Top Stories of 2022

January

The James Webb Space Telescope entered orbit. The telescope has since yielded a series of stunning images of deep space.

The James Webb Space Telescope: Looking back towards the beginning of time ("Sunday Morning")

Spectacular image of heart of Phantom Galaxy highlights power of Webb and Hubble telescopes

The James Webb Space Telescope is so powerful, it can detect the heat of a bumblebee as far away as the moon — and other surprising facts

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope captures thousands of never-before-seen young stars in the Tarantula Nebula

Webb space telescope reveals "Pillars of Creation" in stunning new detail

James Webb Space Telescope captures stunning new image of Neptune and its rings: "It's just absolutely remarkable"

James Webb Space Telescope spots what may be the most distant galaxy yet found

APTOPIX Ukraine Tensions

A Ukrainian serviceman points to the direction of the incoming shelling next to a building which was hit by a large caliber mortar shell in the frontline village of Krymske in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine on Saturday, February 19, 2022. Vadim Ghirda / AP

February

Russia invaded Ukraine, igniting a bloody conflict now in its tenth month.

Ukraine vs. Russia: A modern-day David vs. Goliath story ("Sunday Morning")

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a test for America: John Dickerson ("Sunday Morning")

What is Putin's endgame now? ("Sunday Morning")

Putin's war creates schism in Russian Orthodox Church ("Sunday Morning")

What are the prospects for pursuing Vladimir Putin for war crimes? ("Sunday Morning")

Another Russian quagmire: Putin and the shadow of Afghanistan ("Sunday Morning")

Russia's invasion after 100 days: Ukraine goes on the offensive ("Sunday Morning")

Switchblade drone: How the "kamikaze" anti-tank weapon works ("Sunday Morning")

U.S. arms to Ukraine: Is it enough? ("Sunday Morning")

How HIMARS launchers are shifting momentum in Ukraine's fight against Russia ("Sunday Morning")

Zelenskyy vows Ukraine "cannot be broken" as Russia bombs civilians into darkness, but runs short of missiles

March

Researchers discovered the wreck of Endurance, the ship from Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated trans-Antarctic expedition that got underway in 1914.

A tale of Endurance ("Sunday Morning")

April

Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed as a Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Who is Ketanji Brown Jackson? ("Sunday Morning")

Why Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's Supreme Court confirmation resonates across generations ("CBS Mornings")

Flowers, candles and signs are left at a memorial for victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting, three days after a gunman killed nineteen children and two teachers, in Uvalde, Texas, May 27, 2022.

Flowers, candles and signs are left at a memorial for victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting, three days after a gunman killed nineteen children and two teachers, in Uvalde, Texas, May 27, 2022. Reuters/Marco Bello

May

A gunman in Uvalde, Texas killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School. It was the third-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.

Grim task at hand after Texas school shooting: planning 19 children's funerals

Texas school shooting: Grief, vigils and outrage ("Sunday Morning")

"Grief overwhelms the soul": Politicians and celebrities react to Texas elementary school mass shooting

Texas school shooting already generating "horrifying" conspiracy theories

Teacher killed trying to protect kids in Texas school shooting and her husband who died two days later are laid to rest in Uvalde

Uvalde schools police chief: I didn't know I was in charge at the shooting scene

Mother of 10-year-old Uvalde school shooting victim suing gun manufacturer, store and local law enforcement

Supreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade Abortion-Rights Ruling

An abortion-rights demonstrator dressed as a Handmaid from Margaret Atwood's "A Handmaid's Tale" stands outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on June 24, 2022. Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

June

The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, effectively criminalizing abortion in much of the nation.

The threat to Roe v. Wade, and to the Supreme Court's legitimacy ("Sunday Morning")

How Supreme Court conservatives are reshaping Americans' rights ("Sunday Morning")

With Roe v. Wade overturned, which states would restrict or protect abortion rights?

The end of Roe v. Wade: America reacts

"Women are going to die": Hillary Clinton on Supreme Court's overturning Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion rights ("CBS Mornings")

Sherri Chessen on her 1962 abortion, and the fate of Roe: "We can't go back to willow sticks and knitting needles" ("Sunday Morning")

Kansas voters uphold right to abortion

Abortion rights supporters score midterm victories in at least 4 states

July

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated, just two days before that country's parliamentary elections.

World leaders mourn assassination of "friend" Shinzo Abe

Some of the classified documents found at Trump's residence in Florida. Department of Justice

August

The FBI conducted a search of Mar-a-Lago, the home of former president Donald Trump, and found classified materials, including documents labeled "top secret."

National Archives identified over 100 documents with classified markings in first 15 boxes collected from Trump

Material on foreign nation's nuclear capabilities seized at Trump's Mar-a-Lago (Washington Post)

Detailed list of property seized in Trump FBI search released

Former Attorney General Bill Barr says it's "unprecedented for a president to take all this classified information" and put it "in a country club"

The fallout from Donald Trump's unparalleled legal problems ("Sunday Morning")

Classified: Keeping close the nation's secrets ("Sunday Morning")

New classified records found in Trump storage unit

Queen Elizabeth II through the years

Queen Elizabeth II through the years 76 photos

September

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II died in Scotland, at the age of 96. Her son Charles succeeded her as king.

Queen Elizabeth II: Why she will be missed ("Sunday Morning")

Britain's royal history: More than 1,000 years of family drama ("Sunday Morning")

The Queen on screen: Actors discuss playing the most private of public persons ("Sunday Morning")

Tina Brown on Elizabeth II: "The monarchy was incredibly lucky that it is she who inherited the throne" ("Sunday Morning")

The Queen's animal companions ("Sunday Morning")

Former President Bill Clinton on Queen Elizabeth II: "She was an amazing woman" ("Sunday Morning")

7 things you might not know about the late Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch

Commentary: Queen Elizabeth's epic reign, and why the monarchy matters ("Sunday Morning")

Charles III: What changes might we see from Britain's new king? ("Sunday Morning")

October

Elon Musk took control of Twitter, bringing to the social media giant a brash leadership style – along with thousands of layoffs.

Who is financing Elon Musk's $44 billion deal to buy Twitter? (Reuters)

Elon Musk set to fire roughly half of Twitter's workers

Musk job cuts continue at Twitter; Contractors pink slipped over weekend

Twitter workers flee after Elon Musk's "hardcore" ultimatum

SpaceX workers say they were fired for complaining about Elon Musk's tweets

Growing number of companies are freezing their Twitter ads after Elon Musk takeover

Elon Musk and Twitter: Is he in over his head?

Hate speech's rise on Twitter is unprecedented, researchers find (New York Times)

Elon Musk tweets that he will step down as Twitter CEO once he finds a replacement

November

A projected "red wave" fizzled, as Republicans won a slim majority in the House, and Democrats held control of the United States Senate.

Anticipated Republican wave in midterms turned into "Republican sprinkle," analyst says

Sen. Amy Klobuchar says Democrats "defied the tides of history" in midterm elections

December

A suspect was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of four University of Idaho students; and WNBA star Brittney Griner returned home after a prisoner swap with Russia. She said she'll return to the court this season.

Arrest in Idaho murders caps weeks of fear, frustration

Brittney Griner breaks silence after being released from prison in Russia: "It feels so good to be home!"