WordPress does come with a few options for sorting your posts. You could always do a bit of coding to change the order of your posts. You could also use plugins to get the job done. The ReOrder Post Within Categories is a simple plugin that lets you sort your posts in any custom order.
The ReOrder Post Within Categories has a drag & drop interface. You can sort your posts manually for each category. Custom post types are supported too. Each category can have different order of posts. That is especially useful if you have a large portal covering very different kinds of topics.
The plugin is not perfect but gives you an easier time managing your categories and content. It is a free script.