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.