The panel discusses a 9-year-old piano prodigy, how local health center makeovers are aiming to reduce infant mortality, an intern with Down syndrome who is helping a local company grow, outrage over an emotional support peacock, FC Cincinnati's latest grab for land in the West End, facial yoga and more.

Maxim then talks with chief investigative reporter Craig Cheatham about his story into how local police departments investigate complaints against officers -- and what happens to people who lie in those complaints. 

1:00 - The panel discusses a piano prodigy, health center makeovers, an emotional support peacock, FC Cincinnati, facial yoga and more.

22:20 - Reporter Craig Cheatham breaks down what happens when you file a complaint against a police officer -- and why some citizens have been charged with a crime.

Notable links: 

False complaint against police can be a crime, but charge is rare in Hamilton County

9-year-old piano prodigy to play with Pops

Intern is teaching as she learns

Can local clinic makeovers reduce infant deaths?

United Airlines prohibits woman from taking an 'emotional support peacock' on flight

FC Cincy granted buying rights to West End land

Did FC meetings just make for more questions?

Berding: I'll meet West Enders, no harm to Taft

We discuss Fiona's first birthday, Olympic skier Nick Goepper's struggle with depression, the trial of gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, how to test your implicit biases, a young girl who doesn't let being deaf stop her from wrestling, wealthy millennials and more. 

Maxim then talks with government and politics reporter Amanda Seitz about the ongoing saga of FC Cincinnati's bid to join Major League Soccer and its latest attempts to potentially build a stadium in the West End. 

Then, investigative reporter Hillary Lake breaks down how local adult care centers are inspected -- and why some workers could be getting away with abuse. 

1:50 - The panel discusses Nick Goepper's struggle with depression, the trial of Larry Nassar, implicit biases, a young wrestler who is also deaf, wealthy millennials and more. 

22:10 - Reporter Amanda Seitz breaks down the latest in FC Cincinnati's attempt to join Major League Soccer -- and why the West End is back in the running for a stadium location. 

35:30 - Reporter Hillary Lake explains how state adult care centers are inspected, and why a local case has some questioning if enough is being done to stop abuse. 

Notable links: 

FC Cincinnati is still eyeing the West End

Soccer stadium switcheroo in works in West End?

3 investigations couldn't find who hurt her son 

Olympic skier Nick Goepper reveals he pondered suicide, drank heavily after winning medal in 2014

Larry Nassar, former USA Gymnastics doctor, sentenced to up to 175 years in prison

Take this test to identify your implicit biases 

Deaf Taylor Mill wrestler dominates the ring

Millennials: 1 in 6 now have $100,000 socked away

The panel discusses Fiona's birthday, a lawsuit over suspected wage theft, Bengals fans paying it forward for charity, the Trump "girther" movement, a skin-eating drug laced with heroin, efforts for a 51st state called New California and more.

Maxim then talks with reporter Breanna Molloy about the more than 30-hour hostage situation involving a gunman and a 10-year-old boy that rocked a Butler County community this past weekend -- and what could happen next. 

1:10 - The panel discusses wage theft claims, Bengals fans paying it forward, the "girther" movement, a skin-eating drug, New California and more.

19:10 - Reporter Breanna Molloy details what it was like covering the more than 30-hour hostage situation involving a gunman and a 10-year-old boy this past weekend -- and what could happen next in the case.

Notable links: 

Liberty Township hostage standoff ends safely

Sheriff: Mom leaving son in Liberty Township hostage standoff 'doesn't smell right'

Standoff suspect served 4 years for firing gun into a crowd of 30

New lawsuits detail wage theft at luxury Downtown apartment tower

Bengals fans 'pay it forward' to Jacksonville's Blake Bortles for win over Steelers

Trump physical leads to jokes of "girther" movement

Ohio police send out a drug warning about 'Rizzy' after skin on man is eaten away

'New California' declares independence; hopes to become 51st state

Our panel discusses Fiona's upcoming birthday, the death of a local man who experienced homelessness, Puerto Rico's status since the storms that ravaged it, a concert venue at The Banks, a basketball team that caused a stir with racist jerseys, a Tide Pod joke that's gone too far and is causing headaches for Procter & Gamble and more. 

Maxim then talks with Lucy May about a sharp increase in the number of Tri-State residents who were diagnosed with HIV in 2017 after having injected drugs.

Later, Max chats with WCPO traffic reporter Jaclyn DeAugustino about her year as a Cincinnati Ben-Gal cheerleader. 

1:50 - The panel discusses Fiona, Puerto Rico, The Banks, racist jerseys, Tide Pods and more. 

20:00 - Reporter Lucy May breaks down a sharp increase in the number of Tri-State residents who were diagnosed with HIV in 2017 after having injected drugs.

32:30 - Traffic reporter Jaclyn DeAugustino discusses her year as a Cincinnati Ben-Gal cheerleader. 

Notable links: 

Nearly half of Northern Kentucky HIV infections in 2017 came from injection drug use

WCPO traffic reporter Jaclyn DeAugustino's favorite memories as a Ben-Gal cheerleader 

Man experiencing homelessness freezes to death at a bus stop

Puerto Rico is getting back on its feet — slowly

If The Banks breaks ground on concert venue this spring, outdoor music and tailgating here by 2019

Basketball jerseys get Kings team booted from recreational league

Kings Local Schools superintendent on jerseys: 'We have to do better'

Kings school board member resigns, says his son was on team with slurs on jerseys

Doctors concerned that 'Tide Pod' meme causing people to eat laundry detergent

WCPO Insiders can read more about these stories at wcpo.com/hear.

This week in our special end-of-year episode of Hear Cincinnati, host Maxim Alter, digital reporter Lucy May, digital editor Meghan Wesley and WCPO news director Chip Mahaney recap and discuss their favorite stories of the year.

These are stories that captivated us or had the biggest impact. They are stories that had us glued to our screens and defined 2017 for the Tri-State.

Notable links: 

Fiona the hippo captured Cincinnati's hearts

How 'MeToo' hashtag on social media revealed the scale of sexual abuse

Kristyn Hartman's father rarely spoke about the Vietnam War -- until this documentary used his photo

Complete coverage of Ray Tensing's retrial

Read the I-Team's investigations into police discipline and accountability 

Otto Warmbier dies days after release from North Korea

Hamilton County coroner negates family's statements about Otto Warmbier's condition

Woman who claimed she lost unborn baby in mass shooting lied about pregnancy, Colerain police say

You can read more about these stories at wcpo.com/hear.

The panel discusses a fire at a historic Lebanon church, a local man climbing Mount Everest, an undisclosed fundraising event with FC Cincinnati, a bullied boy who went viral, using yoga to recover from drug addiction, Fingerlings and more. 

Maxim then talks with reporter Lisa Bernard-Kuhn about the latest push to legalize recreational marijuana in Ohio -- and how it differs with 2015's failed attempt that included celebrities lke Nick Lachey and a mascot named Buddie.

1:10 - The panel discusses a church fire, Mount Everest, a fundraiser that raised eyebrows, bullying, recovering from addiction with yoga, Fingerlings and more

18:50 - Reporter Lisa Bernard-Kuhn breaks down the latest push to legalize recreational marijuana in Ohio. 

Notable links: 

9 things to know about the latest legal pot push

9 On Your Side's Fiona special

Stylist helps autistic boy conquer his fear

Firefighters battle bitter cold, flames at historic Lebanon church

Loveland man prepares to summit Mount Everest

FC Cincy manager held fundraiser for councilman

Bullied boy gets help from celebrities, athletes

Once a drug user, NKY man now teaches yoga to people in recovery

Finding Fingerlings: How to nab the hottest toy

WCPO Insiders can read more about these stories at wcpo.com/hear.

The panel discusses Fiona's profile in The New York Times, how addiction affects the LGBTQ community, the firing of Matt Lauer over sexual misconduct allegations, a 150-pound English mastiff who got a new leg on life, rumors that police use data from popular mail-in DNA tests and more. 

Maxim then talks with government and politics reporters Paula Christian and Amanda Seitz about FC Cincinnati's two big wins this week in its quest to join Major League Soccer and construct a new soccer stadium in Oakley. Paula and Amanda also break down the $20 million funding gap city leaders have yet to address. 

Later on the podcast, reporter Lisa Bernard-Kuhn explains why the people tasked with growing legal cannabis in Ohio may need to break the law to make it happen.

2:00 - The panel discusses Fiona, drug use in the LGBTQ community, Matt Lauer's firing, Moose the dog, DNA tests and more.

20:00 - Reporters Amanda Seitz and Paula Christian break down the arguments on both sides of the FC Cincinnati stadium debate. 

41:50 - Reporter Lisa Bernard-Kuhn explains why the people tasked with growing legal cannabis in Ohio may need to break the law.

Notable links: 

City, county offer funds to help FC Cincinnati build MLS stadium

FC Cincinnati ranks 3rd most likely to nab an MLS expansion slot

Ohio announces more legal pot farmers

The New York Times profile of Fiona

The LGBTQ community deals with staggering rates of drug addiction

Matt Lauer fired from NBC News over sexual misconduct allegations

Matt Lauer apologizes: 'I am truly sorry' 

Local woman accuses Al Franken of assault 

How a 150-pound English mastiff got a new leg on life

No, law enforcement won't use your Ancestry.com or 23andme DNA kits for investigations

The panel talks about the debate over whether FC Cincinnati should have its own soccer stadium in Hamilton County, Fiona's latest videos, the state of Cincinnati's public housing, Nelson Peltz's victory in his quest for a Procter & Gamble board seat, "digital" medication approved by the FDA and more. 

Maxim then talks with investigative reporter Hillary Lake about how the laws that dictate how schools handle and report bullying cases could soon change.

Later on the podcast, investigative reporter Craig Cheatham and transportation reporter Pat LaFleur explain why not all officers in our communities are following the same rules when it comes to high speed police pursuits.

1:20 - The panel discusses FC Cincinnati, Fiona, public housing, Nelson Peltz, Procter & Gamble, robot medication, CPR discrepancies for women and more.

16:00 - Reporter Hillary Lake explains how the laws that dictate how schools handle and report bullying cases could soon change.

32:20 - Reporters Craig Cheatham and Pat LaFleur explain why not all officers in our communities are following the same rules when it comes to high speed police pursuits.

Notable links: 

Just how 'dangerous' are high-speed pursuits?

Could bullying laws change for our schools?

Fiona lets out a toot, goes viral

Cincinnati's public housing at a crossroads

P&G is weeks away from conceding Peltz win

FC Cincinnati: MLS bid doomed with Paul Brown Stadium

How much did FC Cincinnati owners donate to election campaigns?

FDA approves first digital pill

Study: Women less likely to receive CPR

WCPO Insiders can read more about these stories at wcpo.com/hear.

Our panel talks about a local Vietnam veteran's moment in the spotlight, Sen. Rand Paul's fight with his neighbor, WCPO's police discipline database, FC Cincinnati's new stadium announcement, a hippo escape in Israel, Uber's partnership with NASA and more. 

Maxim then talks with investigative reporter Hillary Lake about serial killer Anthony Kirkland's battle to get off death row -- and what's next in his resentencing case.

Later on the podcast, politics reporters Amanda Seitz and Paula Christian break down the aftermath of the election -- and what John Cranley's win means for Cincinnati.

1:20 - The panel discusses a Vietnam veteran's moment in the spotlight, Sen. Rand Paul's fight, WCPO's police discipline database, FC Cincinnati's new stadium announcement, a hippo escape, UberAir and more.

21:10 - Reporter Hillary Lake explains why serial killer Anthony Kirkland may get a chance to save his own life.

38:50 - Reporters Paula Christian and Amanda Seitz break down the aftermath of the election. 

Notable links: 

Convicted serial rapist, killer to be resentenced

Here's how Cranley pulled off a big win

Who won, who lost in Tuesday's elections

PBS film helps Vietnam War veteran open up 

Rand Paul has 6 broken ribs following alleged assault

Are problem cops patrolling your neighborhood?

FC Cincinnati, Cranley to announce stadium plan

Is Oakley the right fit for FC Cincinnati?

Hippo escapes from zoo, returns like nothing happened

Uber partners with NASA on flying taxis

The panel talks about the Cincinnati Zoo's loss of a beloved family member, spooky real-life "paranormal experiences," the NYC terror attack and its ties to Cincinnati, Wasson Way, an inspiring mom who didn't let anything stop her from accomplishing her goals, a mystery at the Newport Aquarium, daylight saving time and more. 

Maxim then talks with investigative reporter Craig Cheatham about his extensive research into how local police are disciplined when they break the law -- and some of the most egregious cases he found.

Later on the podcast, reporter Evan Millward talks with Cincinnati Zoo director Thane Maynard about the passing of Henry the hippo and how Bibi and Fiona are handling his absence. 

1:30 - The panel discusses the loss of Henry the hippo, paranormal experiences, the NYC terror attack, Wasson Way, a mystery at the Newport Aquarium, daylight saving time and more. 

18:30 - Reporter Craig Cheatham breaks down his investigation on police discipline. 

40:30 - Cincinnati Zoo director Thane Maynard talks about Henry the hippo's death and what it means for Fiona and Bibi. 

Notable links: 

Not all police who break the law get the same treatment

Caught lying, should an officer still serve?

Henry the hippo has died, zoo says

These real local ghost stories will terrify you

New York City terror suspect has ties to Cincinnati

City finally set to break ground on Wasson Way trail project

Xavier's Alexis Newsome manages to be a mom while finishing college and volleyball career

A 'mysterious' new exhibit is coming to the Newport Aquarium

Daylight saving time is good for sleep, but may be bad for your brain

WCPO Insiders can read more about these stories at wcpo.com/hear.