Top 9 of Iowa: UI Wants to Know If You're Gay, Farewell Elizabeth Collins, Iowans React to Connecticut Shooting

Why nine? Because the Patch community includes nine sites in Iowa: Ames, Ankeny, Cedar Falls, Iowa City, Johnston, Marion, Urbandale, Waukee and West Des Moines.

9. The University of Iowa has become the first public university in the nation to specifically include optional questions about students' sexual orientation and gender identity in their application for admission.

8. Kelly Mulford, of Marion, is one of the Shipping 20, a group from Quaker Oats that won a $241 million Powerball jackpot. He and his wife, Anne, donated at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.

7. Election 2012 is finally over for Iowans. GOP's Charles Schneider won Senate District 22 over Democrat Desmund Adams. The late Sen. Pat Ward died in October while running for the seat, which prompted the special election.

6. The Ankeny City Council voted in Gary Lorenz as the new mayor. He fills the seat vacated by Steven Van Oort, who resigned to take his elected post as a Polk County Supervisor.

5. Christmas came early for some West Des Moines merchants when about – in at least one case literally – through their shops.

4. Urbandale Police Officers took 15 children shopping at the Urbandale Super Target for the third annual Shop with a Cop event. Each child got to spend $115 for gifts for themselves and family members while feeling safe shopping with a cop.

3. The Johnston school board voted to once again pursue a new high school and renovation of existing buildings to manage increased enrollment and expand space for educational programs.

2. In the wake of the nation’s second-worst school shooting at , mental health professionals at Iowa State University offer guidance on how to discuss the tragedy with young children. Iowans grieved for the families in Connecticut on social media.

1. "It’s a celebration for her," Elizabeth's mother, Heather Collins, said as around 1,500 people filled Heartland Vineyard Church in Cedar Falls. Countless others watched live on the local and regional news the funeral service for Elizabeth Collins, one of the two Evansdale girls whose body was found last week after a five-month search. "I know she’ll be looking down on us, smiling and dancing along with us and singing."

Past Tops: