photo by: AP Photo/Darron Cummings

This Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011 photo shows names of soldiers from Howard County killed during the Global War of Terror engraved on the Howard County Veteran's Memorial at Darrough Chapel Park in Kokomo, Ind. In the wake of the Dec. 2011 departure of the last U.S. troops from Iraq, this Midwestern town joins hundreds of others across the nation that will be wrestling with the legacy of a nearly nine-year war.

photo by: Submitted

K.T. Walsh displays her John Brown sign during a protest against the elimination of the Kansas Arts Commission. Gov. Sam Brownback announced at the beginning of the year that the commission would be cut as part of a cost-saving endeavor. In May Brownback vetoed the commission’s budget, effectively defunding arts programs in Kansas.

photo by: Nick Krug

Jacki Becker, center, and the rest of Eleven Productions celebrated their 10th anniversary with 11.11.11, a one-day local music showcase, conveniently held on Nov. 11.