Our most-read stories of 2020

The stories our readers shared, viewed, and resonated with the most this year, according to pageviews and analytics.

Collage of featured images from the top stories of the year. See each story for photo sources.

2020 is officially behind us, so let’s take a moment to look back on some of the biggest stories from a chaotic year in news.

Violent crime, law and order, and protesting were the dominant themes of Alpha News’ most-viewed stories. Despite this, a powerful homily by a Catholic cardinal also made it into the lineup. Read on to see which stories our readers shared the most in 2020.

This list is comprised of the top stories based on pageviews and analytics — not the top stories as chosen by our staff.

10) ‘Organized’ and violent juvenile robbery, carjacking spree spans metro

An organized group of juveniles terrorized the metro and committed robberies and carjackings in early summer. One spree that spanned three cities ended in a violent crash in Northeast Minneapolis sending two of the suspects to the hospital, while two others fled.

9) Minneapolis City Council members want to abolish the police

In early June, the City Council’s decision to abolish the police force came after George Floyd died at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer on May 26. Floyd’s death triggered a wave of destructive riots throughout the city.

Members of the Minneapolis City Council call for defunding the police during an event at Powderhorn Park over the summer.
8) Governor Walz: Restrictions will stay in place ‘until we get a vaccine’

“The things we’re putting in place need to get us through until we get a vaccine,” Gov. Walz declared at a press conference in May. “This is not over, we still have no vaccine … and our numbers in Minnesota will continue to go [up],” he said.

7) Cardinal Burke: Forces of the ‘Great Reset’ have used COVID to advance ‘evil agenda’

At a time when “we need to be close to one another in Christian love, worldly forces would isolate us and have us believe that we are alone and dependent upon secular forces, which would make us slaves to their godless and murderous agenda,” Cardinal Raymond Burke said during a homily in December.

6) DFL candidate supported by Walz screams at teenage girls during Bob Kroll protest

John Thompson, a DFL candidate who was elected to the House in November, screamed profanities during a protest outside the home of Bob Kroll in Hugo, Minnesota. Thompson was endorsed by Gov. Tim Walz in his campaign for the State Legislature.

5) KARE11 meteorologist: Protesters are ‘Nazi sympathizer gun fetishist miscreants’

Minnesota meteorologist Sven Sundgaard reposted a comment calling protestors of the shutdown “Nazi sympathizer gun fetishist miscreants.” He later deleted the Facebook post and was fired from KARE 11.

4) Andover man charged with raping and sexually assaulting 15-year-old girl he met on Snapchat

An Andover man lured a 15-year-old girl on Snapchat by posing as a 16-year-old boy and then raped and sexually assaulted her on two different days after threatening to disseminate seminude photos of her if she didn’t comply, according to charges filed in Anoka County.

3) Suspect bailed out by Minnesota Freedom Fund leaves bar manager with traumatic brain injury in violent assault

The offender had previous violent assault charges and was provided bail by the Minnesota Freedom Fund just days before he attacked an employee of Mac’s Industrial Sports Bar in Minneapolis.

2) Minneapolis to install permanent monument to George Floyd

The decision to enshrine Floyd’s image came after Minneapolis held over 40 “listening sessions,” which consisted of the local government hearing from citizens about how they believe Floyd should be remembered. The monument will cost at least $50,000.

The citizen-constructed George Floyd memorial in Minneapolis. (Image credit: Twitter/@taylorarntsen)
1) Minneapolis police tell residents to obey criminals and ‘be prepared’ to be robbed

“Be prepared to give up your cell phone and purse/wallet,” the police said in an email sent to Third Precinct residents. The email said citizens should listen to criminals and “do as they say.” The message warned that “some victims have been maced, dragged, assaulted, and some threatened with a gun.”

 

Rose Williams

Rose Williams is an assistant editor for Alpha News.