‘It’s a big deal’: HOA’s persistence pays off as damaged cluster mailbox gets replaced
For nearly a year, some homeowners at the Windsong neighborhood in West Harris County had to drive roughly a mile to the post office to pick up their mail. The cluster mailbox they used was damaged and postal workers wouldn’t deliver their mail worried someone could steal it.
‘I am not comfortable:’ Rep. Al Green on mail-in ballots and USPS delay issues
For weeks now - we’ve been following these problems. The United States Postal Service says this is because they are working to modernize their mailing system. U.S. Representative Al Green talked with KPRC 2′s Amy Davis about how the hold-up could impact voters.
Houston small-business owner not letting USPS mail delays stop her from delivering products to the Grammys
As the KPRC 2 team continues working to get answers regarding the United States Postal Service debacle, another Houston area small business owner told us that the mail delays have cost her thousands of dollars and the opportunity of a lifetime.
US Rep. Al Green requests USPS establish customer service team to help people with package delays in Missouri City
United States Rep. Al Green (D-Houston) wrote a letter to USPS to ask them to establish a customer service team to help those who have experienced their packages being delayed at the Missouri City mail facility.
USPS says package delays in Missouri City are happening because agency is making changes to mail distribution centers
The United States Postal Service released a statement saying that the package delays at the Missouri City sorting facility are happening because the agency is making changes to its distribution centers in the Houston area.
USPS worker accused of racking up merchandise with credit cards allegedly stolen from residents along her delivery route
A United States Postal Service worker is facing several charges after admitting to stealing credit card information from at least 37 victims during her delivery routes in 2021, according to court documents.
‘Return To Sender’: Copperfield homeowners stuck in feud between USPS and HOA over mailbox damaged in car accident
Homeowners in a Copperfield neighborhood said they’re caught in the middle of a dispute with their homeowner’s association and the United States Postal Service over who is responsible for replacing their damaged cluster mailbox.
‘Cherish your loved ones’ | Mother of 2 killed in west Houston post office crash identified
A 58-year-old mother of two going to the post office to mail a package to one of her daughters at college was killed Wednesday when a driver slammed into the United States Postal Service building in the 2900 block of Rogerdale Road.
Woman killed after being struck by driver who accidentally hit gas pedal, crashed into USPS building in southwest Houston, police say
A woman is dead after a driver accidentally crashed into United States Postal Service office in southwest Houston Wednesday afternoon, according to the Houston Police Department.
Over 120 pieces of stolen mail, master key to U.S. Postal mailboxes found during traffic stop in NE Harris County, deputies say
More than 120 pieces of stolen mail and a U.S. Postal Office master key along with several drugs were found during a traffic stop in northeast Harris County, according to deputies with Constable Mark Herman’s Office.
Slower mail, fewer office hours part of Postal Service plans
United States Postal Service Postmaster General Louis DeJoy speaks during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on "Legislative Proposals to Put the Postal Service on Sustainable Financial Footing" on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Washington. United States Postal Service Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is left. Postal Service over persistent delivery delays under DeJoy, a major GOP donor who took over the agency last summer. He announced the plans at a webinar with other postal service officials. And those concerns remain.”DeJoy, a former supply-chain CEO who took over the Postal Service last June, has been mired in controversy since taking over the agency.
Biden nominates 3 to postal board as delays persist
United States Postal Service Postmaster General Louis DeJoy looks on during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on "Legislative Proposals to Put the Postal Service on Sustainable Financial Footing" on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Washington. (Graeme Jennings/Pool via AP)President Joe Biden on Wednesday nominated three postal experts to the governing board of the U.S. Postal Service, a move that could alter the course of an agency grappling with delivery delays and rumored cuts under its embattled Republican leader. A spokesman for the Postal Service said it "will welcome all qualified members to the Board of Governors." AdDeJoy and the board are finalizing a 10-year plan to revitalize the Postal Service, an independent agency with roots to the 18th century.
Postal service ordered again to search for mail-in ballots
HOUSTON – As the counting continues in several states a judge has issued another order to the United States Postal Service to locate any other mail-in ballots that have yet to be delivered. The order is focusing on states that have extended vote delivery deadlines including North Carolina and Pennsylvania. “That means he can find the postal service in contempt. It means he can call them out.”The postal service says in order to expedite the process ballots were scanned when they arrived but not when they were sent out of facilities making it appear as if they hadn’t been delivered. “But beyond that, I think the integrity and the reputation of the United States Postal Service is at stake.”Wice says he can’t guarantee the judge’s orders will make a difference but he believes they can make a difference, which is why the orders were issued.
Lost mail? What we found when we put the Houston area mail service to the test
HOUSTON – With concerns about mail delivery issues ahead of the election, our KPRC Investigates team put the United States Postal Service in Houston to the test. Mail service put to the testTo find out how common problems are we set up our own test. We sent letters to Southwest Houston, Kingwood, Missouri City, Tomball, West Houston, North Houston, The Woodlands, Cypress, Galveston, Liberty County, and Montgomery County. While no one at the postal service would talk to us about delivery issues, we did some digging and found out some interesting information about mail delivery timing. If you are having issues with your mail delivery, you should report it to the United States Postal Service.
Post office defends on claims that cuts threaten election
FILE - In this May 6, 2020, photo, United States Postal Service carrier Henrietta Dixon gets into her truck to deliver mail in Philadelphia. Postal Service that they say threaten the upcoming presidential election(AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)PHILADELPHIA – Lawyers for the U.S. Postal Service argued in court Thursday against accusations that service cuts are slowing down the mail and threatening the integrity of the presidential election. Lawyers for the Postal Service say headquarters never ordered a slowdown or overtime ban. They said the cuts also threaten the integrity of the upcoming election, given the expected widespread use of mail-in ballots across the country.
For rural Texans, the Postal Service is a lifeline, but some say it’s been in decay for years
In rural areas where broadband internet connection is scarce, residents rely on the Postal Service to send checks, pay bills, get Social Security benefits and receive prescription medication. Places that had bad service probably still have bad service.”Across rural Texas, business owners, community leaders and farmers told The Texas Tribune that the quality of USPS service varies from post office to post office. We have no issues with the Postal Service, they are prompt and they do good service,” Plagens said. “We depend on our Postal Service, and we get taken care of by them,” Roberson said. “The Postal Service is grossly understaffed, especially in the rural areas that I represent,” Williams said.
States ask judge to reverse changes at US Postal Service
FILE - In this April 2, 2020 file photo, a United States Postal Service worker makes a delivery with gloves and a mask in Warren, Mich. A group of states suing over service cuts at the U.S. Postal Service is asking a federal judge to immediately undo some of them, saying the integrity of the upcoming election is at stake. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya,File)SEATTLE – A group of states suing over service cuts at the U.S. Postal Service is asking a federal judge to immediately undo some of them, saying the integrity of the upcoming election is at stake. Michigan spent $2 million earlier this year on envelopes that met election mail standards — only to learn that the Postal Service wouldn't treat them as First Class mail.
Texas congressional leaders seek legislation to protect USPS
HOUSTON The U.S. Postmaster General announced Tuesday he will halt operational changes at the United States Postal Service until after the 2020 election. Some Texas congressional members called for legislation to prevent the postmaster from doing another about-face. Embattled Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced Tuesday that hell wait until after the November election to make operational changes at the USPS. DeJoy said retail hours wont change, mail processing equipment and collection boxes will stay where they are and overtime for employees will be restored. Two other Democratic congressional members also held press conferences Tuesday where they called the operational changes on the USPS an attack orchestrated by the nations highest office.
Worried about whether your vote will count? Here’s how to submit a ballot without using the mail
Restrictions and types of early voting vary by state, but 40 states and the District of Columbia do offer some form of early voting. Turning in ballots at a local election office or polling locationJust about every state allows voters to bring ballots in person to turn them in at local election offices. If you’re not close to a local election office to turn in a ballot, some states allow ballots to be turned in to alternate locations or the polling locations. New Hampshire and Vermont allow voters to return ballots to a polling place. Drop boxesThese are special containers that allow voters to drop off absentee or mail-in ballots in sealed envelopes.
Harris County clerk encourages vote by mail, despite USPS slowdown
HOUSTON As lawmakers in Washington battle over the fate and funding of the United States Postal Service, Harris Countys head election official is trying to reassure voters their local post office is up to the challenge of handling mail-in ballots this fall. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called her members back into session from August recess to vote this weekend on a $25 billion boost to the USPS. Pelosi said cuts made by the Trump administration to the Postal Service, including the removal of sorting machines and mailboxes, are intentionally designed to negatively impact the use of vote-by-mail in November and disenfranchise voters. Hollins said due to the coronavirus pandemic he is expecting unprecedented use of mail-in ballots. Plans are already underway to move Harris Countys election headquarters to NRG Arena, which will also be used as a voting center for in-person and drive-thru voting.
Former USPS leader from Texas says Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is destroying the confidence of the postal service
Postal Service trucks at an Austin office. Postal Service said Tuesday that while she applauds Postmaster General Louis DeJoys latest commitment to delay proposed changes to mail services, she is still worried about the impact on mail-in voting this November. In 2009, she guided the postal service through the Great Recession as the board's chair. The USPS board of governors is comparable to a board of directors of a publicly held corporation, according to the USPS website. Presidential-appointed governors serve terms of seven years and only as many as five governors may be members of one political party.
Pelosi to call House back into session to vote on USPS bill
WASHINGTON Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she is calling the House back into session over the crisis at the U.S. In a time of a pandemic, the Postal Service is Election Central," Pelosi wrote Sunday in a letter to colleagues, who had been expected to be out of session until September. The House Oversight and Reform Committee said it wants to hear from DeJoy and from the chair of the Postal Service board of governors, Robert Mike Duncan. With heightened scrutiny of its operations, the Postal Service is now requesting a temporary preelection rate increase, from mid-October through Christmas, although not for first-class letters. "Given the recent customer concerns the Postal Service will postpone removing boxes for a period of 90 days while we evaluate our customers concerns,'' Postal Service spokeswoman Kimberly Frum said.
Democrats, local election leaders fear Donald Trump's attacks on mail-in voting foreshadow voter suppression
As President Donald Trump rails against the idea of expanding mail-in voting, resists new funding for the U.S. That continued a pattern of Trump steadfastly fighting the expansion of mail-in voting, saying without evidence that it leads to voter fraud. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton have vigorously fought efforts to expand mail-in voting this year. But even without an expansion of mail-in voting, millions of Texans qualify because of their age, location or disability. "That means they cant have universal mail-in voting; they just cant have it."
Post Office warns states across US about mail voting
Voters and lawmakers in several states are also complaining that some curbside mail collection boxes are being removed. Postal Service is sufficiently prepared to fulfill.Meanwhile, the removal of Postal Service collection mail boxes triggered concerns and anger in Oregon and Montana. All three members of Montanas congressional delegation two of whom are Republican raised concerns about the removal of mail boxes in letters sent to Postmaster DeJoy. Postal Service spokesperson Ernie Swanson said the Oregon removals were due to declining mail volume and that duplicate mail boxes were taken from places that had more than one. The Postal Service said four mail boxes were removed in Portland this week.
On this 50th anniversary for the USPS, mail a letter to a friend
Fifty years ago, the former Post Office Department changed over and became the United States Postal Service. Postal Service, as we know it now, has only been around since 1970? Energized by the Civil Rights Movement, postal workers in New York went on strike, and the movement eventually swelled across the country. Previously, letters were taken to a Post Office, where employees would note the postage due (or paid) in the upper right corner. Postal Service stands financially, perhaps we do have to consider, what if the mail goes away someday?
USPS employee tests positive for coronavirus in Washington
A United States Postal Service employee has tested positive for the coronavirus in Washington, according to K5 News. Bringing the number of presumed positives cases to eight in the state as of March 1, K5 News reports. According to USPS, the latest case is a woman who works at a package soring facility in Federal Way, Washington. USPS said the woman would have some contact with other employees in the work environment, but no contact with the packages that are sent directly to customers. The woman is recovering at home while the USPS facility is closed for cleaning, K5 News reports.
We’re Clutch City: USPS recognizes Houston, Harris County official says
HOUSTON – Does the United States Postal Service really recognize Houston as Clutch City? “No joke, the US Postal Service officially recognizes 77002, zip code of the Toyota Center, as Clutch City, TX," Hidalgo wrote. “Luckily, our office shares that zip.”The Toyota Center is home to the Houston Rockets as we all know. We also searched zip code 77027, the zip code for the team’s previous home The Summit, now Lakewood Church, and Clutch City did not show up. It seems that by the team relocating to the Toyota Center the new zip code took on the Clutch City name.