Flashback: 2011′s Top News Stories In Photos

MAY%2017%3A%20%20The%20historic%20Yazoo%20%26amp%3B%20Mississippi%20Valley%20Railroad%20Station%20is%20surrounded%20by%20floodwater%20May%2017%2C%202011%20in%20Vicksburg%2C%20Mississippi.%20The%20Mississippi%20river%20at%20Vicksburg%20is%20expected%20to%20crest%20May%2019.%20Heavy%20rains%20have%20left%20the%20ground%20saturated%2C%20rivers%20swollen%2C%20and%20have%20caused%20widespread%20flooding%20along%20the%20Mississippi%20River%20from%20Illinois%20to%20Louisiana.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Scott%20Olson%2FGetty%20Images%29

MAY%2024%3A%20Christal%20Comstock%20sits%20outside%20her%20family%20home%20which%20was%20destroyed%20when%20a%20massive%20tornado%20passed%20through%20the%20town%20killing%20at%20least%20116%20people%20May%2024%2C%202011%20in%20Joplin%2C%20Missouri.%20The%20tornado%20that%20ripped%20through%20the%20town%20of%20about%2050%2C000%20people%20May%2022%2C%20is%20being%20called%20the%20deadliest%20single%20tornado%20in%20the%20U.S.%20in%2060%20years.%20%28Photo%20by%20Mario%20Tama%2FGetty%20Images%29

MAY%2028%3A%20Shanie%20Spencer%20salvages%20what%20she%20can%20from%20what%20remains%20of%20her%20house%20on%20May%2028%2C%202011%20in%20Joplin%2C%20Missouri.%20After%20the%20town%20was%20hit%20by%20a%20massive%20tornado%20that%20killed%20at%20least%20142%20people%2C%20denizens%20continue%20the%20process%20of%20recovering%20from%20the%20storm.%20%28Photo%20by%20Joe%20Raedle%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

MAY%2029%3A%20Katlyn%20Wilkins%20%28in%20tree%29%20and%20Andrea%20Wilkins%20Morelli%20work%20on%20securing%20an%20American%20flag%20in%20a%20tree%20as%20they%20deal%20with%20the%20destruction%20caused%20by%20a%20massive%20tornado%20that%20passed%20through%20the%20town%20killing%20at%20least%20139%20people%20on%20May%2029%2C%202011%20in%20Joplin%2C%20Missouri.%20President%20Barack%20Obama%20is%20scheduled%20to%20visit%20the%20town%20as%20it%20continues%20the%20process%20of%20recovering%20from%20the%20storm.%20%28Photo%20by%20Joe%20Raedle%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

MAY%2031%3A%20%20U.S.%20Rep.%20Anthony%20Weiner%20%28D-NY%29%20%28R%29%20speaks%20to%20the%20media%20regarding%20a%20lewd%20photo%20tweet%20May%2031%2C%202011%20on%20Capitol%20Hill%20in%20Washington%2C%20DC.%20A%20close-up%20photo%20of%20underwear%20of%20a%20man%20was%20tweeted%20from%20Weiner%26%238217%3B%C2%80%C2%99s%20Twitter%20account%20addressed%20to%20a%20college%20student%20in%20Seattle.%20The%20photo%20was%20deleted%20soon%20after%20and%20Weiner%20has%20claimed%20his%20account%20was%20hacked.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Alex%20Wong%2FGetty%20Images%29

JUNE%2011%3A%20%20Firefighters%20Cpt.%20Jimmy%20Neisen%20%28L%29%20and%20Wes%20Odom%20%28C%29%20and%20Tracy%20Wright%2C%20from%20Surprise%2C%20Arizona%2C%20work%20to%20put%20out%20a%20hot%20spot%20in%20a%20tree%20trunk%20on%20June%2012%2C%202011%20in%20Greer%2C%20Arizona.%20%20Red%20flag%20warning%20has%20been%20posted%20for%20today%20as%20firefighters%20brace%20for%20high%20winds.%20The%20fire%20which%20is%205%25%20contained%20has%20spread%20over%20more%20than%20600%20square%20miles%20as%20it%20crossed%20the%20border%20into%20New%20Mexico%2C%20destroying%2029%20homes%2C%20the%20majority%20in%20the%20resort%20town%20of%20Greer%2C%20and%20threatened%205%2C200%20more.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Kevork%20Djansezian%2FGetty%20Images%29

JUNE%2015%3A%20%20Riot%20police%20walk%20in%20the%20street%20as%20a%20couple%20kiss%20on%20June%2015%2C%202011%20in%20Vancouver%2C%20Canada.%20Vancouver%20broke%20out%20in%20riots%20after%20their%20hockey%20team%20the%20Vancouver%20Canucks%20lost%20in%20Game%20Seven%20of%20the%20Stanley%20Cup%20Finals.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Rich%20Lam%2FGetty%20Images%29

JULY%2001%3A%20Former%20International%20Monetary%20Fund%20leader%20Dominique%20Strauss-Kahn%20leaves%20a%20hearing%20where%20he%20was%20released%20on%20his%20own%20recognizance%20at%20New%20York%20State%20Supreme%20Court%20on%20July%201%2C%202011%20in%20New%20York%20City.%20Strauss-Kahn%2C%20arrested%20on%20May%2014%20on%20sexual%20assault%20charges%2C%20is%20back%20in%20court%20for%20a%20bail%20hearing%20amid%20new%20reports%20surrounding%20the%20accuser%26%238217%3Bs%20credibility.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Mario%20Tama%2FGetty%20Images%29

JULY%2008%3A%20Space%20shuttle%20Atlantis%20blasts%20off%20from%20launch%20pad%2039A%20at%20Kennedy%20Space%20Center%20July%208%2C%202011%20in%20Cape%20Canaveral%2C%20Florida.%20This%20lift%20off%20is%20the%20last%20in%20the%2030-year-old%20shuttle%20program.%20%28Photo%20by%20Chip%20Somodevilla%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

AUGUST%2013%3A%20%20Safia%20Adem%20mourns%20the%20death%20of%20her%20son%20Hamza%20Ali%20Faysal%2C%203%2C%20in%20a%20camp%20of%20displaced%20Somalis%20within%20the%20rubble%20of%20the%20Cathedral%20of%20Mogadishu%20on%20August%2013%2C%202011%20in%20Mogadishu%2C%20Somalia.%20The%20malnourished%20child%20died%20of%20sickness%20two%20weeks%20after%20fleeing%20with%20his%20family%20from%20famine%20and%20drought%20in%20far%20southern%20Somalia.%20The%20US%20government%20estimates%20that%20some%2030%2C000%20children%20have%20died%20in%20southern%20Somalia%20in%20the%20last%2090%20days%20from%20the%20crisis.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20John%20Moore%2FGetty%20Images%29

OCTOBER%2005%3A%20%20Protesters%20affiliated%20with%20the%20Occupy%20Wall%20Street%20movement%20are%20reflected%20in%20a%20stock%20ticket%20screen%20as%20they%20march%20though%20Lower%20Manhattan%20on%20October%205%2C%202011%20in%20New%20York%20City.%20Thousands%20of%20protesters%20including%20union%20members%20and%20college%20students%20from%20an%20organized%20walkout%20joined%20the%20rally%20and%20march.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Mario%20Tama%2FGetty%20Images%29

JULY%2024%3A%20John%20Feinblatt%20%28R%29%20and%20Jonathan%20Mintz%20%28L%29%20celebrate%20after%20marrying%20with%20their%20daughters%20Maeve%20%28BOTTOM-L%29%20and%20Georgia%20at%20Gracie%20Mansion%20on%20July%2024%2C%202011%20in%20New%20York%20City.%20The%20longtime%20partners%20work%20at%20City%20Hall%20for%20Mayor%20Bloomberg%20who%20officiated%20the%20wedding%3B%20today%20was%20the%20first%20day%20gay%20couples%20were%20allowed%20to%20legally%20marry%20in%20New%20York%20state.%20%28Photo%20by%20Mario%20Tama%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

JULY%2025%3A%20A%20weed%20grows%20out%20of%20the%20dry%20cracked%20bed%20of%20O.C.%20Fisher%20Lake%20on%20July%2025%2C%202011%20in%20San%20Angelo%2C%20Texas.%20The%205%2C440%20acre%20lake%20which%20was%20established%20to%20provide%20flood%20control%20and%20serve%20as%20a%20secondary%20drinking%20water%20source%20for%20San%20Angelo%20and%20the%20surrounding%20communities%20is%20now%20dry%20following%20an%20extended%20drought%20in%20the%20region.%20The%20lake%20which%20has%20a%20maximum%20depth%20of%2058%20feet%20is%20also%20used%20for%20boating%2C%20fishing%20and%20swimming.%20The%20San%20Angelo%20area%20has%20seen%20only%202.5%20inches%20of%20rain%20this%20year.%20The%20past%20nine%20months%20have%20been%20the%20driest%20in%20Texas%20since%20record%20keeping%20began%20in%201895%2C%20with%2075%25%20of%20the%20state%20classified%20as%20exceptional%20drought%2C%20the%20worst%20level.%20%28Photo%20by%20Scott%20Olson%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

JULY%2025%3A%20Tiril%20Killi%2C%2016%2C%20cries%20as%20hundreds%20of%20thousands%20of%20people%20gather%20at%20a%20memorial%20vigil%20following%20Friday%26%238217%3Bs%20twin%20extremist%20attacks%2C%20July%2025%2C%202011%20in%20Oslo%2C%20Norway.%20Anders%20Behring%20Breivik%2C%2032%2C%20claimed%20that%20he%20has%20%26%238220%3Btwo%20more%20cells%26%238221%3B%20working%20with%20him%20as%20he%20appeared%20in%20court%20today%20following%20a%20bomb%20blast%20at%20a%20government%20building%20in%20Oslo%20and%20a%20shooting%20massacre%20on%20nearby%20Utoya%20Island%20that%20killed%20at%20least%2076%20people%20in%20all.%20The%20death%20toll%20was%20originally%20reported%20as%2093.%20%28Photo%20by%20Paula%20Bronstein%20%2FGetty%20Images%29

JULY%2006%3A%20%28This%20Image%20was%20made%20with%20a%20panoramic%20film%20camera%20and%20scanned%20into%20a%20digital%20file%29%20A%20couple%20embraces%20on%20the%20Hudson%20River%20waterfront%20with%20Lower%20Manhattan%20and%20the%20rising%20One%20World%20Trade%20Center%20%28TOP%20C%29%20in%20the%20background%20on%20July%206%2C%202011%20in%20Jersey%20City%2C%20New%20Jersey.%20More%20than%202%2C700%20people%20were%20killed%20when%20al-Qaeda%20terrorists%20hijacked%20U.S.%20passenger%20jets%20and%20flew%20them%20into%20the%20twin%20towers%20of%20the%20World%20Trade%20Center%20on%20September%2011%2C%202001.%20Nearly%20ten%20years%20after%20the%20crippling%20attacks%20on%20Lower%20Manhattan%2C%20business%2C%20tourism%20and%20new%20construction%20like%20One%20World%20Trade%20Center%20have%20rejuvenated%20the%20formerly%20devastated%20cityscape.%20%28Photo%20by%20Mario%20Tama%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

AUGUST%2008%3A%20A%20hooded%20youth%20walks%20past%20a%20burning%20vehicle%20in%20Hackney%20on%20August%208%2C%202011%20in%20London%2C%20England.%20Pockets%20of%20rioting%20and%20looting%20continues%20to%20take%20place%20in%20various%20boroughs%20of%20London%20this%20evening%2C%20as%20well%20as%20in%20Birmingham%2C%20prompted%20by%20the%20initial%20rioting%20in%20Tottenham%20and%20then%20in%20Brixton%20on%20Sunday%20night.%20It%20has%20been%20announced%20that%20the%20Prime%20Minister%20David%20Cameron%20and%20his%20family%20are%20due%20to%20return%20home%20from%20their%20summer%20holiday%20in%20Tuscany%2C%20Italy%20to%20respond%20to%20the%20rioting.%20Disturbances%20broke%20out%20late%20on%20Saturday%20night%20in%20Tottenham%20and%20the%20surrounding%20area%20after%20the%20killing%20of%20Mark%20Duggan%2C%2029%20and%20a%20father-of-four%2C%20by%20armed%20police%20in%20an%20attempted%20arrest%20on%20August%204.%20%28Photo%20by%20Peter%20Macdiarmid%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

AUGUST%2012%3A%20The%20Statue%20of%20Liberty%20is%20seen%20beneath%20the%20rising%20moon%20on%20August%2012%2C%202011%20in%20New%20York%20City.%20More%20than%202%2C700%20people%20were%20killed%20when%20al-Qaeda%20terrorists%20hijacked%20U.S.%20passenger%20jets%20and%20flew%20them%20into%20the%20twin%20towers%20of%20the%20World%20Trade%20Center%20on%20September%2011%2C%202001.%20Nearly%20ten%20years%20after%20the%20crippling%20attacks%20on%20Lower%20Manhattan%2C%20business%2C%20tourism%20and%20new%20construction%20like%20One%20World%20Trade%20Center%20have%20rejuvenated%20the%20formerly%20devastated%20cityscape.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Mario%20Tama%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

AUGUST%2013%3A%20%20Aden%20Madow%20carries%20the%20body%20of%20Hamza%20Ali%20Faysal%2C%203%2C%20from%20a%20camp%20of%20displaced%20Somalis%20within%20the%20rubble%20of%20the%20Cathedral%20of%20Mogadishu%20on%20August%2013%2C%202011%20in%20Mogadishu%2C%20Somalia.%20The%20malnourished%20child%20died%20of%20sickness%20two%20weeks%20after%20fleeing%20with%20his%20family%20from%20famine%20and%20drought%20in%20far%20southern%20Somalia.%20The%20US%20government%20estimates%20that%20some%2030%2C000%20children%20have%20died%20in%20southern%20Somalia%20in%20the%20last%2090%20days.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20John%20Moore%2FGetty%20Images%29

AUGUST%2013%3A%20The%20stage%20collapses%20at%20the%20Indiana%20State%20Fair%20August%2013%2C%202011%20in%20Indianapolis%2C%20Indiana.%20The%20stage%20fell%20just%20before%20country%20duo%20Sugarland%20were%20scheduled%20to%20perform%2C%20killing%20at%20least%20four%20people%20and%20injuring%20as%20many%20as%2040%20more.%20%28Photo%20by%20Joey%20Foley%2FGetty%20Images%29

AUGUST%2014%3A%20Halima%20Hassan%20holds%20her%20severely%20malnourished%20son%20Abdulrahman%20Abshir%2C%207%20months%2C%20at%20the%20Banadir%20hospital%20on%20August%2014%2C%202011%20in%20Mogadishu%2C%20Somalia.%20The%20US%20government%20estimates%20that%20some%2030%2C000%20children%20have%20died%20in%20southern%20Somalia%20in%20the%20last%2090%20days%20due%20to%20famine%20and%20drought.%20%28Photo%20by%20John%20Moore%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

AUGUST%2015%3A%20%20President%20Barack%20Obama%20speaks%20at%20a%20town%20hall%20style%20meeting%20at%20the%20Seed%20Savers%20Exchange%20on%20August%2015%2C%202011%20in%20Decorah%2C%20Iowa.%20President%20Obama%20is%20on%20a%20bus%20tour%20of%20Minnesota%2C%20Iowa%20and%20Illinois%20where%20according%20to%20the%20White%20House%20he%20will%20%20discuss%20ways%20to%20grow%20the%20economy%2C%20strengthen%20the%20middle%20class%20and%20accelerate%20hiring%20in%20communities%20and%20towns%20across%20the%20nation%20and%20hear%20directly%20from%20Americans%2C%20including%20small%20business%20owners%2C%20local%20families%2C%20private%20sector%20leaders%2C%20rural%20organizations%2C%20and%20government%20officials%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Joe%20Raedle%2FGetty%20Images%29

AUGUST%2017%3A%20A%20U.S.%20Army%20carry%20team%20moves%20the%20transfer%20case%20of%20U.S.%20Army%20Spc.%20Joseph%20A.%20VanDreumel%20during%20a%20dignified%20transfer%20at%20Dover%20Air%20Force%20Base%20on%20August%2017%2C%202011%20in%20Dover%2C%20Delaware.%20Spc.%20VanDreumel%2C%20who%20was%20from%20Grand%20Rapids%2C%20Michigan%2C%20was%20killed%20while%20participating%20in%20combat%20operations%20in%20Afghanistan.%20%28Photo%20by%20Mark%20Wilson%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

AUGUST%2028%3A%20Branches%20litter%20an%20alley%20due%20to%20Hurricane%20Irene%20on%20August%2028%2C%202011%20in%20Virginia%20Beach%2C%20VA.%20The%20Category%201%20storm%20made%20landfall%20in%20North%20Carolina.%20%28Photo%20by%20Brendan%20Hoffman%2FGetty%20Images%29

AUGUST%2028%3A%20High%20winds%20from%20Hurricane%20Irene%20knocked%20down%20five%20large%20trees%20in%20front%20of%20the%20East%20River%20Cooperative%20Village%20apartment%20buildings%20along%20Grand%20Street%20August%2028%2C%202011%20in%20New%20York%20City.%20The%20hurricane%20hit%20New%20York%20as%20a%20Category%201%20storm%20before%20being%20downgraded%20to%20a%20tropical%20storm.%20%28Photo%20by%20Chip%20Somodevilla%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

SEPTEMBER%2010%3A%20People%20view%20the%20Tribute%20in%20Light%20from%20the%20Top%20of%20the%20Rock%20observation%20deck%20on%20September%2010%2C%202011%20in%20New%20York%20City.%20The%20Tribute%20in%20Light%20is%20an%20art%20installation%20honoring%20those%20who%20perished%20in%20the%209%2F11%20attacks.%20New%20York%20City%20and%20the%20nation%20are%20preparing%20for%20the%20tenth%20anniversary%20of%20the%20terrorist%20attacks%20on%20lower%20Manhattan%20which%20resulted%20in%20the%20deaths%20of%202%2C753%20people%20at%20the%20World%20Trade%20Center.%20%28Photo%20by%20Mario%20Tama%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

OCTOBER%2005%3A%20Candles%2C%20flowers%2C%20and%20an%20iPhone%20with%20Steve%20Jobs%20photo%20displayed%2C%20are%20seen%20in%20remembrance%20of%20Steve%20Jobs%2C%20founder%20and%20former%20CEO%20of%20Apple%20Inc%2C%20outside%20the%20Apple%20Store%20at%20West%2066th%20Street%20on%20October%205%2C%202011%20in%20New%20York%20City.Jobs%2C%2056%2C%20passed%20away%20October%205%2C%202011%20after%20a%20long%20battle%20with%20pancreatic%20cancer.%20Jobs%20co-founded%20Apple%20in%201976%20and%20is%20credited%2C%20along%20with%20Steve%20Wozniak%2C%20with%20marketing%20the%20world%26%238217%3Bs%20first%20personal%20computer%20in%20addition%20to%20the%20popular%20iPod%2C%20iPhone%20and%20iPad.%20%28Photo%20by%20Andrew%20Burton%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

OCTOBER%2018%3A%20Former%20Massachusetts%20Gov.%20Mitt%20Romney%20%28L%29%20and%20Texas%20Gov.%20Rick%20Perry%20participate%20in%20the%20Republican%20presidential%20debate%20airing%20on%20CNN%2C%20October%2018%2C%202011%20in%20Las%20Vegas%2C%20Nevada.%20Seven%20GOP%20contenders%20are%20taking%20part%20in%20the%20debate%2C%20which%20is%20sponsored%20by%20the%20Western%20Republican%20Leadership%20Conference%20in%20Las%20Vegas%20and%20held%20in%20the%20Venetian%20Hotel%26%238217%3Bs%20Sands%20Expo%20and%20Convention%20Center.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ethan%20Miller%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

OCTOBER%2029%3A%20A%20protester%26%238217%3Bs%20face%20is%20cleaned%20after%20he%20was%20pepper-sprayed%20by%20police%20at%20the%20%26%238216%3BOccupy%20Denver%26%238217%3B%20camp%20on%20October%2029%2C%202011%20in%20Denver%2C%20Colorado.%20Following%20a%20march%20by%20protesters%2C%20police%20tried%20to%20tear%20down%20some%20newly-erected%20tents%20at%20the%20encampment%20and%20and%20a%20melee%20ensued.%20Police%20detained%20about%20a%20half%20dozen%20people%20and%20pepper-sprayed%20others%20before%20calling%20for%20reinforcements.%20%28Photo%20by%20John%20Moore%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

NOVEMBER%2015%3A%20Occupy%20Wall%20Street%20activists%20protest%20near%20Duarte%20Square%20after%20police%20removed%20the%20protesters%20early%20in%20the%20morning%20from%20Zuccotti%20Park%20on%20November%2015%2C%202011%20in%20New%20York%20City.%20Hundreds%20of%20protesters%2C%20who%20rallied%20against%20inequality%20in%20America%2C%20have%20slept%20in%20tents%20and%20under%20tarps%20since%20September%2017%20in%20Zuccotti%20Park%2C%20which%20has%20since%20become%20the%20epicenter%20of%20the%20global%20Occupy%20movement.%20The%20raid%20in%20New%20York%20City%20follows%20recent%20similar%20moves%20in%20Oakland%2C%20California%2C%20and%20Portland%2C%20Oregon.%20%28Photo%20by%20Mario%20Tama%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

OCTOBER%2020%3A%20Libyan-Americans%20celebrate%20the%20death%20of%20former%20long%20time%20Libyan%20ruler%20Muammar%20Gaddafi%20in%20front%20of%20the%20White%20House%20October%2020%2C%202011%20in%20Washington%2C%20DC.%20Gaddafi%20was%20reportedly%20killed%20as%20Libyan%20rebel%20forces%20battled%20for%20control%20in%20his%20hometown%20of%20Sirte.%20%28Photo%20by%20Alex%20Wong%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

FEBRUARY%2011%3A%20%20A%20woman%20cries%20in%20Tahrir%20Square%20after%20it%20is%20announced%20that%20President%20Hosni%20Mubarak%20was%20giving%20up%20power%20Feburary%2011%2C%202011%20in%20Cairo%2C%20Egypt.%20%20Hundreds%20of%20thousands%20of%20Egyptians%20took%20to%20the%20streets%20in%20Cairo%20as%20news%20of%20the%20Egyptian%20president%26%238217%3Bs%20resignation%20spread%2C%20a%20stunning%20ending%20to%2018%20days%20of%20anti-government%20protests.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Chris%20Hondros%2FGetty%20Images%29

May%202%3A%20People%20gather%20in%20Times%20Square%20may%202%2C%202011%20shortly%20after%20the%20announcement%20from%20the%20President%20Obama%20announced%20that%20Al-Qaida%20mastermind%20Osama%20bin%20Laden%20was%20dead%20and%20the%20United%20States%20has%20his%20body.%20Bin%20Laden%20was%20killed%20in%20a%20mansion%20close%20to%20Islamabad.%20%28Photo%20credit%3A%20TIMOTHY%20A.%20CLARY%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29%20%3Cbr%20%2F%3EPeople%20gather%20in%20Times%20Square%20may%202%2C%202011%20shortly%20after%20the%20announcement%20from%20the%20President%20%20Obama%20announced%20that%20Al-Qaida%20mastermind%20Osama%20bin%20Laden%20was%20dead%20and%20the%20United%20States%20has%20his%20body.%20Bin%20Laden%20was%20killed%20in%20a%20mansion%20close%20to%20Islamabad.%20AFP%20PHOTO%20%2F%20TIMOTHY%20A.%20CLARY%20%28Photo%20credit%20should%20read%20TIMOTHY%20A.%20CLARY%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

JANUARY%2005%3A%20Speaker%20of%20the%20House%20John%20Boehner%20%28R-OH%29%20%28R%29%20wipes%20his%20eyes%20as%20outgoing%20Speaker%20of%20the%20House%20Nancy%20Pelosi%20%28D-CA%29%20%28L%29%20prepares%20to%20hand%20over%20over%20the%20Speaker%26%238217%3Bs%20gavel%20following%20his%20election%20in%20the%20House%20chamber%20January%205%2C%202011%20in%20Washington%2C%20DC.%20The%20112th%20U.S.%20Congress%20was%20sworn-in%20today%2C%20with%20Republican%20legislators%20taking%20control%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives%20and%20expected%20to%20begin%20attempts%20to%20dismantle%20portions%20of%20U.S.%20President%20Barack%20Obama%C2%92s%20legislative%20agenda.%20%28Photo%20by%20Chip%20Somodevilla%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

FEBRUARY%2002%3A%20Cars%20sit%20in%20the%20northbound%20lanes%20of%20Lake%20Shore%20Drive%20after%20accidents%20and%20drifting%20snow%20stranded%20the%20drivers%20during%20last%20night%26%238217%3Bs%20blizzard%20February%202%2C%202011%20in%20Chicago%2C%20Illinois.%20As%20of%20late%20morning%20over%2020%20inches%20of%20snow%20had%20fallen%2C%20making%20this%20snowstorm%20the%20third%20largest%20recorded%20in%20the%20city.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Scott%20Olson%2FGetty%20Images%29

APRIL%2029%3A%20Catherine%2C%20Duchess%20of%20Cambridge%20and%20Prince%20William%2C%20Duke%20of%20Cambridge%20greet%20well-wishers%20from%20the%20balcony%20at%20Buckingham%20Palace%20on%20April%2029%2C%202011%20in%20London%2C%20England.%20The%20marriage%20of%20the%20second%20in%20line%20to%20the%20British%20throne%20was%20led%20by%20the%20Archbishop%20of%20Canterbury%20and%20was%20attended%20by%201900%20guests%2C%20including%20foreign%20Royal%20family%20members%20and%20heads%20of%20state.%20Thousands%20of%20well-wishers%20from%20around%20the%20world%20have%20also%20flocked%20to%20London%20to%20witness%20the%20spectacle%20and%20pageantry%20of%20the%20Royal%20Wedding.%20%28Photo%20by%20Christopher%20Furlong%2FGetty%20Images%29%20