From historic flooding to Whataburger lawsuits and a San Antonio mother accused of aiding her son in a terror plot, these are the most-clicked headlines of the year.
SAN ANTONIO — From Whataburger lawsuits to library cat drama, police standoffs to natural disasters, the collection of stories that KENS5.com visitors returned to the most this year reflects a spectrum of news headlines in the state, and especially in the San Antonio area.
These are some of the top-clicked stories you read on our website and app this year, in chronological order.
Seven SAPD officers shot in Stone Oak standoff
The year began with a tense law enforcement standoff that started as a suicide-in-progress call and resulted in seven San Antonio police officers being shot while the gunman remained barricaded for hours. That man, 46-year-old Scott Poulos, was eventually found dead by SWAT personnel; authorities believe he was shot in an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement.
Chief William McManus renewed a call for bail bond reform in the aftermath of the incident after it was revealed that Poulos had been released from jail just days before, having been accused of assault.
Remains identified as missing college student Caleb Harris
Weeks after a young New Braunfels man attending college in Corpus Christi mysteriously disappeared one foggy morning in March 2024, authorities in the coastal community said remains retrieved from a wastewater station were found to be his.
Weeks later, in early 2025, a rib bone found in the same area as Caleb Harris’ remains was also identified as his. Due to the degraded state of the remains, however, police officials have said it would be difficult to determine how exactly the 21-year-old died.
Judge rules that beloved Hill Country library cat can’t stay
Pepper, a cross-eyed and beloved calico cat, found herself at the center of attention in Fredericksburg back in April when she was told to pack her treats and hit the road.
Gillespie County Judge Daniel Jones said they arrived at the decision because leaders weren’t “consulted about housing any animal” at Pioneer Memorial Library. According to an online petition that collected more than 9,000 signatures, she had “brought joy and comfort” to readers.
Suffice to say, Pepper’s fanbase exploded after her “eviction.” But it wasn’t long before she was taken in by a loving family that promised to keep the kitty a “fixture in our community.”
Call it the purrr-fect ending.
Disabled SA man says he was abandoned by his mother after eviction
Adam Gutierrez, who suffers from cerebral palsy and severe scoliosis, said he wanted to share his story not for revenge, but in the hopes it would help heal him from the pain he’d suffered after he said he was abandoned by his mother.
According to San Antonio police, Pamela Gutierrez was Adam’s primary caretaker, helping him with the most basic tasks. But as his family faced eviction, he was told he had to go it alone.
Pamela found herself facing a criminal charge of intentionally and knowingly abandoning him; months later, records show, the case is still open and awaiting possible indictment.
Meanwhile, Adam told KENS 5 in May he was starting to rebuild his life.
“I’m still on top of my game and I’m still ready to continue with my bachelor’s, going on to be a football coach,” he said. “That’s what I’m going to do.”
San Antonio mother and son arrested, accused in terror plot against school
Concerning drawings, firearm magazines and tactical vests found by relatives, apparent references to white supremacy writings—those are some of the details cited in court records that led San Antonio police to arrest a young boy and his mother in May.
Ashley Pardo was accused of “facilitating” her 13-year-old son’s desire to carry out an attack on Rhodes Middle School. He was ordered to remain detained in August after prosecutors successfully argued he could still represent a threat to the community.
The ongoing case represents the first time someone has been charged with terrorism in San Antonio, according to Chief William McManus. Pardo’s case is still in limbo, having not yet been presented to a grand jury.
Onion-averse Texas man sues Whataburger for nearly $1 million
How much does one Whataburger customer in Houston dislike that he got onions on his burgers? So much so that he filed a lawsuit over the summer seeking nearly $1 million from the popular chain for it.
The man said in the suit that he suffered an allergic reaction after eating a burger that had onions on it and needed medical help.
Shakira’s hotly anticipated Alamodome gig cancelled
Excitement buzzed in the downtown air on June 13 ahead of global superstar Shakira’s San Antonio show.
But just 40 minutes before it was set to start, thousands of fans waiting in line heard the bad news: It was postponed. About 47,000 had bought tickets.
Shakira later shared a message to social media appearing to show a broken metal support beam on the stage, adding she was “devastated and heartbroken.” She said she had already found a different group of engineers after similar issues at other shows.
The heartbreak wouldn’t last long: The show was rescheduled and the part resumed just a few weeks later on July 5.
Historic flooding ravages the Hill Country
One of the year’s defining stories not just for South-Central Texas, but Texas as a whole arrived in the form of a fast-rising and fast-moving Guadalupe River floodwaters that tore through much of Kerr County the morning of July Fourth, killing more than 100 people.
Residents, visitors, tourists and young campers were among the victims of what turned out to be one of the state’s worst natural disasters. There were stories of loss, stories of heroism and stories of resilience in the wake of the Kerr County floods, and recovery continues there months later. Meanwhile, Texas politicians passed new legislation aimed at safeguarding campgrounds along rivers in the Lone Star State.
Nearly six months later, the search continues for two people, including 8-year-old Cile Steward of Austin.
Fuel pump defect forces Chevy, Nissan to recall more than 170,000 vehicles
October brought concerning news for thousands of owners of Chevrolet and Nissan vehicles: Officials identified a potential fuel pump issue that could cause engines to stall while driving.
More than 173,000 vehicles were recalled as a result.
Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland found dead after pursuit
Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died at 24 of an apparent “self-inflicted gunshot wound,” officials said in November—news that sent shockwaves through the Dallas fanbase and through the league.
It was later revealed that Texas Department of Public Safety troopers tried to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Kneeland the night of Nov. 5 in Frisco. Instead of stopping, authorities said, he led troopers on a chase and later crashed before leaving that scene on foot.
A little while later, authorities said, law enforcement conducted a welfare check nearby; that’s when they found his body.
It was also later revealed by Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer that Kneeland’s girlfriend is pregnant and that the team had started a memorial fund to help her. Dallas players have also spoken about the importance of caring for one’s mental health in the weeks since their teammate’s death.