The 12 Biggest Stories This Year In New Jersey

Before you say goodbye to 2015, take a minute to recall some of its highlights.

We’re counting down the top 25 news stories this year on Patch. (Click here to see the most popular stories of 2015 month by month)

Here’s is part two, where we’ll review stories 12 to 1. Click here to view the countdown from 25 to 13.

12. WATCH: Mama Bear And Cubs Go Swimming In Backyard Pool

11. Real Housewives Of New Jersey’ Stars Losing Their Mansion

10. Lifetime Walmart Banishment For North Jersey Woman Who Shoplifted

9. Video Captured Of Watersprout On Long Beach Island

8. WATCH: House Falls In Water Off Jersey Shore

7. Murderer Of 13-Year-Old Toms River Girl Will Soon Walk The Streets

6. Man Charged After Putting Needles In Halloween Candy: Police

5. Football Player Dies After On-Field Injury (Sept. 28)

A senior at Warren Hills Regional High School died from an injury sustained at a home football game.

4. Tropical Storm Joaquin Expected To Move Toward N.J. (Sept. 30)

One of the biggest storms since Sandy threatened New Jersey but ended up offshore.

3. ‘Most Expensive Retail Project On Earth’ Coming To Meadowlands In 2017 (Oct. 29)

Mall of America owners are planning a N.J. project with indoor amusement park, aquarium, ski hill, ‘scented’ theater, and Kosher food court.2.

2. New Jersey: The Most Hated State In America, New Poll Says (July 2)

A survey ranked New Jersey as the least liked state in the nation. “New Jersey is the only state in the country which people tend to have a negative opinion of,” YouGov said in its summary.

1. ‘Tornado’ Rips Through South Jersey: Eyewitnesses (June 26)

What appeared to be a tornado ripped through South Jersey Tuesday evening, causing power outages and resulting in smashed windows and flipped over cars, several eyewitnesses said. The National Weather Service has since identified the weather event as a ”downburst.”

(PHOTO: Twitter user @King_Juice_13, used with permission)