News from 2001 will cast long shadows across the annals of history.
One glance at the accompanying lists of this year’s leading stories finds an awesome array of developments. editors and The Associated Press prepared the lists, but, of the developments mentioned, which are the top three national/international stories and the top three local/state stories?
That’s your call. We invite you to vote on the top three stories from each list and rank them in order of importance, using either the forms below or by e-mailing your selections and comments to topstories@star-telegram.com.
To designate your selection for first, second and third top story, just write “1,” “2″ and “3″ in the box beside each story’s summary. A brief comment explaining your selections would be appreciated.
The No. 1 story on your list will receive three points, the No. 2 story will receive two points, and the No. 3 story will receive 1 point.
Votes must be postmarked or received electronically by midnight Thursday. Votes sent by mail must be addressed to Top Stories, Star-Telegram, P.O. Box 901043, Fort Worth, TX 76101-2043. A return address must be written on the envelope.
Votes sent via e-mail should be sent as plain e-mail, not an attachment. Votes with attachments will not be opened because of the threat of viruses.
Results will be published on Sunday, Dec. 30. We look forward to hearing from you. Here are the story lists:
National/international
- Terrorists fly hijacked commercial jetliners into the World Trade Center’s twin towers and the Pentagon, killing more than 3,700; a fourth hijacked plane crashes in Pennsylvania after passengers struggle to take back the cockpit.
- Letters laced with anthrax kill five, stirring nationwide fears.
- Recession ends a 10-year economic expansion. Warnings emerged last spring when tech companies slashed thousands of jobs.
- The United States takes the war on terrorism to Afghanistan, aiming airstrikes at the Taliban and dropping aid to refugees.
- Democrats regain control of the U.S. Senate when Vermont Sen. James Jeffords quits the Republican Party to become an independent.
- George W. Bush, former Texas governor, is sworn in as the 43rd president of the United States.
- Medical frontiers expand with the implantation of the first self-contained artificial heart and the announcement that an early human embryo has been cloned.
- India’s worst earthquake in 50 years kills 20,000.
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone scores the biggest movie-opening weekend in history, earning almost $95 million.
- San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds sets the single-season record for home runs, slamming 73.
Local/state
- Waco-based missionaries Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer are released in Afghanistan, ending imprisonment by Taliban captors.
- International energy giant Enron Corp. of Houston files one of the largest Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganizations in history.
- Arlington resident Wadih el Hage and three other radicals are convicted in the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
- The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition breaks with tradition and names two gold medalists, Olga Kern and Stanislau Ioudenitch.
- Lockheed Martin wins the $200 billion joint strike fighter contract, assuring thousands of jobs in Fort Worth.
- Arlington Police Cpl. Joey Cushman is fatally wounded during a training exercise.
- Political redistricting creates more potential muscle for Republicans in the Legislature and tougher challenges for Democrats.
- Fort Worth’s Amon Carter Museum reopens with much fanfare and a beautiful new space designed by architect Philip Johnson.
- Seven Texas prison escapees’ capture in Colorado ends a weeks-long, nationwide hunt for suspects in the murder of an Irving policeman.
- Public transportation gains momentum with commuter rail service and completion of the Airport Freeway/Loop 820 interchange.
