The Allegheny County Police Department said the shooting happened just before 11 p.m. outside of H's Bar & Grill along Verona Road on Thursday. When first responders arrived at the scene, they found a man who had been shot to death. The man's identity has not been released as of Friday night.

"We don't have all the details. It's tragic," Penn Hills Mayor Pauline Calabrese told KDKA-TV. "Of course, our thoughts and prayers go out to the family."

The early investigation, according to police, shows that the man was talking to the alleged shooter outside the bar before shots were fired. Investigators say the gunman was wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts and fled from the scene.

A man who didn't want to be identified and lives nearby said he's not surprised a deadly shooting happened at this establishment.

"Any time from midnight to about 3 a.m. they're out here making all kinds of noise," the man told KDKA-TV. "I'm sick of it."

However, that neighbor KDKA-TV spoke to said H's Bar and Grill isn't the only problem bar nearby, adding that he wants one thing to come out of this tragedy.

"Close them both now," he said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the county police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.

Semien's second homer in two games and 14th of the season, a drive to left-center off Carmen Mlodzinski, capped a four-run third that put the Mets ahead 5-0. New York, last in the NL East, swept a three-game series in Cleveland before busing to Pittsburgh on Thursday night.

Thornton (3-2) allowed four hits while striking out three and walking two. The left-hander remained in the game following a 36-minute rain delay in the top of the third.

Pittsburgh got two runs in the seventh and then two more in the ninth off closer Devin Williams, but a pair of baserunning mistakes cost the Pirates as they tried to rally.

Semien made a sliding stop at second base of Bryan Reynolds' grounder with a runner aboard to end it.

Mets rookie outfielder Carson Benge was removed with left wrist soreness in the bottom of the fourth, one inning after sliding into the wall in the left-field corner while catching a flyball hit by Ronny Simon.

Benge was replaced by Cristian Pache with the Mets leading 6-0. Benge helped New York build the lead with a pair of run-scoring singles.

Making his first start since May 25, Mlodzinski (6-4) was tagged for five runs and seven hits in three innings. Mlodzinski returned to the rotation from the bullpen after Mitch Keller sustained a season-ending right shoulder injury in his previous start.

A.J. Ewing, another rookie outfielder, had three hits and scored twice for the Mets. Ewing led off the game with a double and scored on a single by Benge, who also singled home a run in the third before Semien homered. Francisco Lindor added an RBI single in the fourth.

The Pirates, who are 4-11 since the All-Star break, got two hits each from Reynolds, Nick Gonzales, Simon and Jared Triolo.

Mets RHP Robert Stock (0-1, 1.80 ERA) faces rookie RHP Bubba Chandler (4-8, 4.49) on Saturday night.

For the past six years, Lauterbach has been coaching younger local players at 412 Fastpitch, her two-level training facility in Baldwin, and through free skills clinics where she hosts young girls and boys every year. She has trained more than 400 young athletes in that span.

After a highly decorated pitching career at Baldwin High School, where she was named All-Pennsylvania three times, she went on to pitch for four years at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, setting the single-season program record for saves as a senior.

She has adopted a community-style approach to coaching, creating an environment where players can feel comfortable, confident and empowered.

"They want to become better pitchers and dominate on the field. And then when they get here, the vibe is awesome," said Lauterbach. "Whether the girls are coming here for hitting, pitching, or fielding, they're not only getting better, but they have a great time while they're here."

While enjoying their time training, the players have also enjoyed varying levels of success. There are dozens of pennants lining the wall at 412 Fastpitch, marking the colleges where both players and instructors have gone on to play college softball. In addition, four of the players she's coached are currently representing Pittsburgh on the East Region team at the Junior League Softball World Series in Kirkland, Washington.

Another aspect of her coaching work is the establishment of the "Cousin's Closet," an exchange program where players can either donate or utilize equipment that's been donated by players and families, free of charge. The slogan of the closet is: "Leave what you can, take what you need."

"We saw a lot of equipment that girls were growing out of, or no longer needed, and it was just collecting dust," Lauterbach said. "So, we decided to create a program where the kids can leave anything that they're no longer using or don't need anymore."

The closet is named in honor of Lauterbach's two older cousins — Mark and Scott — who both died unexpectedly at young ages. She said she felt there was no better way to honor them than to create a supply source where the players can find anything they need.

"One family's donation can be another kid's opportunity to play in the game," she said.

By the numbers

Economists polled by FactSet forecast employers added 95,000 jobs in July.

Losses in local government education and retail dragged down last month's employment data, with the sectors losing 50,000 and 19,000 jobs, respectively. Healthcare, the main driver of payroll gains this year, added 22,000 jobs last month.

The Labor Department also revised down the May and June jobs numbers by a combined 103,000, a sign that hiring was weaker than previously reported. 

"Hiring has gone into reverse — the economy actually shed jobs last month — and it turns out many of the jobs we thought were there in previous months never really existed," Nic Puckrin, markets expert and former Goldman Sachs analyst, said in an email.

Unemployment rate falls as labor force shrinks

The unemployment rate fell to 4.1% in July from 4.2% the previous month, but not for the right reasons. 

Experts said the jobless rate dip last month was due to people exiting the workforce, rather than a boost in hiring. The labor force participation rate — which tracks the percentage of people working or actively looking for a job — fell to 61.4% in July, the lowest level since February 2021. 

Part of that decline is due to a statistical quirk. A recent analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that a change in how the Labor Department calculates population data has created a large drag on the labor force participation rate. 

Still, other factors help explain workers' retreat from the labor force. 

"People leave the labor force because they don't see opportunities for themselves in it, and so they're not actively looking for a job," said Elise Gould, senior economist at the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute.

People leaving their jobs to retire and stricter immigration policies could also be discouraging people from seeking work, Indeed Hiring Lab senior economist Cory Stahle told CBS News.

"We also know that the aging U.S. population will exert a gravitational pull on the participation rate over the next 5 to 10 years as baby boomers retire, suggesting the downward trend will continue," he said.

What the experts say

Hiring remains generally more muted than in the post-pandemic years, when the U.S. economy experienced an employment rebound. Kory Kantenga, the head of economics, Americas, at LinkedIn, described the job market as "slow," especially for young people.

"There's not a lot of action. Unemployment is holding steady, but we haven't seen hiring pick up meaningfully in years," he told CBS News before the release of Friday's jobs report.

July data from LinkedIn shows hiring and job postings remained essentially unchanged from June. At the same time, job-seeking intensity — measured by applications per applicant — increased, suggesting competition is increasing for a limited number of roles.

While hiring remains stagnant, layoffs recently hit their lowest level in two years, recent data shows. Separate data released Thursday shows weekly unemployment claims remain historically low. The four-week average of initial jobless claims dipped below 200,000 for the week ending Aug. 1, marking the first time it has fallen below that threshold since October 2022, according to PNC Economics. 

"Although the hiring rate is low, the unemployment rate remains steady because layoffs are also low," Fed Governor Lisa Cook said during an event at the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation on Wednesday.

Americans with jobs are facing their own set of challenges. A new CBS News analysis of Census data found that while the typical American's wages have steadily increased since 2019, those gains have largely been offset by rapidly climbing consumer prices.

What does this mean for the Federal Reserve?

The unexpected job loss in July could ease pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates at its next meeting, which is scheduled for Sept. 15-16, Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, said in an email. Inflation data expected next week will be the "deciding factor," she said.

"If those numbers come in hotter than expected, a cooler labor market may not be enough to quiet the calls for hikes inside the Fed, or lower expectations outside of it," Zentner said.

The central bank has held interest rates steady for five consecutive meetings. However, some Fed officials have signaled they are open to raising rates to tame inflation, which remains well above the central bank's 2% target rate. At the most recent Fed meeting in July, three Federal Open Market Committee members voted to raise rates, while nine voted to hold rates steady. 

As Apollo Mulhern and her friend and neighbor, Summer Savary, walked around Third Presbyterian Church, they came across dozens of pieces of cement scattered on the ground.

They took a walk from their apartments a few streets down to Fifth by South Negley avenues when the rain stopped on Friday, wanting to see the aftermath of the strange sound they heard a couple of hours earlier.

"There was just a sudden crack that just was closer than any thunder I've ever heard in my life," Mulhern said.

It was between 9:10 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., and they were still in their beds.

"I immediately shot up and texted her and was like, 'Did you hear that?' because it was insane," Mulhern said.

"It like shook the ground almost," Savary said.

They weren't sure what it was, but thought possibly lightning struck something nearby. It wasn't long before they saw a post on social media citing the police scanner, mentioning the church in their neighborhood.

"I didn't realize that it hit a building, let alone a church," Mulhern said.

The parish told KDKA-TV, "damage occurred to the steeple/spire above the sanctuary... believed to have been caused by a lightning strike." Pittsburgh police, fire and public works responded.

The church said, thankfully, no one was hurt, and it is assessing the damage with a structural engineer.

The team will leave Saint Vincent College and head into town for its annual practice under the lights at Latrobe Memorial Stadium.

The training camp tradition also acts as a significant fundraiser that benefits both the city of Latrobe and the Greater Latrobe School District.

On Friday morning, however, all was quiet inside the 75-year-old stadium. The only sound was a lawn mower passing over the freshly painted field.

It was the calm before the Steeler storm.

Tyler Gustafson, the athletic director for Greater Latrobe High School, says they're ready for both the Steelers and Steeler Nation.

"We're really excited to have them back," Gustafson said. "It's great to work with a professional football organization. All the things they do for us and we do for them. It's just a great relationship we have with each other, and it is just exciting to have them back in Greater Latrobe for another year."

Gustafson says more than 13,500 fans packed into the stadium last year, and they're expecting a similar crowd this year.

There are also a few important things fans should know before they go.

The free Steelers Fest in the park outside the stadium runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature food vendors, live entertainment and family-friendly activities.

The stadium gates open at 3 p.m., with practice scheduled to begin shortly after 6 p.m., after some autograph signings. After practice, fans are encouraged to stick around for a fireworks show.

Parking at the stadium is limited, but additional parking is available throughout town, about a five- to 10-minute walk away.

While the event requires a $15 ticket purchased online, organizers say that the roughly $200,000 that the evening will generate will go right back into the community.

"That money we generate with our ticket sales, with our concessions and 50/50, that all goes back to the school district, and any organization around the city that helps out," Gustafson said. "Our booster groups at the high school for all of the sports teams, the city police, our resource officers, the Latrobe Chamber of Commerce, parks and rec and the volunteer fire department. Everyone that helps out that night gets a share of the money that is brought in that night."

For tickets and more information from the Steelers, click here.

"Welcome to the house of the Lord Jesus Christ," Garner said.

The visitors walked through the church's assembly halls and meeting rooms where Joseph Smith gathered in the 1830s with early followers of the movement that became known as Mormonism. They sang a temple-dedication hymn where it was first sung by pioneers in the faith.

The building in this small town near Cleveland is the oldest temple in the Mormon movement, and it's drawing renewed interest since its purchase by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints two years ago from a historically related church. And that attention to the oldest temple comes as the LDS church prepares to dedicate its newest U.S. temple in a nearby Cleveland suburb.

It was in the Kirtland temple that Smith initiated rituals and proclaimed divine revelations, promising restoration of ancient rites, scriptures and beliefs that varied dramatically from those of neighboring Christian denominations. It's also where he and others reported seeing visions of biblical prophets, angels — and even Jesus Christ.

"I would like to just give you a moment of silence to consider the fact that the Redeemer of the World was here … not very far from where you're seated," Garner told the visitors. Garner is one of numerous missionaries in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who offer the tours.

Ohio is a lesser-known stop on the Mormon history trail. Better-known are the New York state sites where Smith reported his original divine revelations — or the sites of his followers' embattled settlements in Missouri and Illinois before their ultimate move to Utah.

But Kirtland, just northeast of Cleveland, has its own landmark status.

The building here is considered the first "temple" in the movement Smith founded — a place with a higher spiritual status than the more numerous meetinghouses where regular worship is held.

The LDS church purchased the Kirtland and other historic properties from Community of Christ, a church that also traces its roots to Joseph Smith.

On a June day in Kirtland, numerous Latter-day Saints filtered in and out of the temple, some on a multistate bus tour visiting landmarks in Mormon history.

"Just to come here and know that this is where Jesus Christ actually stood in the pulpit and spoke to Joseph and the other brethren, it's a feeling that you can't really describe to anybody," said Pauline Anderson of Mansfield, Ohio.

Her husband, Shae Anderson, said Ohio is a "Holy Land," where many of the church's Scriptures originated.

That same morning, another group of church members gathered about 30 miles (48 kilometers) away in Independence to unveil a new temple. Once it is dedicated on Aug. 16, it will be the first functioning LDS temple in northern Ohio in nearly two centuries. The building, and another being dedicated that same day in Brazil, will be the newest LDS temples, part of an unprecedented global expansion of temple sites.

It features a modern design, but its cupola resembles that of the Kirtland structure — an architectural hat tip to its forerunner.

"It is fitting that today, in the same region where the first temple was built in this dispensation, another temple now stands," Mathias Held, an official with the church's temple department, said at a media preview event.

Church representatives hosted several open houses for the public to see the new temple's ornate rooms. After its dedication, the temple will be open only to church members in good standing. There, the faithful will partake of rites such as baptisms on behalf of the dead and marriages deemed as sealing couples for eternity.

The old Kirtland building, in contrast, has remained open to the public as a historic site because it's not a functioning temple.

More than 53,000 people visited the Kirtland temple in 2025, with others visiting historic homes and businesses used by early church members in and near Kirtland, said Pace Clarke, the Ohio Historic Sites Manager for the church.

"This temple is the origin of all Latter-day Saint temples," Clarke said. "All of those temples point back to what was first taught here."

For Reese Anderson of Bountiful, Utah, who was on a multistate tour of the church's historic sites, the appeal of visiting Kirtland was simple: "I felt like I was going home."

The early LDS presence in Kirtland was dramatic, turbulent and, for Smith and his followers, brief.

As a young man in New York, Smith asserted that he received divine instructions to restore the true teachings of the ancient Christian church.

Kirtland became a hub of early converts. Smith moved there in 1831. Soon church members began work on a temple. Its design reflects the builders' familiarity with the architectural styles of the time and what they believed was divine guidance, Clarke said.

The first and second floors feature large assembly halls with rows of pulpits on different levels, representing a hierarchy of the priesthood just emerging in early Mormon practice.

The third floor contains meeting rooms where Smith and other leaders inaugurated a rite that involved foot-washing and anointing by oil, and where Smith reported a divine revelation of new teachings.

In 1836, about 1,000 people jammed an assembly hall to dedicate the temple. They sang a new hymn, "The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning," which is now routinely sung at temple dedications.

But the Kirtland church community soon experienced schisms and conflicts over doctrine, money and authority. Smith and many followers ultimately moved west.

Others formed a separate church, now known as Community of Christ, and eventually assumed management of the Kirtland building, operating it for most of its remaining history.

In 2024, the LDS church acquired the temple, other properties and artifacts from Community of Christ for $192.5 million in a transaction that both churches' leaders described as amicable. The acquisition included properties in Nauvoo, Illinois — near the site of Joseph Smith's 1844 murder by a mob, which preceded his followers' exodus to Utah.

Community of Christ said the sale boosted its "capacity to pursue our mission priorities." It continues to hold several meetings at the Kirtland temple each year.

Seth Bryant, the historic sites manager for Community of Christ, said the temple retains deep significance for both churches, even as they evolved separately with distinct views on the role of temples and other theological areas.

"As a historian and somebody who cared for the temple and loves it a great deal, it was very difficult" to see the property change hands, he said. "Whoever has their name on the deed — that isn't as important to me as the spiritual encounter that happened in that space, as well as what's happening today."

Mercedes Southard's remains were found in a wooded area off Minion Avenue on July 30, CBS affiliate WKRC reported. Investigators confirmed her identity from dental records. 

A cause of death for the 31-year-old woman was not immediately released, WKRC reported. The Cincinnati Police Department's Homicide Unit is investigating the woman's death. 

Cincinnati police said in a social media post from April that the 31-year-old woman was last seen Feb. 3 around 3 p.m. Police said she walked away from her home in the West Price Hill area and did not return. No other information surrounding her disappearance was released at the time. 

Southard's family told WKRC she had four kids and was "the best mom."

"We can't sleep at night and we're just thinking like, was she trafficked? Was she kidnapped? Did something happen to where she was just left?" Mindy Shelton, a family friend, told the news outlet in June. 

Southard's family had been offering a $2,000 reward for information about her whereabouts. Anyone with information on Southard's case can call Cincinnati police at 513-263-8300.

Kyle Slaymaker was convicted of felony indecent assault, unlawful contact with a child, endangering the welfare of a child and misdemeanor indecent assault after a two-day trial, according to the state attorney general's office. The 39-year-old man, who presented himself online as a "life coach" who offered business advice, will be sentenced in November, the state attorney general's office said. 

According to testimony, Slaymaker, on numerous occasions over "a period of years," spanked a child for sexual satisfaction. Multiple witnesses testified in court that Slaymaker had a "spanking fetish," according to the state attorney general's office. 

At least two witnesses testified, according to the state attorney general's office, that they met the 39-year-old man from Lancaster County online and later learned of his spanking fetish. Police also found pornography on Slaymaker's phone depicting spanking, according to the state attorney general's office.

Slaymaker was a close acquaintance of the child when the crimes happened, authorities said. Slaymaker must register as a sex offender under Megan's Law, the state attorney general's office said.

"We commend the jurors for carefully considering the facts that showed this defendant fulfilled his twisted sexual desires at the expense of a child," Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said in the news release.

The program is called "Riding Into the Future," and it's a partnership with 4-H and Sunnibel Stables in Washington County. It gives 20 inner-city children the chance to saddle up.  As the summertime program starts to end, the students and organizers are reflecting on their time.

"Riding horses is kind of fun," said Gavin Phillips.

"Kids that feared even just getting on the horse, they've broken that," said Detective Dorothea Leftwich.

"My favorite part is really getting to watch other people learn about the horses and overall experience riding and being in nature," said Bryanna Smith.

It's been two months since 20 city kids were introduced to the country, taking the reins on a brand-new learning experience. From learning how to take care of the horses to riding them, learning about rabbits and ducks and all things agriculture, it's been an experience many are getting to experience young and for the first time.

"I'm grateful to be a vessel. It's about these kids, and they can look back and always have these memories created, and our childhood experience is what shapes us," said Detective Leftwich. "Living through them is the joy I'm finding in this because they helped me and my growth as a mounted officer as well."

As things start to wind down, the children are now reflecting on what has been one unique summer break.

"My favorite part is just coming to see the horses," said Airabella Derkas.

"I like the riding, learning different facts about the horses, and I really like when we go outside and do awesome stuff," said Kingston Taylor.

"To treat horses, they can't talk, so you have to use certain words and stuff they know and respect them," said Delia Hart.

Leftwich says there's every plan to bring the program back for even more kids to participate. She hopes people will check out their new website and consider donating to make the free program possible as they continue to grow.

Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said Sunday the shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, identifying him as 24-year-old Chad Williams. Hicks said police are working to determine Williams' motivations that led to the shooting and that his family is cooperating with law enforcement. 

"Their hearts are also broken," he added.

Investigators said they are confident the suspect acted alone.

Twin Falls police identified the victims on Tuesday as 23-year-old Ashley Garibay, of Stockton, California; 66-year-old Dale Schultz of Salt Lake City, Utah, and 59-year-old Christopher Claunch, of Hagerman, Idaho.

The situation unfolded before 2:30 p.m. local time. Social media video obtained by CBS News shows people fleeing a shopping center parking lot as multiple gunshots are heard. In the video, a person carrying what appeared to be a firearm could be seen outside the restaurant opening the doors to a parked sedan.

"First responders faced what was described as one of the most chaotic instances a law enforcement officer can face in their career," Hicks told reporters on Sunday.

The police chief said an off-duty police officer and a civilian engaged Williams and returned gunfire.

"We believe their actions drove the suspect from the scene, preventing further casualties," Hicks said.

Jordan Salinas, a 35-year-old from Kimberly, Idaho, was the private citizen who returned fire at the gunman, the Idaho Statesman reported.

"He did not like it when bullets started firing both ways," Salinas told the paper Sunday morning. He posted a message on Facebook thanking the public for their support and promising to share more of his story when he is able.

Marcus James told CBS News his son, Austin, also ran toward danger to try to confront the gunman, but "intentionally did not draw his firearm" because he didn't want law enforcement to mistake him for the attacker. He said Austin was shot and critically wounded when he "came face-to-face" with the shooter. 

Marcus said Austin's wife and a friend, both emergency room nurses, treated Austin at the scene before he was rushed to a hospital.

Braxton Stuebe, who was working at a Dick's Sporting Goods store near the scene, told CBS affiliate KMVT that he too came face-to-face with the gunman.

"A storm of people come in, like five, 10 people come in and specifically this lady, she was yelling, 'There's an active shooter, there's an active shooter,' running through the store, letting everybody know," Stuebe said. He said he and a co-worker ran out the back door, and that's when he saw the gunman.

"I saw the gun and I kind of just froze. I put my hands up and that's when he pointed the gun directly at me," he recalled. "The only thing I was really thinking was, don't try and make any sudden movements, don't try and run. Just hopefully talk to him and hopefully he can change his mind."

"I said, I have a family. I said, you don't have to do this. I'll tell you whatever you want. I'll do anything," and then, Stuebe said, the gunman "just got like emotional, it seemed like. And he said to me, just get away from me, man." But a moment later, "He turns back around and kind of has a firearm on his hip. As he's walking backwards, he fires a shot towards me. Thankfully he had missed me."

Two of the people injured were treated and released at St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center, according to the police chief. Two people remain in critical condition, and three others are considered to be in stable condition. Hicks warned that these numbers are "preliminary" and may be updated.

In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder said in a statement that Garibay, who Snyder did not identify at the time, was "taking care of our most important asset — our Customers" at the time of the shooting. Snyder said her heart goes out to those affected by the shooting, including witnesses to the "traumatic event."

"We will stand together, and we will do everything we can to learn from this situation," she wrote. 

Garibay's family said in a statement that she "was an amazing, beautiful soul who loved living life."

"She was adventurous, outgoing, smart and driven, never letting obstacles get in her way," the family said. "She lit up a room with her bright smile and a laugh that was contagious. She was a friend to all, and no matter what difficulties she was facing, she always found a way to help others find the light in the darkness."

Twin Falls resident Haley Dodaro, 43, and her mother were at In-N-Out for lunch Saturday afternoon. She told The Associated Press that while waiting in the drive-thru line, they saw people running across the road and workers bolting out of the restaurant. At first, Dodaro thought there might have been a fire, but then a man directing traffic in a reflective vest said there was a shooter.

"So that's when we knew there was a shooting. People were running out crying and screaming. It was very scary," Dodaro said in a text message to The AP.  

An FBI spokesperson told CBS News that its agents were on scene and assisting with the investigation. 

The College of Southern Idaho confirmed to CBS News that Williams was a student there from August 2022 to December 2023 but "did not graduate with a credential," also saying in a statement that it will cooperate with law enforcement.

Twin Falls is located in southern Idaho, about 120 miles southeast of Boise. 

The USPS announced the increase in April, saying the higher price was intended to bolster its finances. Over the past five years, the agency has raised the price of a first-class stamp six times, increasing the cost 34% from 58 cents in 2021 to 78 cents before the hike set to kick in on July 12.

"Notwithstanding the adjustment, the Postal Service's mailing prices remain among the most affordable in the world," a USPS spokesperson told CBS News.

The USPS has struggled for years with high costs and shrinking mail volumes, while policy changes implemented by Congress also weakened the agency's finances. 

The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 — which, among other changes, created a fund that required the agency to prepay healthcare benefits for postal service retirees — contributed to the agency's losses in subsequent years and sharply increased its debt load, according to a 2025 report by the USPS Office of the Inspector General. 

"[T]he passage of PAEA in December of 2006 fundamentally altered the Postal Service's financial results by limiting revenue growth and adjusting retiree healthcare costs. Following 2006, the Postal Service recorded net losses each year," the agency watchdog stated.

The Postal Regulatory Commission, the federal agency that oversees the USPS, approved the postage rate hike in May. However, it flagged concerns with the agency's financial situation, its delivery performance and shrinking mail volumes. In fiscal 2025, the USPS recorded a $9 billion loss. 

How much are stamp prices increasing?

Forever stamps will increase in price on Sunday to 82 cents each, up from their current 78 cents. 

Other postage products are also set to see price hikes on Sunday: 

• Domestic postcards will cost 65 cents, up from 61 cents
  
• International postcards and letters will run $1.75, up from $1.70
  

Why is the Postal Service raising prices?

The USPS has pointed to its financial losses as the impetus for the latest postage rate hike. 

According to a May analysis of the USPS's finances by the Postal Regulatory Commission, the agency's operating expenses are rising faster than its revenue. For fiscal year 2025, USPS costs rose by $1.8 billion, while revenue increased by only $1 billion. 

At the same time, U.S. mail volume fell 3.7% during the last fiscal year, the report said. It added that USPS prices increased by about 15% between July 2024 and the end of FY 2025. 

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have recently criticized the USPS for delayed mail deliveries. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, said in June that he was launching an investigation into "ongoing mail service failures plaguing Missouri." In November, Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from Texas, also flagged delivery delays in the El Paso, Texas, area.

Are stamp prices likely to keep rising?

USPS officials have signaled that additional price increases are likely. Postmaster General David Steiner said in March that first-class stamps should be raised to between 90 cents and 95 cents to help stabilize the USPS financially. 

"As you all know, there are only three things that any company can do to improve financial performance — sell more products, raise prices or cut costs," Steiner said in congressional testimony. "On the pricing side, we need to look for higher prices on both our package and mail products."

Steiner also told the House panel that the USPS was at risk of running out of cash in 12 months. 

But raising the price of first-class stamps to as high as 95 cents "would largely solve our controllable loss," he said.

Will older Forever stamps still work after the latest price hike?

Yes, any lower-cost Forever stamps purchased before July 12 will continue to work after that date. The USPS notes that Forever stamps are non-denominated "to save customers time and money, especially when first-class mail prices change."

According to the agency, "The Forever Stamp always represents the current price of a one (1) ounce First-Class Mail postage."