The year in review

When we look back on 2015, we’re going to remember it as a pretty momentous time, both from national and international standpoints. It was the year the Supreme Court gave its historic ruling allowing same-sex couples to marry, regardless of what state they call home. It was a time of massive protests in response to the deaths and beatings of citizens at the hands of police. And the presidential election campaigning heated up, taking the rhetoric to new heights.

Farther afield, 2015 was the year of ISIS. In November alone, Islamic extremists associated with the terror group attacked Beirut, killing dozens of people; claimed to have been responsible for taking down a Russian airliner, killing more than 200 citizens; and then came the Paris attacks during which 136 people were killed. Closer to home, in San Berdardino, we were stunned to hear two extremists, including an American citizen, had murdered 14 people during a holiday party at a county office.

In our annual year-in-review issue, however, we focus on the local controversies in our community.

The top 10 stories of the year include familiar subjects to most Chicoans (homelessness is a top story for three years running, for example). We’ve also compiled a list of other notable stories and our popular “What were they thinking?” picks.

Once again, it’s been a hell of a year. And, of course, we’ll be here in 2016 with all the news and commentary you’ve come to rely on.