Part 2: 2011's biggest local stories

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - We covered some big trials during 2011.

In January, Muzzammil Hassan began his trial, charged with beheading his wife. The jury deliberated for less than an hour and found Hassan guilty of second degree murder.

At sentencing, the judge addressed Hassan, saying, "You ambushed your unsuspecting wife and butchered her. Self defense? I don't think so."

>> See all these stories and more on our Year in Review page! Check out our interactive timeline, photo galleries, and more, wrapping up the year 2011

Luke Wright was found guilty of sexually torturing his mentally-challenged half sister Laura Cummings. Wright was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.

At the end of March, a jury found Riccardo McCray guilty of the shooting rampage outside of City Grill last August that killed four people and wounded four others.

In November, two EF2 tornados touched down on the southern tier, damaging homes and toppling powerlines.

Westfield resident Sherry Mead said, "I looked outside my kitchen window, saw the roof to this barn. It looked white, and I was like, 'I think that's the neighbor's barn in our yard.'"

Former Buffalo School Superintendent Dr. James Williams retired in September amid great criticism over Buffalo's failing schools.

This year, western New York made history when the first same sex couple to say "I do" in New York said it in Niagara Falls.

The Occupy movement came to Buffalo in October and found a new home in Niagara Square.

The heart of downtown changed for the good as the Federal Courthouse finally opened to strong reviews as the beautiful and old Statler building reopened with a new local owner.

Over the summer Buffalo also hosted concerts and events along the improved waterfront, drawing record crowds to canalside.

HSBC bank shocked western New York when it announced in May it was planning to downsize in North America. First Niagara Bank bought hundreds of HSBC Bank branches, and HSBC Arena became the First Niagara Center.

We said goodbye to two of sports greats this year: Buffalo Bills legend Kent Hull and Buffalo Sabres' "French connection" member Rick Martin. Western New York also lost the community's only Nobel Prize Winner: Herbert Hauptman.

We ended the year with what may be the biggest story of them all. In just two and half years, the families of Flight 3407 were able to accomplish what the government could not do in two decades - toughening the rules governing pilot fatigue.

3407 widow Robin Tolsma said, "This is what I can do for him. And I can make sure that somebody doesn't have to do this again or go through this."