With 2023 days away, many are reflecting on the top stories of the year. 2022 continued the turbulent trend of the past few years. We saw the death of a beloved monarch, the Oscar's slap, the invasion of Ukraine, record breaking gas prices, Wordle, Tom Brady's retirement, unretirement, and divorce...

Here in the Capital Region, we had a big year, too. You shared, liked, laughed, cried, and debated which cities are in Upstate right along with us. Of all the stories we put out in 2022, these are the top 10 most read - articles about tragedy, triumph, and the world's best ice cream.

One of the Country’s Best Small Cities to Live In is In Upstate New York

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https://wgna.com/one-of-the-countrys-best-small-cities-to-live-in-is-in-upstate-new-york/

https://wgna.com/one-of-the-countrys-best-small-cities-to-live-in-is-in-upstate-new-york/

Don’t Throw This Out! New York State Is Mailing Families $100s

1.75 New Yorkers are getting an extra check as part of this fiscal year's state budget.
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Everybody loves extra cash! In September and October, New York State gave out $475 million in funds for one-time payments to fight inflation and help families heading into the final months of the year. Were you one of the 1.75 million households that got a check?

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New York Garage with Rare Find! Less Than 1,000 of These Were Made!

YouTube.com-AMMO NYC
YouTube.com-AMMO NYC
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New York auto Youtubers AMMO NYC made a crazy "barn find" with a 1975 Pontiac Trans Am 455 HO. After 20 years in storage, it's a little worse for (lack of) wear, but still turns heads.

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Invasive Fish Found In Hudson River! Catch It, Kill It, Leave It On Land!

YouTube.com-Badgerland Fishes
YouTube.com-Badgerland Fishes
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After New York DEC workers found an ultra-invasive bottom-dwelling fish in the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, they took drastic measures to keep it from reaching Lake Champlain. Don't just kill it and toss it back - leave it on the shore as far from the water as you can get it.

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“Unimaginable Grief” as Upstate Dad & Toddler Slain On Vacation

Canva/GlacierNPS on Flickr/Bethany Siau via GoFundMe
Canva/GlacierNPS on Flickr/Bethany Siau via GoFundMe
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Not all of 2022's biggest stories were happy ones. While vacationing in Montana, an Upstate family was attacked by a family member's ex-boyfriend. The ex killed an 18-month-old and her 39-year-old father, before being stabbed to death. A GoFundMe was established to help the family.

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Upstate NY Ice Cream Named Best in the World! Which Flavors Won Big?

YouTube / Stewart's Shops
YouTube / Stewart's Shops
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To know Stewart's Shops is to love their ice cream, and a group of international judges showed the sweet treat the most love they could. Peanut Butter Pandemonium was named the best peanut butter ice cream on Earth at the 2022 World Dairy Expo. Several other Stewart's flavors took high honors, too.

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Capital Region Locale Tops List of NY’s 10 Worst Small Towns

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On the flip side, one Capital Region town received an award best not discussed. According to US Census Data, Whitehall was named New York State's worst small town. See what other towns made the Bottom 10.

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2022’s Ten Most Dangerous Cities in New York, Ranked by the FBI

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Canva/FBI/Getty Images
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Another not-stellar honor: two Capital Region cities ended up on the FBI's most dangerous list for New York State. One has rising property crime, while another is improving overall - here's hoping for a less criminal 2023.

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Abandoned NY State Psychiatric Hospital! What Went On In Building 23?

YouTube.com- PhantomArt
YouTube.com- PhantomArt
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Pilgrim State Hospital, known as "Lobotomy Hospital," in Brentwood, NY has been abandoned for years after giving some of the most questionable mental treatments in state history. Take a look inside the facility today, including the infamous Building 23.

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COVID Still Rising, CDC Says Mask Up In 12 Upstate New York Counties

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Finally, it wouldn't be a 2020s news list without a COVID story. In the fall, COVID numbers spiked in Upstate NY and the CDC re-recommended masking up. Hopefully this is the last year we'll see the virus make the list.

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Stars We Lost in 2022

See the famous icons we have had to say goodbye to in 2022, below.

Gallery Credit: Jacklyn Krol

Ten Stories That Shocked New York Sports Fans in 2022

2022 was anything but ordinary for New York's sports teams, and these ten stories left fans shocked, amazing, and even a bit disappointed during the year.

Gallery Credit: Dan Bahl

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