ANTHRAX RESULTS. Testing of the government mails facility on V Street in Washington, DC, has shown negative results for all samples collected and tested to detect anthrax. There is no indication of any anthrax contamination. Employees were asked to vacate the facility as a precaution Tuesday, and returned to work yesterday. The testing followed notification by the Federal Reserve Board — reversed by the findings of further tests just released — that its mail produced one preliminary positive result for the potential presence of anthrax. Mail destined for the Federal Reserve headquarters normally passes through the V Street facility. USPS will continue to work with the Federal Reserve and public health officials to investigate the reported incident.

SEMIPOSTAL SUCCESS. USPS customers have bought 421.3 million Breast Cancer research semipostal stamps since they went on sale in July 1998, raising $29.5 million for research. And since June 2002, they've bought almost 75 million Heroes of 2001 semipostal stamps, generating $6.3 million in aid for families of rescue workers killed or permanently disabled in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

PASSPORTS PROCESSED. With security in the forefront of national events, one vital link to security on the international front is the passport. In the United States, passport applications are accepted at more than 5,000 different locations, with about one-third of them being U.S. post offices. The application fee is $85, of which $55 goes to the State Department and $30 to USPS.

Last year saw a lull in passport applications, likely as a result of post-Sept. 11 fears. The U.S. State Department says that trend has reversed itself, and the number of passport applications is steadily rising again.

STAMP SHOW. The American Philatelic Society Winter Show, AmeriStamp Expo 2003, will host first-day ceremonies for two new U.S. stamps. The show is being held Feb. 28-Mar. 2 in Biloxi, MS. On opening day, Feb. 28, the new $1 Wisdom stamp will be issued. The following day, March 1, the 1-cent Tiffany Lamp stamp will be released. To order a copy of the latest USA Philatelic catalog, which illustrates the two upcoming stamps, call 800-STAMP-24, or go online at www.usps.com.