Here are the top 10 West Virginia stories of 2016, according to The Associated Press’ poll of editors, news directors and reporters:
1. SEVERE FLOODING: Flooding in late June killed 23 people and destroyed or damaged thousands of homes, businesses, roads and bridges.
2. DONALD BLANKENSHIP: Former Massey Energy CEO Donald Blankenship begins serving a one-year sentence for his misdemeanor conspiracy conviction.
3. SUBSTANCE ABUSE: In August, more than two dozen people overdose on heroin in a five-hour span in Huntington. Two people died. Communities and officials seek ways to end the scourge of drug addiction.
4. JIM JUSTICE: Greenbrier resort owner Jim Justice is elected governor.
5. DONALD TRUMP: West Virginia voters overwhelmingly choose Republican Donald Trump for president over Hillary Clinton.
6. BLIZZARD: A January blizzard dumps 42 inches of snow in parts of West Virginia.
7. EPIPENS: Mylan CEO Heather Bresch, daughter of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, is grilled on Capitol Hill about the sky-high price of lifesaving EpiPens and her company’s profits.
8. STALLED BUDGET: After months of stalled negotiations on balancing the state budget, lawmakers pass higher taxes on cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other tobacco products to raise about $98 million a year.
9. GOP CONTROL: Buoyed by Trump’s popularity, Republicans maintain their control of West Virginia’s Legislature, while the GOP wins four of six statewide offices.
10. COAL LAYOFFS: Coal companies announce the additional layoffs of hundreds of miners in West Virginia as the industry’s downtown continues.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.