Top 10 news stories of 2009 Kristina Mameli news editor he news is 2009 was dominated by both Canadian and international politics, economic concerns, Swine Flu, Olympic fever in Vancouver and the sudden death of a very prominent figure in the entertainment industry, It was a year of ups and downs and of firsts. The following is a list of The Other Press’ top 10 newsmakers of 2009: HIN1 hysteria Hailed as a pandemic, HIN1, also commonly referred to as the Swine Flu, takes the number one spot for the most reported on issue of 2009, though it was in fact responsible for fewer deaths than the regular flu. Stories on how to avoid contracting the virus, the controversial vaccination and even complacency and opposition to getting vaccinated dominated headlines from the very start, sparking mass hysteria that had all eligible vaccination recipients flocking to clinics. The Canadian Health Authority is still urging all Canadians to get vaccinated. HIN1 impressively charted on the social networking site Twitter’s top trends of 2009 list at both #2 and #6. The King of Pop laid to rest The sudden death of pop icon Michael Jackson shocked his legions of fans and quickly dominated all news and entertainment outlets as theory after theory came to light about the potential cause. At 50, Jackson was the largest pop star in the world, the King of Pop to many; his sudden death eclipsed that of all other celebrities that passed in 2009, and lead to widespread mourning, most notably a public memorial held in LA and televised on every major news outlet. His golden coffin was laid to rest as tribute after tribute was issued. Jackson’s albums sold at all time highs, now collectors items; the remaining members of the Jackson 5 reunited for a reality show, and footage from the preparation for Jackson’s upcoming tour was made into a successful film. The 2010 Winter Olympic Games Not a day has gone by since the announcement that Vancouver would play host to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games that there has not been at least one mention concerning the changes to the city as a result of the Games in the news. From cost overruns of the Olympic village, traffic diversions, TransLink improvements (including the early and under-budget completion of the Canada Line), merchandising and exclusive rights, torch bearing ceremonies, the Cultural Olympiad, custom medals, and Cowichan sweater controversy to, well, the athletes themselves, the build up to the Games throughout 2009 has been a long and rocky road. Expect far more to come as the Games get underway. Obama inauguration Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States, January 20, as well as the first ever African American President in an extremely emotional ceremony. His election was heralded as a landmark for social change, and his inauguration was one of the most watched and heavily scrutinized events of the year. It was watched the world over. Obama soon went on to win a controversial Nobel Peace Prize extremely early in his presidency. The Harmonized Sales Tax The big bad HST, which will replace the GST and PST in B.C., was an issue of extreme contention, especially here in B.C. where businesses are expected to most feel the effects of the controversial tax which takes effect in July of this year. Fhe HST, which will increase the cost of basis consumer goods such as food, has sparked protests and has been declared unfair by many, particularly in the somewhat trying times of the global economic recession. B.C.’s Assistance to Shelter Act Vancouver police will not use force to take the homeless to shelters during extreme weather, but they are authorized to gently urge the homeless with “minimal non-forceful touching” equivalent to helping an elderly person cross the street. If the person refuses, the police must immediately withdraw. The act was drafted in response to the winter/ cold weather deaths of mentally ill and addicted homeless who refused to be taken into shelters even when the weather called for it. Under other laws, the police still have the ability to force people into shelters if they are underage, intoxicated or mentally ill. Activists speculate that rather than a move of compassion, the new act is more of an attempt to cover up the poverty of our streets as Vancouver prepares to take its place on the world stage. Global economic crisis The recession was also a constant newsmaker in 2009, as businesses downsized causing many to lose their jobs as companies attempted to cut costs. Belts were tightened this year, especially in charitable donations around the holidays. Copenhagen The UN Climate Change Summit saw world leaders assemble in Denmark to discuss Kyoto and cutting emissions in order to preserve the planet. Canadian politics Canadian politics in 2009 was a veritable roller coaster with Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s minority government surviving a Liberal non-confidence vote. Tiger Woods A little late in the year, professional golfer Tiger Woods made headlines after he crashed his car in the early hours of the morning supposedly fleeing from his wife who was coming at him with a golf club. From there, alleged mistress after mistress began to come out of the woodwork as his lucrative sponsorship deals began to dry up. News Shorts By Kristina Mameli New cell phone laws especially strict for new drivers As of January 1, using your cell phone —that includes typing, texting or dialling — while driving is strictly prohibited and could result in a $167 fine on top of three penalty points in B.C. The move is expected to encourage drivers to be more observant while on the road. Some news outlets are reporting that police will observe a one- month grace period as British Columbians adjust to the new restrictions. Drivers are being urged to consider purchasing hands-free devices. Drivers completing the Graduated Licensing Program, however, will also be restricted from using the hands free devices. Expect fines, especially for texting while driving, to be handed out before February. For more information, visit http://www.drivecellsafe.ca/ Local gay rights pioneer loses battle with cancer Peter Corren, one of the most influential gay rights activists in Canada, died Decmember 30 after a battle with cancer. He was 62. The former TransLink employee and his husband Murray fought tirelessly for the rights of same-sex couples, even through death threats, helping to transform Canadian society in the process. The couple was responsible for starting the fight to legalize same-sex marriages in Canada after being refused a marriage license as well as many other milestones. Five Canadians killed in Afghanistan return home The five fallen Canadians include Vancouver journalist _ Michelle Lang, on assignment for Canwest News _ Service. She is the first Canadian journalist to be killed in Afghanistan. Also killed were Sgts. George Miok and Kirk Taylor, Cpl. Zachery McCormick and Pte. Garrett Chidley. They were killed when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off just before the end of 2009 on the outskirts of Kandahar during a routine patrol. So far, 138 Canadian soldiers and two civilians - have died in Afghanistan.