Supporters, many of them Democrats, said that California's plan was reminiscent of other massive infrastructure projects such as the building of the First Transcontinental Railroad in the 1860s and the creation of the Interstate Highway system in the 1950s. The project isn't perfect, supporters said, but give us time and we'll work out the kinks.

All the while, the plan -- which would link the Bay Area to Southern California via a route through the heart of the Central Valley -- kept chugging along with support from President Barack Obama and Gov. Jerry Brown.

In fact, the governor's push was such that he broke ranks with environmentalist allies and urged that the project receive a green light with less-than-customary environmental scrutiny.

A Field Poll in July indicated that if California voters could go back in time and vote again on funding high-speed rail, they would reject the project.

And 2012 is ending with Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, the House majority whip, reiterating his opposition to high-speed rail.

The latest revised timeline calls for construction to start this summer on the initial Merced-to-Fresno leg. Will it happen?

The courts largely will decide.

2. Hanson solidifies command of Fresno Unified

Controversy shadowed Fresno Unified Superintendent Michael Hanson like a parent following a child to kindergarten.

A police officer towed Hanson's truck because the superintendent was speeding and driving with an expired license. Reporters dug up that it was at least his seventh speeding ticket since 2008.

Board chairman Tony Vang, a Hanson supporter, resigned after public records indicated that he hadn't lived in the McLane High area he represented.

Questions surfaced about Hanson's decision to pull back from suspending the charter of the troubled New Millennium school in 2009, and he misled the public by saying that state officials made the choice.

Trustees, following Hanson's recommendations, awarded $78 million in no-bid lease/leaseback construction contracts to Harris Construction Co. Public records showed that the company and its owner, Richard Spencer, were the biggest financial contributors to a past district bond drive. Spencer, his family members and employees of his companies also made significant contributions to the campaigns of three candidates supportive of the superintendent in the November election.

When voters spoke at the ballot box, it was a runaway victory for Hanson -- not the teachers union that had vociferously questioned his leadership.

Other notable education stories:

• John Welty, at the helm since 1991, announced he will retire as Fresno State president in summer 2013.
• Fresno State and local community college students protested continuing tuition hikes and class reductions triggered by the state's ongoing budget mess.
• Lindsay Unified School District, with 4,100 students, won a $10 million Race to the Top grant this month to boost student achievement, beating out larger local districts such as Fresno, Clovis and Central.
• Pete Menjares, upon becoming president at Fresno Pacific University, challenged students, staff and faculty to be community problem-solvers.

3. One drink too many

Whether it's murder or maddening problems caused by car thieves, metal scavengers and burglars, crime continued to concern Valley residents.

But no story fanned more emotion than the death of Donovan Maldonado. The 7-year-old was riding his bike across a northeast Fresno street on a July night when he was hit and dragged by the car of alleged drunken driver Loren LeBeau, at the time the boys basketball coach at Central High.