2006 Headline Highlights

By Bonnie Shelton, 12.06.06

Looking back at 2006 and what has happened in America and the rest of the world, we cannot help but speculate what lies in store for 2007.

January

The new year got off to a sad beginning when 13 coal miners were trapped underground January 2 in a West Virginia coal mine. A few days later, miscommunication led to a West Virginia church celebrating the survival of all 13 men, when in reality 12 miners died and only one survived. By November, West Virginia and the coal mining industry made new regulations to make the mines safer.

February

Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot his hunting partner Harry Whittington while in Texas hunting quail. Whittington lived to laugh off the experience saying any hunter can make such a mistake.

March

Two of the most thought-provoking films went head to head at the Academy Awards. Viewers were surprised to see that “Crash” won best picture over “Brokeback Mountain.” The audience was less surprised when Brokeback director Ang Lee won best director.

Following his service as interim prime minister after Ariel Sharon suffered a sudden stroke, Ehud Olmert was elected to the top Israeli seat March 28. Olmert’s strong victory makes him the third prime minister of Israel since 1999.

April

Actor George Clooney and father Nick traveled to Africa documenting the crisis in Darfur, Sudan. Clooney officially joined the fight to save Darfur and addressed the United Nations Security Council in September to procure international aid for the Sudanese refugees.

April also delivered an abrupt end to the season for Duke University’s lacrosse team. The players were suspended after 46 of the 47 players became suspects in the rape of an African-American exotic dancer in North Carolina.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II turned 80 years old on April 21. Observing royal tradition, the queen held official birthday celebrations in June.

June

In June, Americans awoke to the news that the ace of spades on the most wanted list in the War on Terror had been killed. The charred remains of al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi were identified by DNA samples.

July

Attempting a new kind of fireworks, North Korea tested its guided missiles on July 4 and 5. North Korea hoped for the success of its Taepo Dong 2 long-range missile, but the testing failed. The United States cautioned North Korea not to further test any weapon systems while neighboring countries viewed the testing as an aggressive threat.

More fireworks were set off when Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah exchanged bombs in a micro-war which lasted several weeks. After Lebanon breached a firing ban, the two sides finally reached an armistice.

August

In August, the Scotland Yard foiled a major conspiracy to blow up aircrafts headed to the United States using liquid explosives. This led to another frustrating setback for travelers when TSA immediately banned all liquids, gels, and soft solutions on flights.

Shocking millions of Americans, John Mark Karr, an ex-patriot confessed to molesting and killing JonBenet Ramsey. In a world-wide media frenzy, Karr gave a confusing confession to the crime. Karr stated he was in love with Ramsey and her death was accidental. The DNA evidence did not match Karr’s, who now faces perjury charges.

September

September was the busiest news month of the year especially for TV personalities. Famous croc hunter Steve Irwin died tragically off the Australian coast while taping an underwater documentary. A few days later Katie Couric debuted on CBS as the first female to anchor an evening network newscast alone.

America relived the five year anniversary of September 11 with two movies and adocudrama that gave evoking images of what led up to that tragic day. Several news stations re-broadcast footage and gave extensive coverage to what has changed since then.

Mid-September

During the 61 General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad severely criticized President Bush. In his speech, Chavez decried Bush and declared the U.S. a “terrorist state.”

And as the assembly met in New York City, North Korea tested nuclear weapons underground close to Pyongyang. The seismic activity was felt in Japan. The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting and in 30 minutes unanimously decided to impose sanctions on North Korea. Those sanctions are still being defined but most include commercial trade. The six-party talks held in Asia have yet to resume a steadfast course.

Nearly 200 Americans fell ill when an E. coli outbreak hit the U.S. The suspected culprit was bagged spinach, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars from American spinach and lettuce farmers nationwide.

A string of school shootings and intrusions prompted schools to tighten security. The most shocking was a massacre at an Amish school in Pennsylvania which resulted in the death of five female students and their shooter Charles Roberts.

October

October was a costly month for politicians. ABC broke the story of Republican Senator Mark Foley’s inappropriate advances towards male pages. Several young men spoke up, immediately leading to a sensational political scandal and the disfigurement of Speaker Dennis Hastert’s political career.

It was no laughing matter later in the month when Senator John Kerry told a bad joke criticizing the troops in Iraq. Kerry later apologized saying he meant no offense to the troops. Viriginia residents also failed to catch the punch-line when Republican Senator George Allen made a racial slur to a staffer of his opponent Jim Webb. This slip of the tongue cost Allen a mid-term victory and his Senate seat.

November

Saddam Hussein was convicted of killing more than 50,000 people in the Kurdish region of Iraq in 1988. An international court sentenced him to hanging, but he will first stand trial for other charges facing him.
The mid-term elections proved detrimental for the Republican party. The GOP lost control of the House and Senate making the last two years in Bush’s presidency a challenge.

December

Famous celebrity couple Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes affectionately known as TomKat married in Italy in a lavish ceremony. Fellow celebrity Britany Spears filed divorce proceedings against husband and father of her two children Kevin Federline. While K-Fed will get next to nothing from Britany’s vast fortune, thanks to their pre-nup agreement, a high-profile child custody case may ensue after Britany showed up to a party wearing no underwear with Paris Hilton in December.

Although 2006 was full of ups and downs, 2007 will be a new beginning. Latest reports indicate that Santa is preparing for the biggest night of the year, as Christmas goes ahead as scheduled.