Top Local Stories of 2012

UNDATED (WHDH) -- From sharks on Cape Cod, to Curt Schilling’s company, to Hurricane Sandy -- here are the stories that made headlines in New England this year:

You could say it was the summer of sharks.

Swimmers rushed to shore on the Cape following a shark sighting.That kayaker got away, but on July 30 for the first time in more than 75 years in Massachusetts, someone was attacked by a shark.

Curt Schilling’s company, 38 Studios, went belly up and left the state of Rhode Island high and dry with the multi-million dollar loan it paid out. The state is now suing. Bankruptcy  is costing the state tens of millions it pitched in for a loan. The matter's now mired in the court system.

A small New Hampshire town was shaken to its core when five police officers were hurt in a drug raid gone bad.

Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney was killed just days from retirement. The shooter and his girlfriend were later found dead in the home police raided.

Child sex abuse allegations rocked seven New England communities. A Wakefield man was accused of the unthinkable.

John Burbine is facing 100 charges, accused of sexually abusing children as young as eight days old.

A state lab worker was accused of drug test deception. Thousands of court cases are being reviewed because of claims chemist Annie Dookhan faked drug results.

A deadly outbreak was linked to New England. Dozens are dead and the government says tainted steroids from a Framingham pharmacy are to blame. New cases and new lawsuits are popping up daily.

And Superstorm Sandy delivered New England a glancing blow. While New York and New Jersey took a direct hit, the Bay State for the most part was spared.