By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / December 30, 1998

LAPLACE – The top 10 stories of 1998 for L’Observateur includes as its top story the same subject as 1997’s top story – accused serial murderer Daniel J. Blank.Blank, due to stand trial in 1999, faces first-degree murder charges in St. John, St. James and Ascension parishes.The year’s top 10 stories also include stories which affected education, the local economy, recreation and parish politics.