US Events 2016
January 16
In response to the Flint water crisis, President Obama declares a federal state of emergency and asks for support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Several investigations were made and lawsuits were filed against government officials on the issue.
February 7
In the Super Bowl 50, AFC champion Denver Broncos defeats the NFC champion Carolina Panthers 24 – 10 in Santa Clara, California to win their third Super Bowl championship. The halftime show was headlined by Coldplay, with special performances by Beyoncé and Bruno Mars.
April 3
An Amtrak passenger train traveling between New York City and Savannah on the Palmetto route, with 343 people on board, derails in Chester, Pennsylvania injuring 41 passengers and killing two maintenance workers.
April 18
More than 17 inches of rain in one day causes severe flooding in Houston, Texas. The flood damages 1,000 homes and leaves 147,000 residents without power. Eventually, a state of emergency is declared in nine counties.
May 25
An audit by the State Department Inspector General finds that Hillary Clinton, during her time as Secretary of State, violated directives from the department and used a private email server for government business.
May 28
Harambe, a 17-year-old Western lowland gorilla in the Cincinnati Zoo, is shot and killed by zoo officials after a three-year-old boy climbed into the enclosure. This reaction by authorities sparks an outrage.
June 3
American boxing legend and one of the world’s greatest sporting figures of the 20th century, Muhammad Ali dies of septic shock at a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the age of 74.
June 12
A 29-year-old security guard Omar Mateen opens fire at a gay bar Pulse killing 49 people and injuring another 53. Investigated as a domestic terrorist attack, it was the deadliest attack against LGBT people in the US history and the deadliest mass shooting in the country.
June 19
In the 2016 NBA Finals, the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers thrash the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors in seven games. It was the first NBA Finals title in the Cavaliers’ 45-year history.
July 4
Launched from Cape Canaveral in August 2011, NASA’s Juno spacecraft enters the polar orbit of Jupiter to begin a 20-month scientific investigation of the planet.
July 7
During a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas, against the police shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, a sniper Micah Xavier Johnson opens fire, killing five Dallas police officers and injuring another 11 people. It was the deadliest attack on US law enforcement since September 11, 2001.
July 28
The senator Hillary Clinton accepts the party nomination for the US president in Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She became the first woman to be nominated for US president. Donald Trump accepted the RNC nomination on July 16 in Cleveland, Ohio.
August 4
A series of wildfires break out in Western United States including California and Nevada. Oregon, Nevada, and Wyoming states were evacuated due to flames engulfing populated areas.
August 5 – 21
The US compete at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and win 46 gold, 37 silver, and 38 bronze medals. The Rio Olympics were the third most successful for the US in the medal count.
August 12 – 19
The 2016 Louisiana floods cause damage to over 146,000 homes, killing 13 people. The Red Cross characterized the devastating floods as the worst natural disaster in the US since Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
August 29 – September 11
In the 136th edition of tennis’ US Open, Stan Wawrinka defeated defending champion Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles. Angelique Kerber defeated Karolína Plíšková in the women’s singles.
August 31
As a result of President Obama’s visit in March, a JetBlue Flight 387 from Fort Lauderdale becomes first US commercial flight to land in Cuba in more than 50 years.
September 3
The US and China, together accountable for 40% of the planet’s carbon emissions, ratify the Paris global climate agreement.
September 21
A state of emergency is declared in Charlotte, North Carolina, after protests erupt over the police killings of three black men in a single week. To restore order, Charlotte’s police chief called in the National Guard and state troopers.
October 6
After wreaking havoc in the Caribbean countries, Hurricane Matthew strengthens to a Category Four storm on its way to the East Coast of the US.
October 7
A 2005 videotape of presidential candidate Donald Trump making lewd comments surfaces. In the tape, he is seen talking to Billy Bush about grabbing women without repercussions.
November 2
The Chicago Cubs defeat the Cleveland Indians 8 – 7 to become World Series Champions in Major League Baseball. They won the Series 4 – 3 and claimed their first MLB title since 1908.
November 8
In a result that surprised most political pundits, Donald Trump is elected as the 45th President of the US, his running mate Mike Pence is the VP-elect.
November 20
More than 300 people are injured after authorities use water cannons, rubber bullets, and concussion grenades on a peaceful protest on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation against the proposed construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.