Big national news stories of 2017

It was a year marked by tragedy with violent attacks on civilians, devastation caused by severe weather, and an opioid epidemic so widespread our President declared it a national emergency. But it wasn't all bad: The stock market hit record highs, and charitable organizations had huge amounts of donations pour in to assist victims of the major emergency events this year. Americans united to help each other. And though political tensions heightened, the economy strengthened.