Since the coronavirus pandemic began, people have been loading their pantries with household staples like toilet paper, paper towels, wipes, diapers and hand sanitizer. This panic buying — sometimes even hoarding — has depleted store shelves and disrupted supply chains. It’s also exacerbated a growing problem in the United States: diaper need. Low-income families and parents who have lost jobs due to the pandemic are struggling to afford diapers for their babies. Diminished diaper supplies and concerns about going to the store have put added pressure on families. Even senior adults with incontinence and adults with disabilities are experiencing greater diaper need during these challenging times. Under normal circumstances, one in three families experience diaper need. Diaper banks try to fill the gap by distributing free diapers to those who need them. Now, with widespread unemployment and a disrupted diaper supply chain, such organizations are struggling to meet increased demand with fewer resources.

When San Diego magazine abruptly ceased operations and laid off nearly all of its employees in late March, mere days after a statewide shelter-in-place order took effect in California, CEO and publisher Jim Fitzpatrick stressed that it was only a temporary pause and that he hoped the magazine would return when the local economy began to reopen. Three months later, the 72-year-old publication says it’s back in business. “This month, we are happy to announce that we have reopened our doors. We’re excited to once again tell the stories of the people and businesses making San Diego the incredible city it is,” wrote editor-in-chief Erin Meanley Glenny in a note posted on the the magazine’s website on Wednesday, adding that a “very small staff” is currently at work on an August/September print edition, in addition to resuming regular editorial content online.

GroupM is now forecasting a 13% drop in U.S. ad expenditures for 2020 (excluding political) to about $208 billion, followed by a rebound of 4% in 2021 to $216.6 billion. According to the company’s revised ‘This Year Next Year’ forecast, the drop won’t be as sharp as the 16% drop that occurred during the 2009 financial crisis. And given that the state of the economy, driven to its worst decline since the Great Depression by the ongoing pandemic, the decline in ad spending could be a lot worse.

Unit sales of print books rose 6.8% in the week ended June 6, 2020, over the similar week last year, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. The increase brought unit sales into positive territory for the year, up 0.2% over the comparable period in 2019. The juvenile nonfiction segment saw the biggest gain over the week ended June 8, 2019, with units up 25.9%. Carson-Dellosa’s Summer Bridge Activities titles had a good week, with eight books selling a total of approximately 80,000 copies. The small YA nonfiction category saw unit sales skyrocket 52.3% over 2019. Stamped by Jason Reynolds was #1 on the category list, selling more than 10,500 copies. Sales in the juvenile fiction category increased 16.2%, boosted by the release of Kristen Bell’s The World Needs More Purple People, which sold nearly 24,000 copies. Emily Griffin’s The Lies That Bind sold nearly 22,000 copies in its first week, landing it in the third spot on the adult fiction bestseller list.

For years, building an eCommerce Marketplace customers trust has been a priority for our business. That’s why we are joining forces with Shopify, an all-in-one commerce platform used by more than 1 million businesses, to open the Walmart Marketplace to their sellers. As our CEO Doug McMillon recently said, competition is good in the retail business, and we want more retailers not fewer. The U.S. eCommerce business grew 74% in total last quarter, and growth in marketplace outpaced the overall business even as first-party sales were strong. As we launch this integration with Shopify, we are focused on U.S.-based small and medium businesses whose assortment complements ours and have a track record of exceeding customers’ expectations. We’re excited to be able offer customers an expanded assortment while also giving small businesses access to the surging traffic on Walmart.com. Shopify powers a dynamic portfolio of third-party sellers who are interested in growing their business through new, trusted channels.

Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Highlights *Adobe achieved record quarterly revenue of $3.13 billion in its second quarter of fiscal year 2020, which represents 14 percent year-over-year growth. Diluted earnings per share was $2.27 on a GAAP basis, and $2.45 on a non-GAAP basis. *GAAP operating income in the second quarter was $1.02 billion, and non-GAAP operating income was $1.34 billion. GAAP net income was $1.10 billion, and non-GAAP net income was $1.19 billion. *Cash flows from operations was $1.18 billion.

Cross-border shipping rates will go up for many U.S. shippers on July 1. This change comes after countries began to self-declare postal rates based on the deal reached by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in September, Supply Chain Dive reported. Many postage sellers, consolidators and other cross-border service providers such as FedEx, UPS and Stamps.com, received new contracts from USPS last month, but many haven't yet alerted shippers of the change. Without direct communication from service providers, shippers may be confused when their rates go up, unsure what the increase is for. Supply Chain Dive reported that any business that is a bulk cross-border shipper will see a rate increase.

The Association of American Publishers (AAP) today released its StatShot report for April 2020 reflecting reported revenue for all tracked categories, including Trade (consumer publications), K-12 Instructional Materials, Higher Education Course Materials, Professional Publishing, and University Presses. Total sales across all categories for April 2020 declined 3.5% as compared to April 2019, reaching $783.9 million. Year-to-date sales were flat with an increase of 0.7%, totaling $3.4 billion for the first four months of 2020. Trade sales were down 6.6% as compared to April of 2019, coming in at $548.8 million. Year-to-date Trade sales were flat at +0.5%, totaling $2.2 billion for the first four months of the year.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Summary: *GAAP Results: Revenue of $475 million (-3%) and EPS of -$2.83, primarily due to impact of unusual items totalling -$3.49 per share, including non-cash goodwill and trade name impairments *Strong momentum in Open Access research publishing and digital courseware *Addition of four new university partners in Education Services (Drake University, University of Iowa, Methodist University, and Point University). Fiscal Year 2020 Symmary: *GAAP results: Revenue of $1,831 million, and EPS of -$1.32 primarily due to fourth quarter non-cash goodwill and trade name impairments *Free Cash Flow of $173 million, up $24 million (+16%) from prior year *Digital products and tech-enabled services rose to nearly 80% of total revenue.

Kroger and British online grocery retailer and technology vendor Ocado Group Plc plan to build the centers in the West, Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions of the United States. The new center in the West will measure 300,000 square feet, the Pacific Northwest center will be 200,000 square feet and the facility in the Great Lakes region facility will be 150,000 square feet. Kroger did not disclose the exact locations but says it plans to reveal them soon. The newly planned facilities join six similar facilities now planned or under construction. Those previously announced sites are Monroe, Ohio; Groveland, Florida; Fredericksburg, Maryland; Atlanta, Georgia; Dallas, Texas; and Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Kroger has said its goal is to build 20 “Ocado-powered” ecommerce fulfillment centers in the United States. Each fulfillment center will use Ocado’s robotic warehouse technology. Kroger says the center in Monroe, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati, will be the first to open in early 2021. The retailer also plans to make it operational in early 2021.

Enforcement of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) begins on July 1st. Are you fully prepared? If not, your company risks being subject to non-compliance fines from California’s regulators. You can avoid this, of course, by being fully prepared. Join ACMA’s expert and diverse panel, including an attorney, a service provider, and a merchant, as they will provide all you need to know within the course of the can’t-miss, free webinar, "California Consumer Privacy Act: Are You Fully Prepared?" Who Should Not Miss This Presentation: Online/direct/catalog merchants who do business not only in California but the growing number of states aiming to follow California’s privacy blueprint, as well as their suppliers, consultants and other advisors. This event is open to both ACMA members and non-members. What You Will Learn: • How to identify any non-compliance risks • How a catalog/online merchant has prepared for the July 1st compliance date • Steps a service provider is taking to support its clients' compliance • Which other states to be on the lookout for. click read more below to register

Bloomberg Media launched Bloomberg Green, a new quarterly print magazine focused on climate change solutions. The latest offshoot of the “Bloomberg Green” brand, which first debuted in January, the print edition complements an existing web vertical and daily newsletter of the same name. Spread over more than 90 pages (of 100% recycled paper), the debut issue includes a cover story about how stimulus spending to help the economy emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic can be used to combat climate change, an opening column by Mike Bloomberg and a feature well that dives into Australia’s water crisis, plastic waste and an assessment of Disney’s impact on a Peruvian rainforest, in addition to data- and infographic-heavy regular departments that will look at both current climate-related news as well as emerging issues and solutions.

While none of the major New York City publishers who took part in PW’s survey about their efforts to return employees to their Manhattan headquarters had fixed plans, no companies said they expected to begin bringing staff back in a meaningful way before Sept. 1. For the most part, they see the week of Labor Day as a target, but acknowledged that date may not be realistic. Several said they see a limited reopening coming after Labor Day (which is September 7 this year). PW sent a brief questionnaire to all of the Big Five trade houses plus Abrams, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books & Media, Kensington, Norton, Scholastic, and Workman. While all said there are too many uncertainties about the future course of the virus to make final plans, there was consensus around some issues. There was widespread agreement that the top consideration before publishers will fully reopen will be the condition of New York City’s mass transit and how comfortable workers will be using subways, buses, and trains. Several publishers said they plan to stagger work hours, something that has been recommended by New York City officials to ease overcrowding during usual rush hours.

For the first quarter, the Company reported a net loss of $178.3 million, or $1.55 loss per diluted share, compared to net income of $2.0 million, or $0.02 earnings per diluted share, for last year's first quarter. For the first quarter, net sales were $280.3 million compared to $517.7 million in last year's first quarter. This decrease of 45.9% reflects the impact of our closed stores during the second half of the first quarter and 78 net store closures since last year's first quarter, partially offset by strong digital commerce performance. During the initial four weeks of fiscal 2020, the Company's comparable sales increased 2.7% compared to the same period last year, building on the positive sales momentum reported in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019.

1-800-Flowers.com®, one of the world's leading floral providers, announced it has collaborated with global design talent, Jason Wu, to release an exclusive assortment of modern and elegant bouquets. The Jason Wu for Wild Beauty™ collection, which is now available nationwide, features on-trend arrangements that embody the designer's signature aesthetic of femininity and sophistication. Behind-the-scenes content, specially designed 'thank you' notes and the ability to preview select bouquets in 3D will allow customers to have an immersive digital experience as they are introduced to the new collection. This marks Jason Wu's first collaboration with a floral and gifting brand. "Jason Wu is one of the world's most renowned fashion designers and we are thrilled to collaborate with him on this truly original collection, which reflects his unique point of view in floral design and bouquet presentation," said Valerie Ghitelman, Vice President, Product Development and Design, 1-800-Flowers.com. "We are excited to not only share these beautifully crafted arrangements with our customers, but to engage them with distinctive content that provides insights into Jason's design influences and more." "Playing a role in the intimate decision of what one chooses to wear each day is such an important part of what I do," said Jason Wu. "To extend this concept to the graceful details people bring into their homes is an honor. This collection with 1-800-Flowers.com is especially meaningful to me because of my lifelong love of flowers. Floral elements continuously inspire me and have been a consistent theme throughout my entire career. I'm thrilled to celebrate the beauty of flowers in this new and special way."

*Diluted loss per share of $(2.10) and Adjusted Diluted loss per share of $(2.03) *Reopened stores performing better than anticipated *E-commerce trend improved in May; curbside pickup performing well *Anticipate exiting Q2 in a clean inventory position - “The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted our first quarter sales and earnings results, but I am proud of the way our team navigated this difficult period and maintained the business while our stores were closed,” said Jeff Gennette, chairman and chief executive officer. “Our strong digital business sales trend continued throughout May, and it is encouraging to see that as we reopen a store, the digital business in that geography continues to be strong. By June 1, we had approximately 450 stores reopened, with the majority opened in their full format. Our reopened stores are performing better than anticipated. Importantly, we are receiving positive feedback on the curbside pickup experience and our efforts to create a safe and welcoming shopping environment."

ACMA has made the difficult decision to cancel our in-person Forum for 2020 altogether. Instead, we will hold a virtual event culminating in a virtual fly-in with lawmakers in September. The Zoom-based event will run for two 45-minute sessions, first starting at 1:00 pm (EDT), then following a short break, the second one at 2:00 pm each Wednesday of the month – September 9th, 16th, and 23rd - for a total of six separate sessions. Then the fly-in will take place all day on September 30th on a rotating schedule to be announced. What To Expect...You can expect us to focus on the many moving policy issues that have direct bearing on catalog/online/DM interests: among them, postal affairs, sales tax developments, privacy law, trade and tariffs, and extra-jurisdictional (foreign) regulation. A full agenda and registration details will be made available shortly. In the meantime, we wanted to ask you to reserve these times on your schedule. Both member and non-member companies are invited to attend. Our generous sponsors have made this event possible in order to ensure that all of our attendees can be brought up to speed on the important work of the ACMA, so there will be no registration fee, although tax deductible (to 80%) donations are gratefully accepted.

Hearst - Steven Swartz has issued two statements pledging his company’s commitment to supporting “a fairer and more just society,” which he stated was “a core principle” of the company. In his second memo, he also announced the company’s fundraising initiative to support the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Equal Justice Initiative. In addition to already donating $500,000, the company is pledging to match up to another $500,000 from employee donations. Reader’s Digest Foundation - The Reader’s Digest Foundation is committing $2 million to United Through Reading, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting military families with the experience of shared storytimes. Seeker - Group Nine Media’s science publication is releasing a free educational offering for home education, “Seeker Learning.” In addition to offering access to its library of content, Seeker will open up a dialogue between the brand, teachers and parents looking for specific content.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. announced a new online book portal for schools across the country to get the books and products they need from Barnes & Noble’s extensive catalog. This free portal is an easy, fast, and efficient way for educational institutions K-12 to purchase and track ordering from Barnes & Noble as well as get access to curated book recommendations and personalized support. Educational institutions should look for an invitation to join Classroom by Barnes & Noble from their local Business Development Manager or put in a request by emailing BulkOrders@bn.com. “In a time when online ordering options for educators are essential, we’re so excited to launch Classroom by Barnes & Noble for educational institutions K-12 across the country to access our extensive and trusted catalogue of books,” said Tracy Vidakovich, Vice President, Business Development for Barnes & Noble. “We have been working closely with educational institutions for decades through our Institutional account/discount program and believe this new portal for buying and managing book and instructional material purchases comes at just the right time.”

Net sales by brand for the first quarter 2020 compared to the first quarter 2019 were as follows: *Old Navy Global: Net sales were down 42%; store sales were down 60% with online sales up 20%. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Old Navy has seen a meaningful acceleration in its digital business. The Company noted it expects the off-mall, strip real estate that makes up approximately 75% of the fleet to be an advantage as customers return to stores and expects traffic in these locations to ramp up more quickly than other formats. *Gap Global: Net sales were down 50%; store sales were down 64% with online sales down 5%. Prior to the onset of the pandemic, Gap brand performance continued to be pressured by inconsistent execution of product and marketing messages. However, the Company noted the brand did experience steady improvements in its online performance throughout the quarter, attributable to the Company’s strategy to migrate customers online as the brand’s fleet rationalization efforts continue. *Banana Republic Global: Net sales were down 47%; store sales were down 61% with online sales down 2%. While the move to casual fashion during the stay-at-home requirements has benefited other brands in Gap Inc.’s portfolio, this shift left Banana Republic disadvantaged in its product mix. As a result, Banana Republic is taking aggressive action to adjust to consumer preferences and improve inventory mix. *Athleta: Net sales were down 8%; store sales were down 50% with online sales up 49%. Customer response to Athleta was strong given the values-driven active and lifestyle space the brand participates in as well as the brand’s deep customer engagement through its powerful omni-channel model. Operating loss was $1.2 billion. This reflects the decline in gross margin, as well as a non-cash impairment charge of $484 million related to the Company’s stores to reduce the carrying amount of the store assets and the corresponding operating lease assets to their fair values, which have dramatically declined as a result of the pandemic. The Company noted that as part of its ongoing specialty fleet optimization efforts, the Company has undertaken a strategic review of its real estate portfolio to further advance its long-term strategic priorities that include a smaller, healthier fleet, particularly as it relates to its Gap brand and Banana Republic specialty fleets.

Gap Inc. announced the decision to wind down its Hill City brand, prioritizing resources against its larger brands. Launched in Fall 2018, Hill City was a way to go after the growing men’s active apparel market and operate DTC in a nimble manner. The small but mighty team worked passionately to build a loyal customer base by connecting with wear testers that helped make the best product possible, sharing stories of everyday heroes and athletes, reaching customers with pop-up shops and a mobile truck, and giving back to its community.

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. announced that it has received authorization from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, in Corpus Christi, Texas (the “Court”) to access its debtor-in-possession (“DIP”) financing, which includes $450 million of new money from its existing First Lien lenders. The Company had previously received approval to access and use its approximately $500 million in cash collateral. Under the terms of the DIP agreement, JCPenney has access to up to $225 million immediately, and will have access to an additional $225 million as needed after July 15, 2020, subject to certain conditions. In addition, the Company’s Ad Hoc Crossholder Group of lenders has agreed to participate in the rollup portion of the DIP in the amount of $53 million. Jill Soltau, chief executive officer of JCPenney, said, “We are pleased to have received Court approval to access $450 million in new money, $225 million of which will be drawn immediately. This is a positive step forward that will help us execute our Plan for Renewal and store optimization strategy, continue working seamlessly with our vendor partners, fund our ongoing business operations, and continue our focus on further developing the Company’s go-forward business plan to successfully restructure JCPenney. In recent weeks, we have safely welcomed back valued customers to nearly 500 JCPenney stores, and we look forward to opening additional stores while following guidance from local and state orders. This progress would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our associates, and we remain confident we will emerge from both Chapter 11 and this pandemic as a stronger retailer.”

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. announced that it has taken the first step in implementing its store optimization strategy. Following a comprehensive evaluation of its retail footprint and a careful analysis of store performance and future strategic fit for the Company, JCPenney identified the first phase of 154 store closures. Following entry of an order at the June 11, 2020, hearing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, in Corpus Christi, Texas, store closing sales will begin at 154 locations. The Company expects additional phases of store closing sales will begin in the coming weeks. As the Company remains focused on its Plan for Renewal and driving sustainable, profitable growth, it intends to reduce its store footprint and focus resources on its strongest stores and powerful eCommerce flagship store, jcp.com. Store closing sales for the first round of store closures are expected to take 10-16 weeks to complete. The list of 154 stores that will begin closing sales can be found on the JCPenney Blog.

Unit sales of print books fell 5.5% in the week ended May 30, 2020, compared to the week ended May 23, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. The decline was mainly due to a 25.5% drop in unit sales in the young adult category, in which The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins sold about 270,000 copies when it was initially released. Even with the decline compared to the prior week, unit sales were up 8.1% compared to the similar week in 2019.

First Quarter Results Overview: *Total net sales were $77.3 million, a decrease of $53.0 million or 40.7%, compared to $130.3 million last year. As previously announced, the Company temporarily closed all of its 239 stores on March 18, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. All stores remained closed to the public for the final 45 days of the 91-day fiscal quarter, including during the peak weeks of the quarter surrounding normal school spring breaks and Easter. Net sales from physical stores for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 were $47.0 million, a decrease of 57.5% compared to $110.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2019. The Company's e-commerce business continued to operate throughout the first quarter, and increased significantly following the closure of the Company’s stores. Net sales from e-commerce for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 were $30.3 million, an increase of 54.2% compared to approximately $19.7 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2019. The Company ended the quarter with 239 total stores, including one RSQ-branded pop-up store, all of which were closed as of the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2020, compared to 229 total stores, including three RSQ-branded pop-up stores, last year. *Gross profit was $1.6 million, or 2.1% of net sales, compared to $35.7 million, or 27.4% of net sales last year. Product margins decreased 770 basis points as a percentage of net sales primarily due to an estimated inventory valuation reserve of $4.7 million and increased markdowns. Occupancy costs deleveraged 1,250 basis points as a percentage of net sales despite being $0.5 million lower than last year, primarily due to the significant net sales decline resulting from the store closures noted above. Distribution costs deleveraged 440 basis points as a percentage of net sales primarily due to an increase in e-commerce shipping charges of $0.9 million resulting from a greater volume of e-commerce orders. Buying costs deleveraged 70 basis points as a percentage of net sales despite being $0.1 million below last year. *Operating loss was $28.4 million, or 36.7% of net sales, compared to operating income of $0.1 million, or 0.1% of net sales, last year. The decrease in operating results was directly attributable to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, including as noted above. *Net loss was $17.4 million, or $0.59 per share, compared to net income of $0.7 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, last year.

Amazon continues to adapt to meet the changing needs of customers by investing in ways to provide fast, free delivery. Today, the company announced the lease of 12 Boeing 767-300 converted cargo aircraft from Air Transport Services Group (ATSG). These aircraft will join Amazon’s existing fleet of 70 aircraft to bring its total network to over 80 aircraft. One of the new aircraft joined Amazon’s air cargo operations in May 2020, with the remaining 11 to be delivered in 2021. Amazon Air’s fleet expansion comes at a time when people in communities across the country continue to adjust to this unprecedented time, with many relying on having the items they need delivered directly to their doorstep. Amazon Air has played a central role during the COVID-19 pandemic by transporting essential PPE supplies for Amazon associates, frontline health workers and relief organizations across the U.S., all while maintaining capacity for regular cargo operations to ensure customers continue to receive the items they need. Now, with expanded cargo capacity to come, Amazon will continue to meet evolving demand and a growing customer base.

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $12.55 billion for the retail month of May, the four weeks ended May 31, 2020, an increase of 7.5 percent from $11.67 billion last year. For the thirty-nine weeks ended May 31, 2020, the Company reported net sales of $120.19 billion, an increase of 7.7 percent from $111.56 billion during the similar period last year.

*First quarter net sales decrease 57% *Reopened 90 percent of stores to date with reduced hours *Actions taken in response to COVID-19 to preserve liquidity. The decrease in net sales for the first quarter of 2020 compared to the prior year reflects the temporary closure of all stores on March 19 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Omni sales for the first quarter increased 17 percent over last year. In April, omni sales were 47 percent higher than last year driven by fulfillment from closed stores where allowed. Beginning April 23, the Company began the staggered reopening of stores with reduced hours. To date, the Company has reopened 255 of its 281 stores in accordance with local government guidelines. Traffic in stores has steadily increased each week since reopening and omni sales have continued to be strong, even as more stores opened. Sales continued to recover in May, but remained well below last year.

Adweek has been sold from one private equity firm to another. The advertising industry publication, which marked its 40th anniversary last year, has been acquired by Los Angeles-based private equity firm Shamrock Capital Advisers, both parties announced Tuesday morning. The seller, Toronto-based PE firm Beringer Capital, had owned Adweek for the past four years, acquiring it in July 2016, about six months after the breakup of its former parent company, Prometheus Global Media, by then-owner Guggenheim Partners.

As a brand that believes in freedom, equality and a life with no boundaries for all – not just some, Banana Republic aims to continue empowering people through clothing. In response to the current crisis in America, Banana Republic Will Work for a Better Republic by donating more than $20 million of new clothing to those in need, including millions of unemployed Americans who need support getting back to work and getting back on their feet. In partnership with Delivering Good – a nonprofit organization that unites retailers, manufacturers, foundations and individuals to support Americans affected by poverty and tragedy – Banana Republic will donate clothing to a variety of partner organizations in states that have been most impacted, including Hour Working Women Program in New York, Central City Neighborhood Partners in Los Angeles, Family Focus Englewood in Chicago, among others. This donation will help people as they build a brighter future.

Grainger announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Fabory Group to Torqx Capital Partners, a Dutch private equity company. Grainger will continue offering broad line MRO products to customers in Western Europe through Cromwell and Zoro. "I want to thank the Fabory team for their innovative and customer-focused approach," said DG Macpherson, Chairman and CEO of Grainger. "I'm confident the acquisition by Torqx will better align with Fabory's growth objectives. At the same time, Grainger remains focused on providing value to our customers, executing our strategy and delivering profitable growth through our high-touch and endless assortment offerings."

Environmental media organization Grist announced today that it has acquired the digital archives and brand assets of online social and environmental-social justice magazine Pacific Standard. Through the agreement, Pacific Standard’s content, which includes written stories in addition to audio and video, will be available for free via its original URL, psmag.com, which Grist now owns. Pacific Standard, which features a combination of deeply reported journalism and peer-reviewed research, was forced to shutter in August of last year after one of its major financial backers pulled funding. The magazine was founded by Sara Miller McCune in 2008 and was first called Miller-McCune.

The Postal Regulatory Commission issued its analysis of the United States Postal Service Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Performance Report and FY 2020 Performance Plan. The FY 2019 Report discusses the Postal Service’s progress in meeting its performance goals during FY 2019, while the FY 2020 Plan describes the Postal Service’s plans for meeting its performance goals in FY 2020. Each year, the Commission must review the Postal Service’s performance goals and evaluate whether the Postal Service met those goals in the previous fiscal year. The Commission may also offer recommendations to the Postal Service regarding the protection or promotion of public policy objectives in title 39 of the United States Code. The FY 2020 Plan does not include the impact of COVID-19 on the Postal Service. The Postal Service established the FY 2020 targets before the pandemic. As such, the FY 2020 Plan does not include any expected effects of the pandemic.

Member companies of the Association of American Publishers (AAP) filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Internet Archive (“IA”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The suit asks the Court to enjoin IA’s mass scanning, public display, and distribution of entire literary works, which it offers to the public at large through global-facing businesses coined “Open Library” and “National Emergency Library,” accessible at both openlibrary.org and archive.org. IA has brazenly reproduced some 1.3 million bootleg scans of print books, including recent works, commercial fiction and non-fiction, thrillers, and children’s books. The plaintiffs—Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, John Wiley & Sons and Penguin Random House—publish many of the world’s preeminent authors, including winners of the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Newbery Medal, Man Booker Prize, Caldecott Medal and Nobel Prize. Despite the self-serving library branding of its operations, IA’s conduct bears little resemblance to the trusted role that thousands of American libraries play within their communities and as participants in the lawful copyright marketplace. IA scans books from cover to cover, posts complete digital files to its website, and solicits users to access them for free by signing up for Internet Archive Accounts.

Pier 1 Imports, Inc. announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for the Company’s planned wind-down of operations. Pier 1 intends to initiate store closing efforts and liquidation sales once store locations can reopen, in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines from local government and health officials. The Company plans to conclude its liquidation sales by the end of October. “This is not the outcome we hoped for when we began this process, and we are deeply saddened to move forward with winding down Pier 1,” said Robert Riesbeck, Pier 1’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported Pier 1 since the Company’s inception nearly 60 years ago, including our committed associates, passionate customers and talented vendors.” In connection with the wind-down and as previously announced, Pier 1 intends to sell its remaining assets, including its intellectual property and e-commerce business, pursuant to the bidding procedures established in February 2020. The Court today set July 1, 2020 as the asset bid deadline, July 8, 2020 as the auction date and July 15, 2020 as the sale hearing date. Pier 1 is currently continuing to serve customers through Pier1.com, and orders are being processed and filled.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) released a letter that is being sent to local and state election officials and state party officials around the country. This letter highlights key aspects of Election Mail delivery processes — and ways to help educate the public on what to expect when using the mail to vote. The letter, signed by USPS General Counsel and Executive Vice President Thomas J. Marshall, is a continuation of an ongoing outreach effort aimed at educating all interested parties about the Postal Service’s mailing requirements and services in advance of the 2020 elections. “It is critical that the Postal Service’s delivery standards be kept in mind when informing voters how to successfully participate in an election using the mail,” says Marshall, noting the importance of this information “when state and local election officials are making decisions as to the establishment of deadlines and the means used to send a piece of Election Mail to voters.”