AP Interview: Disinformation concerns mail voting expert
Amber 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
FILE - 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. Postal Service. AdIn 2019, American Airlines agreed to pay $22.1 million to settle similar allegations that it falsified information about international mail deliveries.
Election of Democratic chair portends change at post office
Postal 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
Some 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 hadnโt 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 sonโs soccer coach and her sonโs friend. All appeared well Dec. 11 when she received a notice from the Postal Service that the ornaments had been received in Columbus, Ohio.
Have you noticed mail delays? Metro Detroit residents share their experiences
DETROIT โ Local 4 has received several reports of mail delays across the Metro Detroit area. Postal Service Mail Distribution Center in Allen Park shows trucks lined up outside the facility waiting to drop off mail to be processed. Local 4โฒs Hank Winchester spoke with several drivers on Monday who said theyโve never seen delays like this before. Postal Service Mail Distribution Center in Allen ParkFollowing Mondayโs report, other Metro Detroit residents reached out to the Help Me Hank Team. MelvindaleIf you are experiencing problems with the postal office you should contact your local post office, file a complaint online, ask your neighbors about their experiences -- and if possible, be patient.
Trucks lined up outside U.S. Postal Service Mail Distribution Center in Allen Park
ALLEN PARK, Mich. โ Local 4 has received several calls about mail delays across the Metro Detroit area. Video from outside the U.S. Postal Service Mail Distribution Center in Allen Park shows trucks lined up outside the facility waiting to drop off mail to be processed. Local 4โฒs Hank Winchester spoke with several drivers who said theyโve never seen delays like this before. Watch the video above for the full report.
Postal Service addresses major mail delays in Clinton Township
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. โ Residents in one Clinton Township neighborhood have gone days -- sometimes even a week -- without mail delivery. Postal Service in Detroit, and while she didnโt want to elaborate on camera about specific problems, Local 4 did receive a written statement. We apologize for any inconvenience that may have been experienced by customers living in the Clinton Township community. Local management is working with customers to resolve their concerns. Postal ServiceResidents told Local 4 that mail, as of Thursday, had resumed being delivered.
Elves go digital this year for USPSโs โOperation Santaโ
Elves are going digital this year for the U.S. Postal Serviceโs annual โOperation Santa.โThe 108-year-old program fulfills wish lists for families and children in need, but due to COVID-19, it has been forced to go virtual this Christmas. USPS officials said the new system will allow them to reach more children across the country. Children can address their letters and lists to Santa at 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888Helpful โelvesโ fulfilling the wish list can pick up a letter from any city in the nation. Click here to visit the Operation Santa page.
2020 Latest: Biden says 'no one' will take US democracy away
The 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, Trumpโs 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
Postal Service inspectors found just 13 ballots โ all in Pennsylvania โ 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,โ Postal Service spokesman Dave Partenheimer said.
EXPLAINER: Postal Service, judge at odds over ballot search
Postal Service says it can't meet a federal judgeโs 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 Sullivanโs 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
In the race to 270 electoral votes, Biden has 236, while Trump has 213. ___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.
US judge orders USPS to speed up election ballot delivery in Detroit
DETROIT โ A U.S. district court judge has ordered the United States Postal Service (USPS) to speed up its delivery of ballots in Detroit in order to be counted in the presidential election. Delivery of ballots in the USPS' Detroit district has dipped as low as 57% over the past week, Washington state Attorney General Bob Fergusonโs office said Saturday. In fact, the USPSโ Detroit district is considered to have the slowest mail delivery in the nation, according to data released by the USPS. The data shows that mail delivery in the Detroit region was about 15% slower than the national average during the first week of October. The national average mail delivery time has also dropped from 91% of on-time delivery to 86% in October.
Judge orders Postal Service to take extraordinary measures in Detroit
Postal 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 โextraordinary measuresโ to deliver ballots in time to be counted in Wisconsin and around Detroit, including using a priority mail service. โThe Postal Service continues to implement extraordinary measures across the country to advance and expedite the delivery of the nationโs ballots." The states also sought to force the Postal Service to treat election mail as first-class mail.
Battleground postal delays persist with mail voting underway
Postal 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.
Postal Service agrees to reverse service changes
Postal 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. โThe 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,โ said Postal Service spokesperson David Rupert in a statement. โThis settlement underscores our unwavering commitment to that principle and to our important role in the nationโs electoral process.โThe agreement comes after a federal judge temporarily blocked the controversial Postal Service changes on Sept. 17, calling the changes โa politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Serviceโ before the November election. Postal Service.
Postal Service agrees to reverse service changes
Postal 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 โa politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Serviceโ before the November election. Postal Service.
Vision 2020: 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. Some policies are the subject of court cases and could change before Nov. 3, so voters should check with their local election officials if they're unsure. 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. Otherwise, return your ballot early and don't wait until the last few days. ___APโs Advance Voting guide brings you the facts about voting early, by mail or absentee from each state: https://interactives.ap.org/advance-voting-2020.
US judge orders stop to Postal Service cuts, echoing others
PHILADELPHIA โ 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 โa pronounced increase in mail delays across the countryโ since July, the judge found. The Postal Service, in response, called election mail the agency's โnumber 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 โstrong showingโ that the Trump administration was using the Postal Service โas a tool in partisan politics.โ
Judge: Postal Service must process election mail on time
Postal 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. โThere 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,โ the statement said.
US judge blocks Postal Service changes that slowed mail
Postal 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 โ A U.S. judge on Thursday blocked controversial Postal Service changes that have slowed mail nationwide, calling them โa politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Serviceโ before the November election. Postal Service. They also sought to force the Postal Service to treat election mail as first class mail. โThere's been a lot of confusion in the briefing and in the press about what the Postal Service has done,โ Borson said.
Dem report: Postal Service changes delay prescription drugs
FILE - 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
But 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
PORTLAND, 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.
Thousands of chicks arrive dead to farmers amid USPS turmoil
PORTLAND, 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
The 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
Several 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.
Michigan joining lawsuit to challenge post office changes
LANSING, Mich. The state of Michigan is joining other states in suing the U.S. Postal Service over service changes, Attorney General Dana Nessel said Tuesday. A lawsuit was in the works Tuesday in federal court in Washington state, although Postmaster General Louis DeJoy also announced that he was suspending certain changes until after the fall election. Nessel and attorneys general in other states said significant changes must face a public comment period and go to the Postal Regulatory Commission. Related: Ballot drop boxes seen as a way to bypass the post office
Amid outcry, postmaster general to testify before House
FILE - 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
A 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
(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.
Postmaster General: USPS mail-delaying initiatives paused until after Nov. election
Postal Service (USPS) initiatives that could impact the timely delivery of absent voter ballots for the November election are being paused until the election is complete. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said in a statement Tuesday that in an effort to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, the USPS will continue its services as normal through the end of the election cycle. Record numbers of absent voter ballots have been requested and issued in Michigan and across the country for this years elections. The Postal Service is ready today to handle whatever volume of election mail it receives this fall, DeJoy said Tuesday. More: Q&A: Whats happening at the US Postal Service, and why?
Ballot drop boxes seen as a way to bypass the post office
Washington 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
What 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.
ClickOnDetroit Morning Briefing -- Aug. 16, 2020
Police found four bodies inside a Sumpter Township home on Saturday, shortly after neighbors reported hearing gunfire. Seventeen people have been arrested following an investigation into child trafficking in the Flint area, a sheriff said. Michigan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases up to 92,155; Death toll now at 6,318The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 92,155 as of Sunday morning, including 6,318 deaths, state officials report. It remains warm today with highs near 80 degrees. The week ahead will include more sunshine.
House Dems summon postal leaders to hearing on mail delays
FILE - 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.
Peters calls for urgent Senate hearing on Postal Service changes and delivery delays
DETROIT On Sunday, US Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, called for an urgent hearing on Aug. 21. The hearing is to address recent changes Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has directed that have left Americans in Michigan and across the country struggling with delayed mail deliveries. Postal Service, to swiftly convene a hearing and call DeJoy and Robert Duncan, Chairman of the Postal Service Board of Governors, to give sworn testimony about recent directives and their effects on postal customers across the country. It is imperative that Mr. DeJoy publicly and comprehensively testify about changes and planned changes taking place at the U.S. Postal Service, since the Postal Service is a public institution that both serves and belongs to every person in our nation.
USPS cannot guarantee Michigans mail-in votes will arrive in time to be counted
RELATED: Michigan US Sen. Peters launches investigation into Postal Service delaysThe letter was dated at the end of July, but didnt come to light until this week. Its only compounded fears that with more people than ever before voting by mail this year that votes simply wont be counted. This is not the time for the Postal Service to give up on its responsibility to serve, Benson said. Q&A: Whats happening at the US Postal Service, and why? Related: Wealthy donors pour millions into fight over mail-in votingBensons office is asking anyone who sees the post office removing mailboxes to report those sightings to her office.
ClickOnDetroit Morning Briefing -- Aug. 15, 2020
On Friday night, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and legislative leaders reached a bipartisan deal regarding the upcoming 2020-21 school year. A baby boy and two adults were shot Friday evening on Detroits east side. Police are still searching for the shooter. Michigan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases up to 91,140; Death toll now at 6,300The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 91,140 as of Saturday morning, including 6,300 deaths, state officials report.
Postal Service warns states across US about mail voting
Postal Service that it may be unable to deliver some mail-in ballots in the November presidential election by the deadline in state law. Voters and lawmakers in several states are also complaining that some curbside mail collection boxes are being removed. Postal Service is sufficiently prepared to fulfill.โMeanwhile, the removal of Postal Service collection mailboxes triggered concerns and anger in Oregon and Montana. Postal Service spokesperson Ernie Swanson said the Oregon removals were due to declining mail volume and said duplicate mailboxes were taken from places that had more than one. The Postal Service said four mailboxes were removed in Portland this week.
Trump admits he's blocking postal cash to stop mail-in votes
Postal 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
A 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
Postal 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.
Trump: Widespread mail-in voting hard without funding USPS
WASHINGTON 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
Postal 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
Postal 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.
Michigan US Sen. Peters launches investigation into Postal Service delays
Senator Gary Peters is launching an investigation into reported delays at the U.S. Postal Service as mail-in voting use spikes during the coronavirus pandemic. Mail-in voting is expected to surge in November as voters take precautions against the COVID-19 pandemic. In Michigan, mail-in voting shattered all previous records in the 2020 August Primary Election. Related: Wealthy donors pour millions into fight over mail-in voting
House panel calls new postal chief to explain mail delays
Postal 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.''
Senator, union leader: Postal Service considers downsizing
A 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
Unlike 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%.
Post offices, beloved community hubs, fight virus-era threat
Colson Hudson, 54, had rarely visited her post office when she lived in suburban New Jersey. Postal Service from COVID-19 relief funding unless it quadruples the package rates it charges large customers like Amazon, owned by Jeff Bezos. But with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin pushing Trumps priorities, the Postal Service has so far landed just a $10 billion loan. Dixon, who lives nearby, has been with the post office for nearly 30 years, the last nine on her current route. In places like those, he said, the post office serves as the town's living room a gathering spot for conversation, for human contact, for community.
Want your package to arrive by Christmas 2019? A guide to all your shipping deadlines
Postal ServiceDec. 14: USPS Retail Ground shipments โ Dec. 18: Alaska to mainland First-Class Mail โ Dec. 19: Hawaii to mainland First-Class Mail and Priority Mail, also Alaska Priority Mail โ *Thereโs 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 โ Dec. 16: Ground and home delivery โ Dec. 19: Express Saver โ *Thereโs still time for the dates below! As for Amazon deadlines, youโre likely looking at Dec. 22 or Dec. 23, depending on if youโre a Prime member, where you live and what youโre ordering.