Top News Stories of 2007

The top news stories of 2007 changed the way that we live. Some of these stories were tragedies, personal or corporate. Lives were lost. People were hurt. Other top stories were just warnings. We'll live differently now because these things happened. Tragedy or warning, the world will be talking about these events for years to come.

What were the top news stories of 2007? In chronological order, they were:

Virginia Tech Shooting

What happened? On April 16th, 2007, Cho Seung-Hui shot two students in a Virgina Tech dorm. Just a few hours later Cho entered Norris Hall and opened fire in classrooms and in the hall. The final death toll for this deadly tragedy was 33 lives.

Why it's important. The shooting was a wakeup call for the security of many college campuses. High schools have been increasing security measures since the Columbine massacre. Many colleges were not prepared for such an attack and are just now upgrading their security measures. The tragedy also put a spotlight on the failures of the current mental health care system.

Celebrity Meltdowns

What happened? 2007 was the year of the celebrity meltdown. Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, and Britney Spears all experienced personal scandals. For Lindsay Lohan, formerly a star in such Disney favorites as The Love Bug and The Parent Trap, it was a drug scandal and rehab in May of 2007. Also in May, Paris Hilton found herself in jail serving time for driving under the influence. Finally, in a tragedy that's still going on pop singer Britney Spears faced losing custody of her children due to instability and alleged drug abuse.

Why it's important. We've long known that childhood stardom and excess can have tragic consequences. Sadly, these wealthy young celebrities illustrated this principle only too well. Let's hope that they can get their lives back on track.

The Apple iPhone

What happened? On June 29, 2007 the Apple iPhone was released for sale in stores across the United States. Although the iPhone was initially more expensive ($599) than other cellphones, many customers lined up hours before it went on sale so that they could be among the first to purchase one of the cutting edge phones.

Why it's important. The iPhone, a multi-function device, marks the start of a trend of combining high tech functions that should continue for the next decade. The frenzy surrounding its release shows how dependent consumers are on technology.

Mortgage Crisis

What happened? During the summer of 2007 the housing bubble burst. Consumers who had purchased sub-prime mortgages saw their adjustable-interest rate home mortgages nearly double. Hundreds home owners defaulted on their loans sending a ripple through the entire economy.

Why it's important. Any time a government has to bail consumers out it's significant. This time the government froze sub-prime mortgage rates for five years. Let's hope that consumers and mortgage companies have learned their lesson.

Lead in Toys

What happened? This was another summer crisis. Toy manufactures started recalling toys in droves, many of which has been made in China. Most of the toy danger was due to lead paint on toddler toys, although some toys contained detachable magnets or other hazards. One toy, AquaDots, contained a toxic chemical that became a dangerous drug when swallowed.

Why it's important. The recalls fueled concerns about Christmas toy availabity and caused manufacturers to re-examine their standards for outsourcing. The recalls also spawned a number of concerned consumer watchdog sites such as Not China Made and www.HealthyToys.org.

All in all, the top stories of 2007 left a legacy that won't easily be forgotten.