The U.S. Postal Service has been plagued by continuous delivery delays for nearly a year now, and many people are hitting a breaking point with their frustration over it. There are currently reports of people getting second notices on missing packages before receiving the first one, adjusting prescription requests to account for delays, and holiday packages still being in transit. As a result, dozens of Democratic senators are demanding answers from the Postmaster General himself.

In a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy last week, 30 senators pointed out that nationwide on-time delivery is currently 64% for First-Class Mail and 45% for periodicals like magazines and newspapers. They also wrote that delays are even worse in many areas of the country. The USPS has not yet released its on-time scores for the start of 2021, but at the end of 2020, First-Class Mail was only being delivered by the intended date 38% of the time, reports The Washington Post.

“Our constituents have experienced missed paychecks and court notices, delayed critical prescriptions, an inability to reach small business customers and suppliers, lost rent payments and delayed credit card payments resulting in late fees, breakdowns in service to their communities, late personal mail such as holiday packages, and more,” reads the letter. “Reportedly, mail delivery has not yet recovered after the peak season, with constituents continuing to experience delays despite the tireless efforts of postal workers.”

DeJoy is developing a 10-year strategic plan to address these problems, reports NPR. The House Oversight Committee will discuss the proposal sometime today, but early versions of the plan are already drawing criticism from congressional Democrats, as well as some of the USPS’ biggest customers. While DeJoy has not discussed the details of the plan publicly, The Washington Post says it includes slowing the delivery time of some local first-class mail and up to a 9% jump in postage rates that would be compounded annually. 

“This work is not only needed, it is long overdue. As we finalize our plan, we look forward to sharing more details in the coming weeks. Until we have the additional discussions…and the plan is finalized, it would not be appropriate to provide such details,” DeJoy said in a statement.

But public and professional faith in how DeJoy — a former logistics executive and major Republican donor — runs the USPS has been waning since he took the helm in mid-June last year. By late August, DeJoy was standing before Congress facing questions from lawmakers over mail-delivery delays that began shortly after he took the position. DeJoy came under intense scrutiny again when sweeping policy changes at the Postal Service led some to question whether it was linked to former President Donald Trump’s repeated attacks on the legitimacy of mail-in ballots. DeJoy denied that any changes to the USPS were linked to the November elections.

Congressional Democrats are also asking that President Joe Biden overhaul the Postal Service’s leadership. There are currently four open seats on the nine-member board of governors, and no more than five members of the board may belong to the same political party. If Biden filled those empty seats with Democrats, it would create a majority with the power to unseat DeJoy if put to a vote. As president, Biden does not have the power to directly fire DeJoy.

On Monday, the White House released a statement saying that Biden was focused on filling board vacancies with nominees who “reflect his commitment to the workers of the U.S. Postal Service — who deliver on the post office’s vital universal service obligation.”

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Johnson & Johnson's One-Dose Vaccine FDA Approved

As the U.S. surpasses a staggering COVID-19 death toll of 500,000, many Americans are concerned that states nationwide have proven unprepared to meet the high (and time-sensitive) demand for vaccines. But on Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine for emergency use authorization, and if all goes according to plan, we could have a third authorized vaccine as soon as this weekend.

The FDA found that Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine is “consistent with the recommendations set forth in FDA’s guidance Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines to Prevent COVID-19.” In the U.S., the vaccine has a 72% efficacy rate against symptomatic COVID-19 and an 86% efficacy rate against severe illness, meaning recipients have a significantly lower risk of death or hospitalization. 

The efficacy rate is lower in South Africa, which has seen an influx of cases due to a contagious new variant: there, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is reportedly 64% effective at preventing symptomatic cases and 82% effective at preventing severe illness. But until now, the country’s best vaccine — made by Novavax — was only 49% effective, and the AstraZeneca-University of Oxford vaccine offered so little protection that the rollout was halted by the South African government altogether.

Altogether, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has a lower efficacy rate than the Pfizer-BioNTech (95%) and Moderna (94.1%) vaccines, but according to The New York Times, recipients have reported noticeably fewer side effects. And because it can be stored at normal temperatures for at least three months, the vaccine will also be easier to distribute. Perhaps most importantly, unlike its predecessors, Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine is only one dose.

The one-shot vaccine is a game-changer for people who struggle to or can’t leave the house, including those with disabilities or chronic illnesses and older and incarcerated populations — all of whom comprise at-risk groups. And as states have struggled with low supply, many Americans have been unable to set up appointments for their second dose. Officials have also worried that many people have forgotten or been unable to attend their follow-up appointments, too. “We’re very concerned,” said Dr. Nancy Nielsen of the University at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “As long as the vaccine remains scarce, and the longer we go, the more we think this is going to accelerate.”

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine trials were paused back in October when one participant reported a “serious medical event.” Eleven days later, however, the company resumed the trial, reporting that there were “many possible factors” and “no clear cause” had been identified. It was also unclear whether the recipient had received a placebo vaccine. “Based on the information gathered to date and the input of independent experts, the Company has found no evidence that the vaccine candidate caused the event,” Johnson & Johnson reported in a statement.

Hanneke Schuitemaker, PhD, the vice president and global head of viral vaccine discovery at Johnson & Johnson, told Refinery29 last year that the vaccine was based on the company’s HIV and Ebola vaccine candidates. “It’s based on a common cold virus. We have removed the piece of the genetic material of the cold virus to also create room for genetic material from another virus. In this case, the coronavirus,” she said. “And we produce these common cold viral particles with that little piece of genetic material of the coronavirus in them. In the end, they will get injected, and then the body [will hopefully create an immune response].”

Now that it has the FDA’s stamp of approval, the vaccine will swiftly move to the next stage in the authorization process: on Friday, an independent group of advisers will review the FDA’s findings and recommend the vaccination’s authorization. If it’s a go, the FDA could authorize the vaccine as soon as Saturday. Dr. Richard Nettles, the vice president of U.S. medical affairs at Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals, said that the company is prepared to deliver 100 million doses of the vaccine by the end of June.

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Becca Cosmetics — the brand that brought many of us our first big-girl highlighters in college and one of the first that really taught us how to glow — announced that it will be closing down later this year. 

In a statement posted to Instagram and on Becca’s website this morning, the brand shared that its products will no longer be available to shop after September 2021. “The global pandemic has had an impact on everyone around the world on many levels. It has also had a tremendous impact on so many businesses,” the brand wrote. “At BECCA, an accumulation of challenges, together with the global impact of COVID-19, has sadly been more than our business can withstand, and we have had to make the heartbreaking decision to close down the BECCA brand at the end of September 2021.”

Becca has worked with various mental health organizations over the years, and pledged to continue throughout the rest of its tenure. “We’ve done meaningful work supporting mental wellness with the JED Foundation and Mental Health Mates and will continue to do so through our commitment to The Trevor Project this coming June,” the statement reads. According to the brand, Becca products will be available to purchase online until the end of September 2021 or until they sell out, but “the brand will ultimately be shut down permanently.”

Fans sent an outpour of love to the brand and its employees in the comments on social media. “Very sad to see you go. Lovely highlighters, undereye corrector, and lipsticks,” one Instagram user wrote. “This is so sad. I am such a fan since day one of everything you do, and it’s heartbreaking to see Becca go. Thank you for all the love, support, and amazing products you’ve created for us throughout the years.”

I was never personally connected to BECCA like I am a lot of brands but this just stings 🥺💔 The shimmering skin perfector had a HUGE impact in the makeup world and I feel like panic-buying every shade 🥲 I’ll miss you @BECCAcosmetics 🥺 pic.twitter.com/n7Gp52G3tT

— Kendall Alfred (@kendallalfred) February 24, 2021

The public response to Becca’s news is a testament to the influence and power of the brand. Since launching in 2001, the company has released a wide variety of collections and launches that became some of the buzziest, most viral makeup products to date. In 2019, a market study by research firm The NPD Group named Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed the best-selling highlighter in the U.S. Becca has also had an impressive roster of collaborations with celebrities and influencers like Jaclyn Hill, Chrissy Teigen, Khloe Kardashian, and most recently Barbie Ferreira. 

While we’re sad to see Becca go, there’s no denying the brand had a glorious run. Ahead, find some of our favorite Becca items we suggest stocking up on while you can.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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These photos look like they have selective coloring with the background being black and white and the only colors are in my outfit.  But these are actually in full color with true winter colors of Central Park in the background.

Even though it’s cold and dreary, I won’t let this winter weather affect my mood.  That pop of yellow invites sunshine and spring awakening.  One of my favorite pairings with yellow is red.  The colors of sunset, this combination is striking, warm, and joyful.  For this look, I’m full committed with all aspects of red.  From the coat to the boots to the lip color, it’s all red.  I find that this commitment creates a balanced look with red not as an accent but as a key player in this color story.

Looking forward to Spring and a better 2021!  I hope you enjoy this post and thank you so much for reading!

– OUTFIT –

COAT | Banana Republic red coat (old, more options: Ralph Lauren red coat, under $200; H&M wool-blend red coat, under $70)
TOP| Ann Taylor puff sleeve top (currently 40% off )
SKIRT | Ann Taylor skirt (currently 40% off )
BAG | Mark Cross velvet box bag
SHOES | Stuart Weitzman red boots (currently 60% off!)
BEAUTY | Stila matte lip color in ‘Fiery’

The post Spring Colors, Winter Feel appeared first on Wendy's Lookbook.

Do you do this too?

I find that practicing holding others in the Light, keeps me in the Light, consciously.

Which brings the felt knowing that there’s only the Light.

Only one Light.

Just *Bob Marley voice* One Love, appearing as you, as me, as everything.

With you in and AS the One,
Nik

‘When the flower blooms, the bees come uninvited.’

– Divine Love speaking through Ramakrishna

Our bees may be clients, customers, signups, patients, recruiters, followers, fans, members, a new relationship, or opportunities. They come when we are in alignment, knowing and being our true Self. They only come when we are effortlessly radiating Love. That’s our fragrance, our perfume.

So let’s turn toward the sun of Presence and feel Its warmth, the inner smile It stirs up… the Joy we forgot. Our faces gently angled up, smiling, and breathing in Love, we are home. We’re blooming.

With you in this inevitable, and deliciously fragrant blossoming,
Nik