Hurricane Irene

Biggest News Stories of 2011

Hurricane Irene, a large and powerful Atlantic hurricane, left extensive flood and wind damage along its path through the Caribbean and the United States East Coast. Irene caused widespread destruction and at least 56 deaths. Early damage estimates throughout the U.S. range from $10 to $15 billion.

(AP Photo/Mel Evans)

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Gabrielle Giffor... Rep Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) was critically injured by a gunshot wound to the head on January 8 in an assassination attempt near Tucson, Arizon. Six people were killed and 13 people others injured in the shooting. After months of rehab in a Houston facility, Giffords was able to recover some of her ability to walk, speak, read and write.

(AP Photo/ABC, Ida Mae Astute)
Mubarak Steps Do... Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigned after a violent 18-day uprising in February. Many Egyptians celebrated the end of the longtime authoritarian ruler’s reign.

(AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Japanese Earthqu... On March 11, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit the east of Japan, killing more than 15,000 and leaving another 4,000 missing. Tsunami warnings were issued in a total of 50 countries. Four nuclear power plants declared emergencies as a result, causing panic and unrest in the destroyed areas.

(AP Photo/Hiroto Sekiguchi, The Yomiuri Shimbun)
The Charlie Shee... Charlie Sheen and the “Two and a Half Men” saga dominated entertainment headlines for the better part of 2011, culminating with Sheen’s “Violent Tornado of Truth” tour in March.

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Royal Weddin... An estimated two billion people around the world tuned in to watch the future King of England marry the beautiful Kate Middleton in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London on April 29, 2011.

(AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Osama Bin Laden’... President Barack Obama announced the killing of Osama bin Laden during an American military operation in Pakistan on May 1.

(AP Photo)
The End of the W... Preacher Harold Camping's Family Radio International prediction that the world would end with a "Day of Judgment" on May 21 swept the nation. The day came and went without incident, but the memory of the anticipated apocalypse lives on.

(AP Photo File)
Strauss-Kahn Sca... The head of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, was accused of sexually assaulting a hotel housekeeper in New York. Strauss-Kahn resigned from his position in May amid the allegations. The case was dropped months later.

(AP Photo/Francois Guillot)
Arnold's Affair Arnold Schwarzenegger's shocking announcement that he fathered a secret child with his former housekeeper surprised not only the media, but Arnold’s wife Maria Shriver as well. The duo quickly announced plans to divorce in May.

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Joplin, Mo. Torn... A tornado ripped through the small town of Joplin, Mo. on May 22, killing at least 116 and damaging the homes and businesses of thousands.

(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
The Casey Anthon... The trial surrounding the death of Caylee Anthony was called the biggest case to hit national television since the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Millions around the world were captivated by Casey Anthony and whether or not she would be found guilty of killing her daughter. After a six week trial that dominated the news, Anthony was declared innocent on July 5.

(AP Photo/Joe Burbank)
Famine in Somali... The United Nations declared the first famine in southern Somalia in over 30 years in July. The drought and famine in the horn of Africa killed more than 29,000 children under the age of five.

(AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Amy Winehouse's ... The sudden death of singer Amy Winehouse in July at the young age of just 27 shocked and saddened fans worldwide.

(AP Photo/Nabor Goulart)
News of the Worl... Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World publication came under fire after hacking allegations were brought up against the UK based paper. Murdoch shut the doors after 168 years in print in July.

(AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Final Space Miss... Space Shuttle Atlantis successfully landed at Kennedy Space Center on July 21 after completing STS-135, signaling the end of NASA's 30-year space shuttle program.

(AP Photo/Don Emmert)
Norway Bombing On July 22, 76 people were killed in Norway after a bombing at the government center in Oslo and a shooting at a political youth camp in the island of Utøya. Anders Behring Breivik, a 32-year-old Norwegian extremist, later admitted to the crimes.

(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Standard & Poor’... Standard & Poor’s downgraded the United State’s credit rating for the first time ever, finding that Congress did not do enough to stabilize the debt situation.

(AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)
European Financi... The United States was not the only country struggling with immense debt. The prime ministers in both Greece and Italy stepped down during one of the worst periods in Europe’s economic history, leaving both countries in disarray.

(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
10th Anniversary... A decade later, America remembered and honored the lives lost on September 11, 2001, including a nationally televised tribute at Ground Zero in New York.

(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Hurricane Irene Hurricane Irene, a large and powerful Atlantic hurricane, left extensive flood and wind damage along its path through the Caribbean and the United States East Coast. Irene caused widespread destruction and at least 56 deaths. Early damage estimates throughout the U.S. range from $10 to $15 billion.

(AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Steve Jobs' Deat... Apple founder and visionary Steve Jobs died on October 6 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Jobs was 58.

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Libyan Uprising ... After months of internal Libyan turmoil, oppressive leader Moammar Ghadafi was captured and killed by Libyan forces near his hometown of Sirte on October 20.

(AP Photo/Nasser Nasser
Conrad Murray Co... Doctor Conrad Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of pop star Michael Jackson at the end of November. He was sentenced to four years in jail.

(AP Photo/Mario Anzuoni)
Occupy Wall Stre... The cries of the 99 percent were heard around the nation when the Occupy Wall Street protests began in New York City's Zuccotti Park. The protests took a stand against social and economic inequality, high unemployment, greed, and corruption.

(AP Photo/Stephanie Kieth)
Penn State Sex S... The Penn State community was rocked with allegations that former football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually molested several young boys during his tenure at the University. A nationwide scandal erupted, ending in the terminations of the school’s President and longtime football coach Joe Paterno.

(AP Photo/Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General via Commonwealth Media Services)
Adorable Animals... Click here to see some of the cutest animals of the year.