This week was supposed to be a celebration of thanks and Americana. However, a grand jury decision in Ferguson shifted the nation’s focus to Ferguson, Mo. The unrest quickly spread across the country.
Hopefully, in between some turkey and stuffing, you were able to catch up with loved ones. The photos below feature those stories and other news about immigration, turkey pardons and possibly the best NFL catch ever.
A turkey named “Cheese” survived this year. Turkeys get this same pardon every year.
President Obama pardons “Cheese,” the 2014 National Thanksgiving Turkey. (Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Newscom)
Between a grand jury decision, riots in Ferguson, Mo., and protests around the country, the unrest has been felt by everyone. The best coverage of Ferguson lives here.
A business in Ferguson, Mo., ruined by the riots. (Photo: Newscom)
Michael Brown’s stepfather, reacts after learning of a grand jury’s decision to not indict police officer Darren Wilson. (Photo: Timothy Tai/Newscom)
Police form a line as protests begin following a grand jury’s decision. (Photo: Timothy Tai/Newscom)
Michael Brown’s mother cries after learning of a grand jury’s decision to not indict police officer Darren Wilson. (Photo: Timothy Tai/Newscom)
Angry protestors set police cars on fire in Ferguson. (Photo: Demotix/Newscom)
The. Catch. Of. The. Year.
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham makes a 43-yard touchdown catch during a NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants on Nov. 23. (Photo: Newscom)
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel resigned Nov. 24 after less than two years in the post amid the struggles of President Obama’s national security team to respond to a slew of global crises.
Amid crises, Obama pushed out Hagel as defense secretary. (Photo: Newscom)
Obama and Hagel a few weeks before his resignation. (Photo: Dennis Brack/Newscom)
Taylor Swift won the first-ever “Dick Clark Award for Excellence” at the American Music Awards. She also debuted the first live performance of her hit “Blank Space.”
Taylor Swift at the 2014 American Music Awards. (Photo: Newscom)
A week after President Obama announced his immigration executive order, Americans are split on the move.
Kasandra Palacios, 17, celebrates outside the White House following President Obama’s immigration speech. (Photo: Evelyn Hockstein/Polaris/Newscom)
A new report from the Congressional Research Service says that the House Appropriations Committee was incorrect last week in saying the government agency most responsible for implementing Obama’s action—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services—cannot be defunded by Congress.
President Obama meets with Sen. McConnel, R-Ky. (Photo: Andrew Harrer/Newscom)
“Saturday Night Live” mocked Obama’s executive action to grant legal status to 5 million illegal immigrants by twisting a staple of the TV classic “Schoolhouse Rock!”
An image of the “School House Rock” parody from Saturday night’s episode. (Photo: Saturday Night Live YouTube)
Gross school lunch pictures went viral after students took to social media to protest first lady Michelle Obama’s healthy lunch ideas.
The campaign went viral when students took photos like this of their lunches and shared them on Twitter using the hashtag #ThanksMichelleObama. (Photo: @huntwhitney4 via Twitter)
In year two, Obamacare is off to another bad start. Big challenges loom, including the administration of the law’s hideously complex insurance subsidy system, as well as coverage and cost problems.
The White House is justly relieved and celebrating the fact that the government website is not plagued with last year’s disasters. (Photo via Flickr user Tabitha Kaylee Hawk)
The Pope spoke to the European Parliament.
Pope Francis called for policies focused more on people than “technicalities” during a speech to the European Parliament. (Photo: Patrick Seeger/Newscom)
The first phase of local elections in Kashmir began on Nov. 25.
Thousands of voters defied a boycott call given by separatists and militant groups and turned up to cast their votes during first phase of local elections in Indian-controlled Kashmir. (Photo: Xinhua/Javed Dar)
With Black Friday deals creeping their way to Thanksgiving morning, more employees are speaking out. Some don’t mind, and some are very frustrated.
Holiday shoppers queue to make their purchases after braving the crowds in Target. (Photo: Getty Images)
A picture of Christy McDermott, a Walmart greeter who loves his job. (Photo: Dick Loek/Toronto Star/Newscom)
Travelers encountered chaos this week. Several airlines canceled hundreds of flights as a snowstorm struck the Northeast.
Thanksgiving eve snowstorm in Middletown, N.Y. (Photo: Tom Bushey/ZUMA Wire/Newscom)