The year in review: Top news stories of 2022 month-by-month

"Sunday Morning" host Jane Pauley looks back on key events of a dramatic year.

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 telescopesThe James Webb Space Telescope is so powerful, it can detect the heat of a bumblebee as far away as the moon — and other surprising factsNASA's James Webb Space Telescope captures thousands of never-before-seen young stars in the Tarantula NebulaWebb space telescope reveals "Pillars of Creation" in stunning new detailJames 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

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 missilesMarch

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")

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 funeralsTexas school shooting: Grief, vigils and outrage ("Sunday Morning")"Grief overwhelms the soul": Politicians and celebrities react to Texas elementary school mass shootingTexas school shooting already generating "horrifying" conspiracy theoriesTeacher killed trying to protect kids in Texas school shooting and her husband who died two days later are laid to rest in UvaldeUvalde schools police chief: I didn't know I was in charge at the shooting sceneMother of 10-year-old Uvalde school shooting victim suing gun manufacturer, store and local law enforcement

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 abortionAbortion rights supporters score midterm victories in at least 4 statesJuly

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

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 TrumpMaterial on foreign nation's nuclear capabilities seized at Trump's Mar-a-Lago (Washington Post)Detailed list of property seized in Trump FBI search releasedFormer 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 unitSeptember

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 monarchCommentary: 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 workersMusk job cuts continue at Twitter; Contractors pink slipped over weekendTwitter workers flee after Elon Musk's "hardcore" ultimatumSpaceX workers say they were fired for complaining about Elon Musk's tweetsGrowing number of companies are freezing their Twitter ads after Elon Musk takeoverElon Musk and Twitter: Is he in over his head? ("Sunday Morning")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 replacementNovember

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 ("CBS Mornings")Sen. Amy Klobuchar says Democrats "defied the tides of history" in midterm elections ("CBS Mornings")CBS News Election Center: 2022 resultsDecember

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

     
Story produced by Robert Marston. Editor: Chad Cardin.

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