From historic flooding to a child sex scandal at Penn State University that shocked the entire nation, 2011 was big year for news in Central Pennsylvania. These are the top 10 witf news headlines, based on page views, for the past year:
1. Lawmaker defends comments pinning higher rates of STDs on gas drillers: In August, Democratic Representative Mike Sturla of Lancaster County said that he stands by his comments that workers at natural gas drilling sites are causing a rise in sexually transmitted diseases.
2. Rendell goes off on "60 Minutes": In January, former Gov. Ed Rendell yelled at "60 Minutes" reporter Lesley Stahl, who was covering Pennsylvania's gambling boom. The former governor called her an "idiot" and "simpleton."
3. Jerry Sandusky faces child sex charges and two Penn State officials indicted for perjury in the case: Jerry Sandusky, a former defensive coordinator and founder of the Second Mile nonprofit, was charged with 40 counts of child sex abuse in November. Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley and Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz were also indicted for perjury in the case. More: Timeline of the developing Jerry Sandusky scandal and the subsequent firing of Joe Paterno and resigning of Graham Spanier.
4. Doctors discover compound that could prevent, treat mild melanoma: In May, Researchers at the Penn State Hershey College of Medicine in Dauphin County found that a compound in green vegetables can significantly reduce melanoma tumors in lab-generated human skin. The doctors are now looking to add the compound to topical products including lotions and sunscreens.
5. Corbett's budget secretary goes after PA colleges: In March, Budget Secretary Charles Zogby said he expected reduced funding for state-related and State System of Higher Education schools to be the focal point of this year’s budget debate, and that he and the rest of the Corbett Administration weren't afraid to take the institutions on.
6. PennDot says more than 150 midstate roads are closed: Central Pennsylvania experienced historic flooding following the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee in September. Over 150 roads in Central Pennsylvania were closed due to the flooding. Thousands of midstate residents were evacuated from their homes. Thousands more remained without power for days; some did not have it for over a week. Hundreds of properties were completely destroyed. Thousands more were majorly damaged. Officials estimate that the flooding caused $151 million in damages in Dauphin County alone. Our complete coverage of the flood can be found here.
7. Sources: Corbett asked Chesapeake executive to quit Marcellus Shale Commission: In April, Gov. Tom Corbett asked Chesapeake vice president Dave Spigelmyer to withdraw from the Marcellus Shale Commission after a February fire at a Chesapeake drilling site in Washington County injured three workers. Corbett's advisors were worried that the company’s violations would become a distraction as the commission debated drilling policy.
8. PA Budget: The "Day of Reckoning" Arrives: In his first budget address to the General Assembly in March, Governor Tom Corbett finally explained to Pennsylvanians how he would balance the state's $28 billion budget without a tax increase. In his proposed budget, he slashed $866 million out of current spending through cuts in virtually every area. He called to eliminate nearly $550 million in basic education funding and to cut $650 million in higher education costs.
9. Bullets from Battle of Gettysburg discovered in a tree: Maintenance workers at the Gettysburg National Military Park cutting through a fallen oak tree have discovered bullets fired during the famed Civil War battle in August. Two sections of the tree trunk where the bullets were found have been moved to the park's museum collections storage area.
10. 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' coming to central Pa.: "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," a reality television series providing home renovations to less fortunate families, visited a deserving homeowner in central Pennsylvania on June 19. Hundreds of the volunteers helped to rebuild a house owned by the Keefer family in Newberry Twp., York County.
Take our poll below to let us know which of the stories mattered the most to you.
Which stories from the past year did you think were the most newsworthy? Did they make our list of stories with the most page views? Since months have passed since most of them occurred, has the passing of time changed what you think about them. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
