It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. This year saw some glorious highs, like the camaraderie and triumph of 2012 London Olympics, and some tragic, heartbreaking lows, like the Sandy Hook Elementary school massacre and Hurricane Sandy's devastation in New York and New Jersey.

We saw acts of kindness, and startling acts of rage and violence. And we reelected the nation's first African American president to his second term. Here are some of the news highlights from 2012. What else would you put on the list?

Image via Charlie Anzman/Flickr