USPS postmark policy could impact rural residents
Rep. Gabe Vasquez calls on postal service to “go back to the old way of doing things.”
AS YOU PREPARE FOR THE REST OF YOUR SUNDAY, HERE ARE THE BIG THINGS THAT WE’RE FALLING FOR YOU TODAY. FIRST, LET’S GET YOU BACK OVER TO COREY HOWARD WITH YOUR KOAT WEATHER FORECAST. YEAH. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY WANT TO EXPLAIN WHY IT’S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT WARMER OUT WEST VERSUS EAST. SO WE DO HAVE THAT HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM SETTING UP IN THE WEST. SO AND THEN WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE COOL AIR THAT WE HAVE FURTHER OUT TOWARDS THE EAST, THAT’S GOING TO BE THE REASON WHY THE TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO LOOK THE WAY THAT THEY’RE GOING TO LOOK. YOU CAN SEE AREAS LIKE CLOVIS ARE GOING TO SEE TEMPERATURES AROUND 40 DEGREES 43 IN HOBBS. BUT OVER HERE TOWARDS THE WEST, WE’RE SEEING TEMPERATURES LIKE 65 IN RESERVE. NOW, THAT WILL CHANGE ONCE WE GET OVER TO TOMORROW. THINGS WILL BEGIN TO REALLY WARM UP, MAINLY BECAUSE OF THAT HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM. BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW WE WILL BE MAINTAINING CLEAR SKIES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. BY THE TIME WE GET TO MONDAY, WE’LL HAVE A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 62 DEGREES, AND THEN WE’LL HAVE OUR TEMPERATURES COMING DOWN FROM THERE BEFORE EVENTUALLY GOING BACK UP ON FRIDAY. PAYTON, BACK TO YOU. THANKS, COREY. AND THIS MORNING’S TOP STORIES. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TOOK TO THE STREETS IN ICE OUT PROTESTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS WEEK, INCLUDING HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE. SO THEY WERE DEMONSTRATING AGAINST FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT FOLLOWING THE DEADLY SHOOTINGS OF ALEX AND RENEE. GOOD. A PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN STARTED OVERNIGHT AS THE DEBATE IN CONGRESS OVER REFORMING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT CONTINUES. SO THIS IS THE SECOND FEDERAL FUNDING LAPSE IN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS. BUT THIS 1ST MAY BE SHORT LIVED. WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT JACKIE DEFUSCO HAS MORE ON WHERE THINGS STAND THIS WEEKEND. THAT PROTEST, LASTING ABOUT 2.5 HOURS TODAY. WHOA, WHOA. RACIST SYSTEM HAS TO FALL. A FIELD CIVIC PLAZA FRIDAY AS ALBUQUERQUE PROTESTERS RALLIED AGAINST ICE AND FEDERAL IMMIGRATION TACTICS. I SPENT 27 YEARS IN THE MILITARY, AND TO SEE THIS ADMINISTRATION DOING WHAT IT’S DOING, IT’S LIKE BREAKING MY HEART. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY’RE KILLING PEOPLE. SO IT’S GOT TO STOP. MIKE SAYS SOME PEOPLE TOLD HIM HE SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR WEARING HIS SHIRT, BUT HE SAYS THE DEATH OF ALEX. PREETI, A NURSE WHO WORKED WITH VETERANS, IS WHAT DROVE HIM TO SHOW UP. IT WAS COLD BLOODED. THEY SHOT HIM IN THE BACK AND IT WAS DISGUSTING. PROTESTERS MARCHED AROUND CENTRAL AVENUE. CHANTING, CARRYING SIGNS AND FLAGS BEFORE REGROUPING DOWNTOWN. THIS GROUP OF PROTESTERS HAS FINISHED THEIR MARCH AROUND DOWNTOWN ALBUQUERQUE. A GROUP HAS GATHERED TO MY RIGHT AND ANOTHER TO MY LEFT HERE AT THE EL HURRICANE PAVILION. MY FRENCH TEACHER CANCELED CLASS. SHE’S A PART OF THE ALBUQUERQUE TEACHERS UNION, AND THE WHOLE UNION IS CANCELING CLASS TODAY. FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THIS EVENT, BOTH MY PROFESSORS CANCELED CLASS, AND I THINK I SAW BOTH OF THEM HERE TODAY, ACTUALLY. DYLAN BERGER SAYS HE SHOWED UP IN PART BECAUSE OF FIVE YEAR OLD LIAM RAMOS, THE PRESCHOOLER DETAINED BY ICE IN MINNEAPOLIS. A STORY SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD. WE’RE ALL OUT HERE SHOWING SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TAKEN ILLEGALLY. OTHERS SAYING THEY’RE WORRIED ABOUT A POSSIBLE ICE MOBILIZATION COMING TO NEW MEXICO. I TAUGHT AT ONE OF THE SCHOOLS HERE FOR MANY YEARS, ONE OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND WE HAD KIDS WHO WERE HERE WITHOUT THEIR PAPERS. THEY’RE USUALLY HARD WORKING PEOPLE, AND I THINK A LOT OF THEM ARE TRYING TO GET CITIZENSHIP. APD TELLS US IT DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY CALLS RELATED TO THE DEMONSTRATION. REPORTING IN CIVIC PLAZA ALIYAH CHAVEZ KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. ALIAH. THANK YOU. A BILL TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF PUNITIVE DAMAGES THAT CAN BE AWARDED IN MALPRACTICE CASES AND ATTORNEY FEES HAS PASSED THE COMMITTEE YESTERDAY. PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL SAYS NEW MEXICO HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAWSUITS. THE HOUSE, HOUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, PASSING IT 7 TO 3 AND NOW MOVES TO THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. A BILL TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARE WE? WE DID JUST MENTION THIS. THAT IS GOING TO THE COMMITTEE THAT’S GOING YESTERDAY. BUT I DO WANT TO MENTION SOMETHING ELSE. THAT WE HAVE FOR YOU THIS MORNING. SO SOME LEADERS IN NEW MEXICO NATIONAL GUARD ARE NOW SAYING THAT THEIR OPERATION IN ALBUQUERQUE TO REDUCE CRIME DID NOT HAVE THE IMPACT THAT THEY HOPED FOR. THE DEPLOYMENT BEGAN NEARLY A YEAR AGO AFTER THE GOVERNOR SENT THE GUARD TO HANDLE ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES AND FREE UP APD OFFICERS. NOW THE GUARD IS QUESTIONING ITS EFFECTIVENESS, EVEN AS FORMER APD LEADERS SAY THE OPERATION DID MAKE A DIFFERENCE. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE’RE BACK ON TRACK. NOW WE’VE GOT SOME DOGS TO LOOK AT. WE GOT SOME DOGS TO LOOK AT. SOMETIMES THE STORY GETS THERE TWICE. THIS RIGHT HERE IS GOING TO BE IRIS. IRIS IS A FIVE YEAR OLD QUEENSLAND HEELER MIX NOT POPPING UP. IRIS, WHERE YOU AT? THERE SHE GOES. SHE’S A HAPPY GO LUCKY GIRL WHO LOVES, WALKS, PLAYTIME AND SNUGGLING. AFTERWARDS, YOU CAN MEET IRIS AT THE EASTSIDE SHELTER, SO POP UP AND SAY HI TO IRIS. AND THEN UP NEXT IS CHARISMA. CHARISMA IS A ONE YEAR OLD AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG. YEAH. YOU GOT TO LOVE THESE LITTLE THESE MIXES THAT WE HAVE. NOW SHE’S SUPER AFFECTIONATE. SHE’S GREAT ON A LEASH AND SHE LOVES ATTENTION AND SHE JUST MIGHT BE THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOUR HOME AND SOME COZY COUCH TIME. NOW YOU CAN MEET CHARISMA AT THE ANIMAL HUMANE, NEW MEXICO. SO YEAH, WE GOT TWO LITTLE LOVELY PICKS RIGHT UP THERE FOR YOU. AND SO ADORABLE. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? TODAY IS SO NICE OUTSIDE. AND I KNOW A LOT OF THE ANIMAL SHELTERS AROUND THE AREA WILL KIND OF LET YOU TAKE A DOG FOR A DAY AND TAKE THEM ON WALKS OR SOMETHING. YEAH, IT HELPS THEM KIND OF, YOU KNOW, YOU’RE VOLUNTEERING, SO YOU’RE HELPING THEM GET THEM OUTSIDE, GET THEM ON WALKS. OKAY. SO YEAH, I FEEL LIKE THAT COULD BE SOMETHING REALLY FUN TO DO. IF YOU’RE LOOKING AT ADOPTING A DOG TO TEST ONE OUT, OR IF YOU JUST WANT TO GET OUT AND ABOUT WITH A FURRY FRIEND TODAY. YEAH, I WANT A FURRY FRIEND. I DON’T HAVE A DOG. I WANT ONE SO BAD, BUT I JUST DON’T HAVE ONE. MY LIFESTYLE, YOU KNOW, IT’S HARD. IT’S HARD. YEAH, FOR SURE, FOR SURE. WELL, COREY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THOSE LITTLE RUNDOWNS ON THE DOGS. AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. ACTION 7 NEWS WILL BE BACK AT FIVE. AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN GET OUR LATEST NEWSCAST ANYTIME ON THE FREE, VERY LOCAL APP. WE HOPE YOU HAVE A SAFE SATU
USPS postmark policy could impact rural residents
Rep. Gabe Vasquez calls on postal service to “go back to the old way of doing things.”
While some residents of rural New Mexico were surprised and aren’t happy about the U.S. Postal Service’s recent change in its “postmarking process,” the USPS says that policy “remains unchanged.”Rep. Gabe Vasquez, who represents New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District, has heard from his constituents about this “unchanged” policy. Now the USPS is hearing from Vasquez, who wants them to “go back to the old way of doing things.”Rolled out in December, the “Delivering for America” initiative was supposed to modernize and streamline how the mail is moved, Vasquez told KOAT.”By doing that, they essentially changed the rules of how mail is postmarked,” Vasquez said. Most people have been accustomed to having mail stamped with a postmark indicating where it was mailed from and on what date it was mailed.However, a USPS document entitled “Postmarking Myths and Facts” says that, “Customers have used postmarking for their own purposes, but postmarking is not and has not been a service that the Postal Service has provided to the public for such purposes.”What Vasquez has learned is that under the new “Delivering for America” policy, mail isn’t postmarked and dated until it gets to a “processing center,” which can take two days or more. If people are trying to meet deadlines with tax returns or bills, it could result in late fees. The only way to still get a “classic” postmark is to go to the post office counter with your mail and request one, Vasquez said.”We do live in the digital era, but we have to remember there are still thousands of New Mexicans that don’t have access to broadband, let alone a post office, and there are so many folks still mailing their checks. That’s how they pay their bills. That’s how they take care of business,” Vasquez said. “So it’s really going to impact those people who choose to live in those rural communities and, without notice, all of a sudden they changed the rules on them.”The “Myths and Facts” document disagrees that notice wasn’t given for its “unchanged” policy.”The Postal Service engaged in discussions with customer groups, posted information on our website, and initiated a public notice and comment period in the Federal Register in August 2025,” the document said.”They say nothing’s changed, but the process has changed,” Vasquez said. “The solution is simple — go back to the old way of doing things. The USPS could reverse this decision. They could do it tomorrow. The Postmaster needs to pay attention to rural New Mexicans, that this is going to make their lives harder.”
While some residents of rural New Mexico were surprised and aren’t happy about the U.S. Postal Service’s recent change in its “postmarking process,” the USPS says that policy “remains unchanged.”
Rep. Gabe Vasquez, who represents New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District, has heard from his constituents about this “unchanged” policy. Now the USPS is hearing from Vasquez, who wants them to “go back to the old way of doing things.”
Rolled out in December, the “Delivering for America” initiative was supposed to modernize and streamline how the mail is moved, Vasquez told KOAT.
“By doing that, they essentially changed the rules of how mail is postmarked,” Vasquez said.
Most people have been accustomed to having mail stamped with a postmark indicating where it was mailed from and on what date it was mailed.
However, a USPS document entitled “Postmarking Myths and Facts” says that, “Customers have used postmarking for their own purposes, but postmarking is not and has not been a service that the Postal Service has provided to the public for such purposes.”
What Vasquez has learned is that under the new “Delivering for America” policy, mail isn’t postmarked and dated until it gets to a “processing center,” which can take two days or more. If people are trying to meet deadlines with tax returns or bills, it could result in late fees.
The only way to still get a “classic” postmark is to go to the post office counter with your mail and request one, Vasquez said.
“We do live in the digital era, but we have to remember there are still thousands of New Mexicans that don’t have access to broadband, let alone a post office, and there are so many folks still mailing their checks. That’s how they pay their bills. That’s how they take care of business,” Vasquez said. “So it’s really going to impact those people who choose to live in those rural communities and, without notice, all of a sudden they changed the rules on them.”
The “Myths and Facts” document disagrees that notice wasn’t given for its “unchanged” policy.
“The Postal Service engaged in discussions with customer groups, posted information on our website, and initiated a public notice and comment period in the Federal Register in August 2025,” the document said.
“They say nothing’s changed, but the process has changed,” Vasquez said. “The solution is simple — go back to the old way of doing things. The USPS could reverse this decision. They could do it tomorrow. The [U.S.] Postmaster needs to pay attention to rural New Mexicans, that this is going to make their lives harder.”
