One of the privileges that comes with being a newspaper managing editor is a ballot in the Associated Press annual vote for the top 10 stories of the year.

Here are the 10 stories I chose:

1. Iraq war: political disarray and mounting casualties among civilians, U.S. troops.

2. U.S. election: Democrats seize control of House and Senate.

3. U.S. economy. Dow Jones average hits new high; auto, housing industries struggle.

4. More than 900 killed in month of fighting between Israel, Hezbollah; Lebanon hit hardest.

5. Illegal immigration: U.S. politicians and public divided over how to address it.

6. Donald Rumsfeld steps down as U.S. defense secretary.

7. Cuban President Fidel Castro temporarily cedes power after intestinal surgery.

8. Felipe Calderon elected president of Mexico; loser’s backers stage huge protests.

9. Debate over detainees at Guantanamo and secret CIA-run prisons overseas.

10. Concern mounts over global warming; world temperatues highest in 12,000 years.

What do you think? Would you have picked different stories? I’m already second-guessing myself. Today, I would  move Iran and North Korea and their nucler programs into the top 10, and take Castro out. By the way, I chose Mexico and Cuba changing leaders because of the potential impact on our hemisphere, while I left bigger stories in Africa and Asia off my list because they may have less impact on us here in Michigan.

Some of the top stories I didn’t chose included:

- Sago mine disaster: 12 West Virginia coal miners killed by underground blast.

- Iran, North Korea pursue nuclear programs despite international pressure.

- Widespread Muslim protests, violence sparked by Danish cartoon and papal speech.

- Saddam Hussein convicted of mass killings, sentenced to hang.

- Afghanistan: NATO forces struggle to counter Taliban resurgence.

- Former Enron, WorldCom chiefs Lay, Skilling, Ebbers convicted in corporate scandals.

- Tour de France winner Floyd Landis accused of drug violations.

- Earthquake kills 5,800 people, wrecks 135,000 homes in Java, Indonesia.

- British police thwart plot to blow up jetliners; new carry-on rules inmposed.

- Gunman attacks Amish school in Pennsyulvania, kills five girls and himself.

There were several dozen more choices, but that gives you an idea. By the way, we’re also working on our Top 10 local stories of the year. More on that another day.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 15th, 2006 at 5:39 am and is filed under The Evening News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.