Choosing the year's top 10 stories is, to an extent, an arbitrary task. It's a mixture of our judgment, of stories that have occupied considerable media attention, or those that have had the largest effect on the highest number of Yukoners or both.

Here, then, are the Star's top 10 stories in the Yukon for 2005.

1. Moments of raw emotion sear through Yukon Supreme Court several times throughout 2005 as the justice system disposes of a staggeringly high number of cases involving violent deaths.

On May 26, George Kieran Daunt is found guilty of the second-degree murder of Robert Truswell on Aug. 28, 2003 in the gold fields near Dawson City. He is sentenced to 25 years in prison. His case now stands under appeal.

On July 20, Edward Mason is found not criminally responsible for the shooting death of Germain Gaulin near Watson Lake in April 2004. The court rules that Mason was afflicted by an episode of psychosis at the time of the murder.

On Oct. 26, Karen Rodrigue is sentenced to life in prison for the second-degree stabbing death of Gerald Dawson in June 2004 in Whitehorse.

On Nov. 4, Michael Hamilton is ordered to serve at least 13 years' prison time for the stabbing death of taxi driver Brian Wheldon in June 2004 in Whitehorse.

Also on Nov. 4, Christina Asp, who had pleaded guilty to the stabbing death of Keith Blanchard in February 2004 in Pelly Crossing, is sentenced to three years in prison.

On Nov. 15, Michael Stewart is ordered to four years' incarceration for manslaughter for the November 2004 beating death of John Lucas in Watson Lake.

On Nov. 25, Justina Ellis is sent to prison for six years for the second-degree murder of her infant daughter in August 2004 in Dawson City.

Not yet heard in the courts is the case of murdered Carcross hotelier Bob Olson, who was killed over the Christmas 2004 weekend. Charged in connection with the murder are Mark Lange and Dean Boucher.

1. Hundreds of people gather Feb. 19 to witness and celebrate the formal signing of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation land claim and self-government agreements.

Indian Affairs Minister Andy Scott calls the event a first for Canada. Given the first nation's new ownership of significant parcels of land inside and outside a capital city's boundaries, Ed Schultz, then the grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations, calls it a world first.

The agreement gives the first nation ownership of 1,043 square kilometres of land and $47 million over 15 years, though it will have to repay $14.7 million that Ottawa advanced it for the claim's negotiation.

1. Housing prices and the demand for homes in Whitehorse explodes to levels never seen before. By July, the Star is reporting that a rural property that sold for $189,000 a year earlier is now going for $246,700. Homes in most other areas of the city have shown similar dramatic price escalations.

Reasons for the trend include the growing numbers of family breakups, affordable mortgage rates, a shortage of contractors, enabling homebuilders to charge higher prices, and the shrinking number of residential lots.

A September housing conference hears that 400 people relocated to the Yukon in 2004 another factor for the real estate boom.

By the time the third quarter dawns, the average price of a home in Whitehorse has rocketed to $227,400.

1. The Yukon Party government tables a record budget of $784 million on March 24. Premier and Finance Minister Dennis Fentie had earlier stated the previous year's budget would be the largest of his mandate.

Instead, the 2005-06 fiscal year budget contemplates spending $80 million more than its predecessor. The $206 million set aside for capital works projects also shatters a record. Opposition Leader Todd hardy questions the long-term wisdom of what he calls 'a spending spree.'

In October, Fentie requests from the legislature another $40.7 million in extra spending.

1. Whitehorse RCMP conduct an 11-hour drug bust in three Copper Ridge subdivision homes that yield 2,400 marijuana plants worth up to $5 million on the streets. Three Whitehorse men and two Vancouver residents are charged in connection with the Sept. 23 bust. Their cases remain before the courts.

Three days later, police search a fourth Copper Ridge home and seize another load of marijuana plants.

On May 28, police seized 101 kg (225 pounds) of marijuana from a car headed toward Whitehorse.

1. A forensic audit of Dawson City's finances uses terms like 'irresponsible conduct' and 'willful blindness' in condemning the fiscal management of former mayor Glen Everitt, his ex-council, and two senior town officials.

The $460,000-report, written by a Vancouver auditor, concludes that Everitt, former town manager Scott Coulson and ex-treasurer Dale Courtice collectively owe the town more than $200,000 for various cheques and charges they were involved with.

1. Then-deputy premier Peter Jenkins stuns political circles by quitting the Yukon Party caucus and cabinet Nov. 28. He attributes his new political independence to his inability to persuade the government to accomplish the things he wants done in his Klondike riding.

Premier Dennis Fentie says Jenkins told the government it would have to accept an offer to deal with Jenkins' company's outstanding loans of $300,000 to the territory or else. The premier says the government chose the 'or else', and that he would have dismissed Jenkins from the cabinet when the latter was taken to court over the loans which happened a short time later. Brad Cathers is appointed to succeed Jenkins as Minister of Health and Social Services.

1. Saying the animals were diseased, territorial government staff use the Victoria Day weekend to slaughter more than 50 reindeer the government had earlier taken from the Northern Splendour Reindeer Farm north of Whitehorse.

While most are shot, several are fatally bludgeoned. The carcasses are hauled to the Braeburn dump.

The government says three of the animals earlier culled from the herd had tested positive for Johne's disease.

Tim and Stella Gregory, who had raised the animals, dispute the government's position. The issue of compensation to the Gregorys remains outstanding.

1. Copperbelt MLA Haakon Arntzen receives a 15-month conditional sentence Sept. 8 after he was found guilty in May of three counts of indecent assault committed against girls in the 1970s. He immediately begins the process of resigning from the legislature, but has appealed his case.

Arthur Mitchell, who had taken the leadership of the Yukon Liberal Party from Pat Duncan on June 4, wins the Nov. 21 Copperbelt byelection.

1. Proposed residential land development in Whitehorse proves a passionate issue for much of 2005. The suggestion of further development in existing subdivisions draws scores of people to city council and other public meetings throughout the year.

Eighty Porter Creek residents jam their local high school April 7 to tell city planners not to cover their wilderness areas with more homes. More than 100 people crowd a downtown hotel April 13 to beseech city officials to abandon proposed zoning changes to permit more housing in greenbelts in several subdivisions.

Council approves the proposed Whitehorse Copper subdivision May 9 despite lengthy protests by residents of the nearby Wolf Creek and Pineridge subdivisions.

Meanwhile, some Takhini residents band together to oppose a multi-residential development plan by someone who declines to publicly identify himself. The plan is now in abeyance.

On Sept. 28, the city annnounces it will scrap 'infill' plans in Riverdale to concentrate on Porter Creek and Takhini. One of four proposals debated at a Sept. 29 public meeting involves up to 387 new lots for Porter Creek.

On Dec. 2, the Star reports the same Porter Creek land the city envisions for development has been promised to Yukon College as endowment land, and is in Community Services Minister Glenn Hart's scrutiny to be designaed as parkland.

Mayor Ernie Bourassa says that given the conflicting land use concepts, there's little point in the city continuing its planning work in that area.