skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, December 1, 2023

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

On World AIDS Day, New Mexico activists say more money is needed for prevention; ND farmers still navigate corporate land-ownership policy maze; Unpaid caregivers in ME receive limited financial grants.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Secretary of State Antony Blinken urges Israel to protect civilians amid Gaza truce talks, New York Rep. George Santos defends himself as his expected expulsion looms and CDC director warns about respiratory illness as flu season begins.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Congress has iced the Farm Bill, but farmer advocates argue some portions are urgent, the Hoosier State is reaping big rewards from wind and solar, and opponents react to a road through Alaska's Brooks Range, long a dream destination for hunters and anglers.

Future Uncertain as Minnesota Letter Carriers Rally Today

play audio
Play

Monday, October 6, 2014   

DULUTH, Minn. - Letter carriers from around the state are converging in Duluth this week for their annual convention, and it comes as they face what can at best be described as a changing and uncertain future. With mounting financial struggles, the U.S. Postal Service has already consolidated 141 mail-processing facilities nationwide and another 82 are on the chopping block

Scott Dulas, vice president, Minnesota State Association of Letter Carriers, says that includes the facility in Duluth.

"The plan right now is to close the plant after the first of the year," says Dulas. "There would be about 70 employees that would either be relocated or transferred or laid off, but the major impact is mainly for our customers."

As processing centers in Greater Minnesota cities like Duluth, Bemidji, St. Cloud and Mankato are closed, Dulas explains the mail has to be trucked to the Twin Cities for sorting and then trucked back, possibly doubling or tripling delivery times. The letter carriers will rally this afternoon at the Duluth Civic Center.

In addition to the facility closures, there has also been talk of eliminating Saturday deliveries to help cut costs. Dulas says that too would lead to delays for customers, while doing very little to solve the main financial problem: a $5.5 billion annual requirement to prepay future health care costs for future retirees for the next 75 years.

"They have an operational profit they made the last year or so, other than that $5.5 billion," says Dulas. "So, if that went away, if Congress took away this $5.5 billion that pre-funds retiree health benefits for people who aren't even born yet the Postal Service would be in great shape."

Legislation in the U.S. House would eliminate the requirement that the Postal Service pre-fund future retiree health benefits. As for the closures, some 50 U.S. Senators are among those pushing for a one-year delay to give lawmakers time to enact comprehensive postal reform.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
According to the National Family Farm Coalition, the average U.S. farmland value is now $3,800 per
acre, the highest since the 1970s. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

North Dakota's farming landscape is seeing policy shifts dealing with corporate ownership of agricultural interests. Now, there's fresh debate at the …


Social Issues

play sound

Advocates for unpaid family caregivers in Maine say they'll need continued support beyond the recently passed paid family and medical leave program…

Social Issues

play sound

The Students for Justice in Palestine chapters at the University of Florida and the University of South Florida are filing lawsuits against the deacti…


An estimated 40% of recent college graduates in the U.S. are underemployed, according to Statista. (Adobe Stock)

play sound

A new report from WGU Labs, a nonprofit affiliate of Western Governors University based in Millcreek, Utah, is shedding light on the importance of …

Social Issues

play sound

Many older residents of Washington state are facing strains on their budgets -- and the government programs that could assist them are underused…

The Thrive Indianapolis Annual Report 2022 says Indianapolis has been recognized as a Tree City USA for 35 consecutive years. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Bloomington and Indianapolis are getting some international recognition for the work they're doing to help the environment. The two have been named …

Health and Wellness

play sound

New Mexico activists are tapping today's World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, to announce they'll ask the State Legislature to provide more money for treatment …

play sound

Bipartisan legislation that proposes the installation of solar panels in schools across Pennsylvania awaits a vote in the state Senate. The Solar …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021