Will Postal Service Restart Destructive Mail Processing Facility Closures?

Article Title: Warning: Another Attack On Our Postal Service

Snippet of Article: "...have to get rid of several mail-processing facilities, even though this would slow delivery. Other steps – layoffs, along with pay and benefit cuts for the workers who remain – would make the service more “efficient.” Over time, service would degrade and eventually this would all end badly for the public and the employees. (But, of course, that’s the point.) ..."

Source: ourfuture.org

Senate to Pass Spending Bill to Avoid Shutdown

Article Title: Senate to Pass Spending Bill to Avoid Shutdown

Snippet of Article: "...The Senate plans to pass a spending bill Wednesday morning to keep the U.S. government running, leaving hours to spare for the House to vote before a potential shutdown...."

Source: www.newsmax.com Spending Bill, Shutdown 2915, Government Shutdown, Federal Shutdown,

As the government barrels toward another shutdown, thousands of federal workers say they weren’t fairly compensated for the last one

Article Title: As the government barrels toward another shutdown, thousands of federal workers say they weren’t fairly compensated for the last one

Snippet of Article: "...The employees, from the Defense Department to the Bureau of Prisons, have joined a lawsuit against the government that alleges it violated the Fair Labor Standards Act two years ago. They were told to work during the 16-day shutdown because their jobs were essential to security and safety — but not paid until federal agencies reopened..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com Federal Shutdown, Government Shutdown,

Obama planned to hire 3,100 new federal employees to legalize illegal immigrants before being enjoined by federal courts.

Article Title: Obama planned to hire 3,100 new federal employees to legalize illegal immigrants before being enjoined by federal courts.

Snippet of Article: "...President Obama’s plan to unilaterally legalize millions of illegal immigrants in defiance of Congress, would have required the hiring of 3,100 new full-time federal employees, with benefits, just to process the paperwork. The Obama administration actually did lease an 11-story building in Arlington, Virginia, for $7.8 million per year to accommodate those new hires..."

Source: www.newsworks.org

Comments from Wednesday’s debate on CNN about the government should make you nervous

Article Title: GOP hopefuls spell dread for federal employees

Snippet of Article: "...It must be disheartening for public servants to hear they are part of an inept, corrupt political class that stifles, rather than serves the public. Walker, the union-busting governor of Wisconsin, thinks he has the cure..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Feds offered $235,000 for Norwalk lighthouse

Article Title: Feds offered $235,000 for Norwalk lighthouse

Snippet of Article: "...The property consists of a cast-iron sparkplug style structure with rests on a cast-iron cylindrical foundation. Peck Ledge Lighthouse, built in 1906, is a 54-foot tall “sparkplug” style light. It has three stories of living space, a basement level with cisterns (for storing water), and 360-degree views from its circular deck...."

Source: www.ctpost.com Pecks Ledge Lighthouse

High-level federal employees used work Internet systems to join Ashley Madison

Article Title: High-level federal employees used work Internet systems to join Ashley Madison

Snippet of Article: "...Hackers this week released detailed records on millions of people registered with the website one month after the break-in at Ashley Madison's parent company, Toronto-based Avid Life Media Inc. The website -- whose slogan is, "Life is short. Have an affair" -- is marketed to facilitate extramarital affairs...."

Source: www.foxnews.com Ashley Madison

US Consulate in Istanbul attacked as violence escalates in Turkey

Article Title: US Consulate in Istanbul attacked as violence escalates in Turkey

Snippet of Article: "...In a statement posted on its website the group described the consulate attacker, Asik, as a "revolutionary" fighting American oppression and vowed to maintain its struggle until Turkey is "cleared" of all U.S. bases..."

Source: www.foxnews.com Turkey, US Consulate in Istanbul,

NASA tells lawmakers to brace for more Pluto secrets revealed by mission

Article Title: NASA tells lawmakers to brace for more Pluto secrets revealed by mission

Snippet of Article: "...“Now is the time to accelerate, not curtail, the pace and scope of our nation’s solar system exploration program,” said Robert Braun, professor of space technology at Georgia Institute of Technology The New Horizons probe -- launched in 2006 and powered by plutonium -- reached the closest phase of its brief planetary flyby of Pluto and its five moons on July 14..."

Source: www.latimes.com

Federal Employees Are Likely to Get a 1.3 Percent Pay Raise Next Year

Article Title: Federal Employees Are Likely to Get a 1.3 Percent Pay Raise Next Year

Snippet of Article: "...Another group of lawmakers declined to block a pay raise for federal employees next year, increasing the likelihood nearly all civil servants will receive the 1.3 percent salary bump recommended by President Obama...."

Source: www.nationaljournal.com 2016 Federal Pay Raise,

Some Republicans in Congress want to cut the G Fund rate

Article Title: Would Cutting the G Fund Interest Rate Benefit Federal Employees?

Snippet of Article: "...Some Republicans in Congress are making the argument that the G fund pays interest that is too high as there is no risk with the investment...."

Source: www.fedsmith.com G Fund Interest Rate

What is a Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) plus 10 annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)?

Article Title: What is a Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) plus 10 annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)?

Snippet of Article: "...This is a provision that allows you to retire with benefits beginning immediately if you have ten years of service and have reached the Minimum Retirement Age..."

Source: www.opm.gov

The huge gap between how federal workers and federal leaders see the workplace

Article Title: The huge gap between how federal workers and federal leaders see the workplace

Snippet of Article: "...If I truly believe that my organization’s leaders are arbitrary in rewarding employees or that they fail to hold poor performers accountable, my own commitment to the job is likely to be weaker. And if I’m part of the leadership team and I think everything is fine, I am unlikely to change anything...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

FBI investigating severed fiber-optic cables that disrupted Internet, phones in Northern California

Article Title: FBI investigating fiber-optic cuts that disrupted Internet, phones in Northern California

Snippet of Article: "...The FBI is working with police to catch vandals behind nearly a dozen fiber-optic cable cuts in Northern California in the past year. The latest snips occurred Tuesday, when someone sliced at least three fiber-optic cables in an underground vault..."

Source: www.foxbusiness.com Attacks on Internet Infrastructure, FBI,

Federal workers file complaints about private contractor handling breach

Article Title: Federal workers file complaints about private contractor handling breach

Snippet of Article: "...This is not how people who are alarmed that their Social Security numbers, life insurance beneficiaries, military service records — and for many, details of their lives they disclosed when applying for security clearances — may be compromised say they hoped the government would respond..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com OPM Cyber-Breach 2015, OPM Data Breach, life insurance beneficiaries, military service records,

OPM Cyber-Breach: What is the SF-86 and was yours compromised?

Article Title: Feds Eye Link to Private Contractor in Massive Government Hack

Snippet of Article: "..."If the SF-86's associated with this hack were, in their entirety, part of the stolen information, then that would mean the potential release of a staggering amount of information, affecting an exponential amount of people," one U.S. official told ABC News on Sunday. ..."

Source: abcnews.go.com SF-86, OPM Cyber-Breach 2015, KeyPoint Government Solutions,

Cybersecurity Firm Says It Found Spyware on Government Network in April

Article Title: Cybersecurity Firm Says It Found Spyware on Government Network in April

Snippet of Article: "...OPM officials have said they discovered the intrusion on their own in April, and immediately took steps to address it. But The Wall Street Journal reported last week that a Virginia company, CyTech Services Inc., discovered the intrusion when carrying out a demonstration of security software. ..."

Source: www.wsj.com OPM Data Breach, Data Breach (OPM 2015), CyTech Services Inc., Spyware on Government Network,

TSA Director Reassigned in Wake of Security Failures

Article Title: TSA Director Reassigned in Wake of Security Failures

Snippet of Article: "..."I thank Melvin Carraway for his eleven years of service to TSA and his 36 years of public service," Johnson said in the statement, adding that Acting Deputy Director Mark Hatfield will lead the TSA in the interim. ..."

Source: abcnews.go.com TSA

National Security Agency's collection of bulk telephone metadata ends at midnight

Article Title: Clock Runs Out on Renewal of Patriot Act Surveillance Powers

Snippet of Article: "...The National Security Agency's authority to collect troves of bulk telephone metadata under the post-Sept. 11 USA Patriot Act will expire at midnight..."

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Anthrax inquiry widens to 24 labs in 11 states, two foreign countries

Article Title: Anthrax inquiry widens to 24 labs in 11 states, two foreign countries

Snippet of Article: "...widening Pentagon investigation found late Friday that an Army biodefense facility in Utah has been mistakenly sending out live deadly anthrax samples to at least two dozen private and military laboratories around the world for the last seven years..."

Source: www.latimes.com

Sources: IRS believes massive data theft originated in Russia

Article Title: Sources: IRS believes massive data theft originated in Russia

Snippet of Article: "...The IRS believes that a major cyber breach that allowed criminals to steal the tax returns of more than 100,000 people originated in Russia, two sources briefed on the data theft tell CNN..."

Source: www.cnn.com

Will Postmaster General Megan Brennan be the savior of America's Postal Service? Closures/Consolidations Postponed!

Article Title: USPS halts plan to consolidate and close processing facilities

Snippet of Article: "...Postal Regulatory Commissioner Ruth Goldway criticized the Postal Service for moving ahead with its plan to consolidate processing facilities back in January, saying the latest round of operational cuts threatens the integrity of the Postal Service's primary obligation under the law – to provide universal service...."

Source: www.fiercegovernment.com

TSA security badges missing

Article Title: More Airport Security Badges Missing as Pols Demand Answers

Snippet of Article: "...As NBCDFW reported in March, more than 1,400 of the badges — which allow employees to access secure areas like runways and boarding gates — went missing at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport over approximately two years. ..."

Source: www.nbcnews.com TSA Security Badges

Memorial Day is meant as a time to honor those who've lost their lives fighting for our country

Article Title: WWII nurse remembers sacrifice seen on battlefield

Snippet of Article: "... will you please sing Happy Birthday to me.' So I sang. He said 'momma kiss me.' So I kissed his forehead. He died 3 or 4 hours later."..."
Source: www.waff.com