Heat wave sets new records, and more

Heat wave sets new records
The heat wave that gripped much of the country in recent weeks affected more than 200 million Americans, and set hundreds of new records. Among them were 66 new all-time-high temperatures, including 108 degrees in Newark, N.J., and 103 degrees in Boston. In large portions of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, the thermometer topped 100 degrees for more than 20 consecutive days.
WashingtonPost.com

Losses at the Postal Service
Despite cutting $12 billion in costs over the past four years and eliminating more than 200,000 career positions in the past decade, the Postal Service is expected to lose $8 billion for the second consecutive year. Mail volume dropped by about 20 percent from 2006 to 2010.
The New York Times

30% of Americans report binge drinking
Almost 30 percent of Americans ages 12 and over reported binge drinking—five or more drinks in one sitting—in the past month, according to a federal report.
USA Today

Warner Bros.' easy $2 million
Warner Bros. still collects about $2 million a year from public performances of “Happy Birthday,” having bought the rights to Patty and Mildred Hill’s song in 1988.
Slate.com

Deportations reach an all time high
The Obama administration deported a record 393,000 people last year. About 45,000 were deported after drug-related crimes, while about 40,000 were caught in traffic infractions.
Associated Press