Postal Service highlights ballot delivery as oversight hearing nears
It’s been a mixed (mail) bag for the United States Postal Service this week, as USPS delivered some positive news Monday, Dec. 2, concerning its efforts during election season. However, the next day, Congress notified the agency of an oversight hearing to get answers on its performance and efficiency.
According to its newly-released Post-Election Analysis Report, the Postal Service processed more than 99 million ballots during the 2024 general election period starting Sept. 1. According to USPS, 99.88% of ballots were delivered to election officials within seven days. The USPS says they delivered 97.73% of ballots within three days.
On average, the agency said it delivered ballots from voters to election officials within one day. All in all, mail carriers delivered 3.37 billion pieces of political and election mail this year.
USPS said “extraordinary measures” were implemented to swiftly move ballot mail entered close to or on election day. These measures included extra deliveries and collections, special pick-ups and specialized sorting plans at processing facilities.
The Postal Service’s Post-Election Analysis Report comes as the agency undergoes a 10-year transformation plan called “Delivering for America.” USPS is looking to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, and dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories as it aims to eliminate tens of billions of dollars in predicted losses over the next decade.
If we do nothing more, we remain on the path to either a government bailout or the end of this great organization as we know it.
United States Postal Service
The progress on these initiatives will be the focus of a House Oversight Committee hearing on Dec. 10. Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., announced Tuesday, Dec. 3, that the committee will receive an update from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.
In a statement, Comer said, in part, “While the Postal Service’s finances and performance have seen some improvement under Postmaster General DeJoy’s 10-year plan, there is still work to be done. Many families and small businesses around the country are still experiencing poor USPS service, resulting in unacceptable delays, and this Committee has a responsibility to examine its operations to ensure hardworking American taxpayers are receiving a service they can rely on.”
Last month, the Postal Service reported a net loss of $9.5 billion for its fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. Since 2007, the agency has lost more than $100 billion.
The Postal Service warns it must continue to find ways to cut costs and increase revenue. As stated in its updated “Deliver to America” plan, “If we do nothing more, we remain on the path to either a government bailout or the end of this great organization as we know it.”
In July, the Postal Service raised the price of first-class mail stamps from 68 cents to 73 cents. They also planned a price hike twice a year through 2027. However, in September, the agency vowed there would be no increase in stamp prices this January.
That would be the first time in two years we won’t see an increase in stamp prices to begin a new year. There’s something to write home about.
Florida postal worker arrested for dumping ballots, election mail in woods
A mailman in Orlando, Florida, has been arrested for allegedly dumping more than 1,000 pieces of mail, including election mail, in the woods. Among the discarded items were an absentee ballot and what officials describe as 400 political items. Ottis McCoy was arrested on Frida, Oct. 25.
The investigation, according to court documents, began when a co-worker noticed McCoy returned from his route much earlier than expected, despite leaving with a large quantity of deliveries. After reviewing GPS data from McCoy’s postal vehicle, his manager discovered that he had deviated from his assigned route and stopped in a wooded area.
A U.S. Postal Service inspector found the discarded mail and obtained surveillance footage that allegedly shows McCoy throwing the mail into the trees and bushes. The local county elections supervisor expressed concern.
“It is extremely concerning to see vote-by-mail ballots discarded on the ground,” Glen Gilzean, the county elections supervisor, said. “We are, however, grateful for the prompt action taken by the United States Postal Service. We are fully committed to ensuring that every impacted Orange County voter receives their vote-by-mail ballot in time so that every voice can be heard in this historic election.”
Man arrested for assaulting postal worker over Kamala Harris mailer
A 61-year-old Farmington Hills man has been charged with ethnic intimidation and assault after threatening a postal worker over receiving campaign mail featuring Vice President Kamala Harris. Authorities say Russel Valleau used a derogatory term and made threats toward the postal worker before being arrested.
According to the Oakland County prosecutor’s office, Valleau became upset after receiving the campaign material and told the postal worker he didn’t want it in his mailbox, initially referring to Harris with a derogatory term.
He then repeated the term at the postal worker in a threatening tone, and approached her with a knife, prompting her to use pepper spray in self-defense.
Valleau was charged with felony ethnic intimidation, which carries a penalty of up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine. He also faces a misdemeanor assault charge, punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald condemned the incident, stating that hate crimes have a wide-reaching impact on communities.
“No one should be assaulted or threatened because of their race or for doing their job,” McDonald said, pledging to pursue such cases vigorously.
The incident follows a pattern of ethnic intimidation cases. In a separate case, a Wayne County sheriff’s deputy was recently acquitted of similar charges related to a racial slur incident.
USPS gears up for surge in mail-in ballots ahead of 2024 election
The U.S. Postal Service is preparing for an anticipated surge in mail-in ballots with the 2024 election less than two months away. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy addressed concerns raised by election officials.
The National Association of State Election Directors wrote a letter to DeJoy, concerned the surge in mail-in ballots would cause exceptionally long delivery times and an increase in mail returned as undeliverable.
DeJoy responded by assuring election officials that the USPS is prepared for that expected surge.
The postmaster general reported intensified training for postal employees to address quality issues that led to incorrect deliveries in the past.
DeJoy also said the USPS established dedicated teams to manage mail flagged as “undeliverable as addressed” and to swiftly resolve election mail-related challenges.
Both the Postal Service and state election officials are urging voters to return ballots well before Election Day or utilize available drop boxes.
Political parties are mobilizing supporters to vote early, either through mail-in ballots or in-person voting, signaling a strategic shift in campaign tactics.
The 2020 election saw over 69 million ballots sent through the postal system, setting a precedent that continues to influence voting patterns.
Suspicious packages allegedly targeting election officials found in 6 states
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and United States Postal Service (USPS) said that they are investigating why and who sent suspicious packages containing powder to election officials in at least six states on Monday, Sept. 16, which included Oklahoma, Tennessee, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Wyoming. In most cases, the material appears to be harmless.
Oklahoma officials said the white powder sent to their offices contained flour. Meanwhile, Wyoming official said that the results of the type of substance sent to officials are still pending.
Suspicious mail also forced the evacuation of offices in Iowa, Kansas and Wyoming. In Nebraska, a return address was listed as “U.S. Traitor Elimination Army.”
Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen said that the situation was resolved “thanks to the swift action taken by our staff members, law enforcement and other first responders.”
Evnen said he had notified the U.S. Elections Divisions to warn other states about any incoming suspicious mail.
The latest scares come less than two months before the November election. Last November, suspicious letters were sent to election officials and government buildings in a handful of states as well. Some letters reportedly contained fentanyl and delayed the counting of ballots in some elections.
This year, offices nationwide have increased security in the wake of threats following the 2020 election and false claims it was “rigged.” In Cobb County, Georgia, where a tight race is expected, sheriff’s deputies will be at early voting locations and panic buttons are installed at the election office.
New modern mail trucks begin arriving in American cities
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) began rolling out its new mail trucks to replace the aging fleet. The new delivery vehicles arrived in Athens, Georgia, in late summer 2024 and carriers started using them for their routes shortly after.
Some of the old mail trucks date back to the late 1980s and are on their last legs. There have been recent reports of trucks breaking down, and occasionally catching on fire, while on delivery routes. The older trucks had poor heating and cooling systems and low gas mileage.
The USPS expects to deliver about 27,000 new vehicles to local post offices this year. In total, more than 60,000 delivery trucks will replace the aging vehicles over the next 10 years.
The new mail trucks, built by Oshkosh Defense in South Carolina, are roomier and have air conditioning. They also have safety features such as 360-degree cameras and blind spot monitoring.
A vast majority of the new trucks are electric models. The postmaster general has announced that starting in 2026, the Postal Service will go to all electric when it comes to new purchases.
A deal with the Biden administration provided an additional $3 billion for USPS to make upgrades to its mail network. Some of that funding will be used to set up charging stations for the new delivery vehicles.
USPS proposes cost-cutting plan that could slow mail delivery in rural areas
The United States Postal Service is announcing new plans to cut costs and improve its finances. However, the plan does mean slower mail delivery for some Americans starting in 2025.
The proposal aims to overhaul the delivery logistics of the service, a move that could delay mail delivery in certain areas. The areas most affected by the move are rural locales.
This comes three years after the agency rolled out a 10-year plan looking to reverse billions in losses. The original plan slowed delivery standards to five days instead of the previous three. Now, thanks to the newly proposed changed, the service expects to save $3 billion a year.
However, depending on location and distance, some customers could see an additional 12-24 hours added to their delivery time.
The USPS has also raised the price of forever stamps. Critics argue that customers are paying more for slower services. The agency is making some assurances. All mail will be delivered within a two- to five-day window, and the agency further emphasized that 75% of first-class mail won’t be impacted.
Officials also stress that the changes won’t affect election mail or holiday shipments, as the changes won’t take place until next year. Medications will continue to be delivered at their current speed.
The details of the plan will be discussed with stakeholders at a Sept. 5 meeting before the proposal is submitted.
The price of sending a postcard is also going up. It’ll increase domestically by 3 cents to 56 cents and internationally by a dime, to $1.65.
These changes are part of the USPS’ Delivering for America 10-year plan, launched in 2021 when Forever stamps were 55 cents, that aims to stabilize the Postal Service financially, expecting to generate $44 billion in extra revenue by 2031.
Other changes include a rise in the additional-ounce price for letters and a 10 cent increase for international 1-ounce letters. Both reflect broader efforts to increase postal revenue, which relies significantly on first-class mail — accounting for over 30% of total postal revenue in 2023.
Biden’s physician responds to reports on Parkinson’s expert visits
President Joe Biden’s physician releases a letter as questions surround a Parkinson’s expert’s repeated visits to the White House. And former President Donald Trump’s deadline to pick a vice president nears with the Republican National Convention just days away. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
Biden’s physician responds to reports on Parkinson’s disease expert visits
Ever since President Joe Biden’s self-described “bad night” at the presidential debate, he and his team have had to field questions about his health. That was no different on Monday, July 8, when the concerns centered on a Parkinson’s disease expert who had recently visited the White House on several occasions.
According to public visitor logs, Dr. Kevin Cannard — a neurologist and “movement disorders specialist” from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center — visited the White House eight times in the eight-month span between July 2023 and March 2024, including a visit with the president’s personal physician.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked repeatedly about the visits during Monday’s press briefing. Jean-Pierre said Biden has seen a neurologist three times as part of annual physicals but would not confirm much else, saying the White House medical unit serves multiple personnel along with the president.
“I can tell you this — just going back to Parkinson’s for a little bit, so, to give you some answers here: Has the president been treated for Parkinson’s? No. Is he being treated for Parkinson’s? No, he’s not,” Jean-Pierre told reporters. “Is he taking medication for Parkinson’s? No. So those are the things that I can give you full-blown answers on but I’m not going to confirm a specialist, any specialist that comes to come comes to the White House, out of privacy.”
Hours later, White House physician Kevin O’Connor released a letter addressing the issue, saying Dr. Cannard was “the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals,” including one in February that showed no signs of any neurological disorders. O’Connor also confirmed the president has not seen a neurologist outside of those physicals.
The president himself wrote a letter earlier in the day to Democrats in Congress amid growing calls for him to step aside, saying he is “firmly committed to staying in the race.” He added he “wouldn’t be running again if” he did not “absolutely believe” he was the “best person to beat Donald Trump.”
A defiant Biden joined MSNBC’s Morning Joe shortly after sending the letter, saying it’s the voters who chose him as the Democratic nominee, and he is not concerned about those calling for him to drop out of the race.
“I’m getting so frustrated by the elites — not you guys — the elites in the party, oh, they know so much more,” the president said. “Any of these guys that don’t think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention.”
Biden to host NATO summit, will take questions from media
President Biden will look to answer critics’ calls for him to step aside as he welcomes world leaders to Washington, D.C. for the NATO summit that begins Tuesday, July, 9. Leaders from more than 30 NATO countries, as well as partners Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the European Union and Ukraine, will join the president to mark 75 years of the global alliance.
The summit will focus on supplying additional military and financial aid to Ukraine, including new steps to strengthen its air defenses. During the week, Biden will host an event with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and two dozen other leaders. He’ll also take part in his first bilateral meeting with new U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
On Thursday, July 11, the president will hold a press conference where he will take questions from the media.
Trump’s vice president search enters final days
Former President Trump is getting back on the campaign trail with a rally in Florida as the deadline to announce his pick for vice president looms. In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity Monday, July 8 night, Trump did confirm Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, R, are under consideration.
But as to when we’ll find out who the official pick is, it seems even the former president isn’t quite sure.
“I think probably within the next week, week and a half, probably sometime — I’d love to do it during the convention,” he told Hannity. “My people say that’s a little complicated. You know, in the old days, they would announce the vice president during the convention. Today, with modern day technology you can’t do things that you could’ve done 50 years ago very easily. But probably a little before the convention but not much. It could even be during the convention that we’ll do it. I’d love to do it during the convention. I think it would be a very interesting build up and important for the convention and would make it even more exciting.”
The Republican National Convention kicks off Monday, July 15, in Milwaukee.
At least 6 dead in Texas after Beryl, millions without power
At least six people have been confirmed dead and millions are without power after Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Texas as a Category 1 storm on Monday, July 8. Dozens of people across the state also had to be rescued from flood waters after Beryl dropped up to ten inches of rain in some areas and tornadoes could be spotted across the state.
Officials in Texas said it’ll take “several days” to restore power, but they should be getting a clearer timeline at some point Tuesday.
Since making landfall, Beryl has weakened to a tropical depression. It’s now moving toward Arkansas, but rain from the storm is expected to hit as far north as Detroit by Tuesday night then dump heavy rain in Vermont by Wednesday, July 10.
Jury selection begins in Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial
On Monday, a judge ruled jurors will not hear evidence related to his status as a producer on the film, only his role as an actor in the movie.
Baldwin admitted he was holding a prop gun when a live bullet discharged. He’d previously stated that he did not intentionally pull the trigger and that the gun “went off.”
If convicted, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison.
Price of Forever stamps to increase starting next week
The price of stamps is going up again. Starting on Sunday, July 14, one Forever stamp will cost 73 cents — up five cents from its current price.
Report: Feds, police are spying on the mail of thousands of Americans
Law enforcement has requested thousands of pieces of letters and packages every year for the past decade from the U.S. Postal Service without a court order. According to a report released on Monday, June 24, the Postal Service has mostly fulfilled the requests.
Data from 2015 through 2023 showed that federal agencies and state and local police made more than 60,000 requests to the Postal Service for information from Americans’ envelopes and packages. The Postal Service reportedly approved 97% of those requests.
The practice of monitoring mail goes back to 1879, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a Fourth Amendment case that it was legal but required a warrant to be obtained in order to open a sealed letter. The Mail Covers Program has been used to track down suspects, find fugitives or compile evidence — as long as all the details obtained came from the outside of the package or envelope.
The Postal Inspection Service has previously been reluctant to release the full scope of activity within the program out of fears that it could “alert criminals” to the practice and jeopardize the program’s effectiveness.
For more than a year, a bipartisan group of senators has been demanding to know more about the surveillance program. In a June 2023 letter, they shared concerns over the spying on U.S. citizens and accused postal officials of keeping customers in the dark about the fact that they have been the subject of monitoring.
The lawmakers also wrote that sensitive information is still on the outside of the mail, encompassing things like bills and political mail, which can reveal a person’s political beliefs and other sensitive information, like the church they attend. The lawmakers requested a federal judge to sign off on the requests by law enforcement before getting the green light.
Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale argued that Americans shouldn’t expect privacy when it comes to the outside of their mail, and contends that the spying is not widespread.
Barksdale said the Postal Service receives approximately 6,700 requests per year from law enforcement and the practice is only allowed for national security purposes and to help police in criminal investigations.