Most viewed stories: Celebrity, breaking news draw interest

Staff reports
·2 min read
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Crowds jam Main Street of the Ventura County Fairgrounds as visitors try to search for strawberry goods at the 37th Strawberry Festival in May.
Crowds jam Main Street of the Ventura County Fairgrounds as visitors try to search for strawberry goods at the 37th Strawberry Festival in May.

Editor's note: This article is the first in a series highlighting The Star's top stories of the year. The stories listed here were written by Star staff and are ranked by the total number of page views each article received on www.vcstar.com.

Whether it was a celebrity, breaking news or beloved traditions and restaurants, readers gravitated to these top 10 stories in 2023.

  1. Sheriff's officials investigate incident involving Kanye West in Newbury Park: "Gold digger" singer Kanye West tops the list when he gets into an apparent kerfuffle with a woman at the Sports Academy in Newbury Park in January and an investigation ensues.

  2. Retired Ventura police sergeant named as shooter at O.C. biker bar: A retired Ventura officer in search of his estranged wife goes on a rampage at a popular roadside bar in Orange County.

  3. Live updates: Mud covers Highway 126, more: A massive storm on Jan. 9 wreaks destruction on Ventura County, and Star reporters tracked the damage throughout the day.

  4. What if a nuclear bomb hits? Ventura County officials encourage preparedness: In April, public health officials and Ventura County emergency leaders revisit their preparedness campaign, trying to hammer home the phrase, "Get inside."

  5. Strawberry Festival is back with new location: Organizers of the beloved festival dedicated to one of Ventura County's top crops announce the event's return in February, but it isn't in its usual spot.

  6. He helped arrest her and helped bail her out: Deputy out after affair with jail inmate: Ventura County sheriff's deputy Tyler Ebell's affair with a former inmate leads to his ouster. The story chronicles the former standout football player's path of self destruction.

  7. Sidewalk food stands in Ventura County draw crowds, frustrate legal eateries, inspectors: The unpermitted food stands pop up all over the region. It's a boon for food lovers but a bane for food truck owners and health inspectors.

  8. Somis brush fire grows to 2,900 acres, evacuation orders lifted: In early December, a brush fire erupts on South Mountain between Somis and Santa Paula as Santa Anas kick up, causing worries to residents in the area.

  9. 3 downtown Ventura restaurants close amid 'bittersweet' change: The loss of three Ventura eateries portends change for a downtown undergoing its own transformation.

  10. Hurricane Hilary updates: 'The heavy rain has passed': Hurricane-turned-tropical storm Hilary, the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, sweeps through Ventura County and surrounding areas. Star reporters covered her every move, and thankfully, she wasn't as destructive as storms earlier in the year.

A January 2023 storm damaged the Casitas Municipal Water District's Robles diversion. The storm damaged large swaths of areas particularly around Ventura and Ojai.
A January 2023 storm damaged the Casitas Municipal Water District's Robles diversion. The storm damaged large swaths of areas particularly around Ventura and Ojai.

Stories of 2023

  • TODAY: Most viewed online

  • Tuesday: Business

  • Wednesday: Biggest overall

  • Thursday: Government

  • Friday: Breaking news

  • Sunday: Photos

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Most viewed stories: Celebrity, breaking news draw interest