CNN - Josh Levs, 7/04/13

The Statue of Liberty from above in 2007.

The Statue of Liberty's reopening was a sign of recovery from Superstorm Sandy's devastation last fall and a big bright spot generally on an Independence Day dampened by soaking rains in a large swath of the country and limited by the across-the-board federal budget cuts known as the sequester, which left numerous military bases without annual fireworks displays.

"It is hard to imagine a more appropriate or powerful way to commemorate our nation's founding than to reopen the Statue of Liberty, which is a symbol throughout the world of the freedom America cherishes," Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Liberty Island, which was hard hit by Superstorm Sandy in October.

Huff Post Canada - 6/19/13, CP/By The Canadian Press

NANAIMO, B.C. - Fisheries and Oceans Canada says biologists have spotted a rare, endangered whale in British Columbia waters for the first time in more than 60 years.

The federal agency says sightings of the whale are rare, and the animal has been recorded in Canadian waters only six times during the past century.

Video and more: Huff Post Canada