Ruralinfo.net 
The phrase “going postal,” which means to become uncontrollably angry, appeared as a slang term in American English in the 1990s. It emerged after a spate of shootings at post offices carried out by employees who were angry about their working conditions. The first recorded use of the term came in 1993, when a Florida … Read more
Amazon’s expansion of its delivery network into rural areas is replacing the United States Postal Service (USPS) as its last mile delivery service and threatening the livelihoods of rural carriers. The e-commerce giant has extended its reach into smaller markets and rural areas, a move that has significant economic implications for rural carriers and raises … Read more
On January 28, 2025, Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA), along with Rep. Connolly (D-VA), Rep. LaLota (R-NY) and Rep. Garbarino (R-NY), introduced H. Res. 70, a House Resolution expressing the sense of the House that the Postal Service should remain an independent establishment of the Federal Government and not be subject to privatization. You can find … Read more
The Social Security Administration said Friday that under its current budget, it could take more than a year to adjust benefits and pay all retroactive benefits under the Social Security Fairness Act, and explained how many recipients would actually be covered under the new law. “SSA’s ability to implement the law in a timely manner … Read more
Sprawling duties of the postmaster The postmaster general overseas a vast operation. Over 44% of the world’s mail is processed and delivered by the U.S. Postal Service, making it the largest delivery service in the world. In 2023 alone, the Postal Service handled 116.2 billion pieces of mail. And while processing and delivering mail is the key … Read more
GOP lawmakers are once again considering a litany of proposals that would require federal workers to pay more in exchange for less retirement and health care benefits. A 50-page document, compiled by GOP members of the House Budget Committee and first reported by Politico, outlines a list of provisions that could be included in the package, which … Read more
The ongoing wildfires in Southern California are affecting Postal Service operations there. Three districts have been affected by the fires. Six Post Offices were closed at first; by Jan. 27, that was down to four. Ismael Reynoso toured the damage in Pacific Palisades with a group of postmasters and managers on Jan. 10. The acting … Read more
The National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association and the United States Postal Service entered into a Letter of Understanding that will credit PARS Label time for each route utilizing the previous 52 weeks of data.
As of January 23, 2025, the U.S. Treasury was unable to fully invest the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund due to the statutory ceiling on the federal debt. However, G Fund investors remain fully protected and G Fund earnings are fully guaranteed by the federal government. This statutory guarantee has effectively protected G Fund investors … Read more
On Jan. 20, President Donald Trump issued a presidential memorandum (PM) instituting a hiring freeze on federal civilian employment. The Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management issued a memorandum to provide guidance regarding the PM. The guidance includes the following: “4. Other exemptions. For the following exemptions, hiring of veterans may be prioritized. In … Read more