It's impossible to listen to the radio every minute 24 hours a day. Even the biggest WUNC fan is bound to miss something. So here, in no particular order, are some of our favorite stories from 2014 that you might have missed.

Closer to Freedom (December 8, 2014)

Joseph Sledge, 68, has been in prison for half of his life for the 1976 Bladen County murders of a mother and daughter. News & Observer Investigative Reporter Mandy Locke has followed the story closely. She tells Frank Stasio about the work of the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission to bring Sledge's case to a three judge panel for possible exoneration.

Frank Stasio talks with News & Observer Investigative Reporter Mandy Locke about Joseph Sledges case.

The Year of the Teacher (August 7, 2014)

High-school graduation rates are at an all-time high in North Carolina, and National Association of Educational Progress (NAEP)scores are higher than the national average. Why then, do teachers feel under attack?

Coal Ash Coverage

A broken storm pipe caused 33,000 tons of coal ash to spill into the Dan River in February. Immediately, reporter Jeff Tiberii began filing regular reports on the issue. His reporting, augmented by stories from Jorge Valencia and Dave DeWitt, made national environmental, economic and political news.

Why Some NC Sterilization Victims Won't Get Share Of $10 Million Fund (October 6, 2014)

In 2013, North Carolina lawmakers set up a $10 million compensation fund for victims of state-sponsored eugenics. More than 780 people applied, claiming they had been forcibly or coercively sterilized by the state. After an initial review, the state decided only about 200 of those claims are valid, while more than 500 have come up short. This is the story of one victim, Debra Blackmon.

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Our Gift To You: 'Not To Be Missed' Stories | WUNC