Top National Stories of 2012

UNDATED (WHDH) -- From two huge storms, to a historic fight on Capitol Hill, there were a lot of big stories across the country this year.

It was a day that broke the nation's heart; the horrific school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.

Eleven days before Christmas, a gunman burst into the school and opened fire killing 26 people; 20 of them children just six and seven years old.

Their parents and families were devastated -- a nation was saddened to the core.

Unfortunately, Sandy Hook wasn't the only mass shooting in 2012.

In July, 12 people were killed and dozens were injured at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado.

And a Sikh temple in Wisconsin was attacked by a gunman in August. Six people died.

The debate over gun control will surely continue in 2013.

In 2012, two massive hurricanes hit the United States. First: Isaac, hammering Louisiana in August. Dozens died including nine in the United States.

Then came Sandy, pounding New York City and the Jersey Shore, destroying entire communities. President Obama offered assistance.

Sandy caused more than 100 deaths and $60 billion in damage.

In tech news, Facebook went public in 2012. The largest initial public offering for a tech company ever actually sputtered. Facebook's value plummeted on day one.

In other money woes, JP Morgan announced it lost $3 billion in bad trades.

And the looming “fiscal cliff” frayed everyone's nerves by the year's end.

2012 could be remembered as the fall of General David Petraeus.

The war hero resigned as CIA Director after confessing to an affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell.

The FBI was tipped off to the affair when a Tampa Bay socialite received threatening emails to stay away from Petraeus. The FBI said those messages were sent from Broadwell.

In 2012, Florida’s "stand your ground law" became national news. Unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin was allegedly shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman.

Zimmerman claimed it was self defense, but was later charged with second degree murder. His trial is scheduled for June of 2013.