2009 around the nation, world

Images from stories that captured the world's attention in 2009.

Section:Gallery

Thu., Dec. 31, 2009

President Barack Obama, right, and first lady Michelle Obama dance together at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Alex Brandon Associated Press
President Barack Obama, his wife, Michelle, left, Vice President Joseph Biden, second from right, and his wife Jill, right, are escorted by Major General Richard Rowe as they prepare to review the troops from the steps of the Capitol after Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 in Washington.

Tannen Maury Pool - Epa
Crowds gather to watch the inauguration of President Barack Obama, in this Jan. 20, 2009, file photo, on the west side of the Capitol in Washington. The Washington Monument can be seen in the background.

Scott Andrews Associated Press
Barack Obama, left, joined by his wife Michelle, takes the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts to become the 44th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, in this Jan. 20, 2009, file photo.

Jae Hong Associated Press
New Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor smiles as President Barack Obama applauds during a reception in her honor, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009, in the East Room of the White House in Washington.

Alex Brandon Associated Press
In this Thursday Jan. 15, 2009, file photo, airline passengers wait to be rescued on the wings of a US Airways Airbus 320 jetliner that safely ditched in the frigid waters of the Hudson River in New York, after a flock of birds knocked out both its engines.

Steven Day Dayst
A United States Forest Service air tanker drops fire retardant next to a line of fire as the Station fire burns in the hills above a home in Acton, Calif., in this Aug. 30, 2009, file photo.

Dan Steinberg Associated Press
Bernard Madoff arrives at federal court in New York, in this March 12, 2009, file photo. Madoff pleaded guilty to charges that he engineered one of the largest investment scams in U.S. history.

Mary Altaffer Associated Press
An Iranian supporter of defeated Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi is beaten by government security members as fellow supports come to his aid during riots in Tehran, Iran, in this June 14, 2009, file photo.

Str Str Associated Press
Family members gather at the coffin of Sen. Edward Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on Aug. 29, 2009. Kennedy, 77, died Aug. 25 more than a year after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Doug Mills Associated Press
Euna Lee, left, and Laura Ling, two American journalists who were arrested in March after allegedly crossing into North Korea from China, are greeted by Michael Saldate, the husband of Euna Lee, second from right, Ian Clayton, the husband of Laura Ling, right, and Lee's daughter, Hana, after the two arrive at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, Calif., on Aug. 5, 2009.

Jae Hong Associated Press
Police officers kneel at the caskets of four slain Lakewood officers during a memorial service Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, at the Tacoma Dome. The memorial was just a week after the officers were gunned down in a coffee shop before the start of their shift, Nov. 29. Killed were Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39, and officers Ronald Owens, 37, Tina Griswold, 40, and Greg Richards, 42.

Elaine Thompson Associated Press
Teena Nemelka, left, hugs the picture and touches the boots of her son, fallen soldier Pfc. Aaron Nemelka, 19, of West Jordan, Utah, during a memorial held at U.S. Army's III Corps headquarters at Fort Hood, Texas, Nov. 10, 2009. The memorial honored the 13 victims, including Nemelka, of the mass shooting Nov. 5 at Fort Hood. Michael Nemelka, right, comforts his wife.

Rodolfo Gonzalez Pool, Austin American-Statesman
Former Utah Jazz guard and Spokane native John Stockton wipes a tear from his face as he talks about his deceased mom as his presenter Hall of Fame NBA player Isiah Thomas applauds during Stockton's enshrinement ceremony into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., on Sept. 11, 2009.

Stephan Savoia Associated Press
Former Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards guard Michael Jordan cries as he takes the podium during his enshrinement ceremony into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., on Sept. 11, 2009.

Stephan Savoia Associated Press
Singer Janet Jackson, left, Paris Katherine Jackson, Prince Michael Jackson II, and LaToya Jackson are seen on stage during the memorial service for Michael Jackson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, in this July 7, 2009 file photo. Jackson died June 25.

Mark Terrill Ap Pool
In this Oct. 15, 2009 file photo, six-year-old Falcon Heene is shown with his father, Richard, outside the family's home in Fort Collins, Colo., after Falcon Heene was found hiding in a box in a space above the garage. Richard Heene reported his son had floated away in a helium weather balloon and later pleaded guilty to charges in the hoax along with the boy's mother.

David Zalubowski Associated Press
This Nov. 27, 2009, file photo released by the White House shows President Barack Obama greeting Michaele and Tareq Salahi, right, at a State Dinner hosted by Obama at the White House in Washington in this Nov. 24, 2009 file photo. The Salahis were thrust into the national spotlight after reports that they had crashed the party.

Samantha Appleton The White House
Amid multiple reports of mistresses, Tiger Woods admitted infidelities to his wife and announced he'd be taking a break from golf. Woods' admissions and the tabloid frenzy that ensued cost the golfer multiple endorsements.

Chuck Burton Associated Press
Soldiers from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry take defensive positions at firebase Restrepo after receiving fire from Taliban positions in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province, in May 2009. Spc. Zachery Boyd of Fort Worth, Texas, far left was wearing "I love NY" boxer shorts after rushing from his sleeping quarters to join his fellow platoon members. From far right is Spc. Cecil Montgomery, of Many, La., and Jordan Custer, of Spokane.

David Guttenfelder Associated Press
Brittany Lincicome jumps in the pond with her caddie Tara Bateman after winning the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship golf tournament in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on April 5, 2009.

Chris Carlson Associated Press