Top Stories Of 2011 In Metro Detroit And Beyond

%28Credit%3A%20iStock%29%20Detroit%20made%20national%20headlines%20when%20a%20study%20in%20May%20revealed%20that%2047%20percent%20of%20Detroiters%20are%20%26%238220%3Bfunctionally%20illiterate.%26%238221%3B%20The%20alarming%20new%20statistics%20were%20released%20by%20the%20Detroit%20Regional%20Workforce%20Fund.%20WWJ%20Newsradio%20950%20spoke%20with%20the%20Fund%E2%80%99s%20Director%2C%20Karen%20Tyler-Ruiz%2C%20who%20explained%20exactly%20what%20this%20means.%20%E2%80%9CNot%20able%20to%20fill%20out%20basic%20forms%2C%20for%20getting%20a%20job%20%E2%80%94%20those%20types%20of%20basic%20everyday%20%28things%29.%20Reading%20a%20prescription%3B%20what%E2%80%99s%20on%20the%20bottle%2C%20how%20many%20you%20should%20take%E2%80%A6%20just%20your%20basic%20everyday%20tasks%2C%E2%80%9D%20she%20said.%20%E2%80%9CI%20don%E2%80%99t%20really%20know%20how%20they%20get%20by%2C%20but%20they%20do.%20Are%20they%20getting%20by%20well%3F%20Well%2C%20that%E2%80%99s%20another%20question%2C%E2%80%9D%20Tyler-Ruiz%20said.%20Some%20of%20the%20Detroit%20suburbs%20also%20have%20high%20numbers%20of%20functionally%20illiterate%3A%2034%20percent%20in%20Pontiac%20and%2024%20percent%20in%20Southfield.%20%20

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

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

Thousands%20of%20people%20signed%20a%20petition%20urging%20the%20Detroit%20Lions%20to%20stop%20Nickelback%20from%20playing%20the%20Thanksgiving%20halftime%20show%20at%20Ford%20Field.%20But%20still%20the%20show%20went%20on.%20%28Getty%20Images%29%20

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

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

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

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

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

Shawn%20Weimer%2C%20the%20father%20caught%20on%20tape%20bragging%20about%20his%209-year-old%20daughter%26%238217%3Bs%20driving%20when%20he%20forced%20to%20act%20as%20his%20designated%20driver%2C%20pleaded%20guilty%20in%20December%20to%20child%20abuse%20charges.%20Weimer%20admitted%20he%20had%20the%20girl%20drive%20after%20he%20consumed%20too%20much%20whiskey.%20Someone%20spotted%20her%20behind%20the%20wheel%20and%20called%20police.%20The%20careful%20underage%20driver%20asked%20police%20why%20they%20were%20pulling%20her%20over%20because%20she%20was%20driving%20%26%238220%3Breal%20good.%26%238221%3B%20Weimer%20bragged%20to%20the%20owner%20of%20a%20gas%20station%20owner%20during%20a%20pit%20stop%20about%20his%20daughter%26%238217%3Bs%20great%20driving.

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

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

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

The%20case%20of%20missing%20Detroit%20toddler%20Bianca%20Jones%20doesn%26%238217%3Bt%20have%20an%20ending%20yet.%20Little%20Bianca%20was%20last%20seen%20December%202%2C%20when%20her%20father%20Deandre%20Lane%20said%20he%20was%20carjacked%20with%20her%20inside%20the%20vehicle.%20The%20car%20was%20later%20discovered%2C%20but%20Bianca%20wasn%26%238217%3Bt%20in%20it.%20An%20exhaustive%20search%20got%20under%20way%2C%20with%20no%20signs%20of%20the%20girl.%20Cadaver%20dogs%20later%20brought%20in%20reportedly%20hit%20on%20the%20scent%20of%20human%20remains%20in%20places%20tied%20to%20Biance.%20Her%20father%20failed%20a%20lie%20detector%20test%2C%20but%20visited%20WWJ%20Newsradio%20and%20Talk%20Radio%201270%20to%20proclaim%20his%20innocence.%20Prosecutors%20have%20reportedly%20sought%20a%20warrant%20in%20the%20case%2C%20but%20it%26%238217%3Bs%20still%20unknown%20who%20it%20targets%20or%20what%20the%20charges%20could%20be.%20

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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

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

%28WWJ%20Photo%3A%20Stephanie%20Davis%2C%20file%29%20Mother%20Maryanne%20Godboldo%20was%20thrust%20into%20the%20spotlight%20when%20she%20got%20into%20a%2012-hour%20standoff%20with%20Detroit%20police.%20It%20began%20when%20Godboldo%20fired%20a%20shot%20at%20a%20CPS%20worker%20who%20arrived%20at%20her%20home%20in%20an%20attempt%20to%20take%20her%2013-year-old%20daughter.%20CPS%20workers%20were%20there%20to%20take%20the%20girl%20after%20reports%20surfaced%20that%20Godboldo%20refused%20to%20give%20the%20child%20needed%20medication.%20Godboldo%20refused%20to%20hand%20over%20her%20daughter.%20Fifty-eight-year-old%20Godboldo%20is%20charged%20with%20discharging%20a%20weapon%20in%20a%20dwelling%2C%20felonious%20assault%2C%20felony%20firearm%2C%20resisting%20arrest%20and%20obstruction%20of%20an%20officer.%20She%20won%20her%20battle%20in%20court.%20%20%20

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

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

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

The%20Michigan%20parole%20board%20voted%20in%20June%20to%20release%20former%20Detroit%20Mayor%20Kwame%20Kilpatrick%2C%20after%20more%20than%20a%20year%20in%20behind%20bars.%20He%20was%20convicted%20of%20lying%20to%20a%20jury%20in%20a%20wrongful%20termination%20case%20to%20cover%20up%20the%20affair%20he%20was%20having%20with%20then-Chief%20of%20Staff%20Christine%20Beatty.%20Federal%20charges%20are%20still%20looming%20for%20Kilpatrick%2C%20who%20wrote%20a%20book%2C%20went%20on%20a%20book%20tour%20and%20drew%20even%20more%20criticism%20for%20a%20lavish%20new%20home%20in%20Texas.%20

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

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

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

Will%20Detroit%20get%20an%20emergency%20manager%20in%202012%3F%20The%20city%26%238217%3Bs%20finances%20took%20the%20top%20headline%20spot%20over%20and%20over%20throughout%202011%2C%20with%20strong%20talk%20that%20an%20emergency%20manager%20would%20be%20appointed%20by%20the%20state%20to%20straighten%20out%20the%20city%26%238217%3Bs%20tangled%20finances.%20In%20December%2C%20Mayor%20Dave%20Bing%20rallied%20the%20troops%2C%20including%20city%20council%20members%20and%20union%20leaders%20in%20a%20failed%20attempt%20to%20stave%20off%20the%20impending%20review%20of%20the%20books.%20He%20urged%20the%20state%20to%20stay%20out%20of%20city%20affairs%20and%20let%20leaders%20develop%20a%20plan%20to%20address%20the%20cash%20flow%20crisis.%20%20Among%20other%20things%2C%20Bing%E2%80%99s%20plan%20calls%20for%20laying%20off%201%2C000%20city%20worker%2C%20increasing%20transportation%20fares%20and%20getting%20unions%20to%20agree%20to%20wage%2C%20healthcare%20and%20pension%20concessions.

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

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

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

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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

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

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