Top 12 Stories of 2012
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1. Obama Reelected as U.S. President
Barack Obama won re-election as president of the United States in November, securing four more years in the White House. He ran on a campaign of moving America forward - something he also promised during his 2008 campaign. His victory speech, given after midnight on election night, was widely praised around the world as one of his best. (NPR Specials, November 7, 2012)
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2. Hurricane Sandy Devastates the East Coast
In October, Hurricane Sandy devastated the U.S. East Coast. It was the biggest storm ever to hit the area, and it resulted in 106 deaths and unprecedented damage. The storm's path extended from the Carolinas in the South to Maine in the North. NPR was on the ground in one of the most damaged areas - Staten Island, NY - to bring us the residents' stories. (All Things Considered, NPR, 11/11/2012)
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3. Health Care Law Upheld
In June, a historic Supreme Court ruling upheld President Barack Obama's controversial health care law. It was seen as a major win for Obama's re-election campaign, and a defining legal decision for the country. This report, from NPR, gathered immediate reactions from outside the courthouse on the day the ruling was announced. (All Things Considered, NPR, 6/28/2012)
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4. School Shooting Kills 27, Shocks Nation
America, and the world, struggled to come to terms with the mass shooting in December at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut that killed 20 children - all under seven years old - and six teachers. This story, from local radio station WSHU, describes the community in the first days after the shooting as it tried to piece together what happened. (WSHU, 12/16/2012)
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5. Olympic Fever Grips World
For two weeks in July and August, the London Olympics held the world's attention. The Games gave us many memorable moments - all different, depending on who you were rooting for. But an undeniable highlight came when Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt silenced his critics by defending his title as the world's fastest man - twice. Mike Pesca from NPR was there to bring us all the drama of Bolt's two races. (Morning Edition, NPR, 08/10/2012)
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6. Embassy Attack in Libya Kills U.S. Ambassador
An attack on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya this September left four American diplomatic staff dead, including ambassador Christopher Stevens. It was the first death of an American diplomat abroad in more than two decades, shocking the nation. It was first suspected that the attack was part of an unplanned protest, but later found to be a strategic terrorist attack. The scramble for information and confusion can be heard in this report, the morning after the attack on The Takeaway....
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7. Egyptians Vote In First Democratic Election
Egyptians went to the polls in May for the first time since ousting former President Hosni Mubarak. The country elected Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, who was the country's first president from outside the military. This report takes us from wild celebrations in Tahrir Square to protests from sceptical Egyptians, who refused to accept the contested result. (AM, ABC, 6/25/12 )
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