Article Title: Holiday Greetings from Retirement Services!
Snippet of Article: "...You will see the increase in the January 2, 2015, payment.
Why wait until you receive your annual mailer at the end of December to see your new monthly annuity amount. Simply go to Services Online (SOL) (www.servicesonline.opm.gov) to see your new annuity amount...."
Article Title: USPS investigating cause of stalled deliveries as complaints rise
Snippet of Article: "...When our investigation into Post Office package delays aired on Tuesday our social media accounts lit up with people claiming their packages are making it to Houston Processing Center and then the trouble starts...."
Article Title: Impending CIA Interrogation Report Creates Fear of Violence
Snippet of Article: "...The Muslim world has erupted many times before when the U.S. and the West have been accused of religious and cultural slights. The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said that if this report is released, groups like ISIS will take full advantage...."
Article Title: TSA Week in Review: 30 Loaded Firearms, Smoke Grenade, Machete, and More
Snippet of Article: "...We continue to find inert grenades and other weaponry on a weekly basis. Please keep in mind that if an item looks like a real bomb, grenade, mine, etc., it is prohibited. When these items are found at a checkpoint or in checked baggage, they can cause significant delays because the explosives detection professionals must respond to resolve the alarm. Even if they are novelty items, you are prohibited from bringing them on the aircraft. Read here on why inert items cause problems...."
Article Title: CDC: Flu shot less effective this year because current virus has mutated
Snippet of Article: "...Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday, a day after the agency advised doctors this year's flu vaccine is not as effective because the current strain of the virus has mutated.
Dr. Tom Frieden said researchers are worried that with this particular strain of the virus, "we could have a season that is more severe than most with more hospitalizations and more deaths."..."
Article Title: USPS letters from Santa
Snippet of Article: "...To help your child get into the Christmas spirit have the children send their letter to Santa with the postmark no later than December 15. Then just watch the mail for Santa's letter to your child. - See more at: http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/news/usps-letters-santa/njD2y/#sthash.vqxxiE8J.dpuf..."
Article Title: Open Season November 10, 2014 - December 8, 2014
Snippet of Article: "...This is the time of year to ensure that you have the right health, dental or vision insurance coverage for you and your family. It is also time to consider the money you can save on your out-of-pocket medical and dependent care expenses for 2015...."
Article Title: Revealed: NSA targeting domestic computer systems in secret test
Snippet of Article: "...Newly released files show a secret National Security Agency program is targeting the computerized systems that control utilities to discover security vulnerabilities, which can be used to defend the United States or disrupt the infrastructure of other nations...."
Article Title: Postmaster General Donahoe to retire in February
Snippet of Article: "...Postmaster General and U.S. Postal Service CEO Patrick R. Donahoe will retire Feb. 1 after 39 years with the Postal Service.
Megan J. Brennan..."
Article Title: Every USPS Employee's Data Hacked in Breach
Snippet of Article: "...the compromised data," data that sounds pretty broad: It includes names, birthdates, SSNs, addresses, and employment history for every single USPS employee—that's 800,000 people. ..."
Article Title: Daylight Saving Time 2014: When Does It Begin? And Why?
Snippet of Article: "...Why do we spring forward and fall back? Does daylight saving time (DST) really save energy? Is it bad for your health? There is no consensus, but experts do offer some answers...."
Article Title: The Money Bags in Congress
Snippet of Article: "...Nevertheless, it’s safe to say that regardless of who wins, deep-pocketed Americans of all political persuasions will be amply represented in next year’s Congress. Our lawmakers are loaded! There are 189 millionaires out of 538 members according to an analysis of financial data by Roll Call. That’s 35%—an impressive concentration of wealth few country clubs can beat...."
Article Title: 1.7% COLA for Retirees… What About Current Federal Employees?
Snippet of Article: "...Based on comments from past years, here is one of the first questions many readers will ask: “I am still working for the federal government. Will my pay also go up 1.7% in January?”
Here is the quick answer:..."
Article Title: Secret Service Dogs OK After Battling White House Fence Jumper
Snippet of Article: "...The canines, named Hurricane and Jordan, were taken to a veterinarian after the attack and treated for minor bruising. Both were cleared to return to duty. ..."
Article Title: Amber Vinson, Dallas Ebola Patient, Says CDC Gave Her Green Light To Fly
Snippet of Article: "...Vinson told CBS Dallas Fort Worth that she was feeling ill before boarding her flight. She had a low grade fever, but she said that officials told her it was okay to get on the plane. Vinson told CBS that she called the CDC several times with concerns...."
Article Title: Lawsuit: USIS didn’t give mandated notice
Snippet of Article: "...The mass layoffs were in response to the federal Office of Personnel Management not renewing two contracts for background checks of federal employees. More than 2,500 USIS workers have lost their jobs, although the company said it expects many to be hired by whatever company scores the government contract...."
Note added by the Federal Employee News: Walmart is encouraging government subsidies by stealing away employee health benefits. In turn, this places a burden on the government and eventually an increase in taxes to pay for it. At the same time, hard working people lose a much needed employee benefit. Where you spend your money or don't spend your money makes a bold statement to retailers.
Article Title: Wal-Mart cuts health benefits for 30,000 part-timers
Snippet of Article: "...More of Wal-Mart's employees signed up for health benefits this year than the company expected, which boosted the company's costs. ... Employees who lost the Wal-Mart coverage option would now be eligible for government subsidies on Obamacare exchanges. ..."
Article Title: U.S. Postal Service denies curbside mail in Palmer, Bethlehem Township development
Snippet of Article: "...After receiving mail for a week upon moving into the Maple Shade Estates development in July, his mail delivery suddenly stopped. The U.S. Postal Service, under a cost savings plan, told residents it would no longer be delivering to individual homes and wants developer Tuskes Homes to construct cluster mailboxes...."
Article Title: Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-49) and the Oversight and Government Reform Committee needs serious reform
It appears Congressman Darrell Issa, Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the committee both need to go. This committee has been a complete failure and gives more of an appearance of a government privatization initiative as opposed to an oversight committee. Referencing Issa's own committee website, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Mission Statement reads as:
Article Title: White House Intruder’s Past Raises Concern
Snippet of Article: "...Virginia officials said Mr. Gonzalez was charged with reckless driving, one felony count of eluding police and possession of a sawed-off shotgun. He was released after posting a bond. Last month, Secret Service officers stopped Mr. Gonzalez in front of the fence on the White House’s South Lawn after they noticed a hatchet in his waistband, the officials said. ..."
Article Title: Long List of Breaches and Scandals for Secret Service Under Obama
Snippet of Article: "...The Secret Service under President Barack Obama has been scarred over and over by security breaches and public embarrassments. ..."
Article Title: Where can I find OPM guidance on furloughs?
Snippet of Article: "...The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has prepared human resources guidance for agencies and employees in the event of furloughs. There are two types of furloughs: administrative furlough, shutdown furlough, ..."
Article Title: Former DoD worker pleads guilty to $2.2M in fraudulent federal healthcare claims
Snippet of Article: "...As a federal employee stationed overseas, Hargett was enrolled since 2002 in the Foreign Service Benefit Plan. Because of his service in the Army, he also was eligible for healthcare coverage from the Veterans Affairs Department.
From January 2007 through April 2012, Hargett submitted fraudulen..."
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| Map as found on Goverment Executive |
Article Title: USAJobs site still leaves something to be desired for users
Snippet of Article: "...The federal government’s human resources department fixed many of the problems that led to the troubled launch of USAJobs.gov in 2011, but the agency still wants to fine tune its employment database...."
Article Title: 'Revving' economy calls for higher wages, Obama says on Labor Day
Snippet of Article: "...Despite the absence of a federal increase, 13 states raised their minimum wages at the beginning of this year. Those states have added jobs at a faster pace than those that did not raise the wage..."
Article Title: Local VA employee to speak with federal investigators
Snippet of Article: "...NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - A Hendersonville man has added his name to the list of employees who have agreed to speak with federal investigators about what he saw at VA hospitals...."
Snippet of Article: "...A cyber attack at a firm that performs background checks for U.S. government employees compromised data of at least 25,000 workers, including some undercover investigators, and that number could rise, agency officials said on Friday...."
Article Title: 20Stamps - Turn Photos Into Real US Postage Stamps
Snippet of Article: "...20Stamps - the world’s first app to turn your favorite photos into real US postage stamps.
Amaze your friends and family by sending cards and letters with custom photo postage featuring your family, your pet, wedding portrait or any other treasured personal picture.
Now you can make custom postage stamps..."
Article Title: Darrell Issa Investigation Benefits Ex-Aide
Snippet of Article: "...Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W. Va.) has accused House oversight committee chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) of inappropriately intervening in an ongoing Federal Trade Commission case against a company being represented by a legal group run by a former Issa staffer...."
