The Postal Service dedicated its stamp honoring musician Allen Toussaint in a New Orleans ceremony on Jan. 30. Toussaint was a virtuoso pianist, singer, songwriter and producer. He helped shape the unique sound of New Orleans music and played a pivotal role in sharing it with the world. “The United States Postal Service is deeply […]
USPS employees who are enrolled in the new flexible spending account program administered through Inspira Financial will receive their FSA debit card soon. To activate the debit card, employees must use the last digits of their employee identification number, not the last four digits of their Social Security number. […]
A journey of 444 Post Offices began with one stamp. Last week, Link brought you the story of a Maine couple who set out to get the 2010 Winslow Homer stamp hand-canceled at every Post Office in their adopted home state. The project gave them a renewed appreciation for the Postal Service. In rural Maine, […]
Rural Carrier Connie Durbin was recently delivering mail to a residence in Stanford, KY, when she heard a cry for help. The Postal Service employee walked around the home and found a customer lying in a steep ditch under his riding lawn mower, which had rolled over during a turn. The man had been trapped […]
My name is Marty Mieras and I’m the Postal Service’s military programs specialist. My job is to build relationships with military and veterans organizations to recruit top talent to the Postal Service and to keep our current veteran employees informed. We employ more than 72,000 veterans — that’s over 10 percent of our workforce. My […]
The USPS Ethics Office is reminding Postal Service employees not to use the organization’s credit cards for personal expenses. Government-issued credit cards can only be used for authorized, business-related expenses. For example, employees should never use the cards to pay for a video streaming subscription, a haircut or pet insurance. Employees also cannot use Voyager […]
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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 […]
The Postal Service will release its 1794 Compass Rose stamp on Friday, Jan. 24. The Global Forever stamp features an illustration of an 18th-century compass rose, which is used on maps to orient users by showing the direction of north and other points. The term “compass rose” comes from the resemblance of the directional points […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. The Year of the Snake stamp features an original snake mask created by which of the following American-born artists? a) Ruth Asawa b) Camille Chew c) Miyoko Ito d) Isamu Noguchi […]
The Postal Service will release Year of the Snake, the sixth in the current Lunar New Year series of stamps, on Tuesday, Jan. 14. The Lunar New Year holiday is celebrated in many Asian cultures around the world and historically marks the arrival of spring. It has become a popular observance in the United States, […]
My name is Kevin Rayburn and I’m an attorney with the Postal Service’s Ethics Office. A lot of what we do is provide guidance to postal employees regarding ethics rules and other federal compliance matters. On any given day, I might give structured training, assist with processing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, and decide […]
The Postal Service wants employees to know they can have second jobs, but there are certain types of employment that are not permitted. Employees cannot engage in any outside work that conflicts with or affects their postal duties. Ethics regulations also prohibit employees from: • Working for an entity that delivers mailable matter that could […]
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar on going back to school or beginning work on a college degree. The session, “Going Back to School 101,” will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 1 p.m. Eastern. Representatives from Carlow University, a USPS educational partner, will lead the webinar. Participants must register before […]
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has extended the suspension period for all new Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program applications. The agency, also known as OPM, initially suspended applications for two years beginning in 2022. This suspension has been extended until Dec. 19, 2026. In a statement, OPM said the suspension is needed because […]
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A team of USPS tricycle mechanics recently rode into the spotlight in Philadelphia. A local TV news crew produced a segment on the mechanics, who respond to calls for equipment repairs at the Philadelphia Processing and Distribution Center. Because the center has almost 1 million square feet, the tricycles allow the maintenance mechanics and electronic […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. According to the Postal Service’s 2025 payroll schedule, there are three paydays during what two months? a) January and August b) March and September c) May and October d) June and […]
My name is Mike Porter and I’m a communications specialist for the chief processing and distribution officer’s organization at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC. When I’m not at work, I manage an Illinois-based 1980s tribute band, BoomBox, and spend my time traveling to our weekend gigs. I also play keyboards and provide lead vocals for […]
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 97.43 percent during the week ending Jan. 3, down 0.04 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected Jan. 8. WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 97.74 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 97.13 percent rating. Among the […]
My name is Sal D’Angelo and I’m a retail associate at the Manhasset, NY, Post Office, which is on Long Island. I’m here at 4:30 a.m. every day when the first truck from the local processing and distribution center is dropping off mail, and I prepare the mail for the carriers. Then I do clerical […]
The Postal Service will offer four virtual job fairs for supervisory positions this year, starting in February. Topics to be covered during the fairs include: • The supervisory role, including responsibilities, potential career paths and how to find and apply for positions. • How to effectively respond to knowledge, skills and abilities questions to demonstrate […]
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The Postal Service is reminding employees and contractors to be aware of online scams that can pose a threat or cause harm to the organization. While individuals can fall victim to many different types of scams, cybercriminals commonly prey on their intended targets — via texting or email — for financial gain. Some of these […]
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar on setting resolutions to improve your life. The session, “Setting Your Wellness Resolutions and Goals,” will be held Tuesday, Jan. 14, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern. Representatives from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, a provider of health plans for federal employees, will lead the discussion. Participants must […]
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The Postal Service will dedicate Year of the Snake, its latest Lunar New Year stamp, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, in Boston. The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Eastern at the Wang Theatre at the Boch Center, 270 Tremont St. The speakers will include Luke Grossmann, the Postal Service’s chief financial officer. Attendees are […]
The mid-Atlantic and Central Plains regions have experienced heavy snow, freezing rain and icy conditions in recent days. The Postal Service will continue to deliver where it is safe to do so. The usps.com Service Alerts and Newsroom pages have the latest updates on service disruptions and operational adjustments. […]
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A handwritten letter recently arrived at the USPS Remote Encoding Center in Salt Lake City, but it didn’t need to be deciphered. The center, also known as the REC, receives digital images of letters and packages with illegible addresses. The employees there do the detective work of determining where the mailpieces are supposed to go. […]
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USPS employees have pledged $1.7 million and 1,454 volunteer hours so far during the latest Combined Federal Campaign, the government’s annual workplace charity drive. The Postal Service’s fundraising goal is $3 million. A virtual event to encourage employees to participate in the campaign, also known as the CFC, will be held Wednesday, Jan. 8. The […]
After 37 years in the Postal Service, San Diego’s new postmaster is right where she wants to be. Tanya Toedt Fitzharris joined USPS in 1987 as a part-time flexible letter carrier in Encinitas, CA. She steadily climbed the ranks, finally landing in her dream job last fall. At her swearing-in ceremony, Fitzharris encouraged employees to […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Mr. ZIP and several Postal Service employees recently appeared on a special featuring the popular children’s character Blippi. Where can you watch it? a) Cartoon Network b) Nickelodeon c) PBS Kids […]
Many people still turn to the U.S. Mail for their communication needs, but perhaps none more so than John Coffer. Coffer is a “wet-plate artist,” which means he uses a photographic technique that dates to the 1850s. He operates Camp Tintype in Dundee, NY, where people from around the world come to attend workshops and […]
Like always, Link published its share of memorable images in 2024. Here’s another look at some of the best photos, including shots from delivery routes, postal facilities and stamp dedication ceremonies. Select each image below to see a larger version. […]