The Top 9 Stories of 2009

This year has been one for big news headlines, not only locally, but across the nation and the world.

Celebrities who died in 2009 include, most notably, Michael Jackson, Edward Kennedy, Paul Harvey, Bea Arthur, Dom Deluise, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays, Walter Cronkite, and Patrick Swayze, among others. Some of these passings, as we've discovered, hits close to home. Through the medium of the individual celebrity, it seems we become attached to the people we invite into our lives.

As a journalist, it's always exciting to be a part of a big story. There have been many in central Texas this year. I've said many times, though, that being a part of a big story often times means something terrible has happened. A great news day for me is a horrible day for the people involved.

I want to countdown some of the top stories I believe captivated our lives, and hopefully gain feedback from you, the users of Austin Citysphere, to see what you think the top stories of this year were. Here's my list, in no particular order. When I have a list finalized, I will bring you a special report at the end of the month on the top stories we've seen.

1. Yogurt Shop acquittal
This year, a major development happened in the 19 year old case of the yogurt shop murders. Four teenage girls died at the "I Can't Believe It's Yogurt" shop in north Austin. A number of men were the focus of the district attorney's office. In the end, two men - who each served time in jail (one was even on death row, the other was serving a life sentence) were acquitted because the deadline ran out on the state to come up with more evidence in the case. They are now free.

2. Fort Hood shootings
The mass shootings at Ft. Hood claimed the lives of 13 people. The shooter, Maj. Nadal Malik Hasan, is charged with multiple counts of murder. The story that happened close to home caught national attention. It was the worst shooting on a military installation, and it happened to take place on the largest military installation in the world.

3. Drought
Central Texas experienced one of the worst droughts in history. Farmers worried about their crops and others wondered how they would feed their livestock. A map provided by the Bastrop County Extension Agent showed central Texas to be one of the worst areas in the country for drought this year. Yet, LCRA meteorologist Bob Rose told The Austin Citysphere this area also experienced one of the wettest falls on record, too.

4. Nathaniel Sanders Shooting
A teenager in a car in the early morning hours led to the fatal shooting of Nathaniel Sanders. Officer Leonardo Quintana believed Sanders was armed with a gun. The investigation led to Austin police chief Art Acevedo to suspend Quintana for 15 days. Another officer was fired for accusations he leaked a biased e-mail to colleagues.

5. Paul Devoe Death Sentence
He was called the Cross Country Killer - convicted of shooting six people to death. Devoe allegedly shot an ex-girlfriend, her boyfriend, her daughter, her daughter's friend, a bartender, and an elderly woman in Pennsylvania. The trial lasted two weeks. A Travis County jury sentenced Devoe to die.

6. New President
President Barack Obama, the first African American President, was inaugurated at the beginning of the year, after beating his opponent, John McCain, in November 2008. The election was seen as a chance to turn the tide from two term President George W. Bush, and a way to change policies, such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to tackle many domestic issues.

7. MetroRail Delayed
An innovative idea has turned into delay after delay in Austin. Capital Metro has continually delayed the start of the MetroRail train system, which runs from Leander to downtown Austin. The public transportation organization cited different reasons for the delay, including unprepared workers and equipment failures.

8. Longhorns Headed for a National Championship Title
The Texas Longhorns celebrated an undefeated season. Their last game was the reason for cardiac centers across the area to see a spike in calls after a heart-stopping last second win over Nebraska. The Longhorns will now face off with Alabama for the BCS National Championship in California in January.

9. H1N1 Virus
It all began in the spring and the news all over could not get enough of the H1N1, the unusual strain of the flu with a funny nickname: swine flu. Turns out, this virus does not come from pigs, but it became deadly. The federal government cranked out millions of doses, but a lot of times the supply could not meet the demand. The scare has subsided somewhat, increasing supplies because the demand is now down. Clinics are offering the H1N1 vaccination to anyone who wants it, free of charge.