The post office will get an extra 2-cents worth when you mail a letter starting in May. The U.S. Postal Service announced Tuesday that the price of a first-class stamp will rise to 44 cents on May 11. That gives plenty of time to stock up on Forever Stamps, which will continue to sell at the current 42-cent rate until the increase occurs. They will remain valid in the future regardless of rate hikes/AP, SR. More here.

Question: How high will stamp prices have to go before you begin seeking alternatives to first-class mail (if you haven’t already)?

Item: Postal worker hero loses his job; Man who helped save woman on route was in accident on same day/Alecia Warren, CDA Press

More Info: Although neither he nor post office officials were permitted to disclose the details of the situation, his father, David, said Isaac lost his contract because of an incident when his delivery truck skidded on an icy road and knocked into a mailbox. The mailbox was undamaged, but the run-in shattered a window on the truck. Just enough to be deemed an accident — and it’s post office policy not to keep on temporary employees who have been in any accidents, David said. “This involved no people, no other cars,” David said. “This is the craziest thing.”

Question: Should the post office opt for common sense over policy re: this situation?