first appeared in the homes of Long Islanders. Now, 20 years later, News 12 Long Island has become THE source for news coverage of Nassau and Suffolk counties.

This special section is dedicated to the top stories covered by News 12 Long Island over the past 20 years.

Christmas on Long Island Every year News 12 Long Island puts some extra dazzle into the holiday season by bringing together a bevy of our best local talent for a special on air celebration of the holidays on Long Island. This annual event has been, and continues to be, a great way to start of the holiday season for Long Islanders. Local performers including dance troops, singers, and bands have made ?Christmas on Long Island? a fun local television event for nearly twenty years. Click here for video.

Suffolk County Wildfires In 1995, Long Island faced an almost surreal scene: More than 5000 acres of Suffolk County?s Pine Barrens ablaze in a ferocious inferno that threatened homes and lives. News 12 Long Island crews provided continuous live coverage throughout the crisis. Reporters worked side by side with many of Long Island?s ?bravest?, the volunteer firefighters who fought and eventually won out against the blaze. News 12 Long Island continues to cover the environmental impact of these devastating fires to this day. Click here for video.

9/11It was a day no Long Islander will ever forget. When terrorist struck New York City, local families feared for their loved ones, their friends, and themselves. During this time, News 12 Long Island responded to the needs of its viewers, and helped provide essential information to Long Islanders. Click here for video.

Flight 800 In 1996, 230 people perished when TWA Flight 800 crashed off the South Shore of Long Island. The tragedy mobilized an army of military, police, Coast Guard and local volunteers who worked feverishly for days to locate victims. Sadly, there were no survivors. News 12 Long Island documented the event with intense live coverage, from the search and recovery efforts to the controversial NTSB hearings on what brought down the Paris-bound jetliner. Ten years later News 12 Long Island is still reporting on this story, the investigation, and the crash?s effects on airline safety and the Long Island community. Click here for video.

Amy Fisher In May of 1992, 17 year old Amy Fisher, walked up to the Buttafuoco residence and shot Mary Jo Buttafuoco in the head. This incident, allegedly resulting from an affair between the teenager and Mary Jo?s husband Joey, set off a media frenzy that turned the nation?s focus to Long Island. News 12 Long Island was the destination for straight, hype-free coverage of a story that made headlines across the country for years. Click here for video. Island Vote One of News 12 Long Island?s missions is to keep Long Islanders informed about local politics. For 20 years News 12 Long Island has brought election coverage of local races that Long Islanders can?t get anywhere else. Candidates and policies directly affect local residents, and News 12 Long Island keeps residents informed with debates for all of the local races, and an annual Island vote series to cover the election issues in-depth. Click here for video.

Blizzard of 2003When the snow falls, News 12 Long Island?s Team Coverage goes to work. The Blizzard of 2003 was no exception. With snow blanketing Long Island, News 12 Long Island?s reporters and photographers went to work bring the storm to Long Islanders live. From early morning and well into the night, people all over Long Island turned to News 12 Long Island for the news and details on how to get through the storm, confirming that on Long Island there is no better place to turn for storm coverage then News 12 Long Island. Click here for video.

Avianca Avianca Flight 52 crashed in Cove Neck Long Island on January 25, 1990. News 12 Long Island was the first news crew on the scene, arriving even before most of the rescue teams. As News 12 photographers helped with the search by using their camera lights, survivors slowly began to be pulled from the wreckage and their injuries treated. News 12 Long Island was live all night bringing the news of this tragedy to Long Islanders from the local perspective. Click here for video.