THUNDER BAY — In a year when news headlines around the world focused daily on the COVID-19 pandemic, it's perhaps no surprise that the same subject dominated news stories at the local and regional level as well.
On TBNewswatch.com, seven of the 10 most widely-read stories in 2020 were connected to COVID-19 in one way or another.
Here are the top 10 stories of the year:
1. The story that received the largest number of views was about a Minnesota couple who crossed the border to enter Ontario at Fort Frances in late June. They were instructed to head straight to their destination and self-quarantine there for 14 days, but failed to do so. Each was charged by the OPP and fined $1,000.
2. Interest in COVID-19-related topics was superseded by a July 28 article about story about a fish that latched onto a woman's leg while she waded in the water near Minaki, causing a severe wound.
3. Ontario extends emergency orders (April 23)
4. COVID-19 prompts changes in postal service (March 24)
5. Reopening announcement for schools, daycares expected (May 11)
6. Health Unit removes 14-day isolation restriction for travel (June 11)
7. Seventh on the list of most-viewed TBNewswatch stories in 2020 was a February 24th account about an incident involving a Bearskin Airlines plane taking off from Dryden. Local curlers Krista McCarville and Ashley Sippala, along with coach Rick Lang, were among the passengers. The plane veered into a snowbank, causing the propellors to break apart. Pieces then penetrated the fuselage, resulting in Lang suffering a hand injury.
8. Thunder Bay has first confirmed COVID-19 case (March 27)
9. Missing teen Kayleigh Ivall identified as murder victim (April 29)
10. Miners caught leaving hotel quarantine (April 16)
