Donald Trump upset Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. Top politicians in Nassau were charged with political corruption, and key officials in Suffolk were convicted of other crimes. A local pizza delivery man shot to fame on “America’s Got Talent,” while we mourned the deaths of iconic entertainers including Carrie Fisher, David Bowie and Prince. 2016 has been a dramatic year. Here’s some of what we’ll remember.
Top news stories
Long Island's top 25 stories
Political corruption charges that shook a county and a political debate that drew the eyes of the nation. Those were just some of the local stories that defined 2016.
James Carbone
Best and worst in entertainment
Disappointments, debuts, farewells
See what our critics have to say about trends, surprises, breakouts and letdowns that made up the year in pop culture.
Netflix / Curtis Baker
Video Year in Review
Relive 2016 in under 6 minutes
See the memorable moments and stories Newsday captured on video this year.
Photos for posterity
Top LI pictures of 2016
A father and daughter embrace after surviving a plane crash. A whale becomes stranded in Moriches Bay. See the stunning and emotional images taken on LI this year.
Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Memorable takes
Matt Davies' cartoons of the year
The cartoonist says choosing this collection is a challenge.
Matt Davies
Front and center
Newsday's notable covers of 2016
See a collection of the most notable Newsday covers of the year, chosen by the editors, from January through December.
Home and abroad
Top photos around the U.S. and globe
Memorable images from the Dallas police shootings, the conflict in Syria, the presidential election, the World Series and more.
AP / Carolyn Kaster
Local flavor
Stories that were 'so Long Island'
From a surprise Billy Joel performance to a Dunkin' Donuts wedding, these stories will have you shaking your head and muttering, 'That's so Long Island.'
Newsday / John Paraskevas
Jeopardy! Teen Tournament
LI kids who found fame in 2016
2016 was a good year to get 15 minutes of fame for these select few local kids, including a young quiz show contestant.
Jeopardy Productions Inc.
Long Island
Notable deaths
50 Long Islanders we lost in 2016
A member of 'The God Squad,' a police sergeant killed in a shootout, and a school principal who battled cancer are among the Long Islanders we lost this year.
Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara
Making us proud
Long Islanders who made us proud
Read about a trio who rescued a father and his two children from their sinking boat and more tales of amazing feats and acts of kindness Long Islanders performed.
Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara
Famous LIers
LI celebs who made news in 2016
This year has been momentous for everyone, including some of Long Island’s favorite sons and daughters.
Invision / Jordan Strauss
Sports
Bizarre, unique stories
That’s so 2016, the sports edition
The year 2016 has been unlike any other.
EPA / Patrick B. Kraemer
Picks of pics
Top sports photos of 2016
There are plenty of good photos taken each year at sporting events. Here are 46 we found particularly enjoyable.
TNS / Brian Cassella
Passing on
2016 notable sports deaths
We said goodbye to athletes, coaches and personalities.
Getty Images / Ronald Martinez
Food
Bargain bites
Best restaurants for cheap eats
It's been a banner year for cheap eats restaurants, with openings from Long Beach to Montauk inspired by cuisine from around the globe.
Daniel Brennan
Winning meals
Best restaurants for fine dining on LI
Bay Shore was the big winner in 2016’s fine-dining sweepstakes.
Daniel Brennan
Most notable closings
Biggest Long Island restaurant closures
This year’s closings included a pizza joint that was home to a 34-inch pie and a P.J. Clarke's spin-off that lasted barely a year.
Aaron Zebrook
Destination pies
The Island's best pizza: 10 pies worth the drive
This year, the list welcomes three new pizzerias, all of which make pies in the classic Neapolitan tradition.
Ryan C. Jones
Cookbooks galore
The best cookbooks of 2016
A great cookbook can keep you happily chained to your kitchen, or transport you to another place and time.
Newsday / Rebecca Cooney
Entertainment
Best music
Top 50 albums of 2016, ranked
It was the Year of the Surprise as Beyoncé, Kanye West, Rihanna, Frank Ocean all rolled out new albums with little to no notice.
Sony
Best TV shows
26 of the best TV shows this year
Critic Verne Gay ranks television's offerings in 2016 from 26 to No. 1, including a tie.
NBC/Justin Lubin
Best movies
'Manchester by the Sea,' 'Allied' and more
See the movies critic Rafer Guzman is dubbing the year's greatest.
Amazon Studios and Roadside Attr/Claire Folger
Celeb splits
They broke up in 2016
From Brangelina's split after 12 years together, to Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's breakup after a little more than a year of marriage.
AP
Celebrity deaths
Stars who died in 2016
Remembering the actors, leaders and icons we bid adieu, from Prince to Gene Wilder.
Getty Images / Vince Bucci
Newsday documentaries
Speed Racer
The culture of speed on Long Island
Some practice the sport of drag racing legally, but there exists a sub-culture of racers who do not. The consequences of those illegal street races have, at times, led to tragedy.
Muhammad Ali
Fighter, activist, icon
From his outspoken demeanor around boxing to his political views, from his converting to Islam to his refusing to be drafted into the Vietnam War, Muhammad Ali is a transcendent cultural figure.
Business
Prized employers
Top companies to work for
The 25 best companies to work for are made up of a wide array of U.S. companies, including Airbnb, Facebook, Google and In-N-Out Burger.
Glassdoor
The job market
Worst jobs to have in 2016
The list of the 10 worst jobs includes newspaper reporter, logger and taxi driver.
AP / Amy Sancetta
It's a mobile world
Mobile games you must play
Our list of the best mobile games on the Google Play and Apple App Store right now.
Niantic
Lifestyle
Best books
'The Underground Railroad,' 'Swing Time' and more
2016 saw an embarrassment of riches on the literary front, in both fiction and nonfiction.
Doubleday
For the kids
Best children's books
The 10 best children's books of 2016 sure to engage any young reader.
Amazon