A new federal audit is raising serious questions about mail service in central Virginia, pointing to significant operational failures at the U.S. Postal Service’s Lynchburg processing center.

One person is dead and one is injured after a two-vehicle crash involving a USPS vehicle that occurred in Montgomery County on Saturday, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said.

For those who are still waiting to send their packages, there is still time to send them while having them make it in time for Christmas, but the deadline to get your gifts delivered as close to Christmas Day as it can get is this Saturday.

The holiday season is almost here, and if you’re planning to send packages, it’s important to know the shipping deadlines, packing tips, and what you can and can’t send.

Looking for a job? The U.S. Postal Service is set to host a job fair Wednesday morning to fill immediate openings for full-time and part-time positions.

Dozens gathered on Sunday to protest against the privatization of the United States Postal Service.

U.S. Postal Service offices will be closed nationwide on Thursday (Jan. 9) in respect of a National Day of Mourning for former President Jimmy Carter.

Holiday scams are prevalent, with scammers posing as legitimate entities to steal personal information, urging vigilance and caution when sharing private details.

Although the Atlantic hurricane season officially ends Nov. 30, scientists say there is still the possibility for more named storms this year.

Some Roanoke County residents saw some relief on Wednesday after a week of postal delays.

It is the third time in a year that the price has gone up and also represents the 17th time since 2001 that the price of stamps has changed. In all but one of those 17 instances, the price went up.

The U.S. Postal Service in Roanoke is hosting multiple job fairs.

If you or anyone you know is looking for a job, you might want to keep four upcoming USPS job fairs on your radar.

Free COVID-19 test kits are now being offered by the Virginia Department of Health.

Simply provide your name and shipping address and that’s it!

Now that December is here, many of us are eyeing those Christmas lists and checking off all the things.

Have you heard of Operation Santa?

Starting Friday, new USPS changes will lead to some mail delays, especially in our rural areas.

If you plan on voting by mail this election season, officials are urging you to send your ballot in as soon as possible.

It looks like mail may take a bit longer to get to its final destination soon.

How to track your stimulus paymentWondering where your $1,400 stimulus check is? The IRS has a tool that you can use to track the status of your relief payment. Here’s how you can track your $1,400 checkYou can click here and use the IRS Get My Payment tool here. When you put in your information, you’ll see the following payment statuses:A payment has been processedA payment date is available and payment is to be sent either by direct deposit or mail Note: mail means you may be issued an EIP Card or a check. You’re eligible, but a payment has not been processed and a payment date is not yet availableYou may also see ‘Payment Status Not Available,’ meaning the IRS has not yet processed your payment or you’re not eligible for a paymentAnother status you might see is ‘Need More Information,’ meaning your payment was returned to the IRS because the USPS was unable to deliver itAs a note, you will receive payments quicker if you’re set up for direct deposit with the IRS.

I need to either come in at the moment they open or just wait,” said Susan Shullman, a customer. USPS Appalachian District Communications Programs Specialist Tad Kelley said at this time, they are seeing about a 10 to 15 percent increase in mail volume compared to last year. “You have the regular holiday volumes, you have the impacts from the pandemic and now you have the potential for a storm.”To beat the storm, postal workers started delivering mail early Tuesday and will make extra deliveries this evening. Tuesday was the last day to send packages through ground shipping to assure it will arrive by Christmas Day. The next USPS shipping deadline is Dec. 18 for first-class mail to arrive in time for Christmas.

[MORE: These 3 apps will help you find the best holiday shopping deals, experts say | Doing a little online shopping? If you’re shipping gifts you want to arrive in time for Christmas, here are some recommended send-by dates for expected delivery by Dec. 25:USPS (excluding Alaska and Hawaii)Domestic Mail Class/Product Send-by Date USPS Retail Ground Service Dec. 15 First-Class Mail Service Dec. 18 Priority Mail Service Dec. 19 Priority Mail Express Service Dec. 23Click here for USPS holiday shipping dates for Alaska and Hawaii, military bases and overseas addresses. UPSShipping Option Send-by Date UPS Ground Dec. 15 UPS 3 Day Select Dec. 21 UPS 2nd Day Air Dec. 22 UPS Next Day Air Dec. 23Click here for more details on UPS holiday shipping. FedEx (U.S. to U.S.)Shipping Option Send-by Date FedEx SmartPost (certain exceptions apply) Dec. 9 FedEx Home Delivery Dec. 15 FedEx Ground Dec. 15 FedEx Express Saver Dec. 21 FedEx 3 Day Freight Dec. 21 FedEx 2 Day Dec. 22 FedEx 2 Day A.M. Dec. 22 FedEx 2 Day Freight Dec. 22 FedEx 1 Day Freight Dec. 23 FedEx Extra Hours Dec. 23 FedEx Standard Overnight Dec. 23 FedEx Priority Overnight Dec. 23 FedEx First Overnight Dec. 23 FedEx SameDay Dec. 25 FedEx SameDay City Priority Dec. 25 FedEx SameDay City Direct Dec. 25Click here to see last-day-to-ship dates if you’re planning to send gifts to Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico or other destinations. AmazonAmazon has not released its 2020 holiday shipping calendar, but last year, the company recommended buyers send products no later than Dec. 22 or Dec. 23 for a Dec. 25 arrival.

(Photo by APEX/MEGA/GC Images) (2020 MEGA)Who: The other star of Netflix’s irresistible “Tiger King." What you’ll need: Your hair pulled back in a bun, glasses, a judge’s robe and a fancy white collar. What you’ll need: A banana costume and a loaf of bread to carry around. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Who: A video conferencing program that became very popular once the pandemic started in early 2020. What you’ll need: A piece of cardboard cut with a whole in the middle to look like a screen.

But that fiasco could be nothing compared to this year’s election -- and not just regarding who is elected president. There will be more mail-in ballots submitted than ever. The United States Postal Service is struggling with financial issues, which could delay the mailing of ballots throughout the country, according to CNBC. In August, the USPS sent letters to 46 states and Washington, D.C. warning that some main-in ballots might not arrive in time to be counted by Election Day, according to the Washington Post. Mail-in ballots take longer to count.

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.

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?

CHARLESTON, W.Va. A West Virginia postal carrier has been charged with attempted election fraud after eight mail-in requests for absentee voter ballots had their party affiliations altered, including five from Democrat to Republican, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. An investigation by the secretary of state's office found five of the ballot requests were changed from Democrat to Republican with a black ink pen, according to a federal affidavit. Examples of mail-in ballot fraud have been minimal, and Trump himself has voted absentee in recent elections. Absentee ballot applications were mailed to all registered voters in West Virginia last month in a bid to encourage mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic. However, in addition to the "Republican" box originally checked in blue ink, the word "Republican" was later circled in black ink, the affidavit said.

Postal ServiceDec. 14: USPS Retail Ground shipments ✅Dec. 18: Alaska to mainland First-Class Mail ✅Dec. 19: Hawaii to mainland First-Class Mail and Priority Mail, also Alaska Priority Mail ✅*There’s still time for dates below! Dec. 20: First-Class Mail ServiceDec. 21: Priority Mail; Also deadline for Alaska and Hawaii to the mainland through Priority Mail ExpressDec. 23: Priority Mail ExpressTrying to send something overseas or to a member of the military? Click or tap here to check out the guide we followed from USPS, and to learn more about your mailing specifics and guidelines. FedExDec. 9: SmartPost ✅Dec. 16: Ground and home delivery ✅Dec. 19: Express Saver ✅*There’s still time for the dates below! As for Amazon deadlines, you’re likely looking at Dec. 22 or Dec. 23, depending on if you’re a Prime member, where you live and what you’re ordering.

BLACKBURG, Va. - A series of thefts are being reported on Virginia Tech's campus. The university said there's been an increase in reports of package thefts from various student residential halls across campus. All personal items in a residence hall room can become easy targets and an unlocked door can be an invitation to a thief. Students should consider having items sent to hub lockers or packaging and shipping centers located in Blacksburg to hold until they can take possession. It requires a little effort, but it provides extra security for their package," said university spokesman Mark Owczarski.