Monday, September 30, 2013

Shutdown nears, stocks fall

Article Title: Stocks tumble as government shutdown nears

Snippet of Article: "...Stocks were sharply lower on Wall Street as investors braced for a potential government shutdown..."

Source: www.usatoday.com Government Shutdown 2013, Federal government shutdown news, Federal Shutdown,

Saturday, September 28, 2013

NSA maps some Americans' social connections

Article Title: NSA maps out a person's social connections

Snippet of Article: "...For almost three years the National Security Agency has been tapping the data it collects to map out some Americans' social connections, allowing the government to identify their associates, their locations at certain times, their traveling companions and other personal information, The New York Times reported...."

Source: www.cbsnews.com Social Connection Mapping

Friday, September 27, 2013

Prediction: Government Shutdown Will Be Averted

Article Title: Sen. Rob Portman predicts government shutdown will be averted

Snippet of Article: "...He said he is optimistic that the House and Senate will be able to reach a spending compromise in time to avoid a government shutdown on Oct. 1. "I think we will pass something," Portman said...."

Source: www.cleveland.com Government Shutdown 2013

Monday, September 23, 2013

FDA contract includes monitoring conversations on blogs, mainstream news websites and discussion boards

Article Title: FDA Hires Obama Campaigners to Track Its Social Media Reach

Snippet of Article: "...The contract includes monitoring conversations on blogs, mainstream news websites and discussion boards as well as on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, Flickr and Wikipedia, according to a request for quotation...."

Source: www.nextgov.com Food and Drug Administration

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Furloughs loom soon as political infighting puts federal employees in the crosshairs again

Article Title: NASA warns its 18,000 employees that no federal budget deal by Sept. 30 would mean furloughs

Snippet of Article: "...Radzanowski says no funding for the 2014 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 "would ... mean that a number of employees would be temporarily furloughed."..."

Source: al.com

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Navy Yard shooter held security clearance despite background history

Article Title: Navy Yard shooting rampage kills 12; dead suspect is contractor

Snippet of Article: "...Employed as a military contractor, 34-year-old Aaron Alexis began at the Navy Yard last week, but worked at multiple Navy offices over the summer,..."

Source: www.cnn.com Aaron Alexis

Sunday, September 15, 2013

40,000 Feds delayed direct-deposit on Friday due to error

Article Title: Pay is delayed for 40,000 federal workers

Snippet of Article: "...More than 40,000 federal employees expecting direct-deposit paychecks Friday did not receive their funds because of an error at one of the government’s payroll processing centers, officials said...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Federal job hiring on the decline

Article Title: Federal hiring declines to six-year low point

Snippet of Article: "...The drop in hiring comes as agencies face a wave of retirements by baby-boomers, who are calling it quits amid budget cuts, furloughs and poor morale caused by a negative public view of federal service...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Monday, September 9, 2013

Postal work is by far the most dangerous among federal civilian jobs

Article Title: Most dangerous jobs: Postal work tops list among federal civilian positions

Snippet of Article: "...In terms of federal jobs, postal work is by far the most dangerous: Last year, postal employees constituted a third of all federal civilian employees in the United States..."

Source: www.federaltimes.com

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Postal Service wants to force retirees out of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and over to Medicare

Article Title: USPS Plan to Pull Out of Fed Health Benefits Could Cost Postal Workers

Snippet of Article: "...The Postal Service would reach a majority of its savings by shifting its retirees... to Medicare..."

Source: www.govexec.com Postal Service, FEHB, Medicare,

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Small 2014 Federal Pay Raise May Be Coming

Article Title: COLA? Maybe. Pay raise? Maybe not!

Snippet of Article: "...Thanks to a three-year pay freeze, higher taxes and rising health insurance premiums, take-home pay for most nonpostal federal workers has been shrinking every year. The White House originally..."

Source: www.federalnewsradio.com 2014 Pay Raise

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Tell congress to stop the privatization of the Postal Service - you will be next!

Article Title: House Panel Approves Rep. Issa’s Postal Bill

Snippet of Article: "...“If it is enacted, this bill will lead to the demise of the Postal Service,” said APWU President Cliff Guffey..."

Source: www.apwu.org Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Postal bills, postal privatization, privatization,

Monday, July 29, 2013

Are sequestration cuts being used to send a political message?

Article Title: Chief of federal workers union says Pentagon using sequestration cuts to 'send a political message'

Snippet of Article: "...it's obvious sequestration cuts are being used to "send a political message" by being as "disruptive as possible." ..."

Source: blog.al.com

Thursday, July 25, 2013

States Rights: Will states need permission from the Feds...

Article Title: Feds want Texas to clear voting-rights changes with them

Snippet of Article: "...Holder said the Obama administration will use a different section of the Voting Rights Act that allows federal authorities to ask a judge to order a state to be put under the preclearance regime. To do so the Justice Department must prove "purposeful" discrimination...."

Source: www.cnn.com States Rights

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Are women owned businesses getting their share of federal contracts?

Article Title: Women-Owned Small Businesses Snubbed by U.S. Energy Department

Snippet of Article: "...The effort hasn’t gone far at the Energy Department, which reserved six of more than 13,000 awards for such companies last year. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has also struggled, setting aside just one. ..."

Source: www.bloomberg.com 8A

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Life Event: Marrying a CSRS retiree

Article Title: Marrying a CSRS retiree

Snippet of Article: "...when he dies? Does the spouse receive any benefit?..."

Source: federaltimes.com

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Impact of furloughs begins

Article Title: Furloughs begin hitting federal workers in the wallet where it hurts; their pain will spread

Snippet of Article: "...Federal furloughs arrived for real this week, and real-world impacts will begin showing up as well. Thousands of federal workers..."

Source: www.pennlive.com

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

OSHA investigates postal worker death

Article Title: OSHA opens investigation into death of Medford postal worker who collapsed in the heat

Snippet of Article: "...A 24-year veteran of the US Postal Service, Baldassarre had complained to his wife about the heat earlier in the day. Baldassarre was a utility carrier working out of the Medford Post Office..."

Source: www.boston.com

Sunday, July 7, 2013

OPM buyouts could further slow federal employee retirement processing

Article Title: OPM pension claims processing plunged again last month

Snippet of Article: "...claims backlog could also be hindered by OPM’s decision in late May to offer buyouts and early retirements to up to almost 300 employees..."

Source: www.federaltimes.com OPM pension claims backlog

Sorry, the dismantling of your postal service must go on

Article Title: Postal Service to La Jolla: Sorry, the dismantling must go on

Snippet of Article: "...came to the same decision that he made regarding the relocation of the Bronx GPO: the objections to the relocation “do not outweigh the financial exigencies facing the Postal Service.”..."

Source: www.savethepostoffice.com

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Locality Pay Equity Act (H.R. 2450)

Article Title: Legislation Would End Wage Disparity for Hourly Federal Employees

Snippet of Article: "...The Locality Pay Equity Act (H.R. 2450) aims to solve a local labor market boundary issue that has resulted in wage computation disparity between wage scale or hourly employees and general schedule (GS) or salaried employees. ..."

Source: www.fedsmith.com Locality Pay Equity Act (H.R. 2450)

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Proposal would force the firing of any federal employee who refuses to testify before Congress after receiving a grant of immunity

Article Title: Legislation filed to FIRE federal employees who refuse to testify before Congress

Snippet of Article: "...Rep. Mo Brooks wants a law on the books to penalize federal government employees who mislead Congress, or plead the Fifth Amendment after..."

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Friday, June 21, 2013

Violent attacks on federal employees working on public lands has escalated

Article Title: Federal Employees Increasingly Under Attack on Public Lands

Snippet of Article: "...Federal employees working in the country’s outdoor areas were victims of more violent attacks in 2012 than in previous years, according to a report by an advocacy group...."

Source: www.govexec.com

Thursday, June 20, 2013

TWA Flight 800 documentary inspires calls for NTSB to reopen investigation

Article Title: NTSB urged to reopen review of TWA Flight 800 crash

Snippet of Article: "...Former investigators from the NTSB, TWA and Air Line Pilots Association suggest in a documentary that missiles caused the plane to explode near Long Island and kill 230 people aboard. The plane was flying from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to Paris...."

Source: www.usatoday.com NTSB, TWA Flight 800,

Sunday, June 16, 2013

2014 Federal Pay Raise

Article Title: White House again calls for federal employee raise

Snippet of Article: "...“The Administration urges the Congress to provide the proposed 1.0 percent pay increase for Federal civilian employees. As the President stated in his [fiscal year] 2014 Budget, a permanent pay freeze is neither sustainable nor desirable,” the administration said in policy statements on pending bills to fund the Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs departments. ..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com 2014 Federal Pay Raise

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Postal Service is over-discounting presorted bulk mail

Article Title: PRC: USPS Presort Discount Too Generous

Snippet of Article: "...the USPS is over-discounting for presorted mail—bulk mail organized according to its destination by the mailer prior to handing it over to the USPS. The discount for presorting is supposed to result in lower costs..."

Source: www.dmnews.com USPS Presort Discount

Federal Worker Shortage Coming With Mass Retirement Wave Possible

Article Title: Wave of federal retirees to hit government

Snippet of Article: "...30% of the federal workforce will be eligible to retire in the next three years, according to a Government Accountability Office report. That means the government could be hit by a wave of retirements at a time when it is already dealing with inadequate staffing..."

Source: cnn.com

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

OPM buyouts and early outs

Article Title: OPM to offer buyouts, early outs

Snippet of Article: "...Office of Personnel Management is planning to offer buyouts and early retirements to nearly 300 employees — and some of those buyouts are likely to..."

Source: www.federaltimes.com

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Federal Worker Furlough Notices Sent Out

Article Title: Furlough notices sent to WSMR employees, other federal workers

Snippet of Article: "...Notices to federal government civilian employees and government contractor employees, letting them know they will be placed on mandatory one-day-a-week job furloughs for 11 weeks, began going out Tuesday. The process will continue through June 5...."

Source: www.lcsun-news.com

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

U.S. Department of the Treasury temporarily stopping investment into Civil Service Retirement

Article Title: Treasury will temporarily stop investing in retirement to free up money for federal debt, Lew Says

Snippet of Article: "...Stopping investment into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund and the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund will free up about another $79 billion...."

Source: www.fiercegovernment.com

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Postal Shooting: Killer believed his mail was being diverted to his estranged wife

Article Title: Complaint outlines alleged plot to kill letter carrier

Snippet of Article: "...With a rifle, extra ammunition and lighter fluid, he hid in a treeline like a sniper to wait for the letter carrier to make her delivery. As she pulled away in her Jeep Cherokee, he shot ..."

Source: www.news.ruralinfo.net

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Postal carrier found in burned vehicle, shot

Article Title: Inspectors continue search for suspect in postal carrier slaying

Snippet of Article: "...Postal inspectors said he is the lead suspect in the investigation into the slaying of 52-year-old Marie Youngblood. She was a U.S. Postal carrier who had been on her rural delivery route in her personal car on Friday in San Jacinto County. Youngblood worked out of the Coldspring branch...."

Source: www.khou.com

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Federal workers keep our country running

Article Title: Federal workers keep the country running

Snippet of Article: "...Our borders are secure because of Homeland Security. Our airways are safe because of the TSA. Planes take off in an orderly fashion because of air-traffic controllers. Farmers have the latest technology to produce our food through the USDA. Health and Human Services makes sure we get the healthcare we need. The FBI protects us from criminals. The Secret Service protects..."

Source: www.miamiherald.com

Monday, May 13, 2013

Is your federal pension accurate?

Article Title: Pension accuracy slips as OPM picks up pace

Snippet of Article: "...The accuracy of the Office of Personnel Management’s calculation of new federal pensions has slipped as it has worked to speed up its retirement processes, the agency’s inspector general is set to testify Thursday...."

Source: www.federaltimes.com

Postal carrier speaks of delivery in crime-infested areas

Article Title: The postman doesn't always ring twice: tales from a ghetto postal worker

Snippet of Article: "...There were blocks I worked on that I dreaded because you’d see dudes smoking weed, prostitution. There could be weapons involved, gangs. Sterling Place, all the way from Utica Avenue to Buffalo Avenue in Crown Heights — bad, bad, bad. It’s the gauntlet. Two of the worst blocks in Brooklyn for a letter carrier — no question...."

Source: www.nypost.com

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Postal Union Food Drive: 21st annual NALC National Food Drive is Saturday, May 11

Article Title: 21st annual NALC National Food Drive is Saturday, May 11

Snippet of Article: "...The 21st annual drive is Saturday, May 11, and more than 1,400 NALC branches in just about every city, state and territory will have letter carriers, family members and thousands of volunteers out and about to help collect, sort and distribute the cans, boxes and jars of non-perishable food items left in bags next to customers’ mailboxes...."

Source: www.nalc.org

Monday, May 6, 2013

Postal Workers fear for safety in crime-infested area

Article Title: Postal workers too scared to deliver mail in crime-ridden Brownsville, Brooklyn

Snippet of Article: "...“The neighborhood is bad,” the worker said outside the Brownsville Station Post Office on Bristol Street. “I wouldn’t want to go into those buildings.”..."

Source: www.nypost.com

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Personal Advocates for Civilians Returning from Combat Zones are much needed

Article Title: OPM to Agencies: Create Personal Advocates for Civilians Returning from Combat Zones

Snippet of Article: "...The 2012 National Defense Authorization Act called for the establishment of a Post-Combat Case Coordinator at each agency. The coordinator should help civilians who “incur injury, disability or illness while in a war-risk hazard assignment,” according to OPM’s memo. ..."

Source: www.govexec.com

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Charges dropped against ricin mailing suspect Paul Kevin Curtis

Article Title: 2nd Miss. Man Investigated in Ricin Case

Snippet of Article: "...Everett Dutschke, whose Tupelo, Miss., home was searched Tuesday by dozens of officials, some in hazmat suits, had feuded with Paul Kevin Curtis, a 45-year-old celebrity impersonator who had maintained his innocence since his arrest...."

Source: time.com

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Special federal bomb squad has mobilized to Boston Marathon site

Article Title: Investigators meticulously combing Boston Marathon crime scene

Snippet of Article: "...every bomb technician from every civilian agency has graduated from the same Hazardous Devices School, run jointly by the Army and the FBI at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala. “When we go on the scene, we’re working side by side with people who went to the same school,”..."

Source: www.kansas.com