NEW YORK – As the nation celebrates the Fourth of July, the Statue of Liberty will reopen to the public for the first time since Superstorm Sandy swamped Lady Liberty's little island.
A large crowd is expected for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Federal officials and New York's mayor are slated to attend. The first boats leave for the island from New York and New Jersey at 8:30 a.m.
Some repairs to brick walkways and docks are still under way, but much of the work has been completed since Sandy swamped most of the national landmark's 12-acre site.
In Arizona, sober tributes will be held for 19 firefighters who died earlier this week battling a blaze near Yarnell. The city of Boston prepares to host the first large gathering since the marathon bombing that killed three and injured hundreds.
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