Day in Photos

Jan. 16, 2009

In Tiny Kenyan Villages, a Big Obama Family

In a relatively short span of time, members of President-elect Barack Obama's extended Kenyan family have seen their daily routines replaced by the trappings and oddities of global fame.

Chapter Closes at New Bethel Baptist Church

In an era when black pastors were at the forefront of the civil rights movement, the Rev. Walter Fauntroy was at the head of the pack. On Sunday, two days before the inauguration of Barack Obama, he will offer his last sermon.

Foreclosures Hit Biggest Lenders

The residents of California's Riverside County face uncertain futures as the area, home to real estate agents and big borrowers, suffers through high unemployment rates and plummeting home prices.

The Road to History

Indelible images from the longest, costliest and, quite possibly, most surprising presidential campaign of all time.

The Colors in My Dreams

On the eve of the first African American president being sworn into office, photos recall a different time.

Andrew Wyeth: 1917 - 2009

American painter Andrew Wyeth, famous for capturing the people and landscapes of Pennsylvania's Brandywine River Valley, died in his sleep on Jan. 16 at the age of 91.

Arkansans Wary of Obama

To many people of Brinkley, Arkansas - a community that voted overwhelmingly in 2008 for Republican presidential nominee John McCain (Ariz.) -- President-elect Barack Obama's election to the White House marks a period of uncertainty for rural America.

Plane Crashes in N.Y.'s Hudson River

A US Airways flight with 135 passengers crashed into New York's Hudson River Thursday afternoon, shortly after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia airport bound for Charlotte. The plane, an Airbus A320, appeared to make a controlled landing in the water.

Chicago Style

Washington Post fashion editor Robin Givhan says that Midwestern propriety, the city's history and the weather have shaped the fashion sense of the Windy City's residents.

Actor Ricardo Montalban Dies at 88

Actor Ricardo Montalban, famous for his role in TV series "Fantasy Island," died today in his Los Angeles home at the age of 88.

Golden Year for Astronomy

After its invention more than 400 years ago, telescopes are still recognized as the greatest marvels of civilization. This year, the U.S. plans to launch new telescopes and maintain older ones in hopes of discovering a larger Multiverse.

My Kidney, His Life

In April of 2008, washingtonpost.com video journalist Pierre Kattar donated his kidney to a complete stranger to save his father's life. He documented the unique experience of participating in an eight-person kidney exchange.

Dakar Rally 2009

Drivers in the Dakar Rally test their limits on the South American landscape in Chile and Argentina.

Detroit Auto Show

The 2009 North American International Auto Show, featuring more than 50 new designs and concepts by Lamborghini, Mercedes, Cadillac, Audi and more, opens to the public Jan. 17.

Eye on the Earth

A glimpse of our changing natural environment and how humans may be impacting it.

Animal Views

Our weekly photo gallery showcases animals from across the globe.

Top 10 Sports Photos

A look at amazing moments in sports.

Western Lowland Gorilla Gives Birth

Mandara, a 26-year-old western lowland gorilla, gave birth Saturday at the National Zoo. The sex and name have not yet been announced.

The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards

A look at some of the night's big winners, from "Slumdog Millionaire" to "30 Rock."

Golden Globes Fashion

After missing last year, celebs were delighted to be back on the Red Carpet. Strapless gowns ruled, as did loose updos for gals. Some guys won kudos; for others, tsk, tsk.

Inauguration Practice

Starting before dawn, officials staged a large-scale rehearsal of the upcoming presidential inauguration and parade, with thousands of people deployed later in the morning at the Capitol and along the parade route.

Two Steps Back

After 30 years of service at Glen Echo Park, National Park Ranger Stan Fowler has been reassigned to Mount Vernon Trail in Virginia. During his time of service, Fowler worked to create a strong community dance program at Glen Echo. Although he will not argue with the national park's decision, he says he will miss spending his Fridays nights Contra Dancing in the Spanish Ballroom.

NFL Playoffs Roll Into Week Two

The Ravens became the first team to advance to a league championship game, pushing past Tennessee, 13-10, in a physical Divisional Round game in Nashville on Saturday afternoon.

At Glen Echo, Dancing is History

The Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom -- and National Park Service Ranger Stan Fowler -- have been area institutions for generations.

Under Disney's Spell

Why Walt Disney is no Mickey Mouse figure in the world of art.

Drenched in the Northwest

Floods, mudslides and avalanches threatened parts of Washington state late this week.

Sub-Zero Temperatures Grip Europe

Freezing conditions and exceptional snowfall are blamed for several deaths and infrastructure problems across Europe, as many homes remain without heat following a dispute over gas between Russia and Ukraine.

Boarding School

Sports writer Soraya McDonald has covered skiing and snowboarding out in Colorado, but has never hit the slopes. With the help of a personal instructor, McDonald learned the basics of balance and confidence at Maryland's Wisp Resort.

CES 2009

The Consumer Electronic Show, taking place Jan. 8-11 in Las Vegas, displays the latest devices, gadgets and technologies.

Europe Feeling Chill of Fuel Standoff

Russia halted shipments of natural gas to Europe via Ukraine as the two countries sparred over prices and debt. Direct talks, however, appeared set to resume Thursday for the first time in more than a week.

Macworld 2009

Without Steve Jobs in attendance, the last Macworld that Apple will attend, kicked off Jan. 5 in San Francisco.

Burris Moves Closer to Senate Seat

Roland Burris made significant progress in attaining the vacant Illinois Senate seat this week after meeting with Senate leaders and testifying before the Illinois House impeachment committee to defend his Senate appointment by embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Israel Tightens Grip on Gaza Strip

Israel continues its military offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip as diplomats in Cairo suggest tentative progress in their efforts to reach a cease-fire.

New Marine National Monuments

President Bush is set to safeguard far-flung areas totaling 195,280 square miles in the Pacific Ocean, a move that will help preserve sprawling sea and island ecosystems.

Animal Views

Our weekly photo gallery showcases animals from across the globe.

Top 10 Sports Photos

A look at amazing moments in sports.

Obama Family on the Move

President-elect Barack Obama arrives at the historic Hay-Adams Hotel Sunday evening in Washington, D.C., where his family will stay until the Blair House, a guest house where presidents-elect traditionally stay before the inauguration, is vacant.

Tim Kaine To Chair Democratic National Committee

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, who gained national attention during President-elect Barack Obama's successful primary and general election campaigns, will succeed Howard Dean at the helm of the Democratic National Committee. An early Obama supporter and a finalist for the vice presidential nomination, Kaine has helped Democrats make significant electoral gains in the Commonwealth.

Panoramas: Natural, Ancient and Modern Egypt

Experience Egypt's timeless treasures and stunning landscapes through 360-degree panoramic images.

A Changing Farm

Farmers across the country struggle to revamp their business as the average cost of meat sinks below the climbing cost of raising an animal. In St. Mary's County farmer Jim Moore decreases the number of cattle in his heard and begins raising alpacas to sustain the crunch.

The National Gallery's New Art

The National Gallery of Art has acquired more than 5,000 new works from the collection of American prints belonging to Reba and Dave Williams and the Print Research Foundation.

A History of Inaugural Balls

It's not just the ball gowns that have evolved since the first presidential inaugural gala in 1809.

Top 10 Sports Photos

A look at amazing moments in Sports.

Animal Views

Our weekly photo gallery showcases animals from across the globe.

Shaping the Man

The story of Anh 'Joseph' Quang Cao, the newly elected Republican congressman for Louisiana's second district, is the definition of the American dream.

Eye on Entertainment

A look at the famous faces making headlines in the worlds of movies, music, TV and more.

Scores in Gaza Killed in Wave of Israeli Airstrikes

Death toll rises as Israel assaults targets in Hamas-run Gaza Strip, including a security compound and a group of smugglers' tunnels.

Inaugural Gowns

This winter, the same classicism championed by the Kennedys in 1961 swooped onto store racks, bringing "are-we-in-Athens?" Grecian-draped gowns, strapless column dresses of retro silk shantung and the return of slightly covered-up necklines. Such styles seem ideal for those heading to an inaugural ball on Jan. 20.

Wyoming Float

The float for the state of Wyoming, Vice President Dick Cheney's home state, was created for the 2005 inaugural parade. The float is one of many displayed at the American Celebration on Parade Museum in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

Terry McAuliffe, Fundraising Juggernaut

Terry McAuliffe, one of the most prolific fundraisers the Democratic Party has ever seen, is considering a gubernatorial run in Virginia -- a state with no cap on donations.

Sheelan's Circumcision

A seven-year-old girl is taken by her mother to be circumcised in Kurdish Iraq, where more than 60 percent of women have undergone the traditional and controversial procedure.

A Baghdad Commute

Baghdad's first commuter train carries passengers through calm and dangerous parts of the city.

The Upside of the Housing Crisis

Stockton, Calif., ranked on several studies as the foreclosure capital of the nation, showcases a little-known upside of the "subprime crisis": the elevation nationwide of hundreds of thousands of African Americans into home ownership.

'I Couldn't Take Any More'

In Lome, a seaside city in a country with one of the highest rates of domestic slave trafficking in the world, hundreds of girls a year seek protection from abusive employers.

Columbus Battered By Economic Downturn

Communities across the United States continue to be battered by the struggling economy, including Columbus, Ohio, which is experiencing severe cuts within community service organizations as record numbers of people require help.

Three Years After Katrina, a New Home

Amy and Albert Douglas and their children -- washed out of New Orleans in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina -- are spending their first Christmas in their new home in Woodbridge, Va.

Eartha Kitt, Sultry Singer and Actress Dies

Eartha Kitt, the singer, dancer and actress who rose from South Carolina cotton fields to become a symbol of elegance and sensuality, has died from colon cancer. She was 81.

Rescue Workers Save Stranded Drivers

When a 66-inch water main burst near River Road in Montgomery County on Tuesday morning, emergency personnel rescued trapped drivers from the flooded street.

Animal Views

Our weekly photo gallery showcases animals from across the globe.

Dunbar Track Stars Shun Sleep for Success

Three days a week, Dunbar High School girls' indoor track coach Marvin Parker starts his day at 3am by picking up athletes one-by-one at their homes for track practice. Despite the early hours, and the rigorous pre-engineering classes that follow, Parker's athletes are competing at the top of their class.

Top 10 Sports Photos

A look at amazing moments in sports.

Eye on the World

This week's events from around the world, captured in photographs.

Building a Winning Tradition

River Hill High School in Clarksville, Md., has a habit of winning championships.

Week 16: Redskins 10, Eagles 3

The Redskins deny a final drive by the Eagles, stopping Reggie Brown one foot short of the goal line to preserve a victory at FedEx Field.

Tiny State, Big Unemployment

Rhode Island is the smallest state and the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in America. And now it shares another distinction: the second highest unemployment rate in the country. At 9.3 percent, the state's unemployment rate is only three tenths of one percent behind Michigan.

Navy Falls to Wake Forest in Inaugural EagleBank Bowl

Navy gets out to a fast start in the inaugural EagleBank Bowl at RFK Stadium, but Wake Forest rallies for a 29-19 win on Saturday, sending the Midshipmen to another loss in a bowl.

Mistrust Foments Violence in Kirkuk

Political and ethnic tensions are rising in the mixed neighborhoods of Kirkuk, Iraq, a reminder of the obstacles to reconciliation among Iraq's sects.

A Ministry, Family, on the Move

Carlos Williams swore he'd never return his children to Washington -- until, he believes, God called his family to bring their ministry to the Trinidad neighborhood in Northeast.

Sketching Gowns for Michelle Obama

The next generation of American fashion designers imagines inaugural looks for the soon-to-be first lady.

Winter Storms Dump Snow Across U.S.

Wintry weather closed schools and businesses, and caused flight delays and power outages across the Midwest and East Coast of the United States.

That's a Wrap

Nearly 1,000 kids sent in entries for the Weekend section's annual holiday wrapping paper contest. Judges picked the designs of 12 artists as the best, and online voters chose a blue-crab design as the winner.

Snow on The Strip

A rare pre-winter winter storm dropped more than three inches of snow on Las Vegas, Dec. 17, 2008, which usually averages just 1/2 inch a year.

Sammy Baugh (1914-2008)

Legendary Redskins quarterback Sammy Baugh, 94, died Wednesday night. He was the last surviving member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's inaugural class.

A Different Approach to Learning

Many charter schools, including D.C. Prep and Howard University Middle, have found ways to emphasize creative strategies for helping disadvantaged children learn.

All is Bright

The Scanlon home in Georgetown celebrates a color-drenched Christmas in green, orange, hot pink and red.

Caroline Kennedy

Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, has announced she will seek appointment to the Senate seat vacated by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).

Clearing House

When eviction strikes, it's not just the residents who need to leave -- their belongings need to go, too.

Animal Views

Our weekly photo gallery showcases animals from across the globe.

In the Midst of Transition

After a long campaign process, president-elect Barack Obama and his transition team are preparing for their ascension to the White House.

Thailand Elects Third PM in Four Months

Thailand's Parliament has elected Democratic Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva to be the third prime minister in four months. After months of violent protests and political corruption, the country's economy is in turmoil.

Risking It All

Michael Oliveri, 24, is losing his battle with muscular dystrophy but gaining a greater appreciation for life as he drives from New Jersey to California for warmer weather and specialized medical care.

Top 10 Sports Photos

A look at amazing moments in sports.

Iraqi Journalist Hurls Shoes at Bush

President George W. Bush made a surprise farewell visit to Baghdad, Dec. 14, 2008, staunchly defending a war that has taken far more time, money and lives than anticipated, but he received a taste of local resentment toward his policies.

Photos: Stepping Forward, Falling Back

There is a fierce struggle going on at Coolidge to overcome years of dysfunction and decline. But despite a new spirit of reform in the air, it remains to be seen whether D.C. schools can make improvements that will last.

The Scorecard: Interactive Database

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