New York, Statue Of Liberty | featured news

The Statue of Liberty is scheduled to reopen by Independence Day, about eight months after it was closed because of Superstorm Sandy. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar made the announcement Tuesday along with U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York. The statue itself was spared damage from the late October storm, but Liberty Island, where the statue sits, was badly damaged. Railings broke, paving stones were torn up and buildings were flooded. The storm also destroyed boilers, sewage pumps and electrical systems on the island.

An authorized photo opportunity involving U.S. President Barack Obama's backup plane flying over the Statue of Liberty created a stir lower Manhattan on Monday, evoking memories of the September 11 attacks.