CNSNews.com's Best of 2010

President Barack Obama, accompanied by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., in the Capitol Rotunda. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

(CNSNews.com) -- The year 2010 was a banner year for stories at CNSNews.com. From the thousands of reports that appeared on the CNSNews.com Web site last year, we have selected 25 of the most memorable stories that had impact in the media and in the public square.

One of the most memorable stories, for example, was a Nov. 29 report on a Christmastime exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, which featured art containing a video of an ant-covered crucifix, photographs of naked brothers kissing, men in chains, Ellen DeGeneres grabbing her breasts, and more. The story sparked headlines across the country and abroad, and prompted House leaders John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Eric Cantor (R-Va.) to call for the video's removal, which the Smithsonian did, one day after the CNSNews.com story was published.

The Smithsonian admitted that this was the first time in its history that it had removed an art work because of the news coverage it generated.

Throughout 2010, CNSNews.com looked below the surface of issues and behind the headlines to report stories that no other news outlets sought to cover.

The Top 25 memorable stories of 2010 from CNSNews.com are as follows:

A crucifix in the video “A Fire in My Belly,” part of the ‘Hide/Seek’ exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. The image shows Christ on the cross with ants crawling over his body and face. (CNSNews.com/Penny Starr)

1. Smithsonian Christmas-Season Exhibit Features Ant-Covered Jesus, Naked Brothers Kissing, Genitalia, and Ellen DeGeneres Grabbing Her Breasts

By Penny Starr

Monday, November 29, 2010

2. Obama Added More to National Debt in First 19 Months Than All Presidents from Washington Through Reagan Combined, Says Gov’t Data

By Terence P. Jeffrey

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

3. Medicare Chief Berwick Ducks Question of Whether Obamacare Redistributes Wealth

By Matt Cover

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

First lady Michelle Obama discusses the findings of the Childhood Obesity Task Force report in May. (AP Photo)

4. The Federal Fat Police: Bill Would Require Government to Track Body Mass of American Children

By Penny Starr

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

5. Pelosi to Aspiring Musicians: Quit Your Job, Taxpayers Will Cover Your Health Care

By Nicholas Ballasy

Friday, May 14, 2010

6. Half of All Illegal Entries and Marijuana Smuggled Into U.S. in 2010 Came Through One Sector of AZ Border, Says Border Patrol

By Edwin Mora

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

7. White House Science Czar Says He Would Use ‘Free Market’ to ‘De-Develop the United States’

By Nicholas Ballasy

Thursday, September 16, 2010

A U.S. Marine Corps sergeant in action in Sangin, Afghanistan on Nov. 9, 2010. (Defense Department photo/Lance Cpl. Dexter S. Saulisbury, U.S. Marine Corps)

8. Almost Half of U.S. Fatalities in Afghan War Took Place Since Obama Took Office

By Edwin Mora

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

9. White House Won’t Say If Administration Will Discipline USDA Officials for Alleged Discrimination Against Up to 66,000 Black Farmers

By Fred Lucas

Friday, November 05, 2010

10. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Statement on Partial-Birth Abortion Included 'Suggested' Text Found in Kagan's White House Files

By Jane McGrath

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

11. Obesity Rating for Every American Must Be Included in Stimulus-Mandated Electronic Health Records, Says HHS

By Matt Cover

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

U.S. Capitol (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

12. Bankruptcy of U.S. is ‘Mathematical Certainty,’ Says Former CEO of Nation's 10th Largest Bank

By Terence P. Jeffrey

Thursday, November 04, 2010

13. Dave Matthews: ‘Too Bad If We Have To Pay a Little Extra Money for Gasoline’

By Nicholas Ballasy

Monday, May 24, 2010

14. U.S. Government Funded Study Establishing 'Web-Based Sex Diaries' for Gay Males as Young as 16

By Matt Cover

Monday, August 09, 2010

Border Patrol agents monitor the U.S. border with Mexico in Nogales, Ariz., on Thursday, April 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt York)

15. ICE Says It's Caught-and-Released 506,232 Illegal Aliens Who Are Now Fugitives--More Than Entire Population of Sacramento, Calif.

By Penny Starr

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

16. Trucks Encircle ABC, CBS, NBC, Challenge ‘Liberal’ Media to ‘Tell The Truth’

By Michael W. Chapman

Monday, October 04, 2010

17. Jewish Clergy Group: Elena Kagan Isn't ‘Kosher’ to Serve on Supreme Court

By Pete Winn

Thursday, June 24, 2010

18. U.S. Government Does Not Have ‘Effective Control’ of 1,081 Miles of the U.S.-Mexico Border, DHS Says

By Edwin Mora

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

19. Gibbs Evades Question of Whether Obama Agrees With His Medicare Director That Health-Care System Must Redistribute Wealth

By Fred Lucas

Thursday, July 08, 2010

20. Dr. Alveda King: ‘Coretta Scott King Knew That Her Husband Was Pro-Life'

By Adam Cassandra

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

21. FDA Says it Will Take Vending Machine Owners an Extra 14 Million Hours a Year to Comply with Obamacare Calorie Mandate

By Chris Neefus

Monday, November 08, 2010

Kevin Jennings (AP Photo)

22. Safe Schools Czar Ducks Questions on Past Statements about Homosexuality, Says Department of Education Won’t Dictate Curriculum

By Fred Lucas

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

23. Obama’s Spokesman: We’re Not Scared of One Guy With A Laptop

By Susan Jones

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

24. Muslim Group Advises Women Wearing Hijabs to Allow TSA ‘Enhanced Pat Downs’ Only on Head and Neck Area

By Penny Starr

Friday, November 12, 2010

In this Oct. 1, 2010 file photo, a Happy Meal box and toy are shown outside of a McDonald's restaurant in San Francisco. City lawmakers on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010, approved legislation that they hope will force fast-food chains such as McDonald's to make their children's meals healthier or stop selling them with toys. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

25. San Francisco’s Ban on Happy Meals Won’t Deter Lawsuit Accusing McDonald’s of ‘Brainwashing’ Kids

By Pete Winn

Thursday, November 04, 2010