Snippet of Article: "...the heightened political polarization in Washington, DC, may drive the nation closer to the edge of default than has been the case in years. The US hit its $31.4 trillion debt ceiling in January, forcing the Treasury Department to take extraordinary measures to allow the federal government to continue paying its bills in full and on time. A default could come over the summer or in early September, according to various analyses. ..."
Source: cnn.comWednesday, March 22, 2023
Here’s why Janet Yellen doesn’t think prioritizing payments would avoid a debt ceiling debacle
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Witnesses to Testify About Bidens, Chinese Funds
Witnesses to Testify About Bidens, Chinese Funds
Snippet of Article: "...House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer has indicated that there could be 11 more deals between Chinese companies and members of the Biden family. ..."We're getting the suspicious activity reports; we are also getting whistleblower explanations and then we have had some of these [allegations] leaked to us." The congressman stressed that these sources indicate a robust relationship between the Biden family and Chinese companies..."
Source: www.newsmax.comMajor arrests in New York City at highest point since Giuliani
Major arrests in New York City at highest point since Giuliani
Snippet of Article: "...according to end of year crime statistics released by the NYPD. But arrests for the seven major crimes (designated by the FBI as murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny and grand larceny of a motor vehicle) are happening at the highest frequency in decades. And that may explain why the department has made more major arrests so far in 2023 than any year since 1999...."
Source: www.cityandstateny.comManhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is doing more to help Trump get elected 'than any single person in America today'
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is doing more to help Trump get elected 'than any single person in America today'
Snippet of Article: "..."The prosecutor in New York has done more to help Donald Trump get elected president than any single person in America today," said Graham, speaking from Charleston, South Carolina, at the Palmetto Family Council's Vision '24 Forum, a prominent conservative Christian event. In New York City, "you're lucky if you don't get mugged on the way to where you're going. Is this really the most important thing going on in Manhattan?" Graham questioned. "I think this is an effort that's ongoing, never ending to destroy Donald Trump, everything around Donald Trump."...They're making stuff up that they've never used against anybody because they hate Trump."...
Source: www.foxnews.comBank Bailout Update | Yellen: More Actions Possible to Protect Bank Assets
Yellen: More Actions Possible to Protect Bank Assets
Snippet of Article: "...further steps to protect bank depositors may be warranted if smaller institutions suffer deposit runs that threaten more contagion, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen plans to tell bankers Tuesday. In excerpts of prepared remarks to an American Bankers Association conference, Yellen said government steps taken in recent days to protect uninsured deposits in two failed banks..."
Source: www.newsmax.comConvicted sex offenders accused of cashing in on blue state homeless vouchers to rape girls
Convicted sex offenders accused of cashing in on blue state homeless vouchers to rape girls
Snippet of Article: "...Lawrence "Larry" Cantrell, 34, and Michael Inman, 70, are accused of raping a girl, believed to be between 13 and 16, in Cantrell's Motel 6 bedroom last week, where he was staying as part of a voucher program for the homeless. Both men were placed into housing by People Assisting The Homeless, or PATH, a homeless services provider in San Diego, according to authorities. ..."
Source: www.foxnews.comSunday, March 19, 2023
Failed bank fallout could open doors for credit unions. Here's what to know about these institutions
Failed bank fallout could open doors for credit unions. Here's what to know about these institutions
Snippet of Article: "... fragility of the banking system could drive membership gains for credit unions, which provide many of the same financial services but with different motivations — and with different repercussions when they fail. ...Credit unions offer essentially the same $250,000 deposit insurance per account as banks, with the coverage backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government and supported by a deposit-insurance fund. ..."
Source: www.azcentral.comSaturday, March 18, 2023
Hmm? Fire in Chinese billionaire's apartment that broke out hours after arrest ...FBI reportedly still present when the fire broke out
Search for President Biden Role Behind China Cash
Comer demands Rob Walker, Biden biz associate behind China cash, detail Joe’s role
Snippet of Article: "...Subpoenaed bank records indicate Walker, an ex-Clinton administration official, distributed Chinese funds in early 2017 to President Biden’s brother James Biden, son Hunter Biden and daughter-in-law Hallie Biden — with $70,000 going to an unidentified Biden whose first name was not specified. “The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating President Biden’s involvement in his family’s business practices..."
Source: nypost.comHouse Sets Date for First Hearing Into Banking Crisis
House Sets Date for First Hearing Into Banking Crisis
Snippet of Article: "...Federal regulators will testify before the House Financial Services Committee on March 29 about the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank collapses, according to a press release. ..."
Source: www.newsmax.comAbandoned Laptop Update | Hunter Biden files lawsuit against laptop repair shop owner
Hunter Biden files lawsuit against laptop repair shop owner
Snippet of Article: "...Biden and his attorneys said that John Paul Mac Isaac had no legal right to copy and distribute private information. ...The lawsuit might bring more attention to Hunter Biden’s murky past, which includes lewd images, intimate audio, and a wealth of private texts and emails. Hunter Biden and his lawyers are trying to reframe the story"
Source: www.oann.comFriday, March 17, 2023
Long-term care pause | Two-year freeze on applications
Long-term care pause | Two-year freeze on applications
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has paused all new applications for the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program.
Unenrolled individuals cannot apply for the program.
The suspension period, which will run for 24 months from Dec. 19, 2022, is designed to give OPM and the John Hancock Life and Health Insurance Co., the program’s carrier, “time to thoroughly assess benefit offerings and establish sustainable premium rates that reasonably and equitably reflect the cost of the benefits provided,” according to the suspension notice on the program’s website.
Current enrollees’ coverage will not change as long as they continue to pay their premiums. However, current enrollees may not increase coverage.
Those who applied for the program before the cutoff date will have their application considered and, if approved, will receive all relevant information.
For those in claims status, there is no change to coverage or claims reimbursement as long as benefits have not been exhausted.
For more information on the suspension, call LTCFEDS at 800-582-3337. For other benefits-related questions, contact the Wellness team.
Reference: USPS News Link via NPMHU Local 317 - Alabama
Russian ships arrive at Black Sea crash site
Russian ships arrive at Black Sea crash site
Snippet of Article: "After news broke on Thursday of U.S. authorities confirming that Russian ships had arrived at the crash site, Moscow has said that it would make an effort to recover the drone’s debris despite maintaining that its aircraft had not made physical contact with the drone. Secretary of Russia’s security council Nikolai Patrushev stated to the Rossiya-1 TV station on Wednesday that Russia will endeavor to recover the U.S. surveillance drone. “I don’t know whether we will be able to retrieve it or not but it has to be done. And we’ll certainly work on it. I hope, of course, successfully,” Patrushev said. The drone incident, according to Patrushev, was further evidence that the U.S. was taking part in the conflict in Ukraine. ..."
Source: www.oann.comThursday, March 16, 2023
Pentagon footage proves Russia was lying when it said its Su-27 fighter jet made no contact with $32M US Reaper drone after dumping fuel on it and sending it crashing into Black Sea
Pentagon footage proves Russia was lying when it said its Su-27 fighter jet made no contact with $32M US Reaper drone after dumping fuel on it and sending it crashing into Black Sea
Snippet of Article: "US forces had to bring down the $32million surveillance drone in international waters after the encounter, sparking a race between Moscow and Washington to recover it. ...Russian ships were spotted at the crash site on Wednesday trying to find the debris, after the Pentagon insisted parts could not be retrieved and any intelligence had been wiped."
Source: www.dailymail.co.ukJobless 'Forecast' Off Again | U.S. weekly jobless claims fall more than expected
U.S. weekly jobless claims fall more than expected
Snippet of Article: "...a seasonally adjusted 192,000 for the week ended March 11, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 205,000 claims for the latest week. ..."
Source: www.reuters.comFederal Reserve to launch instant payment service 'FedNow' (A Fee Service)
Snippet of Article: "The instant payment network will settle payments in seconds, with the capability to support consumer-to-consumer, consumer-to-merchant, merchant-to-merchant, and bank-to-bank transactions. "With the FedNow Service, the Federal Reserve is creating a leading-edge payments system ...we urge financial institutions and their industry partners to move full steam ahead with preparations to join the FedNow Service...You Can Download: FedNow Service Readiness Guide (Off-site) ...FedNow Service 2023 Fee Schedule"
Source: www.aol.comTuesday, March 14, 2023
Feb. CPI | Inflation Pulls Back to 6% as Fed Confronts Bank Failures
Inflation Pulls Back to 6% as Fed Confronts Bank Failures
Snippet of Article: "Elevated inflation cooled modestly in February, as the Federal Reserve faces dual threats of rising prices and financial instability. The consumer-price index, a closely watched inflation gauge, rose 6% in February from a year earlier, versus a 6.4% gain the prior month, the Labor Department said Tuesday, the slowest pace since September 2021. The smaller increase comes as the Fed contemplates its next interest rate move while confronting price pressures and bank failures. ..."
Source: www.wsj.comUSPS | NPMHU members ratify 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
NPMHU members ratify 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
MAIL HANDLERS RATIFY 2022 NATIONAL AGREEMENT
The terms of the 2022 National Agreement between the NPMHU and the U.S. Postal Service were officially ratified on March 13, 2023. The certified results show that over 84% of the membership approved the new contract, with the final vote tally at 6,617 in favor of ratification and 1,237 in opposition to ratification.
Further details about the implementation of the 2022 National Agreement will be provided to Local Union officers and representatives in the coming weeks. All members are encouraged to retain and utilize their copy of the ratification booklet until National Agreements are printed and distributed.