“U.S. deportations reach historic levels”

Nearly 400,000 illegal immigrants were deported from the United States in the past fiscal year (Sept. 2010-Sept. 2011), the largest number in the history of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, the government announced Tuesday. Overall in fiscal year 2011, immigration officials said, 396,906 individuals were removed. Of these, 216,698, nearly 55%, had been convicted of felonies or misdemeanors. Immigration advocates complain law enforcement officials are spending too much of their scarce resources rounding up families living illegally in the country who otherwise are law-abiding. Others say the administration isn't doing enough to stop the flow of illegal immigration and protect Americans from potential foreign terrorists and other criminals.

In Other News Snail mail is about to get a little more expensive. The price of a first class stamp is going up by one cent starting next year, the United States Postal Service said Tuesday. Forever stamps -- also called first class stamps -- will now cost 45 cents, a one cent bump. The change will go into effect Jan. 22. Apple will close its retail stores for several hours Wednesday so that employees can watch a webcast of a company-wide memorial service to celebrate the life of co-founder Steve Jobs. A South Florida woman got a shock when she opened a recent cell phone bill: she owed $201,000. It was no mistake. Celina Aarons has her two deaf-mute brothers on her plan. They communicate by texting and use their phones to watch videos. Normally, that's not a problem. Aarons has the appropriate data plan, and her bill is about $175. But her brothers spent two weeks in Canada and Aarons never changed to an international plan. Her brothers sent over 2,000 texts and also downloaded videos, sometimes racking up $2,000 in data charges. T-Mobile told Aarons the bill was correct. She called Miami TV station WSVN, which contacted T-Mobile. The station reports that T-Mobile cut Aarons' bill to $2,500 — and gave her six months to pay. Two brothers have been charged with stealing a western Pennsylvania bridge and selling the 15 1/2 tons of scrap metal for more than $5,000. Police say 24-year-old Benjamin Arthur Jones and 25-year-old Alexander Williams Jones of New Castle used a blowtorch to break up the bridge in late September or early October. They face felony charges of criminal mischief, theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy. A food fight led to domestic battery charges for a woman on Chicago's Southwest Side. Late Saturday night, a man called police to his home on the 4700 block of South Western Avenue because his wife was hurling cupcakes at him, Chicago police said. When officers arrived at the home in the Brighton Park neighborhood, they said the man was covered in frosting and crumbs. He told officers he feared for his safety.