SAN ANTONIO — You can find KENS 5 news in more places than ever before. In 2023 the KENS 5 YouTube page reflected the local, state and national news people in San Antonio and beyond were consuming.
From national breaking news, to possible alien sighting to cat burglarls, we've put together a list of some of the most-watched videos of the year. Relive the moments that touched people around the world in the list below.
Strange sighting
In August, the small community of Hill Country Village was baffled by a mysterious creature that was caught on camera. The wild animal was spotted on a critter cam and posted to social media, leading to speculation it might be the legendary chupacabra.
The video received 1.2 million views.
'How can you not notice eight bites?'
In March of 2023, a family called KENS 5, alleging neglect of a toddler at the hands of local day care workers. They say Noah Rivas, who is one and a half, received multiple bites at an east side child care facility.
The video received 2.9 million views.
READ MORE: 'How can you not notice eight bites?' Family alleges toddler's injuries occurred at day care
Maui wildfire
The world's attention was on the Hawaiian island of Maui back in August as a wildfire destroyed the beloved and historic town of Lahaina. Comments on the video show how much viewers were heartbroken by the news and motivated to help those affected by the wildfires.
The video received 900k views.
'Deliberate, criminal violation'
A Massachusetts Air National Guard member was arrested in April in connection with the disclosure of highly classified military documents about the Ukraine war and other top national security issues. The arrest has raised questions about America's ability to safeguard its most sensitive secrets.
The video received 700k views.
Dam breach
According to the United Nations, the breach in the Kakhova Dam in Russian-controlled Ukraine in June had catastrophic effects. The dam's explosion led to tens of thousands of people being in a flood zone and more than 50 deaths. Over 40 different towns and villages in Ukraine were severely flooded and massive numbers of livestock perished.
The video received more than 432,000 views on YouTube.
The truth is out there
This story took the internet and YouTube by storm. Back in June, Las Vegas police saw a light streak across the sky around the same time a family reported seeing creatures in their yard that they believed were 10-feet tall! Did they see visitors from beyond our skies?!? You be the judge!
The video received 2.1 million views.
Caught on video
The owner and staff of a store on the south side of San Antonio were very alarmed by two violent robberies within a week in June. Both robberies were caught on video, including one where an older customer was able to fight off a knife-wielding robber. Police said a suspect was arrested in that case. But, there is no word on whether a second armed robber who stole the entire cash register was arrested.
The YouTube short video had more than 560k views.
Chinese balloon
Who could forget the Chinese balloon incident that gripped the nation in the early part of 2023. From January 28 to February 4, 2023, a high-altitude balloon originating from China flew across North American airspace. After that first balloon, three other balloons were spotted and shot down.
The video received 520k views.
Miracle in the Amazon!
A group of four children captured the world's attention over the summer when they were found alive after 40 days surviving in the Amazon when their plane crashed. Sadly, the pilot and their mother died in the crash, but miraculously, the four kids, including an infant, survived off the land.
The video received more than 345,000 views on YouTube.
READ MORE: 4 children lost in the jungle for 40 days after a plane crash are found alive in Colombia
'This is a joke'
2023 was an odd-numbered year, and that meant a Texas legislative session. At one point, two top Texas Republicans were at odds over property taxes. Governor Abbott proposed getting rid of them altogether, but Lt. Governor Dan Patrick called that a fantasy and said the state would lose billions of crucial tax dollars. The YouTube video sparked a massive conversation about property taxes. The GOP ended up reaching a compromise to cut property taxes across the board in a special session over the summer.
Graduating or not graduating
As the class of 2023 prepared to walk the stage and begin their post-high school lives, more than half of the graduating class in Marlin, Texas, near Waco, found out they were not eligible to graduate! All eyes were on this tiny town as school leaders said that 21 of 38 seniors did not meet the requirements to graduate due to excessive absences and failing grades in courses. The video sparked a massive discussion as to who was at fault. The story had a happy ending and the district reported on June 22 that all of its seniors did end up graduating!
The video received more than 250,000 views and more than 1,000 comments.
Winning the lottery
This was the year everything changed for the Spurs. The team won the first round draft pick in the NBA Draft Lottery and recruited French star Victor Wembanyama. One particular video that went viral shows the absolutely priceless reaction when the Spurs ticket staff found out they had won the first round draft pick! Try not to smile when you see their stunned reactions!
The video received 350,000 views on YouTube:
Slowing down
A new that took effect in Texas this year changed the speed limits on some roads. The new law gave TxDOT engineers to lower the speed limits for a portion of a road or highway, typically for construction zones.
The video proved to be very popular with YouTube viewers, receiving more than 315,000 views!
Keep up with all the latest local, state and national news as well as trending topics on the KENS 5 YouTube page!