ATLANTA — This year was a big year for local news. We saw our personal information exposed, an Atlanta icon come down and local politics in the national spotlight.
We've put together a list of the biggest stories that impacted north Georgia and metro Atlanta in 2017.
Fentanyl exploded onto the scene in 2017 and caused havoc across metro Atlanta. It created new dangerous challenges for doctors and law enforcement.
It was a nightmare situation for thousands of travelers when a fire caused a massive power outage at the world's busiest airport. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport came to a screeching halt in December 2017 and the ripple effects were felt world-wide. Thousands of airplane passengers became stranded or had their flight canceled or delayed.
Georgia had a rare treat in August when we were in the perfect viewing area for the total solar eclipse. The eclipse dazzled Georgians and the thousands who traveled to the peach state to see the celestial event.
It was a mystery that finally started to get some answers. The Tara Grinstead case baffled south Georgia for decades, but in February, authorities made a series of arrests. Bo Dukes and Ryan Duke were arrested but detectives are still looking for the teacher's body.
After more than 2 decades of being the home of the Atlanta Falcons, the Georgia Dome came down. Amazingly, the Dome's extremely close neighbor, Mercedes-Benz Stadium was not damaged by the implosion.
Georgia was thrown into the political spotlight when two high-profiled races garnered national attention. The District 6 race, between Karen Handel and Jon Ossoff, became the most expensive House race in U.S. history. Handel won. For the mayoral race, two women were forced into a runoff to lead Atlanta into 2018. Mary Norwood lost to Keisha Lance Bottoms by less than 1,000 votes.
- READ MORE HERE AND HERE
A major breach at an Atlanta-based credit reporting and technology company may have exposed the personal information of 143 million people. Equifax said the breach happened during the summer and the data may have exposed names, Social Security numbers, birth dates and addresses.
In July, WSB-TV Assignment Desk Editor Stephanie Steiger received and unusual phone call -- A man told her he was holding people hostage at a Cobb County bank. Steiger stayed on the phone with the man while behind the scene, WSB-TV's managers alerted the police, who ended up help freeing the hostages. The man was killed after he was shot by a member of SWAT.
This summer, many in Georgia were on alert for two escaped inmates who killed two corrections officers. Authorities said Donnie Russell Rowe and Ricky Dubose killed Sgt. Chris Monica and Sgt. Curtis Billue in Putnam County in June. The two suspects were later captured in Tennessee after a statewide manhunt.
0
Who could forget the bridge collapse! This was the top story that impact most of everyone on metro Atlanta. A section of Interstate 85 collapsed during raging fire. Traffic was impacted for weeks, which caused headaches for drivers as side-roads backed up for miles. Crews were able to repair the section in record speed: just 6 weeks.