Politics at home also made for many headlines. The divisive months-long battle over creating a statewide school voucher program stayed in the news until its defeat in the November election. Rocky Anderson's decision to not seek a third term brought new blood to the Salt Lake mayor's office with Ralph Becker.

Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs made the top 10 for the second consecutive year. Last year for being a fugitive; this year for being arrested and convicted on rape by accomplice charges. He now resides at the Utah State Prison.

Other than University of Utah professor Mario Capecchi winning the Nobel Prize, there were no feel-good stories in the top 10.

Though not in the same order, readers and the Morning News staff agreed on eight of the top 10 stories, including prison inmate Curtis Michael Allgier allegedly killing corrections officer Stephen Anderson during an escape attempt from a University of Utah medical clinic.

The death of President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency of the LDS Church, and Becker becoming Salt Lake mayor made the readers' list.

Editors and reporters chose escapes from the Daggett and Beaver county jails and kidnapped bride Julianna Redd Myers on their ballots.

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E-mail: romboy@desnews.com