has minimal impacts on most passport and visa processing.

    What if I have a passport appointment with the United States Postal Service?

    The U.S. Postal Service is unaffected by a government shutdown. It’s an independent entity funded through the sale of its products and services, not by tax dollars. You can still make appointments for new passport applications, passport renewals and photo services on the USPS website.

    Can I still get a driver’s license or REAL ID?

    You can still get a driver’s license or REAL ID during a government shutdown.

    That’s because motor vehicle departments are primarily funded and operated through state budgets.

    This means you can also make an appointment or visit one of your state’s driver’s license centers to receive a REAL ID with proper paperwork.

    The shutdown will not stop Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees from enforcing the REAL ID Act in U.S. airports and other federal facilities.

    TSA officers are typically deemed essential and must remain on the job, though they are not paid.

    What about visas?

    Agency spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said in a statement, however, that the shutdown does temporarily shutter the agency’s E-Verify program, a free online system that employers can use to confirm their new employees are authorized to work in the U.S.

    The Associated Press and CNN contributed to this report.

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  • Is mail still delivered during a government shutdown? What to know in NC

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    As Congress inches closer to a possible government shutdown, many federal services North Carolinians depend on might be disrupted.

    From paychecks for federal workers to access to national parks, the ripple effects could be felt in daily life.

    But could a shutdown leave your mailbox sitting empty? Here’s what you need to know.

    Will the government shutdown impact mail delivery in NC?

    No. Mail delivery won’t be interrupted during a government shutdown because the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is self-funded.

    It operates on revenue from postage, products and services rather than taxpayer dollars appropriated by Congress, so it doesn’t rely on the annual federal budget process that a shutdown affects.

    A postal worker delivers mail on Carneros Creek Road in west Charlotte.
    A postal worker delivers mail on Carneros Creek Road in west Charlotte. Observer staff

    When is mail delivery impacted?

    Mail delivery could be impacted by natural disasters, special events and other changes, according to USPS.

    For example, Hurricane Helene, which affected much of Western North Carolina almost exactly one year ago, resulted in more than 450 mail routes being inoperable due to the storm, according to a news release from USPS.

    Post offices across the country also closed in January for a national day of observance to honor former President Jimmy Carter, who died the previous month, The Charlotte Observer reported.

    Danielle Battaglia contributed to this story.

    Ask the North Carolina Service Journalism Team

    Questions about life in North Carolina? Or have a tip or story idea you’d like to share? The service journalism teams at The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer want to hear from you.

    You can submit your question by filling out this form.

    Related Stories from Raleigh News & Observer

    Evan Moore

    The Charlotte Observer

    Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.

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  • Mail carriers reach tentative contract with USPS that includes pay raises, air-conditioned trucks

    Mail carriers reach tentative contract with USPS that includes pay raises, air-conditioned trucks

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    Mail carriers seek pay increases, better safety measures in new contract


    Mail carriers seek pay increases, better safety measures in new contract

    02:24

    Some 200,000 mail 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.

    The new agreement, which still needs to be ratified by union members, runs through Nov. 2026. Letter deliverers have been working without a contract since May 2023.

    Both the union and the Postal Service welcomed the agreement, which was announced Friday.

    “Both sides didn’t get everything they wanted. But by bargaining in good faith, we ended with an agreement that meets our goals and rewards our members,” Brian Renfroe, the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, told The Associated Press. “To make that happen, the Postal Service had to recognize the contributions of members to the Postal Service and the American people.”

    US Postal Protest
    Union members from the National Association of Letter Carriers give a press conference on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at a post office on North Shepherd Drive in Houston.

    Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images


    Among other improvements, the deal increases the top pay and reduces the amount of time it takes new workers to reach that level, Renfroe said. He credited Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and his deputy for bargaining in good faith throughout the arduous process.

    The Postal Service said the agreement supported its 10-year ‘Delivering for America’ mission to modernize operations and adapt to changing customer needs.

    “This is a fair and responsible agreement that serves the best interest of our employees, our customers and the future of the Postal Service,” said Doug Tulino, the deputy postmaster general and chief human resources officer.

    As part of the agreement, all city carriers will get three annual pay increases of 1.3% each by 2025, some of which will be paid retroactively from Nov. 2023. Workers will also receive retroactive and future cost-of-living adjustments.

    There is also a commitment from the Postal Service to “make every effort” to provide mail trucks with air-conditioning.

    US Postal Protest
    The National Association of Letter Carriers organized a press conference to call for more prosecution of assaults on mail carriers and other safety measures.

    Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images


    The Postal Service in summer began rolling out its new electric delivery vehicles, which come equipped with air-conditioning. While the trucks won’t win any beauty contests, they did get rave reviews from letter carriers accustomed to older vehicles that lack modern safety features and are prone to breaking down — and even catching fire.

    Within a few years, the new delivery fleet will have expanded to 60,000 vehicles, most of them electric models, serving as the Postal Service’s primary delivery truck from Maine to Hawaii.

    Under the tentative contract agreement, the Postal Service must discuss with the union any plans to buy new mail trucks that don’t have air-conditioning.

    This is the second contract negotiated since DeJoy was appointed postmaster general in 2020. It is expected to take several weeks for union members to ratify the contract. Rural mail deliverers aren’t covered by the contract because they are represented by a different union.

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  • Here’s what is open and closed on Columbus Day 2024/Indigenous Peoples Day

    Here’s what is open and closed on Columbus Day 2024/Indigenous Peoples Day

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    Columbus Day Parade coming to streets of NYC


    Columbus Day Parade coming to streets of NYC

    01:59

    Columbus Day, also called Indigenous Peoples Day, may be a federal holiday, but it’s also one of the nation’s most inconsistently celebrated days, according to Pew Research.

    Even though the event, which falls annually on the second Monday in October, is one of the nation’s 11 federally recognized holidays, it’s not observed by some businesses, states and institutions, especially amid a push to shift recognition away from explorer Christopher Columbus and instead honor the original inhabitants of North America via Indigenous Peoples Day.

    As a result, Columbus Day isn’t as widely marked as it once was. Still, the day remains a federal holiday, meaning that some types of services and businesses will be shuttered on Oct. 14 this year. 

    Here’s what to know about what is open and closed on Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day. 

    Is today a federal holiday? 

    Yes, Monday, Oct. 14, is a federal holiday, which means that federal offices will be closed and federal workers have the day off. 

    Are banks open today on Columbus Day? 

    Some banks will be closed to commemorate Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day, with Oct/ 14 counting as a holiday for the Federal Reserve system. Among those that will be closed are Bank of America and Wells Fargo. 

    Some banks, however, say they will remain open on Oct. 14, including Chase, which says its branches will remain open, and TD Bank.

    Is mail delivered on Columbus Day?

    No, the U.S. Postal Service observes Columbus Day as a holiday, which means there will be no regular residential or business mail delivery. Its retail branches will also be closed. 

    However, the USPS says that its Priority Mail Express will still be delivered in some regions for an additional fee.

    Is the stock market open on Columbus Day?

    Yes, the stock market is open on Monday, Oct. 14. The New York Stock Exchange does not observe Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day as a holiday, nor does the Nasdaq.

    Is Walmart open today? 

    Walmart tells CBS MoneyWatch its locations will be open during their regular hours on Columbus Day. 

    Is Target open on Columbus Day?

    Target says its stores will be operating on Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day with its regular store business hours, although those hours vary by location. Local hours can be found at Target.com’s “Find a store” feature.

    Is Costco open today?

    Costco is closed for seven holidays each year, but Columbus Day isn’t one of them, which means the retailer’s doors will be open on Oct. 14. 

    Is Chick-fil-A open on Columbus Day? 

    Chick-fil-A’s restaurants are open on Oct. 14, but “they may have limited operating hours,” a spokesperson said. “Please check with your local restaurant for specific hours of operation.” 

    Aimee Picchi

    Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.

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  • This year’s USPS holiday stamps have a local connection – WTOP News

    This year’s USPS holiday stamps have a local connection – WTOP News

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    It’s barely pumpkin spice season, and sweater weather has yet to take over, but the U.S. Postal Service is making sure that those who look forward to sending holiday cards are covered. The 2024 “Holiday Joy” Forever stamps are being released.

    It’s barely pumpkin spice season, and sweater weather has yet to take over, but the U.S. Postal Service is making sure that those who look forward to sending holiday cards are covered. The 2024 “Holiday Joy” Forever stamps are being released.

    The Holiday Joy collection is the result of a collaboration between Antonio Alcalá, an art director for the USPS stamp development program, and an artist from the West Coast, Michelle Muñoz.

    Alcalá spoke to WTOP from his studio in Northern Virginia.

    The set of stamps includes two with ornaments, one with a poinsettia and another with floral elements that he said “evoke a snowflake.”

    Designing the works of art for a small canvas — the size of a first-class stamp — can be tricky. He said one of the designs he and Muñoz worked on had to be shelved because, “It looked a little bit too much like a honeybee with wings as opposed to an ornament, so we had to start over and revise that particular design.”

    Alcalá said he does get a kick out of seeing his own stamps on cards and letters, and enjoys selecting stamps for his own correspondence, choosing a stamp that he feels may be especially meaningful to the recipient. It can still be hard to grasp that his designs are available not just at his local post office in Northern Virginia, but that “these are available everywhere in the country from Maine to Florida to Alaska and California. It’s just an amazing feeling.”

    The volume of mail handled by the U.S. Postal Service has shrunk: “It’s no secret that the amount of first-class mail has declined in the same sort of ratio as the number of emails that find their way into your inbox have increased,” he said.

    But, Alcalá said, the stamps are produced in numbers no lower than 10 million.

    “I know when we issue a stamp, there’s going to still be millions of people using them on their mail throughout the country,” said Alcalá.

    Alcalá has also noticed what he calls a “resurgence” of correspondence through the USPS, especially among younger letter writers.

    “Because it is a very personal, emotional sort of thing to get a piece of mail from a loved one, a friend, a relative, slipped through your mail slot or put in your mailbox,” he said.

    Along with the Holiday Joy collection of Forever stamps, a new “Madonna and Child” stamp is being released.

    A special dedication ceremony is being held at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum at 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Kate Ryan

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  • Mail carriers face growing threats of violence amid wave of robberies

    Mail carriers face growing threats of violence amid wave of robberies

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    The U.S. Postal Service’s mail carriers, known for trudging through snow and ice to deliver mail, are increasingly dealing with another hazard on their delivery routes: armed robberies. 

    Mail carriers, who are unarmed, are a growing target because they sometimes carry personal checks or prescription drugs, which criminals can convert into cash. Some criminals also rob carriers to get their hands on the USPS’ antiquated “arrow keys,” a type of universal key that can open many types of mailboxes, allowing thieves to steal their contents.

    Last May, the USPS created a crime prevention effort called Project Safe Delivery to “reduce criminal acts against postal employees.” Even so, postal carrier robberies climbed 30% to 643 incidents last year, while the number of robberies resulting in injuries doubled to 61 in 2023, according to figures provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by The Associated Press.

    All told, robberies grew sixfold over the past decade, while the number of postal carriers held at gunpoint increased at an even higher rate, according to an analysis of the postal data.

    Most recently, a gunman on Tuesday robbed a mail carrier in a New Hampshire town, with neighbors telling CBS Boston that the carrier said the robber was after his arrow keys. Police later arrested an 18-year-old man from Lowell, Massachusetts and charged him with robbery. 

    That case followed multiple robberies targeting mail carriers in recent months, including:

    In many cases, the carriers were not harmed, but the postal carrier in Union City suffered minor injuries that were treated at a local hospital. In some cases, postal officials are offering rewards of up to $150,000 for information to find the criminals. 


    Inspector general says U.S. Postal Service must do more to secure master keys

    10:02

    The USPS didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday, nor did the National Association of Letter Carriers, the union that represents USPS mail carriers.

    Project Safe Delivery was designed to curb mail theft and attacks on carriers, partly by replacing old locks that could be opened with arrows keys with electronic locks. But a recent CBS News review found that the postal service isn’t consistently taking steps to secure millions of arrow keys, which could be fueling the problem of rising theft.

    Still, law enforcement authorities have made more than 1,200 arrests for mail thefts and letter carrier robberies since Project Safe Delivery kicked off last May. And efforts to crack down on crime targeting carriers may be paying off. As of March, postal robberies had fallen 19% over the previous five months, according to postal service data. 

    —The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

    Khristopher J. Brooks


    70820838-10107939517480338-3901705551913943040-n.jpg

    Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. He previously worked as a reporter for the Omaha World-Herald, Newsday and the Florida Times-Union. His reporting primarily focuses on the U.S. housing market, the business of sports and bankruptcy.

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  • Watchdog report: USPS still failing to secure facility that was robbed twice in 2023

    Watchdog report: USPS still failing to secure facility that was robbed twice in 2023

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    According to a new inspector general report, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is having trouble keeping its assets safe.

    The USPS has over 235,000 vehicles. More than 140,000 of them are Long Life Vehicles (LLVs), those boxy trucks with a sliding side door and the steering wheel on the right. The USPS last purchased LLVs in 1994, and despite their name, the trucks were only expected to last 24 years, meaning each one should have been retired by 2018 at the latest.

    In December 2022, the agency announced that it would replace its mail trucks with a fleet of electric vehicles (E.V.s). The USPS would spend $9.6 billion—including $3 billion apportioned by Congress as part of the Inflation Reduction Act—on new trucks as well as the chargers to service them.

    A report by the USPS Officer of the Inspector General released last week found that officials at the Material Distribution Center (MDC) in Kansas, the USPS facility where prototype chargers were being stored and tested, “did not employ necessary physical safety measures designed to protect and deter the theft of Postal Service assets.” Many of the specifics are redacted, but in March 2023, inspectors say, “MDC officials discovered that Postal Service information technology assets were stolen” from one facility. In March and April, officials “replac[ed] locks and eight exterior doors” but did not implement all of the security measures that postal inspectors recommended after the break-in.

    “Despite the theft,” the report continued, “and without implementing crucial remediation measures identified in the Inspection Service assessment, the Postal Service began storing
    charging stations in [redacted] when the first 2,000 units arrived in April 2023.” The following month, the same facility “was again burglarized, resulting in additional losses to the Postal Service, including the theft of charging station heads…and other information technology assets, such as monitors, printers, and docking stations.”

    As a result of “insufficient safeguards,” the report determined that “the Postal Service incurred two thefts and losses of approximately $59,700 in information technology assets (e.g., computer monitors, printers, and docking stations) and $7,700 from two charging station heads.”

    After the second burglary, MDC officials again replaced locks and contracted with off-duty law enforcement officers to patrol the area. Even so, “these measures still do not ensure” that the facility “is in compliance with Postal Service policy requiring physical safeguards or limiting unauthorized access to Postal Service assets.”

    The report noted that USPS policy would have required the MDC to implement a series of further security measures, including installing security cameras and an “intrusion detection system.”

    As if that wasn’t bad enough, a footnote mentioned that “Postal Service officials at the MDC were aware of general security related issues occurring as recently as four years ago in the same industrial park, which resulted in the loss of thousands of dollars’ worth of tools and equipment suffered by prior tenants.” Nonetheless, “despite several security-related incidents, MDC officials did not view” the facility “as an at-risk, administrative facility that necessitated urgent mitigating actions.”

    The USPS has struggled in recent years. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, it experienced consistent declines in revenue even as it sat on tens of billions of dollars in unfunded pension liabilities. The USPS delivery system is optimized for paper mail over packages, even though the advent of e-commerce means that more people are ordering packages and fewer are sending and receiving letters. Given such a long record of subpar performance, it should come as no surprise that the USPS failed to do so much as even install a security camera to protect its own assets.

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    Joe Lancaster

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  • 12/17: CBS Weekend News

    12/17: CBS Weekend News

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    12/17: CBS Weekend News – CBS News


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    Israel restarts hostage talks; California woman rents out sustainable Christmas trees

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  • Shipping companies announce crucial deadlines for holiday shipping:

    Shipping companies announce crucial deadlines for holiday shipping:

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    As the countdown to Christmas narrows to just 10 days, the United States Postal Service is issuing a last call to holiday gift senders. The cutoff date for USPS first-class mail is set for Saturday — marking a crucial deadline to ensure gifts arrive in time for the festive season.

    This December is especially busy for shipping companies. Around 82 million parcels are expected to be sent each day during this peak season. 

    In Nashville, boxes are piling up at a facility called UPS Worldport, a key hub in the holiday shopping process where millions of packages will pass through during the holiday season. The 5.4 million square foot facility can sort about 416,000 packages per hour. The scene at the facility reflects the holiday rush.

    Customer Melinda Wayland said she was relieved to have her packages shipped.

    “I feel better about it. At least I have these shipped off,” she said. 

    Leslie Phelts, a frontline supervisor at the Nashville facility, said she feels like they are part of Santa’s team. 

    “We are like Santa’s helpers,” said Phelts.  ” … we do feel like we do play a large portion or piece in the holiday season,” said Phelts. 

    Here’s how the process in Nashville works: Packages come in by truck and by plane and work their way through 155 miles of conveyor belt, get sorted by zip code and then loaded into giant shipping containers. This happens all in less than four hours, something that plays out for about 300 flights a day as a team of meteorologists help plot a course around any winter weather.

    Bill Moore, president of UPS Airlines, said they start getting ready for next year the day after Christmas. He advises people to send their gifts early and not wait until the last minute.

    “Time is running out so we tell people don’t wait. Don’t procrastinate. Ship early and ship often,” said Moore.

    For e-tailers like Omaha Steaks, the holiday rush is a make-or-break period. The company is selling a box of filet mignon every 2.4 seconds, with around 80,000 boxes expected to be shipped daily.

    “Getting it there on time is everything to the customer experience and so UPS can do that at the highest level,” said Nate Rempe, president and CEO of Omaha Steaks.

    When are the shipping deadlines this year?

    Holiday shippers using USPS first-class mail need to send packages by Saturday. For those opting for UPS Ground, the deadline is Monday. For three-day shipping, gifts need to be sent by Dec. 19. And for last-minute senders, next-day overnight shipping is available until Dec. 21. 

    With Christmas falling on a Monday this year, Sunday deliveries will be limited — making it even more important to meet the deadlines. 

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  • Brickbat: Letters from Home

    Brickbat: Letters from Home

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    Coi Morris, a mail handler at the U.S. Postal Service processing center in New Orleans, has pleaded guilty to embezzling. Morris admitted that for months, he opened and stole from greeting cards at the processing center, taking between $500 and $800 plus some gift cards. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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    Charles Oliver

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  • USPS leaders forecast it would break even this year. It just lost $6.5 billion.

    USPS leaders forecast it would break even this year. It just lost $6.5 billion.

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    The U.S. Postal Service is in the midst of a 10-year plan aimed at erasing losses and eventually turning a profit. But in its last fiscal year the agency reported a loss of $6.5 billion, a major step backward after USPS leaders has predicted it would break even.

    The 10-year plan is the brainchild of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who has argued that the overhaul was essential to stop the financial bleeding and put the USPS on the road to profitability. Under his plan, which he introduced in 2021, the agency had been projected to reach a break-even point in fiscal year 2023 and begin turning a profit in 2024. 

    The agency’s turnaround plan centers on slower delivery standards and postage hikes, changes geared to cutting costs and raising revenue but that proved unpopular with some businesses and consumers. Yet the most recent fiscal year revealed significant headwinds for the agency’s plans, including inflation and a decrease in mail volume, the USPS said on Tuesday.

    Revenue slipped $321 million, or 0.4%, to $78.2 billion for the fiscal year ended September 30 compared with the year-ago period, the agency said. The USPS last year reported net income of $56 billion, primarily because of a one-time, non-cash adjustment stemming from the Postal Service Reform Act in 2022, which ended a mandate to pre-fund retirees’ health benefits.

    Mail volume across the U.S. declined almost 9%, with the number of mailed items falling to about 116 billion, compared with 127 billion the previous year. 

    In comments delivered to the Postal Service Board of Governors on Tuesday, DeJoy he is “not happy” with the USPS’ latest financial results and pointed to issues that weren’t accounted for in the plan’s forecast.

    “Our efforts to grow revenue and reduce labor and transportation costs were simply not enough to overcome our costs to stabilize our organization, the historical inflationary environment we encountered and our inability to obtain the [Civil Service Retirement System] reform we sought,” he said.


    “Forever Stamp” prices increasing to 66 cents

    00:36

    Some critics are pointing to DeJoy’s string of postage rate hikes as the reason for the decline in volume, with a group called Keep US Posted claiming the “unprecedented postage increases” are aggravating the USPS’ financial situation.

    “Twice-annual, above-inflation postage hikes are worsening the USPS’ financial woes and trapping it in quicksand, as even more mail is driven out of the system,” Keep US Posted Executive Director Kevin Yoder, a former Congressman from Kansas, said in a statement. 

    Keep US Posted, which represents businesses that rely on the USPS, such as greeting-card companies, magazines and catalog businesses, said the losses shows that Congress should “provide more oversight.”

    “DeJoy shouldn’t receive any more blank checks from Congress to only raise postage rates, cut service and drive more debt,” Yoder added. 

    The USPS is planning to hike postage rates in January, which would mark the fifth rate hike since 2021 and come on the heels of a July postage increase.

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  • USPS proposes 5th postage hike since 2021 — a move critics call

    USPS proposes 5th postage hike since 2021 — a move critics call

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    The U.S. Postal Service wants to boost the cost of postage in January, which would mark the fifth rate increase since 2021 and come on the heels of a July postage hike. Some critics are decrying the plan, saying that the rapid price increases are “unprecedented” and causing customers to stop using the mail. 

    The USPS on Friday said it filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission to hike rates beginning on Jan. 21, 2024. The new prices would raise the cost of a first-class Forever stamp from its current 66 cents to 68 cents, while other mailing costs would also rise. 

    If approved, the rate hike would represent the fifth increase since August 2021, when a Forever stamp increased to 58 cents. In announcing the latest proposed hike, the postal service said that higher rates are needed to offset inflation and “the effects of a previously defective pricing model.” But critics and postal experts have grumbled that customers are paying more while getting less for their money.

    “Rate whiplash”

    At the heart of the criticisms are the USPS’ 10-year plan under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to get the service on a path to profitability, which includes a slowdown in its delivery of standard mail to six days from its prior goal of three-day delivery to anywhere in the U.S.

    “These unprecedented postage hikes are giving Americans rate whiplash and compromising the Postal Service’s ability to deliver for America,” said Kevin Yoder, a former congressman and the executive director of Keep US Posted, a nonprofit advocacy group that represents consumers and businesses like newspapers and publishers that rely on the USPS, in an emailed statement.

    The USPS didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

    What does a first-class stamp cost?

    The proposed January 2024 hike would push up postal rates by 17% since 2021, outpacing the 12% boost in inflation over the same period of time. The recent pace of rate increases represents an acceleration by historical standards, as the USPS typically has boosted rates annually or even longer in prior decades.

    A first-class stamp now costs 66 cents, compared with 58 cents in August 2021. 

    The rate hikes are driving consumers and businesses away from relying on the USPS, Yoder said. 

    “Mail volume is currently down nearly 9% year-over-year, after rate hikes took effect in January and July, and the proposed increase next January will only perpetuate these losses,” he said. “Paper mail business keeps USPS afloat, and with every postage hike, more mail leaves the system forever.”

    To be sure, mail volume has been falling for years as consumers and businesses switch to email, texting and other electronic forms of communication.

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  • UPS, drivers reach tentative deal

    UPS, drivers reach tentative deal

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    UPS, drivers reach tentative deal – CBS News


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    Drivers represented by the Teamsters union and UPS have reached a tentative deal on a new contract, averting a possible strike.

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  • USPS is hiking the price of a stamp to 66 cents in July — a 32% increase since 2019

    USPS is hiking the price of a stamp to 66 cents in July — a 32% increase since 2019

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    USPS wants to raise stamp price to $0.66


    USPS wants to raise stamp price to $0.66

    00:15

    The U.S. Postal Service will soon be raising the price of its first-class stamps to 66 cents, an increase of 4.8% from its current 63 cents. The move, announced by the USPS in April, is the latest in a flurry of rate boosts that will result in the cost of a first-class stamp rising nearly one-third since 2019.

    The latest hike will go into effect July 9. Under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, the money-losing agency has embarked on a 10-year plan to get on a path to profitability — with higher postage rates as part of the blueprint.

    The July 2023 price hike will represent the fifth increase since early 2019, when a Forever stamp cost 50 cents. The higher postage prices haven’t come without criticism, however, with some postal experts pointing out that customers are paying more while getting less for their money. 

    That’s because the 10-year plan has slowed the post office’s delivery standard for mail to six days, down from its prior goal of three-day delivery to any destination within the U.S. And the series of price hikes means that the cost of a postage stamp has soared much higher than inflation, which has jumped 20% in the same period, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    john-lewis-forever-stamp.jpg
    A Forever stamp honoring the life of civil rights leader and congressman John Lewis will be issued on July 21 at the new rate of 66 cents.

    USPS


    The USPS said the latest price hike is needed to offset higher operating expenses “fueled by inflation” as well as “the effects of a previously defective pricing model.” 

    The higher cost for stamps will “provide the Postal Service with much needed revenue to achieve the financial stability sought by its Delivering for America 10-year plan,” it said in an April statement.

    Other postage fees will also rise in July, USPS said. For instance, postcards sent within the U.S. will rise to 51 cent, from 48 cents currently, while international letters will rise by 5 cents to $1.50. Together, the various price hikes represent a boost of 5.4%, the agency said. 

    The Postal Regulatory Commission, the federal regulator that oversees the postal agency, reviewed the rate increases and approved them in May. The increases had already been approved by the governors of the U.S. Postal Service.

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  • Avoid mailing your checks, experts warn. Here’s what’s going on with the USPS.

    Avoid mailing your checks, experts warn. Here’s what’s going on with the USPS.

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    U.S. Postal Service sends warning to not send checks through the mail


    U.S. Postal Service sends warning to not send checks through the mail

    02:55

    A surge in crimes targeting the U.S. Postal Service has some experts warning Americans against sending their checks through the mail.

    The USPS last month cautioned that it has seen an increase in attacks on letter carriers and mail fraud incidents, with 305 mail carriers robbed in the first half of fiscal year 2023, on pace to exceed the previous year’s 412 robberies. At the same time, fraudsters are targeting mailboxes, either stealing letters directly from residents’ homes or from the blue USPS collection boxes, the postal service said.

    The rise in crime targeting postal carriers and mailboxes heightens the risk that mailed checks could be stolen, as has been documented in incidents across the nation. For instance, a rash of thefts from blue collection boxes in Milwaukee led to the break up last month of a criminal ring. The suspects allegedly used stolen “arrow keys,” or a universal USPS key that opens mail collection boxes, to pilfer mail, including more than 900 stolen checks, according to a criminal complaint.

    The theft issues have prompted the USPS to advise that Americans avoid depositing mail in blue collection boxes or leaving it in their own mailboxes for a carrier to pick up. Instead, the agency is now recommending that patrons come inside their local post office to securely send mail.

    Experts concur with the advisory to only mail checks at the post office. 

    “If you are choosing to mail a check, it is always recommended that you use a secure mail drop such as inside a post office versus an unsecured public-facing mailbox,” Caitlin Driscoll of the Better Business Bureau told CBS Pittsburgh. 

    Why is mail theft on the rise?

    In an email to CBS MoneyWatch, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said mail theft is increasing as part of a broader national trend of “increased crime patterns.” 

    The U.S. Postal Inspection Service reported roughly 300,000 complaints about mail theft in 2021, more than double the prior year’s total. In some cases, criminals are attacking mail carriers and stealing their deliveries. In others, fraudsters are using arrow keys to gain access to postal boxes to take letters, checks and other valuables. 

    A 2020 report from the postal service’s Office of Inspector General found that the agency didn’t know how many arrow keys were in circulation or how many had been stolen, raising concerns about the security of collection boxes.

    What is the USPS recommending?

    The U.S. Postal Service said that people should avoid allowing either incoming or outgoing mail from sitting in their mailboxes for too long.

    “You can significantly reduce the chance of being victimized by simply removing your mail from your mailbox every day,” the agency said in a statement. 

    The agency also recommends that people post mail inside their local post office or at their workplace; alternatively, they can hand their mail directly to a mail carrier. However, the USPS itself hasn’t issued any specific guidance on mailing checks, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service told CBS MoneyWatch.

    “Our recommendations are provided as an extra precaution for those who feel more comfortable taking their mail to the Postal Office,” the agency said. 

    What could happen if my check is stolen?

    Thieves use a technique called “check washing” to scam you out of your money. That involves using chemicals that erase your writing on the check, such as the name of the recipient and the amount of the check. Once the payment is blank, they can fill in new information, including the amount. 

    In one case, a man mailed a $42 check to pay a phone bill and was shocked when it was cashed for $7,000, paid out to someone he’d never heard of. In another case, nearly 60 individuals last year were arrested in Southern California on charges of committing more than $5 million in check fraud against 750 people.

    How many people still use checks?

    It’s true that check usage is declining, but Americans still wrote 3.4 billion checks in 2022. That’s down from 19 billion checks in 1990, but it still gives criminals plenty of opportunity for fraud. 

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