I've been having the same issue in Tucson for the last few hours.

I've been getting an error message "connection to server has failed" all day.

Thisis the message I get when I try to log in.

This site can’t be reached

webmail.cox.net took too long to respond.

Looks like the SMTP server is down in AZ. From reports, webmail.cox.net is still working to send/receive.

This probably won't work, but you might be able to enter the IP 68.1.17.4 for the East coast SMTP server. It might give you a SSL error, but I just tested and I was able to send mail through it.

Thread said issue resolved sometime after midnight. Anyone else still having the problem?

PS. Any word on what caused the problem? I only ask because I saw a LOT of weird activity from the West  Coast over 5 different forums, different ISPs... I can't even find a common thread. 

I was unable to send or receive yesterday from Tucson. I went thru the password update; at first my mac mail couldn't "verify" the account but it did verify this morning and email in my outbox was sent. However, I am still unable to receive emails. There are numerous emails in my webmail that aren't downloading to my mac mail.

It seems to be working correctly for me now. I can send and receive.

I won't be able to test this now, because I am 'home' in Phoenix, but twice now, when I've been away from the phoenix area, I am not able to send email.  I can receive, but not send.  Was in San Diego from 10/21 - 10/26, and in New Mexico from 12/1 - 12/5, and both times, it wasn't until I came back home that I was able to finally 'send' email.  Error messages saying "Unable to connect to Outgoing SMTP server..."  Was this just coincidence?  I'm going to SLC, UT this Friday.  Will I have the problem again?

I'm in Oceanside, CA and my email has been very slow today but it was fine yesterday. Any known or reported email issues in my area?