You decide: Vote for the top local news stories of 2012

Published 12:56 pm Friday, December 21, 2012

We want your picks, Austin.

The Austin Daily Herald is letting you, the reader, pick the top stories of 2012.

What had a major impact on Austin?? What were the biggest crimes? What were your favorite events? What were the most heart-warming or entertaining stories of the year?

Choose up to 10 stories, and look for the recap Monday, Dec. 31 and Tuesday, Jan. 1 in the print and online versions of the Herald. Voting closes at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 26.

What are the top local news stories of 2012? (Choose up to 10)

Lansing Corners shooting leaves 5 injured, 2 critically; suspects still at large (11%, 112 Votes)
Cost of justice: Operating expenses for new jail have increased, but officials stick to guns (7%, 68 Votes)
Hormel celebrates 75 years of Spam (6%, 61 Votes)
Families honor, remember Jake Moe’s and Luke Unverzagt’s memories after they die in car crash south of Austin (6%, 60 Votes)
Dayton signs child abuse bill following Dexter child-chaining case (6%, 57 Votes)
Austin loses three giants in one week: Omega-3 scientist Ralph Holman, Trimble’s Cycle Center founder Dick Trimble, and Wagner Construction president John Wagner (6%, 56 Votes)
Drought hits hard for local farmers, businesses all year (5%, 48 Votes)
Grandstand deemed unsafe, county commissioners prepare to burn it (4%, 44 Votes)
Turmoil ends in Lyle, superintendent Jim Dusso leaves district (4%, 40 Votes)
Austin landmark restaurants Tolly’s Time Out and Jerry’s Other Place both re-opening (4%, 36 Votes)
Hormel divvies a record $17 million in bonuses (3%, 34 Votes)
Locals react as Minnesota says ‘no’ to gay marriage ban, voter ID amendment (3%, 32 Votes)
Business owners feeling pinch from property value increases (3%, 31 Votes)
Firefighters rescue dog from burning home, perform CPR on it (3%, 28 Votes)
Family reflects on millionaire Amanda Hocking’s fame (3%, 27 Votes)
Alleged neo-Nazi Sam Johnson sentenced to 15 years in prison (3%, 26 Votes)
Ex-Moose admin Bud Johnson charged with stealing $22K (3%, 25 Votes)
Motorcycle crash victim Dana Legried remembered as standout athlete (2%, 22 Votes)
Argument allegedly leads to assault with burrito (2%, 22 Votes)
Pit bull attacks increase in Austin (2%, 21 Votes)
Time running out for P-9’er union (2%, 19 Votes)
Thomas Herrera takes burger throne, eats 10 Tendermaids in 23 minutes (2%, 18 Votes)
December shooting in Austin ends with three charges (2%, 18 Votes)
Color shows in school suspensions: Black, Hispanic students more likely to face harsh punishments (2%, 16 Votes)
Lawsuit filed against city, officers in Taser incident (2%, 16 Votes)
Mall continues to add one store after another (1%, 13 Votes)
Superstorm Sandy hits home for former Austinites (1%, 13 Votes)
A match made on ice: Austin man proposes at Bruins hockey game (1%, 12 Votes)
Ole Barn BBQ, J&K Restaurant close on same day (1%, 10 Votes)
Couple says ‘I do’ over family graves (1%, 6 Votes)