Homology groups of $\mathbb{R}^3\setminus \ S^1$ and $\mathbb{R}^3\setminus E^1_+$ Here is a problem and my attempt at the solution. If my conclusion or the proof is incorrect I would appreciate a pointer in the right direction. Thanks in advance.
Let $S^1$ be the unit circle in the xy plane in $\mathbb{R^3}$ and let $E^1_+$ and $E^1_-$ be two of its semicircles. Find the homology groups (with integer coefficients) of a) $\mathbb{R^3}\setminus E^1_+$ and b) $\mathbb{R^3}\setminus \ S^1$.
Attempt of solution: 
a) $H_n(\mathbb{R^3},S^1)\cong H_n(\mathbb{R^3}\setminus E^1_+, E^1_-)$, by excision. Then $H_n(\mathbb{R^3}\setminus E^1_+, E^1_-) \cong H_n(\mathbb{R^3}\setminus E^1_+, {pt})$, since $E^1_-$ is contractible. Then we know $H_n(\mathbb{R^3}\setminus E^1_+, {pt}) \cong \tilde{H_n}(\mathbb{R^3}\setminus E^1_+)\cong H_n(\mathbb{R^3}\setminus E^1_+)$ for $n>0$. So we get $H_n(\mathbb{R^3}\setminus E^1_+) \cong H_n(\mathbb{R^3},S^1)$. From the long exact sequence of relative homology we know that $H_n(\mathbb{R^3},S^1) \cong H_{n-1}(S^1)$, so $H_n(\mathbb{R^3}\setminus E^1_+)\cong \mathbb{Z}$ for $n=1,2$.  For $n=0$ we also get $\mathbb{Z}$ since $\mathbb{R^3}\setminus E^1_+$ is arcwise connected.
b) the same reasoning but starting with $H_n(\mathbb{R}^3,E^2_+)$, where $E^2_+$ is the upper hemisphere of $S^2$, gives $H_n(\mathbb{R}^3 \setminus S^1) \cong H_{n-1}(E^2_+)$, but  $E^2_+$ is contractible so $H_n(\mathbb{R}^3 \setminus S^1)\cong \mathbb{Z}$ for $n=1$ and for $n=0$ it is also $\mathbb{Z}$ since $\mathbb{R}^3 \setminus S^1$ is arcwise connected. For $n>1$, $H_n(\mathbb{R}^3 \setminus S^1)=0$.
EDIT
@msteve pointed out that b) is wrong. Excision can't be used like in a) since $S^1$ isn't in the interior of $E^2_+$. So a different approach is needed here.
 A: Ok, here we go:
a) Set $U_1 := \mathbb{R}^3 \setminus S^1$. Let $1/5 > \varepsilon > 0$ and consider $S^1 \times D_{\varepsilon}$  a solid torus. (The product of $S^1$ with the disc of radius $\varepsilon$) If $S^1$ were knotted, we could still find a small enough $\varepsilon$ and our proof would be exactly the same. In particular, the homology of $\Bbb R^3 \setminus K$ is the same for every knot.
Set $U_2 := int(S^1 \times D_\varepsilon)$. We have the following facts:


*

*$\mathbb{R}^3$ is covered by the open sets $U_1$ and $U_2$.

*$U_2 \simeq S^1$, where $\simeq$ means homotopy equivalence.

*$U_1 \cap U_2 \simeq T^2$, where $T^2$ is the torus.
So applying the Mayer-Vietoris sequence, we get
$$\dots \to H_{n+1}(\Bbb R^3) \to H_n(U_1 \cap U_2) \to H_n(U_1) \oplus H_n(U_2) \to {H}_{n}(\Bbb R^3 ) \to  H_{n-1}(U_1 \cap U_2) \to \dots$$
and using our facts, we get
$$\dots \to H_{n+1}(\Bbb R^3)  \to H_n(T^2) \to H_n(U_1) \oplus H_n(S^1) \to {H}_{n}(\Bbb R^3 ) \to  H_{n-1}(T^2) \to \dots$$
Now $\Bbb R^3$ is contractible, so for $n>0$ we have the isomorphisms $H_n (T^2) \simeq H_n(U_1) \oplus H_n(S^1)$. Therefore $H_n(U_1) =0$ for $n>2$, $H_2(U_1) \simeq H_1(U_1) \simeq \Bbb Z$ and since $U_1$ is path-connected, $H_0(U_1) \simeq \Bbb Z$. This completes the proof of a).
b) Clearly $\Bbb R^3 \setminus E^1_+ \simeq \Bbb R^3 \setminus {x}$, where $x \in E^1_+$ is just a point. Now $\Bbb R^3$ retracts onto $S^2$ and we know its homology, so we are done.
