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Judge temporarily blocks effort to deport Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia student protests; Power of rural organizing reflected in SD carbon pipeline law; Safety at risk as budget cuts hit Indiana Dunes National Park; Barriers to tracking bird flu mount amid federal changes.

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House Democrats won't back the GOP budget bill. Ontario reacts to Trump trade moves by enacting energy export tariffs, and a new report finds mass deportations don t help the labor market.

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Immigrant communities are getting advice from advocates as the reach of ICE expands, experts in rural America urge lawmakers to ramp up protections against elder abuse, and a multi-state arts projects seeks to close the urban-rural divide.

ND Among Rural States Poised for Mail Delivery Gaps

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Friday, October 15, 2021   

BISMARCK, N.D. -- The majority of North Dakota's counties are rural. Opponents of new U.S. Postal Service standards argued it spells trouble for the state, with customers now seeing slower mail delivery.

This month, the Postal Service implemented cost-cutting moves, including a longer delivery window for some first-class mail, stretching to up to five days. Rural areas, senior citizens and low-income customers are expected to be hardest hit.

Sharyn Stone, central regional coordinator for the American Postal Workers Union, said when broadband connection gaps are factored in, there is a risk of further isolating rural populations.

"Sometimes, for the smaller communities, that's the only way they can get access to information, if it's mailed to them," Stone observed. "Also, if they have medications coming and other things that are normally mailed, it's going to take longer for 'em to get there, and they may have to go further to get 'em."

A reduction in retail hours also is part of the ten-year plan, along with higher fees, some of which are temporary through the holiday season. The Postmaster General claimed without the moves, the organization is looking at $160 billion in losses over the next decade.

Christopher Shaw, an author and historian of the U.S. Postal Service, said there are anecdotal reports of how the changes are affecting small businesses. They often depend on first-class mail and have said the slowdown will impact day-to-day operations.

Shaw thinks some may turn to other delivery providers, which could lead to further privatization of the industry.

"These changes are part of a trend where the Postal Service is conceived of not as a public service, and instead, more like a for-profit business," Shaw explained. "Which could very well lead to degradation of the service that Americans have expected and received over the years."

Nearly 20 states recently filed a complaint, asking for a more detailed review of the plan by the Postal Regulatory Commission, which had already questioned some of the changes.

Disclosure: American Postal Workers Union contributes to our fund for reporting on Consumer Issues, Livable Wages/Working Families. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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