USPS agrees to work with DOGE on reform, planning to cut 10,000 workers

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Postmaster General Louis DeJoy plans to cut 10,000 workers and billions of dollars from the U.S. Postal Service budget and he’ll do that working with Elon Musk ’s Department of Government Efficiency, according to a letter sent to members of Congress on Thursday.

DOGE will assist USPS with addressing “big problems” at the $78 billion-a-year agency, which has sometimes struggled in recent years to stay afloat. The agreement also includes the General Services Administration in an effort to help the Postal Service identify and achieve “further efficiencies.”

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USPS listed such issues as mismanagement of the agency’s retirement assets and Workers’ Compensation Program, as well as an array of regulatory requirements that the letter described as “restricting normal business practice.”

“This is an effort aligned with our efforts, as while we have accomplished a great deal, there is much more to be done,” DeJoy wrote.

Critics of the agreement fear negative effects of the cuts will be felt across America. Democratic U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia, who was sent the letter, said turning over the Postal Service to DOGE would result in it being undermined and privatized.

“This capitulation will have catastrophic consequences for all Americans — especially those in rural and hard to reach areas — who rely on the Postal Service every day to deliver mail, medications, ballots, and more,” he said in a statement.

USPS currently employs about 640,000 workers tasked with making deliveries from inner cities to rural areas and even far-flung islands.

The service plans to cut 10,000 employees in the next 30 days through a voluntary early retirement program, according to the letter.

Neither the USPS nor the Trump administration immediately responded to emails from The Associated Press requesting comment.

The agency previously announced plans to cut its operating costs by more than $3.5 billion annually. And this isn’t the first time thousands of employees have been cut. In 2021, the agency cut 30,000 workers.

As the service that has operated as an independent entity since 1970 has struggled to balance the books with the decline of first-class mail, it has fought calls from President Donald Trump and others that it be privatized. Last month, Trump said he may put USPS under the control of the Commerce Department in what would be an executive branch takeover.

The National Association of Letter Carriers President Brian L. Renfroe said in a statement in response to Thursday’s letter that they welcome anyone’s help with addressing some of the agency’s biggest problems but stood firmly against any move to privatize the Postal Service.

“Common sense solutions are what the Postal Service needs, not privatization efforts that will threaten 640,000 postal employees’ jobs, 7.9 million jobs tied to our work, and the universal service every American relies on daily,” he said.

DeJoy, a Republican donor who owned a logistics business, was appointed to lead USPS during Trump’s first term in 2020. He has faced repeated challenges during his tenure, including the COVID-19 pandemic, surges in mail-in election ballots and efforts to stem losses through cost and service cuts.

Best men’s fairway wood

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Which fairway wood is best?

Although some beginning players prefer a hybrid club to a fairway wood, the fairway wood still has a place in the golf bags of most players.

A fairway wood delivers extra distance versus a hybrid club while remaining easier to control than a driver, which is helpful for less experienced players. A player usually carries one fairway wood, although some carry two or three fairway woods with varying club face lofts.

To learn more, keep reading our guide, which includes a few quick reviews at the end. Our favorite men’s fairway wood is the Callaway Golf Mavrik 22 Fairway Wood, which delivers outstanding distance and forgiveness for off-center ball strikes.

What to know before you buy fairway woods

Numbers and loft

When seeking the best men’s fairway wood for your game, it’s important to understand how these clubs differ from each other. Each fairway wood has a number label that helps you understand how they work.

Fairway woods with lower numbers (such as a 2-, 3-, or 4-wood) have a limited loft angle in the club face, usually between 11 and 18 degrees. These fairway woods deliver extra distance versus those with a greater loft in the club face, but they’re also more difficult to control.

Those with higher numbers (such as a 5-, 7-, or 9-wood) have a greater loft in the club face, usually between 18 and 27 degrees. Club faces with a greater angle of loft allow the ball to travel higher in the air than those with less angle of loft.

These are the most common number labels you find with fairway woods, but other fairway woods exist — for comparison, a driver, which you use off the tee almost exclusively, is called a 1-wood.

What to look for in a quality fairway wood

Material

Even though golfers call these clubs fairway “woods,” they do not have any wood in them — at least not anymore. Although the club head once was made of wood, it now consists of a mixture of steel, titanium, and carbon.

All-steel club heads are the least expensive, but they provide the least forgiveness for off-center ball strikes.

Design

The club face may consist of multiple design elements that help players gain distance or accuracy. Some club faces have a thin material that delivers a bit of a rebound when you strike the ball, creating a greater distance. Some have a slice or draw bias, which helps novice players keep the ball in line, even when they have a slight flaw in their swings.

Shaft

Graphite shafts are found on pricier men’s fairway woods, as they are able to flex at the time of impact, allowing for better distance and control on shots. They’re lightweight, too.

Steel shafts are less expensive, but they limit the amount of control an advanced player can put on the ball.

Fairway woods with less of a loft angle in the club face have slightly longer shafts than those with more loft angle in the face.

How much you can expect to spend on fairway woods

The least expensive fairway woods for beginner players cost $40-$100. For the latest technologies and designs made to help advanced players control the ball precisely, expect to pay $100-$400 for a men’s fairway wood.

Best fairway woods FAQ

Q. Where can I use a fairway wood on the golf course?

A. Fairway woods are made primarily for a long shot from a fairway lie, although some golfers use a fairway wood off the tee instead of a driver for better control.

Q. How does a men’s fairway wood differ from a women’s fairway wood?

A. The men’s club has a longer shaft than the women’s club by a few inches. However, there’s nothing in golf’s rules that forces a female player to use a women’s club.

What are the best fairway woods to buy?

Top men’s fairway wood

Callaway Golf Mavrik 22 Fairway Wood

What you should know: Materials in the face of this Mavrik club head help with delivering additional distance versus past Callaway models.

What you’ll love: For players who struggle to gain loft from a fairway lie with a wood, the design of the Mavrik simplifies this process.

What you should consider: It probably has more features than a novice golfer needs. Expensive design.

Top men’s fairway wood for the money

Founders Club’s Fresh Metal Fairway Wood

What you should know: Beginning golfers who need a fairway wood at a bargain price will find reasonable value and performance here.

What you’ll love: It has a draw weighted design that helps players who slice the ball, which is a common swing flaw for inexperienced players.

What you should consider: It does not have technology to forgive off-center ball strikes.

Worth checking out

TaylorMade’s M4 Fairway Wood

What you should know: It has a nice series of design advantages to help golfers gain extra distance and accuracy.

What you’ll love: It includes multiple club designs, so you can find the perfect stiffness in the shaft and the ideal club face loft.

What you should consider: It’s got a higher than average price. Beginning players may struggle to take full advantage of the club’s features.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.

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Declutter your shed with these top garden tool organizers

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Which garden tool organizer is best?

Whether you care for lush acres of fruits and vegetables or tend a small herb garden on a balcony, time in the garden is well spent. Because most people lead busy lives with other demands, the last thing you want to do is waste your precious time searching for the tools you need scattered across your garage or elsewhere. The best garden tool organizer keeps everything neat, tidy and close at hand.

For a garden tool organizer that will last a lifetime, consider the StoreYourBoard Tool Storage Rack. Wall-mounted and made from stainless steel, it holds every type of garden tool you can throw at it.

What to know before you buy a garden tool organizer

Portable vs. fixed tool organizer

A garden tool organizer can be either portable or fixed. Portable organizers that hold long-handled tools come with large wheels that are nimble on varied terrain. For hand tools, it’s easy to bring what you need to the garden in a canvas bag or tote with multiple pockets and lots of storage for seeds, vegetable labels and other gardening paraphernalia.

If you don’t need to transport tools to the garden itself, a fixed tool organizer might be the best choice. These sturdy racks stand on their own or attach securely to a wall.

Type of tool

Another important consideration is the type of tool you need to organize.

Short-handled tools: Balcony container gardens don’t generally require long-handled tools, so a small caddy or canvas tote might work best.
Long-handled-tools: Long-handled tools need a different type of organization to protect padded handles from damage.
Hybrid: Some organizers also accommodate short-handled tools with small hooks or slots plus wells for larger tools.

Overall need

For gardeners with just one or two tools, it may not make sense to purchase a garden tool organizer. A few tools may be safely stowed in a closet or leaned against the interior wall of a garage.

If your tools are piling up and wearing down from improper storage, a dedicated space can keep them in better shape.

What to look for in a quality garden tool organizer

Adaptability

As your garden grows, your garden tool needs may change. Organizers with movable clips or mounts or multiple pockets let your organizer grow with you.

Ease of assembly and use

Totes and caddies are generally usable right out of the box, but other garden tool organizers require some assembly. They should not, however, require an advanced degree to put together. Look for detailed instructions and organizers that don’t require tools beyond a screwdriver or Allen wrench.

Durability

You’ll need something to stand up to the elements and vigorous use. Durable organizers can take a lot of use and abuse without cracking or breaking.

How much you can expect to spend on a garden tool organizer

The price varies depending on the size, type and material of the organizer you select. Expect to spend $25-$100.

Garden tool organizer FAQ

How do garden tool organizers preserve the life of tools?

A. Purchasing a full set of gardening tools can be an expensive endeavor. The last thing you want is to watch them rust slowly into the dirt or receive splinters from their weatherworn, cracked handles.

Garden tool organizers keep tools off the ground, away from not just the elements but also from pests that like to munch on padded handles. Properly storing your tools means they won’t bang against each other, too, which can cause nicks and cracks in blades and handles.

Finally, garden tool organizers keep tools clean. This prevents any pests or diseases from spreading to other tools or a different area of your garden.

Where do you hang a wall-mounted organizer?

A. A garden tool organizer should come with a specific set of instructions for that particular model. Generally, hanging wall-mounted organizers with enough space between the bottom of the tool on the ground so that if there is flooding in the storage area the tools will not be wet.

However, be certain that you don’t hang them so high that it’s difficult to access the tools or put them away. Have an assistant help you decide which height is best.

What’s the best garden tool organizer to buy?

Top garden tool organizer

StoreYourBoard Tool Storage Rack

What you need to know: If you need a heavy-duty organizer for every garden tool — including power tools — this one’s for you.

What you’ll love: Its four large and two small attachments hold up to 300 pounds of garden and yard tools. It’s made of heavy-duty steel and mounts to the wall to free up storage space on the floor.

What you should consider: It’s expensive and heavy (over 10 pounds).

Top garden tool organizer for the money

Picnic at Ascot Garden Tote With Tools

What you need to know: This is the perfect solution for people who need both tools and organizer.

What you’ll love: The 600-denier canvas resists rips and tears. Plenty of pockets hold multiple tools. The base is sturdy and supports the sides when they are loaded up. This comes with three stainless steel hand tools. It also has a lifetime warranty.

What you should consider: There are no pockets on one side, and you’ll need to find another place to store long-handled tools.

Worth checking out

Rubbermaid Garage Tool Tower Rack

What you need to know: This works best for avid gardeners who need storage space for up to 40 long-handled tools.

What you’ll love: It assembles easily without tools. Even though it’s not technically portable, casters make moving it around on a smooth surface easier. Tools nestle into a grid at the base of the organizer, and it can also hold short-handled tools.

What you should consider: The long handles can still become tangled.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Today in History: March 14, John McCain freed from POW camp

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Today is Friday, March 14, the 73rd day of 2025. There are 292 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On March 14, 1973, future U.S. senator and presidential candidate John McCain was released from North Vietnamese captivity after being held as a prisoner of war for over five years.

Also on this date:

In 1794, Eli Whitney received a patent for his cotton gin, an invention that revolutionized the American cotton industry.

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In 1879, Albert Einstein, who would revolutionize physics and the human understanding of the universe, was born in Ulm, Germany.

In 1964, a jury in Dallas found Jack Ruby guilty of murdering Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy, and sentenced Ruby to death. (Both the conviction and death sentence were overturned, but Ruby died before he could be retried.)

In 1967, the body of President John F. Kennedy was moved from a temporary grave to a permanent memorial site at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

In 1980, a LOT Polish Airlines jet crashed while attempting to land in Warsaw, killing all 87 people aboard, including 22 athletes and staff members of the U.S. boxing team.

In 2015, Robert Durst, a wealthy eccentric linked to two killings and his wife’s disappearance, was arrested by the FBI in New Orleans on a murder warrant a day before HBO aired the final episode of a serial documentary about his life. (Durst would be convicted in the shooting death of his friend, Susan Berman; he died in January 2022 while serving a life sentence in California.)

In 2018, Stephen Hawking, the best-known theoretical physicist of his time, died at his home in Cambridge, England, at the age of 76 after living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for 55 years.

Today’s Birthdays:

Actor Michael Caine is 92.
Country musician Michael Martin Murphey is 80.
Actor-comedian Billy Crystal is 77.
Country singer Kristian Bush is 55.
Actor Betsy Brandt is 52.
Actor Grace Park is 51.
Actor Corey Stoll is 49.
Actor Chris Klein is 46.
Actor Jamie Bell is 39.
NBA star Stephen Curry is 37.
Actor Ansel Elgort is 31.
Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Simone Biles is 28.