Top News Stories Of 2011

Jan.%208%3A%20Rep.%20Gabrielle%20Giffords%20was%20critically%20injured%20during%20an%20attack%20by%20a%20gunman%20in%20Tucson%2C%20Ariz.%2C%20where%20six%20people%20were%20killed%20and%20another%2020%20injured.%20The%20alleged%20gunman%2C%2022-year-old%20Tucson%20resident%20Jared%20Lee%20Loughner%2C%20was%20reportedly%20targeting%20Giffords%2C%20who%20sustained%20a%20gunshot%20wound%20to%20the%20head%20at%20point-blank%20range.%20%28Credit%3A%20Shaun%20Tandon%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

Jan.%2012%3A%20A%202010%20earthquake%20in%20Haiti%20that%20killed%20more%20than%20230%2C000%20people%20and%20caused%20a%20political%20upheaval%20continued%20to%20leave%20the%20country%20in%20ruins%20one%20year%20later.%20In%20addition%20to%20those%20killed%2C%20and%20the%20millions%20of%20others%20rendered%20homeless%2C%20over%203%2C600%20others%20were%20later%20wiped%20out%20by%20a%20cholera%20epidemic.%20%28Credit%3A%20Eitan%20Abramovich%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

Jan.%2014%3A%20Beginning%20in%20December%202010%2C%20widespread%20discontent%20and%20unrest%20in%20Tunisia%20led%20to%20a%20revolution%20that%20ultimately%20ousted%20longtime%20president%20Zine%20El%20Abidine%20Ben%20Ali.%20The%20movement%20began%20the%20Arab%20Springs%20protests%20that%20took%20place%20across%20the%20Mideast.%20%28Credit%3A%20Marwan%20Naamani%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

Feb.%2011%3A%20Egyptian%20President%20Hosni%20Mubarak%20was%20forced%20to%20resign%20after%2030%20years%20in%20power%2C%20handing%20over%20control%20to%20the%20Egyptian%20military.%20His%20resignation%20was%20caused%20by%20increasing%20pressure%20from%20widespread%2C%20large-scale%20protests%20from%20thousands%20of%20Egyptian%20civilians.%20He%20is%20currently%20on%20trial%20for%20the%20deaths%20of%20hundreds%20of%20protesters.%20%28Credit%3A%20Peter%20Macdiarmid%2FGetty%20Images%29

Feb.%2017%3A%20In%20February%2C%20teachers%20banded%20together%20in%20protest%20of%20Wisconsin%20Gov.%20Scott%20Walker%E2%80%99s%20proposal%20to%20limit%20union%20bargaining%20rights.%20Encampments%2C%20faculty%20teach-ins%20and%20student%20walk-outs%20lasted%20for%20weeks%20to%20express%20discontent%20over%20the%20changes%2C%20which%20were%20introduced%20as%20part%20of%20a%20budget%20repair%20bill.%20%28Credit%3A%20Mark%20Hirsch%2FGetty%20Images%29

March%2011%3A%20A%20catastrophic%20tsunami%20%E2%80%93%20caused%20by%20an%20undersea%20earthquake%20with%20a%209.0%20magnitude%20%E2%80%93%20destroyed%20the%20coast%20of%20Japan.%20Almost%2016%2C000%20were%20killed%20by%20the%20resulting%20flash%20floods%2C%20with%20thousands%20more%20injured%20or%20missing.%20The%20devastating%20earthquake%20and%20tsunami%20caused%20a%20meltdown%20at%20the%20Fukushima%20nuclear%20power%20plant.%20%28Credit%3A%20Noboru%20Hashimoto%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

March%2019%3A%20Nearly%2020%20U.S.%20warplanes%20were%20part%20of%20the%20NATO%20strike%20operation%20against%20Libyan%20leader%20Muammar%20Qaddafi%20and%20his%20forces.%20The%20objective%20of%20the%20mission%20was%20to%20cease%20attacks%20on%20Libyan%20citizens%20by%20government%20forces%2C%20and%20to%20further%20dismantle%20the%20regime%E2%80%99s%20stronghold%20on%20the%20region.%20%28Credit%3A%20Joseph%20Eid%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

April%2027%3A%20A%20%E2%80%9Csuper%20tornado%E2%80%9D%20outbreak%20in%20the%20southeastern%20United%20States%20caused%20a%20series%20of%20powerful%20storms%20to%20rip%20through%20Alabama%2C%20Georgia%20and%20Tennessee%20over%20the%20course%20of%20just%20several%20hours.%20The%20track%20spanned%20over%20220%20miles%20of%20land%2C%20reached%20winds%20in%20excess%20of%20200%20mph%2C%20and%20claimed%20the%20lives%20of%20350%20people.%20%28Credit%3A%20Mandel%20Ngan%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

April%2027%3A%20In%20response%20to%20detractors%2C%20President%20Barack%20Obama%20released%20his%20official%20Hawaiian%20long-form%20birth%20certificate.%20The%20action%20came%20as%20a%20response%20to%20the%20long-held%20accusations%20toward%20the%20president%20in%20regards%20to%20his%20American%20citizenship%20%E2%80%93%20and%20by%20proxy%2C%20his%20eligibility%20to%20hold%20office.%20%28Credit%3A%20Jewel%20Samad%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

April%2029%3A%20In%20what%20was%20heralded%20as%20the%20wedding%20of%20the%20century%2C%20England%E2%80%99s%20Prince%20William%20married%20his%20fianc%C3%A9%2C%20Kate%20Middleton%2C%20in%20a%20lavish%20ceremony%20watched%20by%20millions%20throughout%20the%20world.%20%28Credit%3A%20Dimitar%20Dilkoff%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

May%201%3A%20Osama%20bin%20Laden%20was%20killed%20by%20United%20States%20Navy%20SEALs%20at%20his%20compound%20in%20Pakistan%20as%20part%20of%20Operation%20Neptune%20Spear.%20Afterwards%2C%20bin%20Laden%E2%80%99s%20body%20was%20identified%2C%20then%20buried%20at%20sea%20less%20than%2024%20hours%20after%20his%20death.%20%28Credit%3A%20Sabah%20Arar%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

May%205%3A%20The%202012%20election%20season%20kicked%20off%20with%20a%20debate%20between%20GOP%20presidential%20hopefuls.%20Former%20business%20owner%20Herman%20Cain%2C%20former%20Minnesota%20Gov.%20Tim%20Pawlenty%2C%20and%20former%20Sen.%20Rick%20Santorum%20were%20among%20those%20who%20squared%20off%20during%20the%20event%2C%20which%20was%20held%20at%20the%20Peace%20Center%20in%20Greeneville%2C%20S.C.%20%28Credit%3A%20Mandel%20Ngan%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

MAY%2014%3A%20French%20economist%20and%20French%20Socialist%20Party%20member%20Dominique%20Strauss-Kahn%20was%20arrested%20for%20reportedly%20sexually%20assaulting%20a%20maid%20at%20the%20Sofitel%20New%20York%20Hotel.%20The%20validity%20of%20the%20claims%20of%20his%20accuser%2C%2032-year-old%20Nafissatou%20Diallo%2C%20led%20ultimately%20to%20the%20case%E2%80%99s%20dismissal%20several%20months%20after%20Strauss-Kahn%20was%20arraigned.%20%28Credit%3A%20Francois%20Guillot%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

May%2017%3A%20Former%20California%20Gov.%20Arnold%20Schwarzenegger%20admitted%20to%20fathering%20a%20love%20child%20with%20Mildred%20Baena%2C%20a%20woman%20who%20worked%20as%20a%20maid%20for%20the%20family.%20Maria%20Shriver%20later%20filed%20for%20divorce.%20%28Credit%3A%20Jason%20Merritt%2FGetty%20Images%20For%20The%20Consulate%20General%20of%20Israel%29

May%2022%3A%20A%20category%20EF5%20tornado%20%E2%80%93%20the%20strongest%20possible%20tornado%20%E2%80%93%20devastated%20the%20Joplin%2C%20Mo.%2C%20area%2C%20resulting%20in%20widespread%20destruction%20and%20the%20deaths%20of%20160%20people.%20The%20death%20toll%20made%20it%20the%20deadliest%20tornado%20on%20record%20in%20nearly%2060%20years.%20%28Credit%3A%20Mario%20Tama%2FGetty%20Images%29

June%2016%3A%20Rep.%20Anthony%20Weiner%20resigned%20from%20Congress%20after%20accidentally%20posting%20a%20semi-nude%20photo%20of%20himself%20on%20Twitter.%20At%20first%20the%20Congressman%20denied%20it%2C%20blaming%20it%20on%20hackers.%20However%2C%20later%20on%20he%20admitted%20that%20it%20was%20him%20and%20that%20he%20had%20several%20online%20relationships%20with%20women.%20%28Credit%3A%20Spencer%20Platt%2FGetty%20Images%29

June%2018%3A%20President%20Obama%20and%20House%20Speaker%20John%20Boehner%20talked%20over%20a%20game%20of%20golf%20to%20work%20out%20differences%20over%20the%20debt-limit%20debate.%20They%20played%20against%20Vice%20President%20Joe%20Biden%20and%20Ohio%20Gov.%20John%20Kasich.%20The%20game%20was%20down%20to%20the%20wire%20until%20the%2018th%20hole%2C%20when%20Boehner%20won.%20%28Credit%3A%20Cory%20Lum%2FGetty%20Images%29

June%2024%3A%20New%20York%20became%20the%20largest%20state%20to%20legalize%20same-sex%20marriage.%20The%20bill%E2%80%99s%20fate%20was%20undetermined%20until%20just%20before%20the%20vote%2C%20which%20ultimately%20passed%2033%20to%2029.%20%28Credit%3A%20Jemal%20Countess%2FGetty%20Images%29

July%205%3A%20The%20trial%20that%20captured%20the%20nation%E2%80%99s%20attention%20ended%20in%20an%20acquittal%20for%20Casey%20Anthony%2C%20the%20woman%20who%20was%20accused%20of%20killing%20her%202-year-old%20daughter%20Caylee%20Marie.%20The%20jury%20cited%20a%20lack%20of%20evidence%20to%20convict.%20%28Credit%3A%20Joe%20Burbank%2FGetty%20Images%29

July%2023%3A%20Vocalist%20Amy%20Winehouse%20was%20a%20talent%20best%20known%20for%20the%20Motown-inspired%20song%20%E2%80%9CRehab.%E2%80%9D%20Struggling%20with%20addiction%20for%20several%20years%2C%20she%20finally%20succumbed%20and%20died%20from%20alcohol%20poisoning%20at%20the%20age%20of%2027.%20%28Credit%3A%20Carl%20Court%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

July%2031%3A%20Just%20before%20the%20nation%20almost%20defaulted%20on%20its%20debt%2C%20President%20Obama%20and%20Congress%20worked%20out%20a%20deal%20to%20raise%20the%20debt%20limit.%20The%20plan%20called%20for%20lower%20spending%20without%20raising%20taxes.%20Another%20result%20of%20the%20debates%20created%20the%20%E2%80%9CSuper%20Committee%2C%E2%80%9D%20a%20panel%20of%20six%20members%20from%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives%20and%20six%20from%20the%20Senate%2C%20whose%20goal%20was%20to%20reduce%20the%20budget%20by%20%241.5%20trillion.%20The%20committee%20failed%20to%20reach%20an%20agreement%20in%20late%20November.%20%28Credit%3A%20Roger%20L.%20Wollenberg%2FGetty%20Images%29

Aug.%205%3A%20Ratings%20firm%20Standard%20%26amp%3B%20Poor%E2%80%99s%20elected%20to%20downgrade%20the%20AAA%20rating%20of%20the%20United%20States%20Treasury%20to%20an%20AA%2B.%20The%20ranking%2C%20which%20places%20America%20below%20a%20dozen%20other%20governments%20worldwide%2C%20also%20essentially%20dictates%20that%20America%20is%20not%20a%20safe%20investment.%20%28Credit%3A%20Mario%20Tama%2FGetty%20Images%29

Aug.%206%3A%20Insurgents%20shot%20down%20a%20helicopter%20with%20over%2030%20United%20States%20special%20operations%20forces%20on%20board.%20A%20total%20of%2038%20people%20were%20killed%20in%20the%20crash%2C%20which%20happened%20in%20the%20country%E2%80%99s%20Wardak%20province.%20%28Credit%3A%20Shah%20Marai%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

Aug.%2023%3A%20Several%20states%20along%20the%20eastern%20seaboard%20of%20the%20United%20States%20were%20rocked%20%E2%80%93%20literally%20%E2%80%93%20by%20an%20earthquake%20that%20hit%20Louisa%20County%2C%20Va.%20The%20effects%20of%20the%205.8%20magnitude%20quake%20were%20felt%20as%20far%20north%20as%20New%20Hampshire%2C%20affecting%20over%20a%20dozen%20states%20in%20the%20region%20in%20all.%20%28Credit%3A%20Michael%20Bocchieri%2FGetty%20Images%29

Aug.%2027%3A%20Hurricane%20Irene%2C%20a%20Category%203%20storm%20cell%20that%20lived%20for%20nine%20days%2C%20made%20landfall%20on%20the%20U.S.%20mainland.%20The%20exceptionally%20large%20storm%20cell%20ripped%20its%20way%20up%20the%20East%20Coast%2C%20causing%20extensive%20damage%20from%20Florida%20and%20South%20Carolina%2C%20on%20up%20to%20parts%20of%20Canada.%20%28Credit%3A%20Monika%20Graff%2FGetty%20Images%29

Sept.%2011%3A%20The%2010-year%20anniversary%20of%20the%209%2F11%20attacks%2C%20a%20coordinated%20series%20of%20terrorist%20attacks%20that%20killed%20thousands%20in%20New%20York%20City%2C%20Washington%2C%20D.C.%2C%20and%20Shanksville%2C%20Pa.%2C%20was%20remembered%20this%20year.%20Somber%20ceremonies%20throughout%20the%20nation%20were%20held%20to%20remember%20those%20who%20lost%20their%20lives%20in%20the%20World%20Trade%20Center%2C%20Pentagon%2C%20and%20the%20hijacked%20flights.%20%28Credit%3A%20Timothy%20A.%20Clary%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

Sept.%2017%3A%20The%20Occupy%20Wall%20Street%20movement%20began%20in%20Zuccotti%20Park%2C%20near%20New%20York%20City%E2%80%99s%20financial%20district%20and%20iconic%20Wall%20Street.%20A%20protest%20of%20economic%20inequality%2C%20the%20movement%20has%20spread%20internationally%2C%20with%20%E2%80%9COccupy%E2%80%9D%20offshoots%20found%20in%20cities%20across%20the%20world.%20%28Credit%3A%20Spencer%20Platt%2FGetty%20Images%29

Sept.%2020%3A%20The%20controversial%20%E2%80%9CDon%E2%80%99t%20Ask%2C%20Don%E2%80%99t%20Tell%E2%80%9D%20policy%2C%20which%20banned%20members%20of%20the%20military%20from%20serving%20openly%20gay%2C%20was%20repealed.%20The%20policy%20was%20first%20instituted%20by%20former%20President%20Clinton%20in%20December%201993.%20%28Credit%3A%20Mandel%20Ngan%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

Oct.%205%3A%20Steve%20Jobs%2C%20the%20founder%20of%20Apple%20Computers%2C%20died%20at%20the%20age%20of%2056%20after%20a%20long%20battle%20with%20pancreatic%20cancer.%20Jobs%E2%80%99%20innovations%20gave%20millions%20of%20people%20around%20the%20world%20iPhones%2C%20iPads%20and%20iPods.%28Credit%3A%20Jay%20Directo%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

Oct.%2020%3A%20Eccentric%20dictator%20Muammar%20Qaddafi%20rose%20to%20power%20in%20the%20late%201960s%20and%20ruled%20Libya%20until%20Libyan%20rebels%20overthrew%20his%20government%20and%20ultimately%20killed%20him.%20Qaddafi%20is%20accused%20of%20being%20behind%20the%20Pan%20Am%20Flight%20103%20bombing%20over%20Lockerbie%2C%20Scotland%2C%20that%20killed%20270%20people.%20%28Credit%3A%20Abdullah%20Doma%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

Oct.%2021%3A%20After%20an%20occupation%20and%20war%20that%20lasted%20almost%20nine%20years%2C%20President%20Barack%20Obama%20announced%20that%20he%20planned%20to%20withdraw%20almost%20all%20combat%20troops%20stationed%20in%20Iraq%20by%20the%20end%20of%202011.%20The%20last%20of%20the%20troops%20are%20anticipated%20to%20leave%20the%20country%20by%20Jan.%201%2C%202012.%20%28Credit%3A%20Davis%20Turner%2FGetty%20Images%29

Oct.%2031%3A%20The%20United%20Nations%20Population%20Division%20said%20that%20the%20world%20reached%20a%20population%20of%207%20billion%20people%20on%20Halloween%2C%20though%20finding%20the%20exact%20time%20of%20day%20proved%20impossible.%20Only%2012%20years%20ago%2C%20the%20world%20hit%20the%206%20billion%20mark%2C%20showing%20a%20sharp%20spike%20in%20births.%20%28Credit%3A%20Stephen%20Lovekin%2FGetty%20Images%29

Nov.%204%3A%20Happy%20Valley%20was%20rocked%20after%20charges%20alleged%20former%20Penn%20State%20defensive%20coordinator%20Jerry%20Sandusky%20had%20inappropriate%20sexual%20contact%20with%20at%20least%2010%20boys%20between%201994%20and%202009.%20He%20was%20indicted%20on%2040%20counts%20of%20child%20molestation%2C%20and%20the%20details%20of%20the%20investigation%20resulted%20in%20the%20firing%20of%20Penn%20State%20coaching%20legend%20Joe%20Paterno%20and%20resignation%20of%20university%20president%20Graham%20Spanier.%20%28Credit%3A%20Patrick%20Smith%2FGetty%20Images%29

Nov.%207%3A%20Former%20doctor%20Conrad%20Murray%20was%20found%20guilty%20of%20involuntary%20manslaughter%20after%20causing%20the%20death%20of%20pop%20legend%20Michael%20Jackson%20two%20years%20ago.%20Murray%20had%20been%20hired%20by%20Jackson%20to%20serve%20as%20his%20private%20physician%2C%20and%20was%20in%20charge%20of%20dispensing%20the%20pain%20medication%20and%20sedatives%20that%20ultimately%20proved%20lethal%20for%20the%20embattled%20musician.%20%28Credit%3A%20Al%20Seib%2FGetty%20Images%29

Nov.%2014%3A%20President%20Barack%20Obama%E2%80%99s%20signature%20piece%20of%20legislation%2C%20the%20health%20care%20overhaul%20law%2C%20will%20be%20challenged%20in%20front%20of%20the%20Supreme%20Court.%20Arguments%20for%20and%20against%20the%20measure%20will%20be%20heard%20in%20March%202012%2C%20with%20a%20decision%20anticipated%20in%20late%20June.%20%28Credit%3A%20Spencer%20Platt%2FGetty%20Images%29

Nov.%2028%3A%20Former%20presidential%20GOP%20candidate%20Herman%20Cain%20became%20the%20subject%20of%20national%20scrutiny%20and%20ridicule%20after%20a%20series%20of%20allegations%20arose%20stating%20that%20he%20had%20harassed%20several%20former%20female%20employees%20during%20his%20time%20as%20president%20of%20the%20National%20Restaurant%20Association.%20The%20allegations%20ranged%20from%20uncomfortable%20and%20sexually-charged%20incidents%20to%20a%2013-year%20intimate%20relationship.%20The%20accusations%20ultimately%20led%20him%20to%20suspend%20his%20campaign.%20%28Credit%3A%20Davis%20Turner%2FGetty%20Images%29

Dec.%208%3A%20Less%20than%20five%20years%20after%20violence%20ripped%20through%20the%20community%20at%20Virginia%20Tech%2C%20two%20people%20were%20killed%20on%20campus%20as%20a%20result%20of%20gunfire%20%E2%80%93%20one%20of%20whom%20was%20a%20campus%20police%20officer.%20The%20previous%20attack%2C%20which%20occurred%20in%202007%2C%20was%20the%20worst%20mass%20murder%20in%20U.S.%20history%20when%2032%20people%20were%20killed.%20%28Credit%3A%20Jared%20Soares%2FGetty%20Images%29