2011 Top Stories Promo 4

 SANFORD -- Before the mass murders in Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn., no gun-related slaying created such a national uproar than that of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin who crossed paths with gun-toting neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman. It's the No. 1 story in Headline Surfer's ranking of the Top 10 Florida stories of 2012.

ORLANDO -- The Magic's Dwight Howard was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, coach Stan Vandy Gundy was fired and the team was bounced from the first round of the playoffs. For the Miami Heat, Florida's other NBA team, however, saw LeBron James lead his team to the promised land with an NBA championship.