Party Bus Stabbing, Chipotle Sickness, Puppy Reunion, Airport Breastfeeding: Newton's 2015 Year-in-Review

NEWTON, MA - In October, a mom from Newton was horrified when she was told to pump breast milk in the pet relief room at an airport. “Can’t believe United Airlines told me to either pump my breast milk in the restroom or the pet relief center. Seriously?!? Total fail. Can not make this up.” Newton readers reacted, voting on our quiz and posting reactions on Facebook.

The post was among the top stories that had Newton residents talking this year on Patch.

Court cases, deaths, restaurants opening and closing, survey rankings and more. In Newton this year, readers clicked on stories about an animal cruelty case, Boston College getting sick from allegedly eating at Chipotle, a car break spree, college comparisons and a law that would make it illegal to have sex with a dead person.

What Newton stories resonated with you this past year? Leave your comments in our comments section below.

Here are the top 10 stories for 2015 on Newton Patch:

1. And a Handicapped Puppy Named Billie Still Sits at the Shelter: Remember those dachshunds that were rescued from the cruel situation earlier this year? They’ve all been adopted, except for one puppy.
2. UPDATE: Chipotle Sick List in Mass. Up to 140: There are as many as 140 students sick at Boston College, the latest in a string of health concerns at Chipotle restaurants; CEO apologizes.
3. Mom Sent to Pet Area to Breastfeed; Patch Quiz: ‘What’s A Baby?’ A mom from Newton was horrified when she was told to pump breast milk in the pet relief room at the airport. “Can’t believe United Airlines told me to either pump my breast milk in the restroom or the pet relief center. Seriously?!? Total fail. Can not make this up.”That’s the status Liz Cooper posted on her Facebook page in October.
4. Newton Police Issue Alert After Vehicle Break-In Spree: Nearly all the break-ins involved unlocked vehicles. Police said vehicles on these streets were burglarized. Nearly all of the vehicles were unlocked. Police said they have made one arrest in connection with the break-ins.
5. Newton-Wellesley Nurses Vote to Strike: As talks stall, nurses vote overwhelmingly for one-day strike. The registered nurses of Newton Wellesley Hospital, who were negotiating a new contract with Partners HealthCare, cast an overwhelming vote (90 percent voting in favor) to authorize a one-day strike to protest efforts by Partners to boost its multi-million dollar profit margin by cutting patients’ access to appropriate nursing care.
6. Which Local Colleges Give Students the Best Financial Return? Six Massachusetts schools are in The Economist’s top-50 nationwide list. The Economist relied on a Sept. 12 college scorecard released by America’s Department of Education, studying students’ financial situations when they entered the school and 10 years after graduating.
7. When Party Bus Doesn’t Make it to Party, Stabbings Ensue: A party bus never made it to Worcester for a party (because of a fight at the destination), which escalated into a fight upon return. A Newton man faced assault with a dangerous weapon charges after police say he attacked two brothers who were also on a party bus with him out of Brookline.
8. It’s Not Illegal to Have Sex With a Dead Person in Massachusetts: There’s no law banning necrophilia in Massachusetts. A state rep wants to change that. With all those laws on the books controlling residents’ behavior, you might assume it would be a given that necrophilia would not only be discouraged, but also come with a punishment.Well, you’d be wrong.
9. Reunited, And it Feels so Good: Brighton Has Been Found: Thanks to a reader who saw the post on Patch, Brighton was reunited with her family. Brighton had been missing since March 24. She slipped out of the car after her caretaker brought her for a walk.After shares on Missing Dogs Massachusetts, and a share on Newton and Dedham Patch, we were happy to report that Brighton had been reunited with her family.
10. Yelp’s Top 10 Restaurants in Newton: Do You Agree? Check out the top 10 rated restaurants in Newton, based on Yelp! reviews. Did your neighbors - or the tourists - get it right?