If approved, the Postal Service will begin offering the USPS Ground Advantage shipping option on July 9 for packages up to 70 pounds, delivered in 2-5 business days.

The Postal Service has proposed pricing for its new product offering, USPS Ground Advantage.

Pending favorable review and comments from the Postal Regulatory Commission, USPS Ground Advantage would launch on July 9 and provide a simpler, reliable and more affordable way to ship packages up to 70 pounds in 2-5 business days.

USPS Ground Advantage will feature:

• $100 worth of included insurance for both retail and commercial customers, USPS Ground Advantage outbound and return parcels;

• Package forwarding and return-to-sender endorsements; and

• Free package pickup on a carrier’s route.

Published prices for USPS Ground Advantage will decrease 1.4 percent compared with current Parcel Select Ground and First-Class Package Service pricing.

USPS Ground Advantage retail prices will decrease 3.2 percent, and USPS Ground Advantage Commercial published prices will decrease 0.7 percent.

The Postal Service has focused on strengthening its shipping offerings as part of Delivering for America, its 10-year plan to return the organization to financial sustainability and achieve service excellence.

Employees and customers can go to the USPS Coming Soon page to learn more about USPS Ground Advantage and join the countdown to launch.

Shipping Services prices are primarily adjusted according to market conditions.

The Postal Service governors evaluate shipping rates and fees and adjust them when needed.

The May 10 news release has more information.

The Chief Standing Bear stamp is based on a photograph taken in 1887.

The Postal Service will release its Chief Standing Bear stamp on May 12.

Chief Standing Bear (circa 1829-1908) won a landmark court ruling in 1879 that determined Native Americans are persons under the law with inherent rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

He was a member of the Ponca tribe, who were forcibly relocated by the U.S. Army in 1877 from their home in what is now Nebraska to Indian Territory in what is now Oklahoma.

More than 100 Ponca, including Standing Bear’s son, died from disease and hunger after the forced removal.

Standing Bear was arrested by the Army in 1879 when he attempted to return to Nebraska to honor his son’s dying wish to be buried in the tribe’s homeland.

In the legal challenge that resulted from his arrest, Standing Bear v. Crook, Judge Elmer Dundy ruled on May 12, 1879, that an Indian was a person under the common understanding of the word and ordered Standing Bear and his fellow Ponca released from custody.

A subsequent congressional investigation concluded that the government was wrong to force the Ponca to move. Congress passed legislation in March 1881 allowing the Ponca the choice of where to live and compensation for land and other losses.

Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp, which features a portrait of Chief Standing Bear by illustrator Thomas Blackshear II. The illustration is based on a photograph taken in 1887.

The Forever stamps will be available in panes of 20 at Post Offices and usps.com.

If you think one of your passwords has been compromised, change it immediately.

The Postal Service is reminding employees and contractors not to share passwords for USPS accounts with co-workers.

When an employee or contractor shares a password, they:

• Don’t have any control over how the person uses the shared password or what they will do with the information;

• Can’t control who else might gain access to their password; and

• Potentially expose their account to online criminals.

If there is an extenuating circumstance where a Postal Service password must be shared, consult with a manager first.

Additionally, if someone in authority requests your password, check with your immediate manager prior to sharing the information.

As the holders of USPS information, employees and contractors have a responsibility to protect the data entrusted to them.

If you believe your password has been released or compromised, change it immediately and report the incident to CyberSafe@usps.gov.

The CyberSafe at USPS Blue page has more tips, while the LiteBlue page and USPSCyberSafe.com have general cybersecurity information.