Winter Park Florida Post Office workers test positive for coronavirus: report

Winter Park Post Office workers test positive for coronavirus: report

Snippet of Article: "...Two U.S. Postal Service employees from Winter Park tested positive for COVID-19 Monday..."

Source: www.orlandosentinel.com

Coronavirus, COVID-19, Most dangerous jobs, Postal Service,

Postal Service fights for its life financially, 2,000 of its workers are in quarantine and dozens have tested positive for the coronavirus

Snippet of Article: "...51 USPS employees had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Wednesday. On top of that, nearly 2,000 were in quarantine. "As the number of confirmed positive coronavirus cases have increased throughout the general public, so too have been the number of postal employees who have tested positive..."

Source: www.businessinsider.com

Most dangerous jobs, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Postal Service,

Federal Workers, Union Sue for Hazard Pay

Snippet of Article: "...Federal law requires agencies to provide a 25% increase in pay for duty involving “unusual physical hardship or hazard.” OPM regulations specifically list exposure to viruses as a condition that would make federal workers eligible for hazard pay. “The schedule of hazardous duty pay differentials set forth in [OPM’s regulations] provides that agencies shall pay a 25% hazard pay differential..."

Source: www.govexec.com

hazardous duty pay differentials, Coronavirus,

The check from yourself (taxpayers) will soon be in the mail

The check from taxpayers will soon be in the mail for more than 120 million people

Snippet of Article: "...Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin has said checks of up to $1,200 per person and $500 per child will go out within three weeks of President Trump signing the legislation..."

Source: www.gopusa.com

Privacy Concerns: Tips for working from home and video conferencing

Snippet of Article: "...employer while working from home, Some have privacy concerns simply over the lack of privacy while video conferencing. We have a few tips to relieve some of the stress over your privacy concerns:

Hang a sheet from the ceiling around your work area to block the view of items in your home
Put some clothes on! You don't want to become the next porn star of the office
Don't pick your nose! Hey, it has taken you years to..."

Source: Rocket City News

Privacy Concerns: Tips for working from home and video conferencing

CDC says coronavirus survived in Princess Cruise ship cabins for up to 17 days after passengers left

Snippet of Article: "...The coronavirus can survive on surfaces for up to 17 days, a study published Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says...on a variety of surfaces in cabins of both symptomatic and asymptomatic infected passengers up to 17 days after cabins were vacated...” the researchers wrote"

Source: www.cnbc.com

Former employee found guilty of scamming VA out of $19 million

Snippet of Article: "...Prince’s referrals led to payments totaling about $20 million from the VA to the Prince-related home health agencies, which were run by associates including his wife, his brother-in-law, his half-sister an..."

Source: www.denverpost.com

Department of Defense stops ALL domestic travel beginning Monday, with few exceptions

Snippet of Article: "...Beginning Monday, March 16, military members are required to stop all domestic travel, while family members and civilians are required to stop all government-funded domestic travel. DOD will onboard civilians in local commuting areas only, and military members are restricted to local leave only..."

Source: whnt.com

Department of Defense

A US Customs officer is charged with smuggling nearly 40 pounds of cocaine

Snippet of Article: "...Ivan Van Beverhoudt was stationed in the US Virgin Islands and one of his duties was to inspect flights in order to prevent the importation of controlled substances, according to a news release from the US Attorney's Office in Atlanta..."

Source: www.cnn.com

Ivan Van Beverhoudt, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP),

Coronavirus reaches Federal Way as USPS employee tests positive

Snippet of Article: "...A U.S. Postal Service employee at a Federal Way distribution center has tested positive for the coronavirus. A USPS spokesperson confirmed with media that the employee works at the Seattle Network Distribution Center at 34301 9th Ave. S. in Federal Way..."

Source: www.seattleweekly.com

Postal Service employee, Coronavirus, Federal Way Postal Distribution Center, Seattle Network Distribution Center (NDC),

Coronavirus Tests Europe’s Open Borders as Italy Death Toll Rises

Coronavirus Tests Concept of Open Borders as Italy Death Toll Rises

Snippet of Article: "...Italy reported a sixth death from the coronavirus Monday, as authorities imposed quarantines and other restrictions in the country’s economic heartland to fight what is now the world’s third-biggest national outbreak after China and South Korea..."

Source: www.wsj.com

Open Borders: Why it's a horrible idea, Money vs Health of Americans, Coronavirus,

TSA stops using TikTok for official social media posts

Snippet of Article: "... Transportation Security Administration said Sunday it has stopped allowing employees to use the China-owned video app TikTok to create social media posts for the agency after the Senate’s top Democrat raised concerns about potential national security issues..."

Source: www.marketwatch.com

TSA, TikTok, Security Risks,

President Trump Gives Fed Workers Largest Pay Raise in a Decade

President Donald Trump Signs Bill Raising Federal Wages 2.6%

Snippet of Article: "...president Thursday, gives all federal employees at least a 2.6% raise – the largest federal increase in a decade. The pay hike will go into effect during the first full pay period of 2020 – Jan. 5 for most employees..."

Source: www.usnews.com

Best President for Federal Workers, 2020 Federal Pay Increase, Trump Legacy,

Sad letter to Santa prompts postal worker to take action: 'Dear Santa, last year you didn’t notice me'

Snippet of Article: "...Melissa Stinsman, a worker for the Bloomsburg Post Office, helps answer letters written to Santa...One child’s message to Santa, however, really stood out to her. Inside the envelope, which contained three letters, she found a note that read, “Dear Santa, last year you didn’t notice me, so I hope this year you notice me and this year I will be good..."

Source: www.foxnews.com

Executive Order on Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on December 24, 2019

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty on Tuesday, December 24, 2019, the day before Christmas Day.

Sec. 2. The heads of executive departments and agencies may determine that certain offices and installations of their organizations, or parts thereof, must remain open and that certain employees must report for duty on December 24, 2019, for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.

Sec. 3. December 24, 2019, shall be considered as falling within the scope of Executive Order 11582 of February 11, 1971, and of 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b) and other similar statutes insofar as they relate to the pay and leave of employees of the United States.

Sec. 4. The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement this order.

Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 17, 2019.

Source: www.whitehouse.gov



Executive Order December 17 2019,

Schumer: Federal employees to get 12-weeks of paid parental leave

Snippet of Article: "...Under current federal law, federal civilian workers are only eligible for three months of unpaid leave. When passed, the bill would secure paid parental leave for all federal employees for the first time..."

Source: www.syracuse.com

parental leave

TSP Two-step authentication mandatory before the end of 2019

Snippet of Article: "...(December 4, 2019) All TSP participants must have validated contact information and use two-step authentication to log into My Account before the end of 2019. You can avoid interruption to your account access by adding these security features in your My Account Profile Settings now. Download instructions (pdf)PDF file. Two-step authentication helps protect your account against fraud. This login process is more secure because it means that online access to your account requires something you know (your account number or username and password) and something you have (the one-time code you receive in your email or on your phone). Someone who tries to log into your account fraudulently won’t be able to gain access without the code. We recommend that you include at least one contact method on your account that will stay with you through career, such as a personal email...."

Source: www.tsp.gov

TSP, Two-Step Authentication Requirement,

Census Fails Key Recruiting and Hiring Tests as It Gears Up for 2020 Count

Snippet of Article: "...The failures were so severe they “present a risk to the successful completion of the 2020 Census program,” according to the Commerce Department’s inspector general..."

Source: www.govexec.com

Census 2020

Postmaster General Megan Brennan Announces Retirement

Snippet of Article: "...The NPMHU congratulates Postmaster General Megan Brennan on her pending retirement and thanks her for her 33 years of service to the United States Postal Service..."

Source: NPMHU 317

Postmaster General Megan Brennan

New Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) withdrawal options now available

Snippet of Article: "...all participants now have more options when seeking to withdraw retirement savings from their TSP accounts. For a detailed summary of the new withdrawal options, read our updated fact sheet, Questions and Answers about Changes to TSP Withdrawal Options PDF file. For information about in-service withdrawal options, visit the “In-Service Withdrawals” section of tsp.gov and download our updated booklet, In-Service Withdrawals PDF file. For information about post-separation withdrawals, visit the “Withdrawals After Leaving Federal Service” section of tsp.gov and download our updated booklet Withdrawing from Your TSP Account PDF file...."

Source: www.tsp.gov

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP),

2020 Social Security Benefits to Increase 1.6%

Snippet of Article: "...recipients of Social Security benefits, is a downgrade from the 2.8% increase some federal retirees received in 2019, and the 2% boost they saw in 2018. The annual COLA is based on the percentage increase in the average Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)..."

Source: www.govexec.com

COLA (Social Security), COLA (FERS Retiree vs CSRS Retiree),

Federal Workers Face Another Huge Health Insurance Increase in 2020

Feds face 5.6% health insurance hike

Snippet of Article: "...Feds are facing a steep increase in insurance premiums under the Federal Employees Health Benefits plan in 2020. The Office of Personnel Management announced Oct. 2 that federal workers and retirees enrolled in the FEHB program..."

Source: fcw.com

Bankrupting Federal Retirees, Healthcare Costs, Destruction of America's working class, FEHB 2020,

Local, federal officials conducting law enforcement operation across North Alabama

Snippet of Article: "...The Huntsville Police Department says it is working with federal authorities, including the Drug Enforcement Agency and FBI, on part of a federal law enforcement operation..."

Source: www.waaytv.com

DEA, FBI,

College professor spends nearly $190K in federal grants on strip clubs, sports bars

Snippet of Article: "...Dr. Chikaodinaka D. Nwankpa misused $189,062 of government grants from July 2007 through April 2017 while working at Drexel University, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The university has agreed to pay back the money..."

Source: www.usatoday.com

Federal Grants,