The Government today pressed ahead with its controversial plans to part-privatise the Royal Mail but tried to head off growing criticism by pledging to enshrine in law that the organisation would remain publicly owned. More: continued here

Lord Mandelson publishes controversial plans to sell-off part of Royal Mail which he says will save a universal postal service. More: continued here

New Blaine retail post office celebrates its grand openingCoon Rapids Herald, MNBlaine’s new post office retail facility opened in grand style Feb. 20 when United States Postal Service representatives joined Mayor Tom Ryan and local chamber of commerce representatives in ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Blaine Mayor Tom Ryan and … More: continued here

Welfare officials say the demand for food stamps in Massachusetts jumped 20 percent last year, straining the system and trying the patience of some residents applying for the benefit. There are now about 600,000 Massachusetts residents getting food stamps after nearly 100,000 people were added to the rolls in 2008.  …

Two female staff have been threatened during a post office raid in Carlow town this morning. More: continued here

TIA JUANA, OK – The keen observation of a FedEx delivery driver resulted in the arrest of two Tulsa men attempting to steal a trailer loaded with two personal watercrafts from a home in the Tia Juana area. More: continued here

Most of food stamp fraud cases were single parentsSpringfield News Sun, OHJob and Family Services of Clark County received 192 bogus applications for food stamp reimbursements after the storm, requesting repayment for food that supposedly spoiled while thousands were without power for several days. … More: continued here

New numbers out this week on the social needs of Missourians paint a bleak picture of a state hurting from the national economic downturn. More: continued here

Biz break: Yahoo CFO leaves amid management shake-upSan Jose Mercury News,  USAPlus: Facebook considers user "Bill of Rights," Cisco cuts jobs in SJ, eBay wins German court case. Yahoo management shake-up: Yahoo's chief financial officer is leaving and chief executive Carol Bartz said she is rolling out a new management …

Lord Mandelson plans to rush through the sell-off of Royal Mail within months in the face of Cabinet opposition, it emerged today. More: continued here