Every year at this time, we choose the previous year's top news stories. Those we highlighted in 2005 continued to develop in 2006, and here we recap our coverage of the flagging U.S. health care system, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the threat of pandemic influenza. As we noted last year, "what's still missing is a coordinated, long-term strategy from national leaders," and that remains true today. Democrats, having gained control of Congress, will now be under increased scrutiny: will they be advocates of health care reform?

Maureen Shawn Kennedy, MA, RN, news director