The following five news stories are the ones that I felt were the most talked and written about in 2009. I didn't do any sort of formal poll or research to come up with these results--I just chose the ones that I heard the most about over the course of the year. For a more technically-chosen list, check out the top 10 stories of the year chosen by the AP.
5. Billy Gillispie / John Calipari
UK fans certainly talked a lot at the end of the basketball season about the firing of Billy Gillispie and hiring of John Calipari as his replacement. The fact that this and the Pitino scandal are at the top of the list of news stories in 2009 shows just how much we love basketball here in Kentucky.
4. Slots at Churchill Downs
In 2009, we tried to get slot machines into Churchill Downs, again. This time the rumor was that the track was going to go under if the bill didn't pass. Of course, that didn't happen. Instead, Churchill Downs came up with a new way to get people to come out and wager on the horses--Downs after Dark.
3. The Jason Stinson Trial
Though Max Gilpin died in 2008, Jason Stinson wasn't arraigned until January of 2009. Thus, Stinson's trial was definitely one of the most reported upon local events of the year. The trial was one that really affected members of our community, with passionate feelings on both sides of the guilty/not guilty table.
2. More Natural Disasters
It seems we've had an abundance of natural disasters in Louisville over the last two years. Last year it was an earthquake and a hurricane, and this year we had an ice storm in January and a flood in August. Maybe 2010 will bring mild weather to Kentuckiana.
1. Rick Pitino / Karen Sypher
Of course number one has to be the Rick Pitino and Karen Sypher debacle. It seems like the gossip and reporting on this topic went on every day for the entire year. After a while, it started to feel like the city was more concerned about Pitino and Sypher's relationship than Pitino's wife was.
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