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SASKTODAY.ca — Three out of SASKTODAY.ca’s four most-read stories for 2022 are a good indication Saskatchewan residents have been preoccupied with their pocketbooks.

Three $500 affordability tax credit cheque stories together got more attention than any other story on the website. The three stories were:

• $500 affordability cheques still coming, province says, dated Oct. 18, by John Cairns, SASKTODAY.ca;
• They’re here! $500 affordability cheques have begun arriving, dated Nov. 10, by SASKTODAY.ca Staff; and
• Have you got your $500 affordability cheque yet?, dated Nov. 17, by John Cairns, SASKTODAY.ca.

These three stories were number one, two and four, respectively. The announcement that cheques were coming was made by Premier Scott Moe in August, leaving the public constantly curious as to when they could be expected.

Our fifth most-read story was also about government payouts:

• Expecting a double GST rebate? Not just yet, dated Oct. 5, by John Cairns, SASKTODAY.ca.

As with the affordability tax credit cheques, the reading public was eager to find out when they would be receiving those long awaited funds.

Number three and Number 6 were indicative of some of the angst the pandemic had created amongst the population. In third place was:

• , dated Sept. 22, by Lisa Joy, SASKTODAY.ca.

This story was one of the top-read stories for days on end, bumped out of the top spots only when the $500 cheque stories captured the public’s attention. It continues to be in the top 25 frequently to this date.

Again reflecting the public’s frustration with the pandemic, number six was:

• ‘It’s time’: Moe says COVID-19 restrictions on freedoms will soon end in Saskatchewan, dated Feb. 3, by The Canadian Press.

As in most years, our top stories also included crime, cop and court stories (prompting us to create a dedicated category for these popular stories. Following are top stories seven, eight, nine:

• It was a ‘torture chamber, says judge in Lloydminster court, dated Jan. 14, by Lisa Joy, SASKTODAY.ca;
• Crime Stoppers: Four on wanted list; dated May 27, SASKTODAY staff;
• Why was the Saskatchewan premier’s Silverado impounded in B.C., and why no charges? Dated March 14, by John Cairns, SASKTODAY.ca.

With some more about government money, crime, controversy and catastrophe, here are the top stories in 10th through 20th place:

• Sask. Family of four to receive $1,101 in climate payment, dated Sept. 19, by SASKTODAY staff;
• Estevan man arrested for alleged sexual assault and more, dated May 14, by Estevan Mercury staff;
• Printer glitch holds up $500 affordability cheques, dated Nov. 30, by SASKTODAYca staff;
• Premier Scott Moe announces $500 Affordabiity Tax Credit, dated Aug 22, by John Cairns, SASKTODAY.ca;
• Marcus Ray steps down from leadership of freedom movement, dated Aug. 3, by Lisa Joy, SASKTODAY.ca;
• Treasuring the final tear of a loved one, dated Sept. 27, 2018, an opinion piece by Ken Rolheiser;
• Hanson Farm auction, biggest in history sets new benchmark for land prices for southeast Sask., dated Jan. 27, by Anastasiia Bukhovskaia, Estevan Mercury;
• RCMP call off boat, aerial search for missing Saskatchewan boy after two months, dated June 21, by The Canadian Press;
• Video and photos: CP Rail; provides update on train derailment and fire near Macoun, dated Dec. 1, buy David Willberg, Estevan Mercury;
• Lloydminster man charged with murder after woman found dead, infant injured, dated Dec. 26, by SASKTODAY.ca staff; and
• Man who ordered hit in drug feud dies before СÀ¶ÊÓƵ prosecuted, dated Jan. 6, by Lisa Joy, SASKTODAY.ca.

Following are top read stories 21 through 50:

• Good news: $500 tax credit cheques coming starting Nov. 14, dated Nov. 2;
• Highway Hotline update: Some roads have reopened, many still hazardous, dated March 8;
• Turtleford RCMP seek missing 48-year-old woman, Nov. 27;
• Family of Trent Angus mourn his death after he was shot by RCMP at Waseca, March 9;
• Update: Five-year-old Frank Young found deceased in river, July 10;
• Protests planned at police stations across country, July 31;
• Updated: Nine-hour stand-off in Estevan comes to a peaceful end; individual taken into custody, Feb. 8;
• Highway Hotline now showing road closures all over Saskatchewan, Jan. 31;
• Man who had 'torture chamber' in basement gets light jail sentence, April 15;
• Kurt Miller charged in another large drug bust, Dec. 5;
• 15 basic physics concepts to help you understand our world, Nov. 13;
• Update: Dangerous person alert, 10 dead, 15 wounded, Sept. 4;
• Fire breaks out at Forget's Happy Nun Café, Dec. 15;
• Thunderchild F.N. woman survives ride with 'The Truck Stop Killer', Oct. 23;
• Updated: N.B. residents charged in $55M drug trafficking, money laundering, organized crime bust, Sept. 29;
• Cougar caught on camera during the day southwest of Estevan, Aug. 22;
• Couple preserves ghost town in southwestern Saskatchewan, Aug. 19;
• Missing: RCMP looking for 38-year-old Assiniboia man, July 23;
• Protesters could be lured into violence warns counter-terrorism expert, Aug. 5;
• Cat café to open in Saskatoon, March 12;
• Missing: RCMP look for 16 year old last seen in Balgonie, Aug. 4;
• Tribune man goes missing during blizzard on Monday night, Feb. 1;
• Battleford man charged with assault after video goes viral, July 20;
• Cabin owners evicted from Suffern Lake Regional Park, May 30;
• Good morning, Battlefords!;
• RCMP: Tons of canola stolen in RM of Rudy, Jan. 6;
• Winners of $1 million lottery ticket unveiled, Oct. 14;
• Saskatchewan ending COVID-19 passport, lifting mask requirement, Feb. 8;
• Megan Gallagher homicide: Who are the eight accused?, Oct. 2; and
• Saskatoon resident wins $200,000 instant prize, Dec. 28.