Penn State , economy , London quake , Charlie Sheen raid define years news events . Three weeks later , a mile-wide tornado ripped through Joplin , Missouri , killing more than 150 people and wreaking havoc across the blue-collar town at the edge of the Ozark Mountains . Scandals also marred 2011 , from absurd ( bin Laden ) to sordid ( Penn State )
Penn State , economy , London quake , Charlie Sheen raid define years news events . Scandals also marred 2011 , from absurd ( bin Laden ) to sordid ( Penn State )