[Location - Date:VARIOUS LOCATIONS -- AP VIDEO -- MAY 15/16][Source:][VO:][VOICE-OVER][Notes:LOCATION --DES MOINES, IOWA --AP VIDEO]POST OFFICES ARE A COMMUNITY STAPLE--WHETHER IN A DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDING[Notes:VO --HOPE ALASKA --]OR IN RURAL ALASKA IN THE SHADOW OF MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS[Notes:SOT -- CHERRYL STAVISH / BED AND BREAKFAST OWNER] ''If you want to know anything that's where they go. If the power goes out, that's where they go or they call, is to find out if we're going to get power that day or now. It's also where people get documents notarized. There's no other place in the community.'' [Notes:VO ----------AP VIDEO]BUT IN A BID TO SAVE MONEY THE POSTAL SERVICE, WHICH ORIGINALLY WAS GOING TO CLOSE MANY RURAL POST OFFICES,NOW WANTS TO SLASH THEIR HOURS[Notes:SOT --SHAYLA MALONE / POSTAL CUSTOMER] ''If they cut the hours here, then a lot of the tourists wouldn't know where to go, and the gold miners wouldn't be able get their stuff out. Please keep our hours open. ''EVEN THOUGH DOUG POPE'S WIFE GETS HER MEDICINE BY MAIL, HE'S WILLING TO GO ALONG WITH SHORTER HOURS:[Notes:SOT ---DOUG POPE / POSTAL CUSTOMER] ''You don't see anybody in this community unless you're in the post office during the winter, and so that's going to change. But at the same time, well personally, I want us to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. So if that's what it takes, we'll have to live with it.THE POST OFFICE IS LOSING 25 MILLION DOLLARS A DAY AND HAS PROPOSED NUMEROUS STEPS TO TRY TO TURN THINGS AROUND, INCLUDING THE END OF SATURDAY DELIVERY.THE SENATE VOTED TO GIVE IT AN $11 BILLION CASH INFUSION --WHILE PROHIBITING IT FROM CUTTING SATURDAY DELIVERY FOR TWO YEARSDELAWARE SENATOR TOM CARPER HELPED PUSH IT THROUGH[Notes:SOT -- SEN. THOMAS CARPER / D - DELAWARE] ''What we've given them is an opportunity to begin that right sizing and to begin reining in the losses.''[Notes:VO -----DES MOINES, IOWA -- MAY 14 -- AP VIDEO] IN DOWNTOWN DES MOINES --A CARD WRITING CAMPAIGN TO SAVE A POST OFFICE THAT WAS TARGETED FOR CLOSING. MANY SAID IT WOULD BE A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE: [Notes:SOT: Mike Manahl of Des Moines] Most of us, me included rely on public transportation--and its a whole lot easier to go downtown to a central post office than it is to go downtown, transfer to a bus to go out in the sticks. [Notes:VO------------DES MOINES, IOWA --AP VIDEO --MAY 14] BUT WHILE THIS FACILITY GOT A REPRIEVE V/O SOME KIND OF GENERAL POST OFFICE SHOT--MAYBE 4:39 INTO THE ALASKA FILE CHANGE IS COMING TO THE LOCAL POST OFFICE--WHETHER DOWNTOWN OR OUT OF TOWN. JB THE AP WASHINGTON(****END****) ANCHOR VOICE: -------------------------PRODUCER -- GERRY BODLANDER/NED BARKER---------------------------VIDEO SOURCE: AP-----------------------VIDEO APPROVAL: DONNA STARDDARD ----------------------------VIDEO RESTRICTIONS: NONE----------------------------------MARKET EMBARGO (S): NONE--------------------------------SCRIPT/WIRE SOURCE: GERRY BODLANDER