Ruralinfo.net 
The following chart lists the 2025 pay periods. For the convenience of timekeepers, each biweekly pay period appears as two separate weeks, with the beginning and ending dates indicated for each week. The leave year always begins the first day of the first full pay period in the calendar year. The 2025 leave year begins … Read more
“It’s the first time in my life I can say I love what I do,” says Daniel Campos, a mail carrier in Hollister, CA. When Campos first transitioned from a retail job to his part-time USPS position, he said, he felt like he didn’t know what he was getting himself into. He worked his way … Read more
I saw him up ahead in the fading light of an early December evening – an older gentleman was waiting at his mailbox. Informed by no more than my one year’s experience as a mail carrier, I suspected that he was most likely impatiently waiting for his tardy newspaper. So I braced myself, prepared to … Read more
The so-called “Regional Transportation Optimization” plan will cut the number of times USPS visits rural post offices to pick up outgoing mail. This will inevitably cause even more delays for folks in rural America. I’ve written the Postmaster General to let him know this is a terrible idea. In fact, it’s downright shameful. These changes … Read more
UPDATE: On Saturday, December 21, the Senate passed the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), legislation that would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), by a vote of 76-20. Thank you to our members who contacted their senators in support of this legislation! The bill now heads to President Biden … Read more
TSP will continue its normal daily operations in the event of a lapse in appropriations. As a reminder, agencies should not submit Form TSP-41, Notification to TSP of Nonpay Status, if a participant has been furloughed (or their paychecks delayed) due to a lapse in appropriations. Participants should be referred to the tsp.gov/shutdown page for additional information in … Read more
A government shutdown will not affect the mail, meaning even if Congress does not pass a funding plan, holiday gifts still out for delivery should arrive. Congress has until midnight Saturday to avoid a government shutdown. If it misses the deadline, several agencies would not have the funds to continue operating, meaning some services would be delayed or … Read more
Background The U.S. Postal Service began deploying a major change to operations in October 2023 with the implementation of the Local Transportation Optimization (LTO) initiative in the Richmond, VA, region followed by 14 additional regions across the nation through August 2024. The initiative is generally designed to reduce the number of transportation trips to and … Read more
President-elect Donald Trump has revived talk from his previous term of moving to privatize the United States Postal System. To be sure, such a process would be complicated and would likely require an act of Congress. The Constitution in Article I, Section 8 grants Congress the ability “to establish Post Offices and post Roads,” including the power … Read more
LEWISBURG, Ky. (WBKO) – Life in Christy French’s hometown of Lewisburg is more than just routine — it’s about family, community, and a deep-seated desire to make a difference. Born in Russellville and raised in the quiet streets of Lewisburg, French grew up surrounded by a sense of safety and togetherness. Today, she works to … Read more