Here are the top 10 Chattanooga Times Free Press stories of 2018

Crime, business and politics all figured in Times Free Press readers’ choices for the top stories of 2018.

Readers were asked to vote by paper ballot or online from a list of 25 important stories this year. Here are their choices, from most votes to fewest.

1. Walker County deputy fatally shoots Rossville man on New Year’s Day

Deputy John Chandler was responding to a call that a woman was threatening to kill herself and her children. When he saw a man pointing a gun at him from inside the house, he fired and killed Mark Parkinson, the innocent homeowner. Officers later learned Parkinson’s daughter was in a custody battle and her mother-in-law had made a false call. Dorothy Gass faced felony charges in the case but died in November before she could be tried.

2. Johnthony Walker convicted in Woodmore crash, charged with child sex

The school bus driver was sentenced to four years in prison on convictions for vehicular homicide in the 2016 crash that killed six Woodmore Elementary students. While out on bond appealing that sentence, he was charged with statutory rape for having sex with a 14-year-old girl in Nashville. A judge revoked his bond and the case is pending before a Davidson County grand jury.

3. Erlanger opens $30 million children’s outpatient center

Named the Kennedy Outpatient Center for the family that donated $5 million to the project, the 90,000-square-foot building was the largest philanthropic campaign in Chattanooga history and received contributions from more than 6,000 people. It will house all of Erlanger’s children’s outpatient services, including cardiology, pulmonology, neurology and orthopedics.

4. Truck driver Ben Brewer convicted in fatal I-75 crash

The Kentucky trucker was convicted on all charges for the 2015 Interstate 75 crash that killed six people, including two children. Brewer was speeding and had methamphetamine in his system when he barreled into slowed vehicles in a construction zone. A judge sentenced Brewer to 55 years in prison.

5. VW adds Atlas line

Volkswagen of America announces a $340 million expansion to begin production of the five-seat Atlas SUV. The carmaker said it will add up to 1,000 more employees at its Chattanooga vehicle assembly plant.

6. Trump, Pence visit Chattanooga

One of the biggest political races in Tennessee history, the contest to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Bob Corker brought President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence to Chattanooga just days before the Nov. 6 election, marking a rare joint appearance by a sitting president and vice president.

7. Sears closing last retail outlets

What once was the largest retailer in the Chattanooga region, battered by the shift to online shopping, announced plans to close its last retail outlets. The company said its local stores will be turned into restaurants and other uses.

8. Blackburn elected to Senate

U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn becomes the first woman from Tennessee elected to the U.S. Senate. The Williamson County Republican soundly defeated Democratic former governor Phil Bredesen to take the seat being vacated by Corker.

9. New governors elected in Tennessee, Georgia

The Republican Party consolidated its grip in Tennessee in November elections when businessman and political newcomer Bill Lee defeated Democrat Karl Dean in the race to succeed outgoing GOP Gov. Bill Haslam. In Georgia, Republican Brian Kemp squeaked out a win against Democrat Stacey Abrams.

10. Floods in September prove deadly

On Sept. 26, floodwaters raging through Soddy-Daisy killed a woman and forced dozens of other people from their homes as a record-setting onslaught of rain pummeled the tri-state area. Meteorologists said more than 5 inches of rain fell on Hamilton County in 48 hours, with even higher rainfall reported in the region.