Suggest what you think were the biggest news stories of 2011

What leaps out when you think about the major news stories of 2011?

Was it the devastation and recovery from the April tornadoes? The shooting death of Chattanooga Police Sgt. Tim Chapin?

Maybe your interest was caught by the Gail Palmgren story. Perhaps it was the first Passat rolling off the line at the VW plant.

And let's not forget gang violence, the recall effort against Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield and the ongoing heartache of North Georgia's carpet industry.

Whatever your opinion, the Chattanooga Times Free Press wants to know your choices of the biggest stories of the year. Tell us what they are, number them in terms of their importance, if you like.

Readers can nominate stories until Dec. 12 in comments below or our Facebook page or our Twitter feed. From the suggestions, we'll compile a list that you'll vote on. Voting will be open from Dec. 14 to Dec. 21.

You can also mail your list to: Kate Harrison, c/o The Chattanooga Times Free Press, 400 E. 11th St., Chattanooga, TN 37403. Final picks will run in the newspaper on Dec. 31

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